2020 parts cost inreview, exec summary 5 cents per mile

[abscate]

Since I buy almost all my stuff from FCP for my family vehicle fleet,I can look at my account and see how much parts cost me this year. Obviously this year was down in travel,we only totaled 30,000 miles across the

1999 T5
1999 S70
2006 E83
2005 V70

2002 VW T4

I spent $3000 on parts but $2000 was for paid work on other cars, so I was about. $1000

The T5 needs a steering rack at $350, so I’ll say $1500 for parts this year, or 5 cent per mile

[volvolugnut]

That's very good. Only thing better would be to get car mileage paid at the approved government rate. $0.575 per mile now.
volvolugnut

[abscate]

Probably...

30 cpm depreciation and insurance/ fees
15 cpm gas oil
10 cpm maintenance and repairs

For a new car

On an old Volvo we probably run at

0-2 cpm depreciation
12 cpm gas oil
5 cpm parts ( own labor)

I do like billing the company every month at 0.575 on a 20 cpm nut

[Cookeh]

You're doing much better than I am. Including purchase costs, over the three years I've owned the car its cost me 9c per mile (7c excl purchase). That figure might have been closer to 6c if my mileage this year hadn't been 1/7th of normal due to WFH.

Still, can't complain too much as the market value for 850 T5s has tripled in the UK since I bought mine. I also underpaid, so if I sold now I'd somehow make a profit.

[abscate]

The depreciation number I gave is a bit fake as it reflects the flat value if the car late in life, that is, it’s value in Jan 2020 minus value in Dec 2020 divided by miles driven

If I took my purchase price in 2000 and divided by 260,000 miles it’s about 11 cents per mile

If I took the value of $30,000 2000 dollars brought forward to 2020 it’s 33 cents per mile

All of these are correct, they are measuring different things.

That third metric is a good reminder that no matter what you think you made selling that new car you bought 10 years ago, it cost you gobs of lost money.

[volvolugnut]

I have no data, but I have always believed if you do work yourself, your overall cost is lower with a car purchased with over 100,000 mile that has been well maintained.
volvolugnut

[Goupil]

I spent 3000$ in parts for the V70 this year and drove about 10k miles (drove less than last year due to multiple lockdowns), that's not a good score

Some of these were upgrades tho, or replacing parts that should last for a few years (clutch, timing belt...)

[volvolugnut]

I think a trend here is we had time to work on deferred or preemptive maintenance this year and as a result many of us had higher cost than a normal year. As a result, our vehicles had the expected life extended. The simple view of cost versus miles this year is not accurate. The time period is too short. Perhaps a better view is cost versus the extended life expectancy. In my case, I replaced struts, PCV system, axles,timing belt, water pump, and idler pulleys. These items should now be good for maybe 50,000 miles.

volvolugnut

[scot850]

Agreed. My cars have done so little mileage this year, and the 'R' in particular has done less than 100 miles. I spent $500 on it to have the transmission flushed and a check over at the dealer. That highlighted the rear wheels rubbing on the flexi-hoses for the brakes. Then spent $400 on replacement (narrower) rims (used Volans) and bought new winter tires to suit ($500 more) as original winters came with the car when bought in 2012!

Car has still only done 100 miles or less as have to now swap the rims over to make safe, and then of course it threw a hissy-fit and now has an electrical problem. Hopefully heat in the garage tomorrow so can start to work on it. Downside is we have had a dump of 35-40cm of snow which prevents any regular car getting out.

Neil.

[volvolugnut]

If I am truly honest, I do not treat my vehicles with traditional cost/benefit analysis. I enjoy owning and maintaining them even when I am not driving them. But, I am also concerned that I may appear foolish for spending too much on an older vehicle others would abandon. My vehicle decisions are often emotional rather than analytical.
volvolugnut