[V8] running the numbers

[Tony and Lillie]

Interesting figuring. I'd have to agree for the most part, that an older car 
is right up (down) there in cost with a newer one. And, they are also much 
simpler and therefore cheaper in relation to their newer counterparts if you 
have to pay someone else to do the work.

However, I don't think it gets much cheaper than my A1 $200 Jetta diesel. 
With $1500 in maintenance, 20K miles, and an average of 49 mpg (plus a quart 
of oil every 350 miles) it's pretty cheap. And compared to the V8, it might 
as well be a skateboard.

I had forgotten just how nice the V8 really is. It has been sitting for 
about five months pretty much untouched. Mine has way too many small issues 
to ever be a fixer, so it's engine will be donated to a 5000 I have. 
However, having driven it around the yard a bit (five acres :) I'd forgotten 
what it felt like. After so long, it almost makes me long for a nicer 
one...............almost.............

Oh, and with 330K+ on mine, the residual value IS $0!

Tony Hoffman

> 1990 V8Q, value of car about $5k (generous), gets about 20 MPG.
>
> Remaining service life is about 80,000 miles (assumes 120K on the car),
> fuel used in 80,000 miles is 4,000 gallons at $4 a gallon, or $16,000.
> Residual value of car set at zero - cost to drive 80,000 miles is thus
> $21,000, or 26.25 cents per mile.