Nothing really changes. Initial purchase price always trumps savings over fuel economy. The cheapest car to run is the cheapest car, period. Using that logic, then; the car you all ready have will be the cheaper car to run. Not the most fun, but it will save you money over all, no matter what your MPG is right now.
Two cars would have to be reasonably close in price and one would have to offer a major difference in MPG for a more expensive car, but with better MPG, to offset the higher cost. I really didn't search to find such an example, but if we are talking about the same type of car, it's unlikely to be found.
In general, as far as costs, it's best to hold onto a car for a minimum of 10 years. After 10 years the cost of repairs starts to increase to a point where if one continues using the car, the remaining years will see endless expensive repairs. That point will vary from car to car, so it's hard to say exactly when it's best to dump an older car, 10 years, 12 years, 15 years ...
Another thing is, that buying on credit is VERY expensive!!! Now I know that most of us are fighting to make ends meet, but if someone can save some money in the bank every month years before you need to buy another car, the savings on interest is huge. The biggest savings comes if you can pay off even part of a loan in the very beginning.
Excellent trip report, Bob! Your analysis was pretty concise too, but I am not going to comment on the cost analysis based on the *published numbers* numbers for the estimated gas mileage, city/highway because I still fee, as previously posted elsewhere in this forum, that this car, if driven properly, will produce WAYYYYYYYY better mileage than those numbers represented. My reasons for getting a Smart are as much for it's economy and looks, as they are for being the first out there to introduce something new to this country that needs to be introduced for the sake of doing my share to reduce our dependence on foreign petroleum. I won't comment on that any more cause' it will then become a political statement, which I don't want to get going here on this great SMART CAR forum.
In general, as far as costs, it's best to hold onto a car for a minimum of 10 years. After 10 years the cost of repairs starts to increase to a point where if one continues using the car, the remaining years will see endless expensive repairs. That point will vary from car to car, so it's hard to say exactly when it's best to dump an older car, 10 years, 12 years, 15 years.
Bob Diaz
You are right about keeping a car (depreciable asset). We have kept 4 cars for over 10 years, (one was stolen and the other wreaked) The other two, for 15 years. Our personal experience has been that over 10 years the replacement and repair tend to increase but in the case of both 15 year cars not enough to warrant replacement. We keep complete records on the cars and it has never become obvious that the equipment has reached the end of it's useful life.
Our first 15 year car was sold to buy our current trip car, but it was still reliable. We will be disposing of a 15 year old Jeep Grand Cherokee to buy the smart. I would still drive the jeep coast to coast without fear of problems but our life situation has dictated that we could be easier on the environment with a smaller car. But we can still have fun as our trip car is a 5 series Bimmer which gives us plenty of driving fun.
Thanks, Bob, for your great pictures and well-thought out comments. Was there a Cabrio there? Wondering how smoothly and easily the top opens and closes.
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