Where has most of your money gone on cars?

[tcofran]

Nothing.

Hondas don't break.

Subaru - doesn't break.

 

[LaraC]

Insurance

 

[Rouxenator]

Nothing.

Hondas don't break.

I have heard of people getting attacked on the N2 because their Honda broke down.

 

[Sinbad]

R2-3k Spark plugs on a V6 with official merc labour!


Rough prices from memory.

12 spark plugs! :wtf:

 

[Gaz{M}]

Zero - that's what maintenance plans are for.

But actually I lie. I've probably bought 8L of oil topups for my A4 2.0T over the last 4 years because it drinks oil due to crappy piston rings. That, and tyres.

Also, in terms of maintenance, nothing much except normal service costs, except for a PCV replacement as a free oil consumption campaign from Audi.

It has been a very reliable car for its first 5 years of life.

 

[JackWhite]

How much are we talking here?
Compared to my R10k head gasket fix I suppose the R70k deprecation is bigger.

I would say the depreciation is also more than the interest you pay had you bought with finance.

 

[rorz0r]

Depreciation

+100

 

[MrR]

Different cars over the past 12 years:

1. Piston through the block - reconned engine + labour. R20K.

2. Gearbox Replacement (both mounts snapped and "dropped" the gearbox) - around R12K

3. The second last car that I purchased (and took back within 5 days) would've cost me over R60k for electronics (ecu, wiring, aircon) and other odds n ends to be replaced. Bought the car at a "reputable" national dealership and immediately took it to a mechanic for inspection (I've learnt to do this over the years as car salesmen are lying bastards looking out for themselves). Was surprised and shocked when I heard all that was wrong with the car; the car that supposedly passed the dealership's checks. Took the car back, lodged a complaint with their head office, reported it and got my lawyer involved. Took a couple of months just to get my money back and I'm still waiting for a settlement (many months later).
Financially, I didn't lose a cent but my time is valuable and this adventure had cost me lots of time, not to mention the frustrations.

 

[Rouxenator]

I would say the depreciation is also more than the interest you pay had you bought with finance.

Way more, I never finance more than R100k and I always settle in less than 2 years.

 

[Kal86]

Don't know why you exclude brakes as they are a pretty costly item when you do discs and pads all together...more than a cambelt job in fact.

But beyond brakes I would say cambelts, clutches and suspension components.

However the single most expensive item based on size that I have ever purchased was the PCV Valve replacement for my GTI. It was something like R850 but when I actually saw the thing and how small it was and essentially just a piece of plastic I was rather miffed about the whole thing, especially considering it was just a noise and not a "real" problem.

The only reason I left out brakes was due to some people considering them your standard wear and tear costs for a car. I wish when I had my Alfa Romeo 156 2.5l V6, that doing the brakes was more expensive than the last cambelt service I had....EISH, if only

 

[SauRoNZA]

Way more, I never finance more than R100k and I always settle in less than 2 years.

Yeah but a car is also a money generator which many people tend to forget.

Yes you don't need the latest and greatest but the fact that it enables you to earn a living often offsets the other costs.

 

[Rouxenator]

In most cases yes. For me 75% of my earning a living travel is human powered.

 

[Sinbad]

In most cases yes. For me 75% of my earning a living travel is human powered.

Is that cos your slowpel is always broken?

 

[LaraC]

Is that cos your slowpel is always broken?

I wonder what Spiderz answer's going to be.

 

[Rouxenator]

Is that cos your slowpel is always broken?

They don't break as they were assembled with German precision and not by someone day dreaming about their afternoon siesta.

 

[sand_man]

Just under R50k to repair multitronic gearbox on my 2004 A4 2.4.

 

[Rouxenator]

So correct me if I am wrong but so far it seems the most costly cars to keep on the road are, in order : Audi, Merc, Jeep, Alfa ?
With the cheapest being Honda and Toyota?

 

[Istari.6]

R480 to replace a section of bent exhaust pipe when my brother drove over something which snagged on the system. (8th Gen Honda Civic). Service stuff has been covered by motorplan. It's my 3rd Honda and I can attest to the fact that mechanically, they are virtually indestructable.

Just to add, a mate of mine also got quoted around 40k to fix his Audi Gearbox He is now driving a Polo.

 

[MrGray]

So correct me if I am wrong but so far it seems the most costly cars to keep on the road are, in order : Audi, Merc, Jeep, Alfa ?
With the cheapest being Honda and Toyota?

Sounds about right

 

[Kal86]

So correct me if I am wrong but so far it seems the most costly cars to keep on the road are, in order : Audi, Merc, Jeep, Alfa ?
With the cheapest being Honda and Toyota?

Mercedes charges R798 per hour labour if not covered by motorplan or warranty at the moment