AAA estimates automobile owners pay an average of $7,834 per year

[fed-up]

http://chicoer.com/newshome/ci_3666762

Article Launched: 04/03/2006 12:00 AM PDT

The cost of driving: AAA estimates automobile owners pay an average of $7,834 per year to drive
By SCOTT JASON - Staff Writer

Some Butte County (California) residents were surprised Sunday to learn how much AAA says it costs to drive a car every year, while others expected the expense would be high.

The auto association estimates automobile owners pay $7,834 on average to drive their cars about 15,000 miles a year. That cost breaks down to about 52 cents every mile.

The cost includes vehicle maintenance, depreciation, insurance, fuel and tires.

...snip...

The only option to reduce his vehicle expenses is to get a more fuel efficient car, he said. Gas prices would have to be in the $4 to $5 range for him to consider that though, he said.






Can you tell that I live in a "red" county??? Is $4-5 a gallon what the idiots are willing to pay before they think about conserving???

I am sooo glad my son has decided he doesn't want a car when he starts college next year. He will rely on bike, bus and his own two feet for transportation! I will be moving and will soon cut my road miles in half, I will be able to bicycle for half my transportation needs. I figure my current expenses run about $3-4K a year (fuel, insurance, registration and repairs) driving a 1989 Honda Civic that gets 30MPG.

[KittyWampus]

1. Imagine how much we'd save if there was decent public transit nationwide

[REP]

2. It Costs Me About $1,300.00/Year in California

About $40/month for gas, plus insurance (I have comprehensive/collision) plus oil changes.

[Sgent]

3. Don't forget

depreciation, maitenance, and the average cost of repairs.

[REP]

11. I Didn't

I drive a Pontiac that's in very, very good repair that has under 70K on it; last repair (2 years ago) was $187.00. It's also held its value well.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. And people still look at me like I have 3 heads

When I tell them I don't have a car, haven't had one for 5 years, and I have no plans to get one in the foreseeable future.

The expense alone is enough for me not to be interested... then there's the global warming and war for oil issues...

[bliss_eternal]

12. I sometimes miss

being in a city with decent public transportation. It made some things so much easier, and less expensive. I think it's admirable you don't have a car.

Dh and I have shared one for a few years now (we had two for a while). With global warming and the cost of gas, etc. I'm reluctant to get another... (sigh).

[Rambis]

5. High speed rail cost estimate 3.5 billion

For what we have spent in Iraq we could have built high speed rail across this country 285 times.

[phusion]

8. Where do you get that figure?

that seems really low...

[Tyrone Slothrop]

6. It's much cheaper not having a car

I got rid of my car when I moved to NYC and haven't ever looked back.

And I only spend $912 annually for all of my transportation. ($76/month for unlimited public transit)

[lovuian]

9. Thats what America needs Mass transit

we are way behind on that one...

[cliss]

7. Not in this household.

I paid cash for my Ford Escort; a beautiful car in mint condition. It has never given me any trouble. I maintain it myself; I even change the oil every 3,000 miles.

[happyslug]

10. Sounds about right, the IRS gives you 44.5 Cents per mile

For 2006 (44.5 Cents per mile):
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=151226,00.html

For 2005 (40.5 Cents per mile):
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=131232,00.html

It had been 48.5 cents per mile from September 1 2005 to December 31st, 2005 do to Katrina.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=147423,00.html