YACT: Edmunds "True Cost To Own"

[GasX]

Anyone have any feeling about the accuracy of this tool?

Taking it at face value, it makes evaluating keeping my current car, buying a different used car and buying a new car a very interesting process.

Maybe I WILL get that new Mazda 6...

 

[GasX]

I didn't think it was possible for a YACT to get to page 5 without a reply... :Q

 

[GasX]

twice...

 

[NutBucket]

IMHO the problem is most people don't keep good enough records for those figures to be accurate. I mean, they're averaged but who remembers everything?

IMHO unless your current car is rag and in need of lots of repairs its probably cheaper to keep it then to buy a new one. My car is 13 years old and I doubt a new car would be any cheaper to operate.

 

[BigSmooth]

I think it's a good starting point, but for a "true" cost there are a TON of variables involved that depend on the individual driver and car. Where you live, how you drive, even your credit history can affect how much it costs you to insure and maintain a car.

I do think it's a somewhat useful tool for comparing cars against each other because they probably keep most of those variables the same.

 

[GasX]

I figured new car to new car is a fair comparison.

New car to used SUV might be all kinds of useless...

It's interesting to note that TCO for an Acura MDX is less than it is for a Ford Escape... :Q