<p>I'm looking into getting a car for senior year of college. I'm looking into buying a used car for about $5000 possibly off carmax or craigslist. Aside from parking, what are some of the recurring expenses that I should be aware of? And how much do they cost per month? </p>
<ul>
<li>gas</li>
<li>insurance</li>
<li>inspections (+surprising things they find)</li>
<li>a new car, if yours falls apart b/c you buy something that is already broken off craigslist.</li>
</ul>
<p>Haha no, just a Chevy Tahoe. The auto loan we got for it was based on a 20-month term or something weird like that, so the payment is higher. Gas is pretty self-explanatory. As far as maintenance, a routine service runs about $700 for it, fluid flushes were another $300, and a battery problem cost another $200. All of these expenses occurred within a one year timeframe, so I just averaged it out to about $100/month.</p>
<p>This is the most expensive car I’ve owned (07 bmw):</p>
<p>Monthly payments: $575 (36 month loan).
Gas: $80 (Honestly, I don’t drive that far, I put in $20 a week and it lasts).
Insurance: $150 (for basic+collision).
Maintenance: Anywhere from $200-$800, but this isn’t monthly. So far I’ve not had any problems except for the basic oil changes. I’ve only had my car a few months though.</p>
<p>Getting a used car that has good gas mileage will save you a lot. My first car was a 99 civic. I had no monthy payments since it was paid in full, gas was cheap (only about $100 monthly) and maintenance was hardly an issue. I think my most expensive repair was around $600.</p>
<p>A lot. I bought my '97 Blazer for $1,200. It was through family and in good condition, or so I thought. Since then, I’ve had multiple things break and go wrong…$6,000 worth of repairs. And you never know when you’re gonna have to replace a part and whatnot. Plus $1200 a year for insurance, and then there’s gas. </p>
<p>I should’ve just leased a brand new car that didn’t guzzle gas cuz this thing is quite possibly the worst investment I’ve ever made.</p>
<p>I change my oil every 3,000 miles and it usually costs about $60 for a big vehicle like mine. Never done a smog check, and I put air in the tires occasionally (once every few months) and it is only about 75 cents each time.</p>
<p>If you’re filling up at the gas station they’ll usually turn the air on for free for you.</p>
<p>Oil changes should be every 3000-5000 miles depending on how much and what type of driving you get done on your car. If you can do the change yourself you can usually get an oil change pack (filter + a few quarts) for, like, $20 at Pep Boys otherwise it’ll run you a decent amount more.</p>
<p>Registration and smog checks have costs that vary widely upon which state you’re in. I think back in Pennsylvania it was less than a hundred bucks to register my car, but I’ve heard here in CA it’s a few hundred a year.</p>
<p>Insurance depends heavily on your gender. My eighteen year old male cousin pays almost 300 dollars a month. I’m the same age and female and pay just over a hundred. (Less than 20 more than my each of my parents who have been driving 20+)</p>
<p>I have a Chevy Cavalier that’s amazing on gas for a 2000 car. I bought it used for $2000 from a guy who put a new engine and brakes in.
I don’t remember the price for inspection.
I got an oil change, plus filters, water, and windshield wipers at Wal-Mart for about 30 dollars.
I pay anywhere from 50-150 dollars a month for gas, living in New York (high gas prices) in a town where you rely on your car for everything.
I think registration plus tax on the sale of my car was about 100, but I could be wrong.
And I’m supposed to change my oil every 3000 miles, but I went about 5-6 thousand last time becuase I didn’t know when the last oil change was before I purchased the car.</p>
<p>I find the whole gender thing weird. Especially because in my own experience I have found women to be worse drivers. More girls I know have been in accidents than guys.</p>
<p>My mom used to work for an insurance company. I think she said guys are more likely to cause accidents with more damage.
Like a girl will back into a mailbox, but a guy will total his car and someone else’s going ninety down the highway.</p>
<p>On a whole though, I’ve found that it really doesn’t depend on gender though. Guys are just as likely to suck as drivers, but they’re less likely to admit it.</p>
<p>Loan: $180
Insurance: $75
Gas: $40
Oil Change: $30 - about every 3 months
Campus parking permit: $50 per year
State registration/plate sticker: $80 per year
Repairs: $2000 in the 2 years I’ve owned it</p>
<p>I love my car, but its the last GM (or any domestic) car I buy. Only 5 years old, 70,000 miles and there’s always something that needs repaired. Even stupid little stuff like door handles. Growing up, we had a '92 Toyota Camry which now has over 150K miles on it, and outside of routine oil changes, it was only in the shop once or twice for major repairs. </p>
<p>My advice: If you have gotten along fine for three years without one, don’t get one now. Wait until you graduate and find employment. Repairs can be costly, and they consume much of your budget. You wouldn’t want a car to drain your bank account and damper your senior year.</p>
<p>monthly payments (3 years thru BMW financial)- $1060
monthly gas (premium) - around $85 . i dont drive it that much.
monthly insurance (through Progressive) - $170.<br>
monthly smile factor of driving the ultimate driving machine - priceless</p>
<p>so roughly $1300/month. not too bad.</p>
<p>oh and and an insurance tip. Put it under your parents name (preferably mom’s) and make yourself a secondary driver.
That’s how I’m doing it and its ALOT cheaper.</p>