Price of gas is a SMALL FACTOR for the cost of driving.

ClassicSpiderman

I recently bought a small car last year. When I add up the amount of money I spent paying for the car, plus insurance, plus registration and maintenance, the amount of money I spend to fill up my gas tank is actually a small pittance.

-I paid $7000 for a used 2004 Hyundai Accent. (I actually finished paying it off a few months ago)
-I had to pay an additional $700 for paperwork at the dealership.
-I had to pay $70 for a yearly registration plus license plate (since renewed which was another $70)
-Being a new driver with no record, I'm paying $180 a month for insurance.
-Some cop pulled me over (no actual cause) and I couldn't find my pink insurance card and I got a ticket for $175 (non-moving violation, got it reduced for $75 after talking it over with a court prosecutor).
-I had to pay $300 to replace a cracked windshield.
-I spent $150 to get an oil change, plus filter change and other goodies at a drive-through lube shop.

I've since put on about 6000 km on my car. I get about 15 km per liter (or 35+ American miles per gallon).

So, using up 400 liters and averaging the cost of gas at $1.15 per liter (I know gas now costs closer to $1.30 but it was at about $1.00 per liter last year), I've spent about $460 on gas.

If I add up the cost of insurance, registration fees, the one traffic ticket and the cost of the windshield along with the lube jobs, it has cost me an additional $2465 since last year for the privilege of driving.

So why do people still bitch about gas prices, and about taxes on gas itself? They're a f*cken pittance.

So when I hear someone whine and cry like a menstruating woman about the cost of gas, my BS meter goes up and I ask them about their monthly car and insurance payments. I'm one of the very few conservative-minded people who argues in favor of INCREASED fuel taxes to provide public transportation to LESSEN the use of roads by automobiles.

All preceding prices were in Canadian dollars. While our American friends might benefit from from lower taxes, they pay extra in terms of toll roads.

I look forward to the day when gas is $2 a liter (or $7.40 per American gallon) and I will fill up my car with PRIDE !

purdum · Tar Sands Joined: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 31 Location: MI, USA

Your high insurance costs and low mileage are not typical for U.S. car owners. The average U.S. driver racks up 12-15K miles per year, maybe 4 times your mileage (in a vehicle getting nowhere near 35 mpg). And I doubt the average driver spends $180/month on insurance - my insurance is about $400 per YEAR. Here in Michigan, we have no toll roads (except the bridges into Canada). For the average U.S. driver, gas is more than a small pittance.

I agree with you about the gas taxes.

Cashmere · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Mar 27, 2008 Posts: 1485

heroineworshipper

Gas used to be a big factor. Then bridge tolls went from $2 to $7 and now it isn't anymore. Amazing thing, inflation.
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Cashmere · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Mar 27, 2008 Posts: 1485

JoeW - hilarious - you're right.

Nowadays, with overpopulation and all, there're a couple of suckers born every minute.

150$ at Jiffy Lube!

Wow! He did get lubed!
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3aidlillahi · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 25, 2008 Posts: 593

I was at work a few hours ago and made a post analyzing his data versus what it should be like in America with $400/year insurance and 15k miles/year. But my internet was cut off before it could be posted just I'll just post the summary.

It turns out to be about 40% of the total cost of a new car ($20 000) which will run for 15 years. A higher price tag or less years and the percentage for gas goes down. His is roughly 20% of his total bill, so there's a substantial difference which will likely decrease (ie. his percentage will go up as his insurance goes down and he's less reckless with his dollar - moving violation, getting raped at Jiffy Lube, etc).

TheDude

Agree with all DIY advice. You need a copy of Auto Maintenance for Dummies, CS. Not a slam - excellent book!
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timmac · Heavy Crude Joined: Mar 27, 2008 Posts: 136

Classicspiderman wrote >>>>
So, using up 400 liters and averaging the cost of gas at $1.15 per liter (I know gas now costs closer to $1.30 but it was at about $1.00 per liter last year), I've spent about $460 on gas.

If I add up the cost of insurance, registration fees, the one traffic ticket and the cost of the windshield along with the lube jobs, it has cost me an additional $2465 since last year for the privilege of driving.

So why do people still bitch about gas prices, and about taxes on gas itself? They're a f*cken pittance.

Timmac reply>>>>>
So you use your 35 mpg auto and your little driving per year as a correct example of why people are complaning about high fuel prices,,
Well let me tell you from some other example of how high fuel prices are a real problem,, I own a service business here in Vegas and have 4 fullsize vans on the road 5-7 days per week and my business and personal driving and as well as my wifes driving and it all adds up to about $2800.00 per month and going up every month,, you add up my insurance cost and its alot less,,,,,,,,,,,,, [$33,000+ per year in fuel cost is driving me out of business,,] can I just increase cost, yes some but some of my customers are starting to cut back because cost of living and high fuel prices are getting to them as well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, So You Say That "They're A F*cken Pittance",,,,,,,, I Say You Are Stupid And Wrong..................

Tyler_JC

17 cents a mile. $3.89 per gallon at 23 miles per gallon.

I'm guessing that by the end of the summer I'll be up to 20 cents a mile.

Fortunately, I've decided that I'm sick of being gouged at the pump and I've cut my commute from 40+ miles per day to less than 10 miles.

Gotta love commuter trains. Cool

On nice days I can bike to the train station.

There are alternatives if you are willing to put up with a little inconvenience.

Back on topic, the opening post is wrong. Gasoline is becoming the single largest expense for drivers. Insurance and taxes become less important as gasoline costs more than 25 cents a mile for SUV drivers.

The federal government gives businesses a 50.5 cents per mile deduction for driving. This deduction is supposed to be equal to the real cost of driving.

With gasoline somewhere in the 20 cent per mile range, that means that the Feds are estimating that gasoline is at least 40% of the cost of driving.

Just something to consider.
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Electric_Economy_2025 · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 139

Don't even change your oil just change the oil filter and your car will be just fine.

ClassicSpiderman

ClassicSpiderman

Roy

MarkJ · Heavy Crude Joined: Mar 25, 2008 Posts: 152

Many of our heating oil, kerosene and propane customers consume 1,000 plus gallons of heating fuel per season, plus own a few vehicles and/or boats, waverunners, quads, snowmobiles etc. Fuel is a very large expense. Many of them keep their vehicles for a long time and/or they buy used cars, trucks, SUVs and toys. Many of them perform much of their own maintenance and carry minimum insurance which helps keep the total cost of ownership down.

You tend to see a higher degree of self-sufficient mechanically inclined types and people involved in motor-sports in the suburban and rural areas.