Owning a car for 20 Years.

[JasperFrank]

Bought my little '93 Festiva GL 20years ago. What has been the total cost in 20 years?
First I have to say, I payed too much for it in the first place. But it was clean, like new in 2006, with 60,000 on it.
Price 3,400.

Brake pads $100
Rear Shocks $50
Tires $1,200.
Master Cylinder $60
Plugs $60
Radiator $115
Oil $250
Registration and DL, $1,450
Insurance $10,050
Car Wash $80
Lug nuts $17
Seat coverers $120... DOG
Muffler $350
Lights and Bulbs $230 There was a short.
Primary wiring harness $17
Mats $25
Filters $25
Alignments and front end work $1,400
Seat belts $30 DOG
Motor belts $20
Filters $25
Chains $60
Gas $17,343 @ 33 MPG

So in twenty years this car cost me a total total of, about $35,000. So $1,750 a year, or $5 dollars a day. Its okay if you disagree with my numbers. But they are what they are. And in a sense this is an ag vehicle. It did all the transports of planting for the gardens. Which has been most of its use.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

Bought my little '93 Festiva GL 20years ago. What has been the total cost in 20 years?
First I have to say, I payed too much for it in the first place. But it was clean, like new in 2006, with 60,000 on it.
Price 3,400.

Brake pads $100
Rear Shocks $50
Tires $1,200.
Master Cylinder $60
Plugs $60
Radiator $115
Oil $250
Registration and DL, $1,450
Insurance $10,050
Car Wash $80
Lug nuts $17
Seat coverers $120... DOG
Muffler $350
Lights and Bulbs $230 There was a short.
Primary wiring harness $17
Mats $25
Filters $25
Alignments and front end work $1,400
Seat belts $30 DOG
Motor belts $20
Filters $25
Chains $60
Gas $17,343 @ 33 MPG

So in twenty years this car cost me a total total of, about $35,000. So $1,750 a year, or $5 dollars a day. Its okay if you disagree with my numbers. But they are what they are. And in a sense this is an ag vehicle. It did all the transports of planting for the gardens. Which has been most of its use.

Why would anyone disagree with your numbers?

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Why would anyone disagree with your numbers?

I wouldn't think a drivers license would be part of the cost of the car ... As it could and probably was also used with a different vehicle too! (Besides ID for a multitude of things)

But never the less ... It is necessary to be able to drive it ...

What I'd be curious about was how many miles does it have on it now?

 

[big bubba]

The real question is not only how many yrs, initial cost plus repairs is...
what is the present vehicle's condition and do you intend to keep? if you sell, you lose.
For a person that buys every 5 yrs or less, what's that equation given depreciation? prob much more.

 

[JasperFrank]

I wouldn't think a drivers license would be part of the cost of the car ... As it could and probably was also used with a different vehicle too! (Besides ID for a multitude of things)

But never the less ... It is necessary to be able to drive it ...

What I'd be curious about was how many miles does it have on it now?

233,102 miles.

 

[sd455dan]

Jasper the Numbers sound reasonable to me.

My oldest- Have 3 years to go before passing 50 years with the Trans Am.

 

[WinterDeere]

I forget your location, but I'm assuming it's somewhere well-south of me, if the earth hasn't reclaimed it in the form of ferric oxide?

I've had more than one vehicle that was reliable enough to keep that many years and miles, but they all started rusting out from under me before we got there.

 

[big bubba]

233,102 miles.

i'd say keep rolling. you done good. my '92 Toyota has 342k original miles w/prob more investment than yours, but a fraction of new ones these days & w/good service thru the yrs. I don't need mall cruisers or show anymore. or depreciation....

but like many on this forum, i'm of advanced age, were i a young man,
different story

 

[JTKub]

$5/day is amazing. I assuming you're not in the rust belt? You really have to take precautions to get a vehicle past 10-12yrs where I live.

I am not proud to admit, but in the past ~25yrs, I've probably spent more like $250K+ all in on vehicles alone. Pre COVID, it wasn't uncommon for me to trade a vehicle (mine or wife's) in every 2-3yrs. I've never been "upside down" on a trade, but I've thrown more cash at changing vehicles than I should have.

 

[big bubba]

well you're not only honest, but probably more frugal than many. Look at domestic full size trucks and suv's sticker prices today...glad i'm not in the market.

 

[Carl_NH]

That's a good value 170K miles.

