Okie Dokie, point taken. but for comparison's sake, lets take
two cars of "even standing"; the Volvo S40 and the similar Toyota
Camry 2.0.
Brand new, an S40 would cost $133,888 (SM Motors) With coe, whilst
a Camry weighs in at $117,988 (Borneo)
That purchase figure accounts for $15,900
lets say that after 2 years, you decide you want to upgrade... at
today's prices, a 08/99 Camry (not the current model, but
facelifted from the previous model) will fetch just on $96,000... a
09/00 model S40, being a whole year newer, fetches $103,800. Factor
in a conservative depreciation rate of $7,500 a year (assuming you
paid for the cars fully in CASH) and the volvo would be around
$96,300.. so that tips $300 bucks in favour of the volvo.
Basic running costs, such as daily driving, come into play. I know
from experience, having driven an S40 almost daily for 2 years,
that i'd get a real world 11.8 - 12 litres/100km, and a 2 litre
camry burns about 10.5 - 11 litres / 100km (various sources).
figure the difference to be 1 litre /100km, and over two years, you
travel 40,000km, that works out to be 400 litres, over two years,
and at todays pump price of $1.27 / litre, you are looking at
$508.
Maths so far... $15,900 - 300 + 508 = $16,108.
THAT is the cost of ownership of a volvo over a camry, DISREGARDING
your "little or no difference running costs" argument. and this is
only over the span of 2 years. go figure what it costs if you
actually decide to keep the car for the whole 10 years. I dunno
bout you, but 16 grand is nothing to sneeze at, it would definitely
cover my dream home entertainment system with big arse plasma
screen and all that... or it could go to saving for my kid's
education... or renovating the place.... but if you believe theres
no difference, then ok by me.
