Nope buy a 70s and DD it
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Do a little real math and let that influence your Man Math. I figure with a 50 mile RT commute you do about 300 miles a week with weekend driving. That's roughly 16k a year. At $4 per gallon here's how it works out:
Rav4: $2300 per year
LC: $4000 per year
Rav4: $11500 five years
LC : $20000 five years.
So in 5 years of commuting with the LC you will spend about $8500 more on gas alone. Then you'll need to factor in more maintenance on the LC because it's older. Plus basic maintenance on a Rav4 will be cheaper. The Rav4 is no LC, but it's still a pretty cool vehicle and much friendlier on the wallet.
Here's the calculator:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/savemoney.shtml
Except you're going to have a $26,000 vehicle that will be worth $12,000 at 5 years and 100k, not counting interest expense. Get a 2008 Corolla that's getting 30mpg vs 21 and now you're saving even more on fuel, the depreciation curve is much more flat, and you still have an 80 or 100 to play with.
You're completely ignoring the biggest factor in this. The cost of the brand new car and its immediate and steep depreciation. That $25k Rav4 will be worth 1/2 of what you pay new (assuming you don't finance a dime). If you finance on top of that you're out a few thousand more.
Including depreciation and your numbers above:
Rav4: 11500 + 25000 = 36500
LC: 20000+15000 = 35000
The LC is cheaper before maintenance. Including basic maintenance the LC may cost more, pending how handy you are at home and whether or not you pay for basic services.
Depreciation is HUGE and cannot be ignored.
Exactly. If you're aiming to save money, buy a car that's already lost most its depreciation. Let other suckers pay for the first 100k. Those first 100k are VERY expensive miles. Much more than most people realize.
I screwed up my numbers by leaving off the 5 year value. For some reason, I can't edit my post, so here's the correction:
Rav4: 11500 + 25000 -12500 = 24000
LC: 20000+15000 -10000 = 25000
The point is still the same but I guess I can't say the LC is cheaper before maintenance.
Sorry the double post. I'm no newbie to the forums but I guess 'mud has a restriction on edit ability. Either that or I'm just dumb.