The costs of getting and running a car

KBX_2

Hello all,

I just have a query.....

I do not drive, I do not even have a license.

However I have a job offer - the commute to work will take approx 1.5 hrs there and 2hrs back by train. However driving would take 20-30 minutes. So you can see why I'm inclined to drive.

I've calculated that I'd be driving approx 250 miles to work (there and back) a week. I've rounded the driving off to 300 miles a week in total (I highly doubt I'd drive 50 miles on a weekend, but I just added it as a buffer). How much would petrol cost per week?

How much do you think it would cost to purchase an economically friendly car with good miles per gallon? As well as annual costs - road tax, MOT, insurance (23 yr old female).

Sorry to bombard you guys with so many questions I am very new to this.

Many thanks

KBX_2

Or would it be cheaper to lease a car?

reeac

KBX wrote: »

Hello all,

I just have a query.....

I do not drive, I do not even have a license.

However I have a job offer - the commute to work will take approx 1.5 hrs there and 2hrs back by train. However driving would take 20-30 minutes. So you can see why I'm inclined to drive.

I've calculated that I'd be driving approx 250 miles to work (there and back) a week. I've rounded the driving off to 300 miles a week in total (I highly doubt I'd drive 50 miles on a weekend, but I just added it as a buffer). How much would petrol cost per week?

How much do you think it would cost to purchase an economically friendly car with good miles per gallon? As well as annual costs - road tax, MOT, insurance (23 yr old female).

Sorry to bombard you guys with so many questions I am very new to this.

Many thanks

It's at times like this that you realise how horrendously expensive motoring is. Say £5k for a reliable small car, 25p/mile for fuel, tyres etc [£75 per week], £150 road tax, £50 MOT, maybe £2k for first year insurance. Best bet for reliability and economy: Honda Jazz.

spiro

Plus the upfront cost of lessons and test. Is parking free at work? I know office were there are less spaces than required so its 1st come 1st served and after that your on your own to find somewere which could end up being a pay and display in some towns.

Have you considered a scooter?

You dont say how much a monthly or annual season ticket on the train will cost.

VfM4meplse

KBX wrote: »

the commute to work will take approx 1.5 hrs there and 2hrs back by train.

This is going to be a killer, esp in the winter months. You'll find yourself resenting how little free time you have, esp if you are inclined to work longer hours, and when you factor in delays. Is renting a room 4 nights a week (or less) near your place of work an option? If it is, you might wish to negotiate a compression of hours - ie working 4 long days - which would mean having a life at weekends.

As reeac says, motoring is an expensive business. I would suggest that you learn to drive asap, as whatever you decide to do, it's a useful lifeskill.

thegirlintheattic

Many variables here. To give you an idea this is the spend on my Peugot 1.4 HDI 206 (get about 60mpg most of the time):

Tax: £30
MOT: £55 assuming nothing needs fixing.
Service: £125 (a must with that many miles a week)
Fuel: £65 per week (this amount of diesal in my car will do 300 miles easily)
AA: £60
Other consumables (tyres, wipers, deicer etc.): £140 a year
Insurance depends on too many factors - you'd be best going on a price comparison site but for a new driver I'd reckon about £1000-£2000 a year.
Car: You can get a diesel 206 in good condition (2007-08 with average mileage) for about £4k. So I would be looking at cars up to £5k. If you are doing a lot of commuting (particularly on A roads/motorways) I'd go for diesel but they are in demand at the moment and can cost more to buy than a small engined petrol.

You also need to have a pot of money set aside for repairs. Most repairs on mine (and it's had a few mine is 10 years old with 100k on the clock) cost me about £150 to do, most expensive has been £400. I personally would have £500 set aside for repairs at any one time.

As for lessons. Cheapest around here is £17 per hour. I passed on an hour a week for 6 months so £408 but it can take you more or less. £31 for a theory test then between £62-£75 for the practical. Then £50 for the license. But at least this call covers you for a lifetime (apart from the license).

So in total you are looking at:

£6020 a year
£551 for tests and lessons
£5000 for a car

Ratgirl_2

I would seriously look at getting a 125cc bike. Cheap to buy and all you need is a CBT to legally ride on the roads. Tax, insurance and fuel costs will be ridiculously cheap compared to a car and you won't get stuck in traffic. The best thing is that the road sense you'll learn being on two wheels will make it easier to learn to drive a car (it took me 13 hours of lessons before I passed my test) and make you a better driver generally.

Coveredinbees!!!!

25 miles each way a day on what sort of roads at what time, 30 minutes sounds optimistic. I used to drive an hour each way to work and it was soul destroying

gilbert_and_sullivan

A thread like this probably makes us all think just how expensive motoring is, but unless you have very convenient public transport, its a must.

Initial purchase of smallish car, probably anything from £1000 to £5000.

Depreciation of that purchase, £500 to £1000+ per year.

Servicing, repairs, MOT tyres etc, another £500 to £1000 depending on your luck and choice of car.

Fuel, say £2300, but could vary £500 either side depending on your commute and car choice....luckily !!!!!! Turpin takes the majority of that in tax to make you feel better..;)

Insurance, first car say £1500, again give or take £500 either way, obviously that will go down if you stay claim free.

Don't forget incidentals, parking charges, parking fines, possible minor accident losing your excess even if not your fault.

My father always said that once you bought a car you'd always have your hand in your pocket, he wasn't wrong.

s_b

basically you shouldnt have bothered applying for the job seeing as you cant do it and let someone that could actually get there on a morning have it
i applied to be a space pilot but when offered the position turned it down as the morning commute to houston would have eventually wore me out

suggest you get your test passed buy a car get used to things like steery wheels and pedals and then look for a job outside your comfort zone thats attainable:)

soz but you did ask

thegirlintheattic

In this job market you have to take what you can get. I was looking at jobs up to a two hour commute each way but luckily got one only an hour away by car.

OP maybe look into car sharing (or even a mini cab) whilst you learn if public transport is going to be a problem. I used to do a two hour commute and it was fine with a book and an iPod and that was working 8 to 8 but it does cut into your social life.