audijim113

I drive a 2000 A8L which now has 217000 miles. My wife thinks it cost too much to own. I think it is not too bad. (of course, it's always tough to win an argument with wife but your feedback might help)

Other than some minor dings, it still looks good, drives nice and everything including AC works except sun roof and head rest adjusters.

Bought car in 2010 with 123,000 miles, purch cost - $ 8,200
Total cost of all maint. since i've owned $11,400
includes tires, oil chainge, time belt, brakes, fuel pump,
tranny flush, shocks, control arms and lots of other stuff
total cost purchase and maint, less gas $19,600

dividing cost by miles driven (94,000) since I've owned it is about .21 cents per mile
This doesn't consider depreciation because it wouldn't sell for much today so I'll just assume all of this is my cost to date and ignore what I might get if sold.

This does not include gas. Although it is a big car, I average about 20MPG with half hiway and half local miles. (I drive very conservatively)

Gas prices have been all over the map in the last 3 yrs but I'm using an avg of $3.75 / gal (mid grade)

Doing the math, my operating cost for gas is about $.19 per mile

ownership, maint and gas total about .40 cents per mile

I'm not counting insurance, registration, and minor crap like windshield wipers, car washes,
occasional light bulb

I don't have another big maint item (time belt) for another 30,000 miles

So, do i win the argument? Is .40 per mile too much?

JoePGT5S

The quick calculation I usual do is to compare the cost of ownership to a lease payment on a new car. In your case the lease equivalent is about $400/month (19600/4/12).

Then ask yourself (and wife); would we be happier in a new car paying a $400 lease. In your case, driving quite a high mileage, you may not be able to lease much of a car at that price.

audijim113

I did some looking at lease prices for used audis. The least per month I could find is a 2012 A8 for close to $800 per month. Even at that, over 15,000 miles / yr and the mileage takes it way up.

I'm not sure leasing, even a Chevy or Ford in the $300 to $400 range would be reasonable with the extra miles. And... it wouldn't be an V8 all wheel drive, A8. I'm not sure by big body would fit inside anything much smaller. Given my figures include the purchase price of 8200, if I subtract the $3500 KBB says it worth totay. my total cost of purchase and maint is $16,000. 16000/4/12 = $333/month.

Am I making sense? Quite frankly the allure of a "new" car in this price range doesn't do anything for me. Although I wouldn't be responsible for maint and it may get better mpg, I don't think this is apples to apples.

audijim113

So anyone out their with a nice 4-5 yr old A8 want to lease it to me for say, $500/mo?

JoePGT5S

I think the numbers speak for themselves.

Now you just need to make the proper presentation to the wife :-)

JoePGT5S

When I do the calculation my effective 'lease' payment comes to $360. That's including a rebuilt transmission, 3 years of ownership and the assumption of $0 value today.

So far it seems like a bargain.