Owing a car is more expensive than I thought.

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Golfman

Golfman

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JEEZUs! Just had to put my car that I only got last year second hand(a VW GOLF - hence my name) through it's first MOT and service under my name. Was told by the dude at the garage that it failed cos the 2 front tyres were worn and deemed illegal. So, off to a reputable tyre centre to get 2 new tyres. Only £36 each. Then back to the MOT guy, who promptly passed my pride and joy for another year for a meagre(sic) £250. And then tomorrow it will be another £70 for 6 months road tax.
Oh the joys of motoring!!!

Had planned to hit the town tonight, but I guess that will have to wait.
 
£462 for a year of happy motoring? If you aren't ready for the expense, you probably aren't ready to drive.
 
TB
£462 for a year of happy motoring? If you aren't ready for the expense, you probably aren't ready to drive.
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No it's not like I can't afford it, the freedom and empowerment that comes from owning a car is worth every penny I spent. Just thought I'd share it with everybody, but in a sarcastic-but-fun way.
Anybody else got any motoring related tales they'd like to share?
 
Related to real cars in some way? Cars in General forum. Also,

Golfman
it's first MOT and service under my name. Was told by the dude at the garage that it failed cos the 2 front tyres were worn and deemed illegal. So, off to a reputable tyre centre to get 2 new tyres.
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How did you miss two front tyres at less than 1.6mm tread depth on a FWD car?
 
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About 700€ insurance, 150€ tax, 100€ MOT, 300€ new tyres, so in all 1250€ hit me square in the face during the first months of owning mine. So yes, it is expensive but I still think it's worth it.
 
I've sold all of my motorized transportation and I now walk, ride the bus, or bike.

I can easily afford the expense, but it just isn't worth it to me.
 
Famine
Related to real cars in some way? Cars in General forum. Also,



How did you miss two front tyres at less than 1.6mm tread depth on a FWD car?
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True, I should have noticed. But hey, damage is done, I've got two new tyres and I'm happily set for another year.
Don't get me wrong. If it is a sunny day I will walk. I only use the car when it rains. Unfortunately in this country that is too often.
 
Greycap
About 700€ insurance, 150€ tax, 100€ MOT, 300€ new tyres, so in all 1250€ hit me square in the face during the first months of owning mine. So yes, it is expensive but I still think it's worth it.
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Wait so you have to pay $154 a year on 1 car to the MOT? Thats not even what I pay for plates on my 3 cars...unless we aint talking plates here....:dunce:
 
And I pay about $100/yr to drive my car. You guys got it rough...
 
Yeah it's hard when you owe a car. They just keep hounding you until you pay them back and sometimes they're snotty enough to charge interest! :mad:
 
^Bastards! :lol:

One of the rear tires on my Nissan got punctured and blew out last month. It cost $350 to replace. Even my Mazda 3--which hasn't had one single problem in 62,000 miles--has cost $2,000 in scheduled maintenance/service over four years. It's not pretty, but that's the cost of doing business, so to speak. Every car has costs above and beyond the initial or monthly payment.
 
Greycap
About 700€ insurance, 150€ tax, 100€ MOT, 300€ new tyres, so in all 1250€ hit me square in the face during the first months of owning mine.
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And that's just owning it. ;) With Dutch gas prices, the meter really starts to tick when you start driving it. :crazy:
 
Thatman
Wait so you have to pay $154 a year on 1 car to the MOT? Thats not even what I pay for plates on my 3 cars...unless we aint talking plates here....:dunce:
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In the UK, MoT is an annual roadworthiness test from the car's third birthday onwards and costs about £35. Road tax - or vehicle excise duty as it's called now - costs anything from £0 (hybrid) to £440 (post-2003 petrol engine achieving less than 25mpg combined) annually.
 
Thatman
Wait so you have to pay $154 a year on 1 car to the MOT? Thats not even what I pay for plates on my 3 cars...unless we aint talking plates here....:dunce:
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Yep, 100€ a year just to be allowed to drive it legally. The same system as what Famine described.

NLxAROSA
And that's just owning it. ;) With Dutch gas prices, the meter really starts to tick when you start driving it. :crazy:
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1,40€ a litre. About 80€ a tank. Yes, I know. ;)
 
Wow you guys have it rough! I paid $250 to register/get plates, $60 plus mount and balance for 4 tires ($15 each from the junkyard), and a couple oil changes so far. Insurance is rough though, $2000/year total.

I'd be riding a bike if I was in Europe
 
$40 for annual registration/licensing.

$60 a month for Insurance...

So, under $800 a year for all required fees, minus gasoline, which at $3 a gallon, isn't too bad.

Man, sucks to live in Europe and own a car.
 
^Drive it down and back on the block, weekends only, skip if its rainy. :lol:
 
Toronado
They make you pay tax on tax? Sheesh. And I thought the DMV sales taxes were annoying.
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Only on petrol/gas.

The base cost of fuel, including infrastructure costs and a profit margin of about 2p/litre, is 40p/litre or so. Fuel duty (tax) is levied on this at about 60p/litre, for a price of about £1/litre. And then, because fuel is not VAT (sales tax) exempt, 17.5% is added onto that for a final pump price of £1.18/litre. And yes, that 17.5% includes the portion of the fuel that is fuel duty.
 
Pah...This is life. Any car will be more expensive than you ever dream of when you first are handed the keys.
 
Well worth it, my Focus costs me £205 a year to tax, about £80 a month in petrol on average, which will probably be close to £100 per month by next year. Insurance isn't bad, last years was £470. My last two MoT's were £230 and £170 respectively, but the killer was when the tensioner and pulleys went on my belt, fortunately the belt didn't come off and I made it to a garage. Unfortunately I was in Ullapool and it was the only garage for about 70 miles. £370 to change the tensioner, pulleys and belt. I could have had it done here for less than half that. Still, there's little point getting bent out of shape about something you don't really have a choice about like that. Just one of thoes things. Overall it probably costs just under £2000 a year to run the Focus.
 
I now have to pay £400 for the privilege of parking outside my own flat. Except the flat's postcode starts with LS2, so really what I'm doing is paying £400 for the privilege of having Admiral add another £900 to my insurance premium.

And I'm not even thinking about how much I've spent on petrol, there's just not enough vodka in the fridge right now.
 
McLaren
Your car must be getting super great gas mileage. Please share your secret with mine. :p
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Hey, I only said that's how much I have to pay to drive my car.

Azuremen: $40 for registration? Its $100+ here, and goes up every freaking year.
 
$600 AUD in rego per year
$1200 AUD in insurance per year

Then tyres / fuel / maintainence. So far in 2yrs ive had to service it once for $300. But shortly coming upto 2nd service and not far off new tyres.
 
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.
 

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