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Most economical car / vehicle spreadsheet design
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There's a lot of things to calculate when buying a car.
It's so complicated and the choices so numerous that it's nigh on impossible to do in your head without falling for traps like buying into a brand.
I expect this has already been done, and if so where? - and can we build on it?
Here are the factors I have thought about in choosing my next vehicle:
- LPG or Diesel; how many miles to recoup cost. Factors are mpg, driving style for efficiency, how many miles a year
- Depreciation. I have a Parkers guide here that can give an exact figure. If considering a new car you can look up the figures from this
- Repair bills. Hard to assess. Perhaps times by a multiplier from the average bill from something like reliabilityindex.co.uk (though, what are Fiat doing in 2nd place?)
- Tax
- Insurance
- can the vehicle generate income? -i.e. staying in a camper van, using a van for deliveries or business
Most of these things can be looked up in the Parker guide.
All these factors can be calculated for a year of ownership. It would be interesting to see how much cars cost to run.
Companies go by around 20p/mile for running costs, does this translate to older vehicles; the lack of depreciation will outweigh bills but what is the crossover point for this?
My personal reason for this is because I would like a bigger vehicle to sleep in from time to time to save money but also for days out. I want to see how many nights of sleeping in it I would need before it pays off. The lower fuel efficiency could prove it to be a false economy.
It's so complicated and the choices so numerous that it's nigh on impossible to do in your head without falling for traps like buying into a brand.
I expect this has already been done, and if so where? - and can we build on it?
Here are the factors I have thought about in choosing my next vehicle:
- LPG or Diesel; how many miles to recoup cost. Factors are mpg, driving style for efficiency, how many miles a year
- Depreciation. I have a Parkers guide here that can give an exact figure. If considering a new car you can look up the figures from this
- Repair bills. Hard to assess. Perhaps times by a multiplier from the average bill from something like reliabilityindex.co.uk (though, what are Fiat doing in 2nd place?)
- Tax
- Insurance
- can the vehicle generate income? -i.e. staying in a camper van, using a van for deliveries or business
Most of these things can be looked up in the Parker guide.
All these factors can be calculated for a year of ownership. It would be interesting to see how much cars cost to run.
Companies go by around 20p/mile for running costs, does this translate to older vehicles; the lack of depreciation will outweigh bills but what is the crossover point for this?
My personal reason for this is because I would like a bigger vehicle to sleep in from time to time to save money but also for days out. I want to see how many nights of sleeping in it I would need before it pays off. The lower fuel efficiency could prove it to be a false economy.
Order of events: Banks lose our money -> get bailed out -> were inflating GBP to cover it -> now taxing us -> next will grab your funds direct -> things get really desperate to balance the books. What should have happened?: banks go bust and we lost our money much quicker
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Comments
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A pretty simple method is to look at the leasing costs to business, as these factor in purchase price, expected depreciation, maintenance, tyres, tax, etc. It's a rough figure, but close enough for most purposes.0
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Total genius! Have a thanks from meOrder of events: Banks lose our money -> get bailed out -> were inflating GBP to cover it -> now taxing us -> next will grab your funds direct -> things get really desperate to balance the books. What should have happened?: banks go bust and we lost our money much quicker0
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Just makes sure you are not comparing apples and pears though.
Lease company headline rates allow you to get an Audi TT or BMW 5 series for ridiculous prices like £200 a month. These figures will not include maintenance costs and the mileage limit will be silly - like 5000 pa.0
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