Buying, running and maintaining any car should never really be particularly cheap as a well-running car needs to be looked after properly, and it goes without saying that a dirt cheap second-hand car is more than likely to come with its own inherent issues. However, there are many cars these days which are slightly cheaper to run thanks to low fuel consumption, or a low insurance bracket, and it is factors like these that any driver should look for when trying to save money on running a car. Of course, at the opposite end of the spectrum, there are many cars which cost a small fortune themselves when it comes to just running them, let alone buying them in the first place.
Perhaps rather surprisingly, a recent poll found the Audi A8 to be the most expensive car to maintain. Over a set period of 5 years, the family car devoured 1060 worth of essential maintenance, putting the company above rivals like BMW and Mercedes. However, when you consider fuel-consumption and depreciation, the head-turning Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG is number one, costing drivers an additional 40,870 in its first 5 years on the road.
Fuel efficiency has never been a strong selling point for sports cars, and it could be argued that anyone who could afford the Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster (with its asking price of around 153,000) wouldn't be overly concerned with the price of filling up their tank. However, considering that the two-seater only does around 11 miles to the gallon, it might not be the most sensible purchase in the face of rising fuel prices. Similarly, the Bentley Azure only manages around 12 miles per gallon, and the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti around 13.
It is important to consider factors like running costs and fuel consumption when looking for a new car. Whilst the models listed above are out of the price ranges of most, even some more modestly priced family cars and 4x4s can be expensive to maintain and run. And of course, more fuel efficient cars are also a lot kinder to the environment.
As car owners have started to become more aware of the imprint their driving leaves on the world around them, more and more manufacturers have started to use data like this in their campaigns, and some even going as far as to outline basic costs online, like how much a new wing mirror or side window replacement would be.
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