Yearly Car Maintenance Cost?

[maverickfhs]

Just curious, what is considered an average expense in terms of yearly maintenance or upkeep cost for a paid beater car?

Of course, too many variables in it but just trying to understand what you guys think is average or considered normal? Thanks

 

[fantastic]

I kept all records on my 2002 Saturn L200 I owned for four years & put on 22,705 miles. I paid $1,800 for the car w/128k on it.

$1,568.51 Repairs & Maintenance
$801.63 for liability only insurance in MO
$249.07 Tags/Inspections
= $2,619.21 Total cost to run it for those 22,707 Miles & four years time. It did need a new power steering rack due to slight leak but gave it to our niece for a starter car. She's still ripping around in it 2 years later.

If we assume one year national average of driving is 15,000 miles that would mean you'd need to have around $1,730 annually.

 

[Leo99]

DIY, $500. I'm prorating tires and brakes and the drive belt over 5 years.

 

[eljefino]

Average among society or average among BITOG?

I keep it under a couple hundred with clearance oil, Amazon Warehouse brakes, and used tires.

 

[maverickfhs]

BITOG is going to be a skewed data point(lower side) - just trying to understand from average society stand point?

 

[maverickfhs]

Average among society or average among BITOG?

I keep it under a couple hundred with clearance oil, Amazon Warehouse brakes, and used tires.

Mind asking how much you pay for a used tire and I am sure you install them by yourself via HF tire changer?

 

[SC Maintenance]

Way too many variables. What car. How much you drive it. Is it rusted out, or a nice Southern car.

I have a 2008 Xterra which my duaghter recently drove away in. Its been the 3rd car since summer of 2019, and from my spreadsheet I would say $3000 during that time, including the $1400 I just spent on tires, TPMS and new battery. Other than the tires it was all DIY. I would say maybe $800 per year. That included a new rad, a bunch of hoses changed pre-emptively, brakes all the way around and a used power steering pump. Of course it was pristine in 2019 and still is.

Now if your paying labor, triple that probably - so $3000 a year?

 

[doitmyself]

For comparison, the federal mileage rate will be 0.67 cents per mile in 2024 and an article I found says it is based on:

Variable costs include:

• Fuel
• Oil
• Tire wear
• Maintenance
• Repairs

Fixed costs include:

• Insurance
• Registration
• Lease payments
• Depreciation

 

[supton]

I could try to run some numbers, but any data from about 4 years ago is useless now.

I do keep records but rarely look at them.

 

[proveitwithdata]

after 5 years of a new car, most cost analysis is highly variable and dependent on how a beater car is treated.

Average bitoger probably does biannual oil changes, wiper blades.
Some average joe.jane might think annual oil changes is good enough.

 

[nwjones18]

I've had my Mazda for 5 years 25k miles and all its cost me is a clutch and a thermostat (did both myself) since those its been essentially free driving. Annual oil change with whatever cheap stuff is in the stash.

 

[Passport1]

My '92 Volvo 940 has cost me this year,

$20 for one oil change with Mann filter
$65 to have the original Bosch alternator rebuilt
annual registration ~$65 including property tax
insurance, maybe $200
zero depreciation

last year,

one oil change
replaced front shocks plus strut mounts ~$130
one new Walmart battery $120
ins. tax+tags as above
two years ~$740

 

[joekingcorvette]

My daily Honda Civic has very low maintenance costs and it varies from year to year. On a good year it saves me a lot of money because it's great on gas, tires and batteries are inexpensive and I do the oil changes and trans fluid drain and fills myself. I don't really document anything on my vehicles and tend to overservice them.

 

[finmile]

The figures in Finland are the following.

Total cost for 10k miles/year driving:
-Gasoline = $0.24/mile
Other costs on top of that (insurance, taxes, yearly safety inspection, tires, maintenance, car value depreciation, …):
-$0.08/mile for an old car (no depreciation + you maintain yourself)
-$0.32/mile for a newer car (more depreciation + more expensive insurance + maintenance at a shop)
-$0.48/mile for a new car (most depreciation + more expensive insurance + maintenance at the dealer)

This is why I have chosen to drive an old car and maintain it myself…

 

[SC Maintenance]

tend to overservice them.

^^^^^ This. You do this they run a very long time, until they rust out or you can't get parts - whichever comes first dependent on your region. This assumes you buy something in good shape to begin with - which is hard. Most 10 year old cars have had 3 owners, none of which cared about them.

 

[UncleDave]

At some point a timing belt car and a solid lifter/ tappet car needs either your time and skill or the shops.

A V6 with a belt will cost about 1500 bones to have a shop do the rollers/tensioners water pump and belt.

These services are expensive and often ignored.

Inline 4 cars and hydraulic lash cars are better beaters in this regards.

 

[WobblyElvis]

Always owned older cars and serviced them myself. I keep records and I am surprised that on average I spend about $500/year or more on parts or services I can't do my self.

Examples of unavoidable expenses.
Tires $150/year
Battery $20/year
Oil changes $100/year
Brakes $40/year
Trans-radiator fluid upkeep $25/year

 

[IndyIan]

At some point a timing belt car and a solid lifter/ tappet car needs either your time and skill or the shops.

A V6 with a belt will cost about 1500 bones to have a shop do the rollers/tensioners water pump and belt.

These services are expensive and often ignored.

Inline 4 cars and hydraulic lash cars are better beaters in this regards.

This is my strategy too, get a beater where you shouldn't have to do any major work on the engine or the drivetrain.
For the last few years I think I average ~$200-250 in parts with the Focus. It seems to like wear front suspension and steering components out, 1 or 2 per year. A new blower fan and front subframe were this years big costs at $400. I decided to challenge myself to do the front sub frame and it was a good workout.
If you can't or don't want to do suspension and brakes, and minor stuff on a car, then a beater doesn't save much if any money over something new with low depreciation.

 

[UncleDave]

This is my strategy too, get a beater where you shouldn't have to do any major work on the engine or the drivetrain.
For the last few years I think I average ~$200-250 in parts with the Focus. It seems to like wear front suspension and steering components out, 1 or 2 per year. A new blower fan and front subframe were this years big costs at $400. I decided to challenge myself to do the front sub frame and it was a good workout.
If you can't or don't want to do suspension and brakes, and minor stuff on a car, then a beater doesn't save much if any money over something new with low depreciation.

Most guys dont have the shorts for suspension work. Hats off.

 

[WobblyElvis]

If you can't or don't want to do suspension and brakes, and minor stuff on a car, then a beater doesn't save much if any money over something new with low depreciation.

This is very true.