Why I love my TDI (spreadsheet goodness inside!)

[kcfoxie]

So in prep for Bug-a-paluza I decided to sit down and do a hard analysis of what it's cost me thus far to operate Mr. Patches over our short 33,420 miles in the last year. You didn't misread that, I've put 33k on this car and haven't had him a year till the 27th of Jan.

Behold, the spreadsheet:
Part Cost Install Cost Thanks To Total Cost
Subframe 85 240 LKQ, ApexTuning, Griffin's Transmission $325.00
Suspension & Complete front end rebuild 880
ApexTuning $880.00
New Rotors and Pads 145 0 AutoZone, Chad for use of Brake Tools $145.00
Passat Bucket Seats 25
LKQ, Jason and Marc for helping me weld the brackets up $25.00
Center Console 0 0 Thanks BJ!! $0.00
Parking Brake Cover 0 0 Thanks Kevin! $0.00
Fenders 90 0 LKQ, Michelle, ApexTuning for shop space $90.00
Rear Bumper 50 0 LKQ $50.00
Hood 60 0 LKQ, Ian $60.00
Passenger Mirror 0
Came with car, in floor board $0.00
Door and rear interior panels 215 0 B-Power-B on newbeetle.org $215.00
Pioneer Speakers 105 0 Thanks Jeff for installing these! $105.00
Power Steering Line & Coolant Hose 285 187 ApexTuning $472.00
Timing Belt – complete 305
Boraparts.com and Jason for helping me install! $305.00
Shift Linkage ontop of transmission 200
Wolfburg Auto in Memphis – thanks guys! $200.00
AC Recharge 50
Absolute Automotive in Durham, NC $50.00
Turbo S Steering Wheel 0
Thanks Jason!!!! $0.00
Switchblade Key 65 0 Ebay whole key $40, nickel-metal blade $10, key cutting $15 $65.00
Steel Wheels 80
Thanks Jess! $80.00
Tires (7) 263.2
Murray's Used Tires $263.20
Oil Changes (4) 40 120
$160.00
Tag 36

$36.00
Title 60

$60.00
Purchase Price 3500

$3,500.00
Insurance/Year 522

$522.00
prop taxes 60.07

$60.07
Fuel Filters 60

$60.00




$0.00




$0.00




$0.00




$0.00




$0.00




$0.00




$7,728.27 subtotal



$2,406.00 fuel spent



$10,134.27 total invested
230880

$0.30 cost per mile
264300




33420 40 835.5 < gallons used

^ total miles avg mpg^ 2.88 < avg diesel $



2406.24




^Total Fuel cost



Sorry for the rough columns, but boiled down... we see that (1) I've paid for some repairs to be done, I've leveraged help and DIY, and most importantly I've put a number of tires (7 that I can account for) on this car since I got it (camber issue still a bit of an issue, causes the pass right to wear our prematurely).

$.30 per mile. Factor in your state property taxes, initial cost to title, your tags, oil changes, fuel, etc and you can get a similar cost. Happy to mail my spreadsheet to anyone who wants to toy with it.

To compare a 7k driven Neon with a new driver is 1.17 a mile to operate @ 27mpg (EPA) average (I put 40MPG average which I know is low, but that's to be fair about things). Her insurance is more than 3x what the Beetle's cost me. My mom's focus on a similar (not totally inclusive like this) sheet came out to about 26-cents a mile. It gets 26mpg highway at best, and has seen a LOT MORE work done (tho under the warranty so there were a lot of $50 line items....like 14 of them). My Jetta runs 18-20 cents.

So at 30-cents a mile and 51-cents a mile being the going reimbursement rate for business travel in a personal car, my TDI nets me 21-cents a mile if I use it for work.

Thoughts? Critiques? (But please no,"man your insurance is high!" I know, it's in part the county I'm in as well as the not-so-perfect driving record over the past 3 years).

EDIT: REALLY HARD TO READ!! Attached a PDF export from Excel for the curious to see how this should look. Also if I remove purchase price and non-essential upgrades (seats, speakers, fenders, etc) ... the cost is 18-cents a mile. But a true Cost of Ownership Analysis would include EVERY thing you do for your car, including things like the SMG Budvase (left that out, just thought of it), and parking fees...

[Smileybug]

I'd have to sit and calculate, but I bet my car is pretty cheap per mile. I've hardly put any money into it for repairs, and coming up on 6 years of ownership, I'm pretty damn pleased. My insurance is also super cheap, but its still in my dad's name so I'm getting a nice way around the cost She only has 98k on her, and I've put 44k of those on myself. I get easy 25mpg around town. Around 30 on the highway, but mostly I've been doing in town driving since I moved to Raleigh (the Honda is the trip car ). The Honda probably has far less cost as well...other than oil changes and tires, the only thing he's put into the car in 3 years and over 60k is an O2 sensor and a light bulb. Oh, he's also done a trans flush and power steering fluid but we did that ourselves.

But I'm lazy and don't feel like figuring all that out.

[jason m]

Wow did you confuse me. I like my beetle to, 40-41 mpg at ave 75-80mph hwy = one happy man. If I slow down I get 45mpg. 186k miles one timing belt ready for another, several sets of tires and loads of fun.

[OhSnap]

...and this is why I'm saving for a TDI Beetle! May you have many more happy years with Mr. Patches!

[kcfoxie]

Each motor works best for certain types. I drive a lot -- so the 2.0 doesn't cut it for me. But for Jenn (the one with the Neon), the 2.0 would serve her really well.

I also love that many of the things I've had to replace (like the subframe...) are one-time because of previous owners carelessness, or are just old and OEM. That power steering line was from 1998, and so I can't complain about the part cost given how long it lasted (like $22/year or something, I did the math some time ago). What interests me is what year #2 looks like... I'm keeping more detailed records for 2011 ... hoping that I operate at under 18-cents a mile.

But for those who want some hard numbers, the PDF has it all listed out in a somewhat choerent manner.

I like playing with numbers, and all of this has to do with my display for bug-a-paluza.

[RevoTDI]

I love my TDI it sure as hell is torquey! Can't wait to do the maintenance required and see how she runs.

[MichelleRoze]

great write up. I love my TDI. I've put 110k in about 3 1/2 years. I'm currently at 177k (yes I bought it at like 60k). Been through some pretty crappy stuff with Probie, but ya know, it's all worth it. When I tell people I get over 600 miles per tank, they flip! I love it. My first diesel, so I have to go through some growing pains, but it's worth it. I've learned that TDI's are not like gas powered cars, you CANNOT take them to just any mechanic....

Chris, I'll have to have you help me with some story board ideas for Bugapoluza too. Right now I"m focused on fixing his wheels, but still! Lovin' the steelies right now. And he's still one hot little dude!

[procupine14]

Originally Posted by jason m

Wow did you confuse me. I like my beetle to, 40-41 mpg at ave 75-80mph hwy = one happy man. If I slow down I get 45mpg. 186k miles one timing belt ready for another, several sets of tires and loads of fun.

That is actually a bit on the low side. My car gets 45 in the city with my driving and believe me I'm no grandpa! highway is generally around 50-55. I love my TDI!

[TDI_bubble]

I've seen anywhere from 550-850 miles to a tank. 110F+ freeway driving seems to be the most efficient. While hilly urban cold wet roads gets me 600 miles to a tank every time.