How much do you guys spend on your cars?

[trckrunrmike]

Hello this is my first topic, been lurking around and finally decided to make an account. I just wanted to know how much you guys spend on your cars from the actual car to the detailing products and everything in between. I currently drive a 1997 Honda Accord and I want to buy an old BMW once I get out of college and finally have some money in the bank. I see a lot of you have aftermarket stuff, do those things cost a lot? And what makes German engineering the best?

[trev0006]

I think it is one of my major expenses

[gregmm6]

"Too much", is what the girlfriend says.

[smax]

I'm trying to keep my costs down by doing most of the hands-on stuff myself, but I have the feeling it'll still turn out to be pretty pricey in the long run.

[Takashi]

It really depends on what your priorities and how picky you are with your car.

You can spend $0.00 to $2,000 in a month on mods.

My best suggestion is to buy a car that has everything you ever want in it and don't mod it.

[Taiko]

For garage cost, £0 because I work on all my cars myself.
Insurance is my major expense, especially for the Volkswagen.
As you guys also know, fuel isn't exactly cheap here either.
I don't buy big mods often, i go for the less is more ideology... probably because I can't afford much more!

[ezbmr]

Paid 8400 for the 330i but that doesn't include the tax and license fees. Paid 400 for somethings that needed to be serviced.

The perfect balance of handling and ride make it one of the best engineered cars

Honda is a great engineered car, they keep getting better, but BMW has thought of almost everything in their cars.

Honda is also one who will take an old engine and put it in a new car, for example the new Accord has engines that have been proven in other of their vehicles, with a few mods from year to year

[Jamil20]

If you're asking about maintenance, I haven't spent that much on the car. Parts costs about the same or less than domestic parts, except for the odd pieces.

If you're ask about aftermarket modding, I haven't spent that much on the car. Aftermarket stuff can be cheap, or can be expensive. You really get what you pay for though. I'd prefer not to put something that looks cheap on my car, so I'll dish out the big dollars for things. You can find altezzas and one piece headlights for our cars on ebay.

[prash]

I went through all my receipts for maintenance and repairs for 2006 and I spent $3300 on it, and I consider that a relatively trouble free year. That's not including tires or fuel or mods. This year is on pace for about $2500, but one problem could easily make it more than what I spent last year.

[aKa RuBain]

Considering I fix almost everything myself, it doesn't cost too much, maybe $1k a year or so if all goes well. Mod-wise... well, already spent close to $2k, but I'll probably just buy some new wheels and tires and call it a day since the car is my DD.

[DetailAddict]

it depends on the stage of my life. back then, when I had the time, I would hit the track all the time and money would disappear FAST! But now, I only spend on maintenance.

[trckrunrmike]

And where do you guys buy your BMWs? I look through craigslist and I'm not seeing the low prices you pay for your cars.

[DetailAddict]

i am also looking to get one myself. However, I am not planning on buying used... So I'll be visiting the local dealerships.

I've only purchased 1 used car in my life, and I was able to find the car I want and a good deal through the local car forums. Good thing about buying from forum member is that you would be able to search the car history if the member is active. You could find out if the car has been tracked, accident, issues here and there.

good luck!

[darsh999]

Well i have a honda accord and i used to spend in an average during its service time only and that includes changing of engine and breake oil and washing but the wheel balancing and allignmenti is always free from the company.

[GGray]

I have spent 1.5 times what I paid for my E36M3 when I bought it six years ago. I like to play with my cars...I look at it like this, its paid for so its money I would have used for a car payment...

I don't keep track anymore...Don't want to know

[E464ME2]

~12K for the car... oil change, spark plugs, 1 rear speaker.

[Chinny4290]

A car is the 2nd biggest spender next to a house or permanent living space in terms of payment.

[DEFKON99]

as much i possibly can!

[The-Great-328ic]

as much i possibly can!

same here lol

[randan]

at least 6 to 700 a month..

[dawgeatdawg]

holy, some of you guys are crazy! I've paid less than $1500 in maintainance, bought the car for $4000 CAD back in 2004. Everything still works great! Granted the original owners dumped a ton of money into it.

[DR. Dre]

too much. Just purchased oil cooler and oil pan baffle. Turns out it will cost me an additional $800 to have both installed. That's the price you pay if you want to do track days or HPDE. However, I'd probably find some other way to piss my money away it it wasn't spent on the car

[brianahlers]

80% of my budget is towards my car, but i'm a college kid. i pay for the payments, insurance, gas, maintenance, that kind of shit. i see no reason to do any mods to my car other than the leopard print seat cover

[weenstan]

Too much, yet never enough.

[SeattleBMW325i]

Too god damn much. I've tried to slow down, which I have, but sway bars are looking damn tempting every time I take a turn.

Lets put it this way. I've made somewhere around 30k in the past couple years, more like 20k after taxes, and i spend about 50% of my money on my car