Commuting on a budget - what's cheapest overall?
Discussion
I have a 30 mile each way commute into Cambridge. I currently drive a Smart ForTwo cdi, which does 70 mpg. The car has to go back in July, or I have to pay the final payment of £6000.
Basically, I'm not too fussed what car I get next. It needs two airbags and at least two seats. Four seats is a bonus, but mostly if there's three of us we can use the wife's car. It needs to be reliable enough to last two years / 36k miles but again, if it does fail to start, there's always the wife's car.
The game is this.
Take the purchased price of the car. If the price of the car is under £1000, just take that.
Otherwise, subtract a £1000 deposit. Add 10% to what's left to cover interest, then add the £1000 back on. Then, subtract what you think the car is worth in 24 months / 36k miles as we can assume I'll be bored and want to sell it.
Add on two tax discs. For this I'll presume all cars cost roughly the same for service / tyres / MOT so we'll ignore that.
Finally, take one of the following and divide it by the realistic expected mpg to give fuel costs for the two year period:
Diesel: 237000
Petrol: 229000
LPG: 163000
Home made Biodiesel: 114000
If you suggest I can run it on Biodiesel, add £1000 to the purchase price to cover the cost of the rig.
Example:
2009 Smart ForTwo cdi for £6000:
Total = (5000 * 1.1) + 1000 + (237000 / 70) + 0 (tax) - 4000 (residual value) = £5886
2001 Rover 45 2.0 TD for £800:
Total = 800 + (237000 / 45) + 410 (tax) - 300 = £6176
So, yes, it's cheaper to keep my two year old car for two more years than to run an £800 banger. Fuel, eh?
2001 Rover 45 2.0 TD for £800 + £1000 for the bio rig:
Total = (800 * 1.1) + 1000 + (114000 / 45) + 410 (tax) - 300 = £4523
Humm, works out much cheaper to get a biodiesel rig and make your own, despite the interest and the cost of the rig. The L-series should run on just about anything.
2002 Honda Insight for £4500:
Total = (3500 * 1.1) + 1000 + (229000 / 70) + 0 (tax) - 4000 = £4121
The Insight comes out well as it's so rare and all have so many miles already, they won't depreciate much more - I think! Just cross your fingers the battery pack and electronics hold out.
So, folks - I suspect the winner will be old, relatively cheap, depreciation proof (or appreciating ...) and diesel. Suggestions?
Basically, I'm not too fussed what car I get next. It needs two airbags and at least two seats. Four seats is a bonus, but mostly if there's three of us we can use the wife's car. It needs to be reliable enough to last two years / 36k miles but again, if it does fail to start, there's always the wife's car.
The game is this.
Take the purchased price of the car. If the price of the car is under £1000, just take that.
Otherwise, subtract a £1000 deposit. Add 10% to what's left to cover interest, then add the £1000 back on. Then, subtract what you think the car is worth in 24 months / 36k miles as we can assume I'll be bored and want to sell it.
Add on two tax discs. For this I'll presume all cars cost roughly the same for service / tyres / MOT so we'll ignore that.
Finally, take one of the following and divide it by the realistic expected mpg to give fuel costs for the two year period:
Diesel: 237000
Petrol: 229000
LPG: 163000
Home made Biodiesel: 114000
If you suggest I can run it on Biodiesel, add £1000 to the purchase price to cover the cost of the rig.
Example:
2009 Smart ForTwo cdi for £6000:
Total = (5000 * 1.1) + 1000 + (237000 / 70) + 0 (tax) - 4000 (residual value) = £5886
2001 Rover 45 2.0 TD for £800:
Total = 800 + (237000 / 45) + 410 (tax) - 300 = £6176
So, yes, it's cheaper to keep my two year old car for two more years than to run an £800 banger. Fuel, eh?
2001 Rover 45 2.0 TD for £800 + £1000 for the bio rig:
Total = (800 * 1.1) + 1000 + (114000 / 45) + 410 (tax) - 300 = £4523
Humm, works out much cheaper to get a biodiesel rig and make your own, despite the interest and the cost of the rig. The L-series should run on just about anything.
2002 Honda Insight for £4500:
Total = (3500 * 1.1) + 1000 + (229000 / 70) + 0 (tax) - 4000 = £4121
The Insight comes out well as it's so rare and all have so many miles already, they won't depreciate much more - I think! Just cross your fingers the battery pack and electronics hold out.
So, folks - I suspect the winner will be old, relatively cheap, depreciation proof (or appreciating ...) and diesel. Suggestions?
What's more PH than a shed hunt?
Perhaps an E300DT? Only a grand to buy, and at about 35 mpg and no depreciation, £4700 for the two years on biodiesel. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
Perhaps an E300DT? Only a grand to buy, and at about 35 mpg and no depreciation, £4700 for the two years on biodiesel. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...
I used to cycle 34 miles each way to work. It took between an hour and ten minutes and an hour and a half depending of the weather and traffic. You're not just saving fuel, road tax, insurance but you will never need to go to the gym again and because you're fitter you won't have as much time off or need to pay for any treatment.
Also when it snows you will be the only one who gets to work on time.
Also when it snows you will be the only one who gets to work on time.
Sorry didn't read the title properly.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Boilersuit-Overall-Coverall-Mens-Navy-mechanic-college-/110582705794?pt=Men_s_Clothes&var=&hash=item5f7672c89d
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Boilersuit-Overall-Coverall-Mens-Navy-mechanic-college-/110582705794?pt=Men_s_Clothes&var=&hash=item5f7672c89d
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