[V8] V8 Economics 101

[scott.olson at nokia.com]

This may start a whole new round of 'can you top this'
Last night, in response to Roger's mail, I added up all the $$$$$ I spent on the beast. . . . .ALL the usual stuff.  The only unusual repair bill was $2000 in 1999 to rebuild front differential and rear main seal to fix a diff oil leak. Painful. 
Anyway, here it is:
$ 31,000	1990 V8. Purchased 10 months old w/10k miles, in 1991
+ 16,800	Repairs, oil changes, tires, fluids.         Gasoline and insurance are NOT included.
-  4,000    Residual value if I would ever sell it. (I won't) 

= 43800	Total cost of ownership 

So, in 13 years of ownership it has cost me $1292 per year in repairs ($16,800/13) or including depreciation, $3369 per year ($43800/13) to own this car.  Some of you who bought fully depreciated beasts in the past few years are the real $$$ winners.


Scott O
FT. Worth, TX
1990 V8  117k





Most of the posts I've read since Roger shared his elevated spending ways,
could have been from me.  Cars have been a significant part of my life, yet
when the V8 came along, it was/is such a definitive culmination of all that's
fun in cars (to me), it's hard to move on - I mean, what do you move on to?
Maybe from a 3.6 to a 4.2, eh. (I think Roger's doing a good job on my head
over that choice!).  Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to share.

Life has been good recently - i.e., the V8 is running great!  The pain of 
shucking
out all that "maintenance" money is dulling.  I'm gaining hope that any future
needs may not be as bad as previously.  Doesn't it seem like parts are more
available and cheaper and the repair techniques shared here make many
repairs doable by most of us?  Or am I still rationalizing this car.....

What ever happen to Capt Dino Murphy and Steve Bucholtz?

Richard Morris
Renton, WA
90 V8Q