It's funny how we all look a MPG as a key metric of vehicle ownership. It's perhaps the least important as it's a variable cost, it's the fixed costs that "kill the pig "

If we looked at lifetime cost at point of disposal we would really know what was and what wasn't a good vehicle to own. Some of the fleet leasing
sites have these calculators and it makes you realise that 15 mpg is nothing compared to year one depreciation.

Interestingly, my Scooby dealer ( who have always had an interest in motorsport and high performance cars) have started selling used "super cars " in the 30 to 60k bracket. It seems there is a case that if you are retired, looking at what the real worth of cash is , are entering your second childhood etc, a nice £50k 911 Carrera 4 can be run for a couple of years for way less than said year one depreciation on a new junior exec or SUV.. at least that was what he was telling me when I was playing in one while I waited for my car to have a winter check-over  2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

block off egr ,I did, no dpf on mine,went from 30/35 to 40mpg

my wife has just informed me that since filling up at tescos fuel mpg has dropped to 31,when I owned a petrol station mobil would offer us regraded fuel at a considerable discount,then all our regulars would come in for tune ups ,I think that's what I have in my tank.

&y

MartynB wrote:

It's funny how we all look a MPG as a key metric of vehicle ownership. It's perhaps the least important as it's a variable cost, it's the fixed costs that "kill the pig "

If we looked at lifetime cost at point of disposal we would really know what was and what wasn't a good vehicle to own. Some of the fleet leasing
sites have these calculators and it makes you realise that 15 mpg is nothing compared to year one depreciation.

It partly depends where you are in the food chain, though! I am expecting depreciation on my FL2 to be in the region of £100/month, whereas fuel costs will be nearly £300. If MPG dropped to 15 mpg, I’d be looking at fuel costs being £600/month!

Maintenance costs are an unknown, of course, but at my end of the scale, the variable costs vastly outweigh the fixed costs. 2005 D3 2.7 Auto
Previously:
2010 MY FL2 TD4e GS - Now gone at 199,500 miles, about 135,000 of them mine.
‘93 Defender 110 200TDi CSW
‘87 Defender 90 4 cyl Petrol
‘83 110 CSW V8 - best ever!
Range Rover 2-door V8 (not sure of year - 4-speed box and vacuum diff switch)
Series III SWB Diesel

I would agree that in the long run maintenance, repairs, insurance, tax and depreciation are probably far more brutal than mpg, they don't affect your day today bank balance, or at least not as visibly.

I put away money each month to cover insurance, tax and servicing, but it doesn't feel the same as filling up regularly. FL2 TD4 GS 60 reg Facelift - so many issues
2019 DS. Terribly unreliable.
Sold DS for a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Fingers crossed....
Sold Outlander for a 2014 SD4 SE Tech because I’m mental
Now greatly regret selling the Outlander. MPG of the FL2 is atrocious and so are the fuel bills. Fun though 😎
Couldn’t afford the fuel bills so back to an older Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. Significantly better than I remembered it to be…