Monthly Average?

[amish_geek]

Spent on your Saab(s)?


I'm just doing some calculations here, but totalling up all my goodies from the past few months has made my wallet do a double take.


Someone please tell me that you eventually reach a critical mass where the cost of goodies actually decreases.

[84Saab900TURBO]

Yeah, that critical point will happen when you start spending more time on the Saab to install the goodies instead of at work and get fired. Then you have no mor cash with which to buy goodies.

[TheRedBaron]

I think the answer is to lead a life of crime to support your saab habit

[SaabKen]

This is only an average, but my monthly gas bill is around Cdn$120. For maintenance I project a whole year's worth in advance at the beginning of each year to approx. $1200, or $100/month. In that $1200 I don't inlcude costs for things like new tires, wiper blades, fuzzy dice etc as those are infrequent. Nor car insurance. So direct out-of-pocket OPERATING/MAINTENANCE cost is pretty good at ~ $250/month, or about just over half day's wage

[grade8graydad]

Addictions are not to be rationalized, only consoled and compared to worse addictions. And like any good addiction, keep it hidden as much as possible.

Mine would be worse with a monthly payment. I figure about $100 per month is reasonable.

[SaabKen]

I think it should be noted that when we talk about maintenance costs, each of us is in a different situation in terms of servicing (DIY vs. dealer vs. indie), how we acquire car parts and how much we pay for them.

[escalator guru]

Over the year that I've owned her Madge has cost me a whopping.... $320 in unexpected maintainence.

About twice that in cleaning supplies

About ten times that in gas. On the upside, my new gas station in my new town gives me a free wash when I fill, so I suppose I save.

[Aaron Gilbert]

Originally Posted by SaabKen

...
So direct out-of-pocket OPERATING/MAINTENANCE cost is pretty good at ~ $250/month, or about just over half day's wage

So wait and let me get this straight. You make almost $500 per day? If so, I no longer feel any sympathy for all the thousands you've spent on your car in recent years. None whatsoever. At all.

Oh, and based on the 10 years of ownership for my '87 9000T, I would say $100 a month (average over the whole decade) is reasonable estimate for maintenance/repairs. Unfortunately it isn't needed evenly, but comes in large chunks, particularly when you need a transmission, engine, clutch, A/C repair, etcetera.

[SaabKen]

Well sure, I mean, after all it's very lucrative selling drugs

Just kidding

Hey man, just for the record I contributed my share to your local economy by way of getting things fixed at Scanwest. I bet Rob W. has a few bills in his bank account with my initials on 'em OK, maybe just a few coins .... the Cdn dollar was pretty darn low the last time I had my car there

You are absolutely right about the $100/month not being even. Dunno about most 9000s, but certainly my own experience resembles yours .... repairs come in large chunks. It's like the west coast thing ...... always anticipating "THE BIG ONE" (earthquake)

Originally Posted by Aaron Gilbert

So wait and let me get this straight. You make almost $500 per day? If so, I no longer feel any sympathy for all the thousands you've spent on your car in recent years. None whatsoever. At all.

Oh, and based on the 10 years of ownership for my '87 9000T, I would say $100 a month (average over the whole decade) is reasonable estimate for maintenance/repairs. Unfortunately it isn't needed evenly, but comes in large chunks, particularly when you need a transmission, engine, clutch, A/C repair, etcetera.

[sethsev7n]

Saabken, is it just me or do you not drive very much? $120cn seems pretty low per month. I'll spend between $150-200 per month, depending how much gas prices are

[SaabKen]

Seth, my work round trip is 25kms, per day. We actually don't drive the car much in the evenings. On the weekend I put maybe 100-150kms. So yeah, an average week the car sees approx. 225-275kms, 90% of it city driving.

[KevinC]

Originally Posted by amish_geek

Spent on your Saab(s)?


I'm just doing some calculations here, but totalling up all my goodies from the past few months has made my wallet do a double take.


Someone please tell me that you eventually reach a critical mass where the cost of goodies actually decreases.

I had reached that point.

Then a had a small crash on the Ring last month...

So there are plenty of other ways to keep the spending high.

[sethsev7n]

Originally Posted by SaabKen

Seth, my work round trip is 25kms, per day. We actually don't drive the car much in the evenings. On the weekend I put maybe 100-150kms. So yeah, an average week the car sees approx. 225-275kms, 90% of it city driving.

Right on, that makes sense then. Back home I don't live in the city so it takes 15-20 minutes to get to anything really.

[boon94]

At this point of owning the car for 1 year, repair costs alone have tallied $450 per month. This does not include gas, new stereo, or cost of "goodies"


... I could probably be making payments on a brand new 9-3 for that price aye?

Oh well, this year cannot possibly be as bad as last year as I seem to have fixed EVERYTHING already

[TheRedBaron]

Probably averages to 10-20 dollars a month, although this last month has probably dragged up that average (got a go-fast bit). If I fill up my tank (I think they're almost 17 gallons) it lasts for at least two weeks of city driving. This reminds me I need to get a flat fixed.

[KC9-3SE]

Let's see...
Monthy gas prices run my about $120 to $160. Until I get the facilities to change the oil myself, about $35 to $40 every three months. Goodies for my car are few and far between, maybe like $100 to $300 every 4 months to 6 months. Servicing is almost non existant, since a majority of the stuff, brakes, retorque engine bolts, upgrades, I have either done myself or with friends. But should there be something I absolutely have to get done, I usually spend about $80 to $150, normally about eveyr 6 months to a year.

It is actually pretty reasonable. I breathe a sigh of relief every day to know my Saab is almost as reliable as my last Toyota.

[amish_geek]

I'm not talking about maintenance and gas and insurance costs. I'm talking about fun "goodies".

So far this month, I've spent ~$500 on fiberglass alone. The NG900 is getting a rare roof spoiler, and the SPG is going to have to watch out for Capt. Ahab.

Previous months include upgraded 3" downpipe, large FMIC & piping, Nordic ECU, 17" fondmetal wheels.

I think since January, I've been averaging ~$400/mo in "fun" stuff for the cars.