photo courtesy Chrysler's media archives
A few months ago, Dave Pool had a question to pose to the Hemmings Nation regarding cars with the best ride. He’s come back with another thought-provoking question: Which cars have the lowest cost of ownership?
What used car—available today—would represent the cheapest possible ongoing cost of ownership? The rules would have to stipulate that we’re really not concerned with what its ultimate resale might recover…what I’m puzzling over would be pure cash outflow.
In other words, a candidate car would have 1) a very low initial purchase price, 2) great reliability even today and 3) low cost of parts when/if repairs are needed.
When this question first occurred to me, the first thing that popped into my mind was Tom Magliozzi (of Tom & Ray, hosts of NPR’s “Car Talk”) and the black, early-’60s Dodge Dart he used to drive!
And, back in the day (having owned one), I would have thought a used VW Bug would be a contender. But, from what I read these days, parts for them are getting increasingly scarce.
Got any thoughts? If you had to search today, what would be the least expensive car to own, simply on the basis of the costs of entry and continued operation?
I would add into the cost of ownership the cost to insure the car. I would also add that nothing I’ve yet owned has cost so little to purchase, maintain and insure than my current beater, a $900 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Since I bought it a year and a half ago, it’s only needed brakes, an O2 sensor, a battery and starter. Have you done better?