I bought a Toyota Tundra new in 1999 as a 2000 model and sold it 20 years later for $4500.

- First 10 years all cost and maintenance $5500 or $550 a year
- Second 10 years all costs and maintenance $12000 or $1200 a year (frame replacement etc.)

- Sold it in 2019 for $4500 with 145,000 mi so cost $.26 per mile without gas cost (New cost $25K plus $18K maintenance, less resale $4500)

Best to keep and maintain for 10-12 years at $550/year and sell while it has more value at $10K.

 

[crazyjake8493]

My truck is 19 years old and the wife's car is 21 years old now. Pretty good lifespans for living in an area where they salt the roads in winter before the snow even flies. Hoping to get a couple more years from each of them. I don't know what the total cost has been over their lifespan, but I can guarantee you it was cheaper than a payment from getting a new one every 3-5 years.

The truck won't live to see 100k miles, sadly.

 

[BnRidge]

There was a time when every nickle here counted. Being poor didn't mean living poorly. I averaged about 12cents/mile for quite a few years, and totalled every expense. Your at 233k/35k, 15c/mile. Poor or not, there's an inner satisfaction of beating the system.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Bought my little '93 Festiva GL 20years ago. What has been the total cost in 20 years?
First I have to say, I payed too much for it in the first place. But it was clean, like new in 2006, with 60,000 on it.
Price 3,400.

Brake pads $100
Rear Shocks $50
Tires $1,200.
Master Cylinder $60
Plugs $60
Radiator $115
Oil $250
Registration and DL, $1,450
Insurance $10,050
Car Wash $80
Lug nuts $17
Seat coverers $120... DOG
Muffler $350
Lights and Bulbs $230 There was a short.
Primary wiring harness $17
Mats $25
Filters $25
Alignments and front end work $1,400
Seat belts $30 DOG
Motor belts $20
Filters $25
Chains $60
Gas $17,343 @ 33 MPG

So in twenty years this car cost me a total total of, about $35,000. So $1,750 a year, or $5 dollars a day. Its okay if you disagree with my numbers. But they are what they are. And in a sense this is an ag vehicle. It did all the transports of planting for the gardens. Which has been most of its use.

Yeah you forgot the anti-freeze that you put in it when you changed the radiator out. Did you ever grease it? There is probably more if you really think on it.

 

[yanmars]

Not a car but a truck. Bought a 2004 Ram 1500 in 2008 for $7900. About 40,000 miles then. Now 267,000. Still running, rust really not bad for here in Ohio. Just routine maintenance over the years. Did get a Ford 150 XL 4x4 , 2025 for $29,000. 5000 miles in late 2025. Have not driven it much at all as the old Dodge keeps going. I should retire it soon I guess. Don't need two.

 

[Runner]

2004 F350 - bought new, $27,000 - currently just under 10,000 miles.

2007 Toyota Yaris - Bought new $12,500 - currently just over 165,000 miles.

I look at both as long-term investments that have served me well. Only regular maintenance items on both, except the Ford is on its third AC compressor. No plans to ever get rid of either one....

 

[mike0000]

I’m a believer in buying quality cars, taking good care of them and driving them until they are ready to be scrapped or an accident ends them. My 1999 Mercedes E300 diesel is approaching 300k, our 05 Accord was just destroyed by another driver at 122k, I had plans of driving it for another Ten years. 02’ Caravan 170k, but rust will probably be its demise. One “garage queen, go to town car” 18’ Honda Pilot 37k. I do all the service and repair, and am lucky enough to have a partner/wife who shares my beliefs that driving beaters with a heater (and a/c) is an acceptable way of life.

 

[scootr]

OP cost was 21.5 cents per mile. The national average cost is reported to be 70-80 cents per mile. So congrats on saving a bunch of money. Personally I don't drive 10k miles a year. Nor do I want to drive the same car for 20 yrs. I've had the same wife and house for 25 yrs. That is enough repetition for me. Vehicles are toys that perform a function for me. I buy, use, and sell them. Most are bought used. If I buy right and drive a little and sell right the cost is affordable. And a new to me sports car or motorcycle is much cheaper than a new wife.

 

[Eagle1]

And a new to me sports car or motorcycle is much cheaper than a new wife.

Darn tootin, but I don't want to think about the long term costs of keeping one

 

[scootr]

Darn tootin, but I don't want to think about the long term costs of keeping one

One what? A wife? I'd agree there