Owing a car is more expensive than I thought.

[ExigeEvan]

what you brits forgot to tell the yanks is just how nastily thorough an MOT actually is!. in this state, if it's not painfully obvious, it's fine.

Yep. You can fail for anything from your suspension to your windscreen wipers to you horn.

The individual tests include the body and vehicle structure, windscreen, wipers and washers, doors, seatbelts, seats, mirrors, horn, brakes, steering, suspension, exhaust system, exhaust Co2 emissions, fuel system, tyres, wheels, lights, bonnet, boot and tailgate, towbar, and registration plates.

 

[lpb-nissan-gt-r]

Can someone give me a rough figure of how much it costs to run a car in its first year?

 

[Jondot]

Can someone give me a rough figure of how much it costs to run a car in its first year?

Depends on the car and how much you want to use it.

But based on a 1.4 Corsa doing 7k miles a year...

• Insurance: £1700 min for a 17 year old male
• Petrol: £1300ish I'd expect
• Maintenance: £300ish probably
• Tax: £125

Total: £3500ish. Not including the actual car, don't forget.


That maintenance figure is based on a £99 service, MOT test, a few new lightbulbs, 2 new tires and having the air con re-gassed or something. My car's been fairly reliable and I've hit that amount without any difficulty at all, so buy a heap and it'll be far more to maintain. Buy brand new with a warranty and in theory all you'll have to pay is the cost of the first couple of services.

 

[lpb-nissan-gt-r]

Holy crap thats alot, better get a job thanks.

 

[opladener]

Yep. You can fail for anything from your suspension to your windscreen wipers to you horn.

The individual tests include the body and vehicle structure, windscreen, wipers and washers, doors, seatbelts, seats, mirrors, horn, brakes, steering, suspension, exhaust system, exhaust Co2 emissions, fuel system, tyres, wheels, lights, bonnet, boot and tailgate, towbar, and registration plates.

Sounds similar to our TÜV.

Did I mention that gas is around 1,45€ /l here at the moment ?
1 gallon ~ 4l

 

[ExigeEvan]

Can someone give me a rough figure of how much it costs to run a car in its first year?

I'll throw out some slightly different figures to Jon. I'm doing this on the fly so may end up with a relatively similair number when I total, all of this is from experience with a '99 Nissan Almera that's had small issues. First year insurance.

Insurance £1600
Tax £135
Fuel (6000 miles @ ~£5/gallon @ 35MPG) £850
Annual replacements (windscreen wipers, slow P/S fluid leak) £10
Service+MOT £150
Breakdown cover £35

Basic Total £2780

However, on top of that..
In my first year I caused £400 worth of damage to my mates car in a "car park" incident.
In my second year my starter motor, alternator and battery all got replaced. £150, I think.
And in my third year of driving I needed to replace my rear dampers. ~£200

I've also had to replace all 4 tyres at some point, at £25 quid each, fitted.

Holy crap thats alot, better get a job thanks.

Yep! And start saving!

Sounds similar to our TÜV.

Did I mention that gas is around 1,45€ /l here at the moment ?
1 gallon ~ 4l

I think your TUV is even more strict. Or atleast the laws regarding after-market parts.

 

[ramchargerQC]

I live in Québec, Canada and owning a car is expensive too.
i have a 1994 Toyota pick-up 4x4 and the plate cost 270$/year, the insurance cost is 400$/year ( and i am not even insured for fire or stealing) and the driver license cost 86$/year...