Miata Mailing List: September 1995, Message #56
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   From: "David Green" 
Subject: Re:  Used Miata Advice/Main
   Date: Fri, 1 Sep 1995 17:21:11 -0400

RE>> Used Miata Advice/Maintenan         9/1/95                1:59 PM

Dr. Peter Mott wrote:

>> My projected costs:  5 years miata ownership, 100000 miles 
>> ** snip **
>>                                          total:  $5339

What a thorough and fascinating breakdown! I hate being made aware of how
much something is really costing me, though I guess I should like not being
ignorant. You should consider writing an article on "The True Costs of
Keeping a Car" and sending it to an auto magazine.

Scary: Most of the costs you mention actually seem cheap compared to other
vehicles.

I might take issue with the $20/month of car-care costs, however. I have
spent maybe $50 on materials that I have used since January, and I still have
a quantity left of many of them. This includes Meguiar's waxes, polishes,
cleaners, wash gel and plastic/vinyl care products. (Of course, this doesn't
include wash towels, 'cause I just snagged some old ones from the linen
closet.) Even reducing this to a more feasible $100/year only knocks $700
from your total though. I'd also take issue with 1.5 rear windows/5 years,
based on what I've seen here, since if part of your car care includes regular
application of Meguiar's 10/17/18 cleaners, the window should last longer
than three years. But again, that only knocks maybe $125 off the total cost.

So, best case, I can knock only $825 off your budget. Knowing the way these
things work, there would still be unforseen events (vandalism, accidents,
etc.) that would more than make up for that money, so your numbers are
probably pretty good.

Great budget. May I cry now?

David Green
Los Angeles, CA
david_green@studio.disney.com