Having a car can either be a nightmare or a dream come true. It depends and varies on what kind of driver you are on the road. What you can’t deny, though, is that getting your own car saves you from experiencing insane public transportation that everyone has to face every day.
However, although you may be saved from going through that hellish commuter life, you’re still going to be stressed out from the amount of money you need to spend on your four-wheeled buddy. The culprit here is your car’s maintenance.
Nightmare Costs of Maintenance
Cars, by all means, are not cheap. Spending on it doesn’t end on the actual purchase. Aside from car insurance, there are fuel and parking expenses as well as monthly car care. The latter can range from around $48, and oil and filter changes for Japanese car brands can amount up to $500 per visit. Of course, this is apart from the unwanted repair and maintenance required for your vehicle.
Maintenance is something you cannot avoid, especially on material investments like cars and houses. However, you can try to save money by choosing a car that has a low maintenance cost. Here are the cars with the cheapest maintenance costs of all time:
Toyota Prius
This is one of Toyota’s most popular hybrid vehicles. This car is considered the cheapest when it comes to maintenance costs. According to the California Air Resource Board, the Prius is one of the cleanest vehicles in the U.S.
In general, the maintenance costs can range around 450 USD per year, which is in total can be around 3,943.24 USD over a period of 10 years.
Toyota Corolla
Another from Toyota and considered to be one of the best-selling cars in the world, gaining 9.5% of total sales in the U.S. alone, is the Toyota Corolla. This famous sedan certainly lives up to both expectations and no wonder that it is one of the most lasting, in-demand, and most chosen car.
This car has an average yearly maintenance cost ranging from 520 USD or 5,209.53 USD in a span of 10 Years. An indeed good price point for the world’s most popular car.
Subaru Outback
This is one of the staple cars in suburban garages, and for a very good reason. Subaru cars are known for their reliability, safety, and capability. While somehow luxurious, this powerful and all-wheel drive is surprisingly not a complicated vehicle in terms of upkeep. In fact, Subaru Outback’s required maintenance costs less than expected. Along with the name and luxurious touch, it comes with an impressive average maintenance cost of 670 USD per annum.
Honda Fit
It’s not surprising that yet another Japanese brand has made it to the list, with Honda Fit being the top performers in all of Honda’s models. Well, the Fit does not let us down with its name, allowing drivers of this car to make the cost for maintenance fit within an estimate of 500 USD each year.
Ford Mustang
Alas, a non-Japanese Car brand has made it in our list. If you’re into the sporty side, you may want to consider the Ford Mustang.
The latest of this brand and model is the most economical sports car in terms of average yearly maintenance costs with only a surprising 979 USD per year. Sounds good for a big boy’s toy. In addition, the latest ones are more reliable, durable, and requires lesser maintenance in their first few years on the road.
Contrary to popular belief, the purchase price is not the only factor to consider when buying a car. Ownership comes with additional expenses that can give you headaches in the long run. Thus, opting for a vehicle with low maintenance costs is a wise financial decision.