Cheapest way to do 7500 miles a year.

Kilty_2

mark5 wrote: »

I do similar Miles in a 2005 Mini Cooper and disagree with £170pcm being alot to run a car, my Mini comes in at roughly £155pcm before even calculating depreciation which I think its lost me £140pcm since I bought it 2nd hand 3 years ago going on what i paid and what Glass value it for part-exchange.

Assuming your Mini is petrol though would you expect it to cost less to run than a diesel estate? I wouldn't.

Flearoy

One of the key areas I want to try and cut back is motoring. I have a £2500 large estate car which costs me £170pcm to run (tax, diesel, servicing/mot, insurance, budget for repairs) over 7,500 miles. It is also depreciating at about £40 a month, making my total costs of motoring £210. It has been very reliable, but is high mileage and the possibility of a big failure is there and could potentially cost £1000+.

Hi,

I run a 51 plate 1.8 petrol Mondeo estate, which is worth not a lot (maybe £1500 if I'm lucky. My costs, for 9000 miles a year are roughly as follows - petrol £1500 (30mpg, 112.9p/L), tax £215, insurance £300, MOT £50, routine servicing £150, plus tyres (assume £100 a year). This equates to £2300 already, without factoring in repairs or depreciation. Seems to me like you've got it pretty good...especially considering this year I have paid out for a new rear brake caliper (£300, including new pads) and a new suspension spring (£115).

mark5

We also have a Fiesta 1.4 TDCi, the Mini does about 140-150 miles per week at a cost of about £18 per week petrol. The Fiesta would do the same miles for £14-15 per week, a hugh saving of £3-4 per week.

Would the big Diesel estate do better than the Fiesta TDCi?

At best it might match it, which I very much doubt with twisty B roads involved.
I still say £170 pcm is not high for 7500 miles per annum when every motoring cost is covered.

alanrowell

Use public transport, taxis & hire cars when you need them. Should run a lot less than £2,500 pa especially if the car isn't used on a day to day basis

Sandrock

Kilty wrote: »

£170pcm seems a lot to run such a car - is your insurance really expensive?

No.

Insurance = £300 a year
Tax = £155 a year
Service = £70 a year (I service myself)
Repairs = £400 a year (expected, usually about right)
Mot = £30 a year
Fuel = 7500 miles @ 37mpg average = £1060 a year

Total Costs = £168 pcm

Sandrock

alanrowell wrote: »

Use public transport, taxis & hire cars when you need them. Should run a lot less than £2,500 pa especially if the car isn't used on a day to day basis

I can't. I live out in the sticks, we get 3 buses a day that don't go where I want them to at the times I want them.

I worked out that the train to work would take me 75 mins door-to-door, compared to 15 mins in the car, so that is out!

harveybobbles

How does it cost you £70 to service it your self when you say the oil is free....?

Sandrock

harveybobbles wrote: »

How does it cost you £70 to service it your self when you say the oil is free....?

Virtually free, I pay a small amount for it.

The £70 covers two services. Doesn't really need that many but I often have 'down time' for a couple of weeks due to my work and have access to a garage so like to have a good poke around to make sure everything is in check mechanically and do a service as I'm there.

oldtoolie

Ask a taxi driver, Primeras are bulletproof. You could go another 100,000 without major repairs. The money saving option is always to run a car until it is not economical to repair. I would put aside £100 per month for a car fund so when it does fail, you have the cash to replace it.

sebdangerfield

Maybe try cycling?

I currently cycle between 7500 and 9500 miles per year and it's not any trouble at all. About as cheap as you can get too.