Jetta cheapest car to own

[JustCruisn]

Vehicle Running Costs 2013 | RACQ
Best yearly costs
Volkswagen Jetta 118 TSI Twin charger 1.4L DSG 4dr sedan $9,798.91

Worst yearly costs
Holden Volt EV 1.4L/Electric CVT 5dr hatch $14,778 - $15,977


Reliability clearly not a factor

[team_v]

They obviously haven't accounted for the costs of replacing mechatronics unit's out of warranty.

[Umai Naa!!]

Odd, considering the Volt has 30,000km oil change intervals.

The oil is only Dexos1-spec, too. So only around the same price as 504/507, at it's dearest.

[brad]

Biggest costs appear to be depreciation & servicing a loan.

Lots of assumptions by the "statisticians" that put the figures together.
eg:

We have assumed 100% of the total cost (including statutory and other on-road costs) of the new vehicle has been financed. The loan through RACQ Finance is secured, has a 5-year term with monthly repayments and an assumed market-competitive fixed interest rate of 7.95%. A $285.00 loan application fee and $7.40 registration of interest fee have been included.

RACQ Finance details shown are indicative only; actual rates, terms, conditions and fees may vary

So the more expensive the RRP. the higher the running costs.

also, this piece of weirdness:

We assume replacement of tyres on the following basis:-
*4 tyres every 45,000 kms
*Plus 1 tyre during the 5 year period due to puncture damage beyond repair

Replacement costs include fitting and balancing and in conjunction with replacing the four tyres the cost of a wheel alignment. Costs are at retail pricing. Tyre selection is based on the most suitable replacement for the original equipment branded tyre or a tyre of equivalent specification of a different brand suitable for the vehicle.

Because all our cars have tyres that last exactly 45,000km

Electric recharging costs of 25ckWh? Why would you recharge at a shoulder tariff when you can recharge at overnight offpeak rate of 11cents?

There are so many variables in that document that it really is a bit of a waste of time.

[Umai Naa!!]

Wow, I didn't realise it was that clearcut.

/sarcasm.

On the tyre wear, you can never tell how long a tyre will last. Way too many variables.

My mother and I both own the same car, with the exact same tyres. Her's got 60,000 out of a set of tyres. Mine got 93,000 out of ONE PAIR, with the other two due in the next 5,000kms or so. I once did a 15,000km service on a customer's car, which again, was the same as ours, and it was needing two tyres there and then.

[The_Hawk]

Electric recharging costs of 25ckWh? Why would you recharge at a shoulder tariff when you can recharge at overnight offpeak rate of 11cents?

There are so many variables in that document that it really is a bit of a waste of time.

The so many variables is a good point, but they have to draw a line in the sand somewhere. Sticking with RRP and manufacturers claimed figures is about the only justifiable way to do these things. Tyre wear is probably also an average expected life span.
As for the electricity rates, I suppose it depends on when are where you charge your car and how it's charged. I'm guessing they assume you get home and plug it in then rather than wait up until offpeak times to start the charge?? I wonder if there is an option to plug it in and not have it charge until off peak available?

It would be interesting if there were real world numbers to use instead and see how different they were... but this is about as good as they can do. It might not be 100% accurate, but it's indicative.

It does look like they are writing down the total cost of the vehicle over 5 years with no regard for the resale value. It would be interesting to estimate this and factor it in (if you want to get really technical thrown in some NPV too ).

[brad]

The so many variables is a good point, but they have to draw a line in the sand somewhere. Sticking with RRP and manufacturers claimed figures is about the only justifiable way to do these things. Tyre wear is probably also an average expected life span.
As for the electricity rates, I suppose it depends on when are where you charge your car and how it's charged. I'm guessing they assume you get home and plug it in then rather than wait up until offpeak times to start the charge?? I wonder if there is an option to plug it in and not have it charge until off peak available?

It would be interesting if there were real world numbers to use instead and see how different they were... but this is about as good as they can do. It might not be 100% accurate, but it's indicative.

It does look like they are writing down the total cost of the vehicle over 5 years with no regard for the resale value. It would be interesting to estimate this and factor it in (if you want to get really technical thrown in some NPV too ).

My wife has a masters in some form of statistics (Applied Social Reseach). She'd look at that report & wet her pants laughing as it's the statisticians role to account for variables. It's a fact that some tyres on some cars last a long time & others wear out very quickly. eg: C63 AMG Merc are lucky to get 10,000km out of the rear tyres. That "report" doesn't even look at tread wear rating.

The Volt can be plugged into a std 10a GPO, so you could insert a simple timer in between the GPO & the power cord. I'd think using offpeak power would be in the std mindset of an EV buyer. Also, for daytime recharge, I'd venture that any person green enough to buy an EV would have a solar PV array on their roof, therefore power cost would be "nill". (yes, drawing a long bow now)

[JustCruisn]

QLD does not have timed tariffs.
You have to hardwire the thing in to a particular tariff to use it, the distributor turns it on off at will.
Tariff 11 is the only tariff you can use with a removable plug appliance (except for swimming pool filter on tariff 33)

Next week the rates jump anyway.

Tariff 11 General Tariff 29.37 cents/kWh
Tariff 31 Hot water only 11pm to 6am 13.64cents/kWh
Tariff 33 Off peak hardwired (pool, spa, dishwasher) 18 hrs per day 19.91cents/kWh

[brad]

QLD does not have timed tariffs.
You have to hardwire the thing in to a particular tariff to use it, the distributor turns it on off at will.
Tariff 11 is the only tariff you can use with a removable plug appliance (except for swimming pool filter on tariff 33)

Next week the rates jump anyway.

Tariff 11 General Tariff 29.37 cents/kWh
Tariff 31 Hot water only 11pm to 6am 13.64cents/kWh
Tariff 33 Off peak hardwired (pool, spa, dishwasher) 18 hrs per day 19.91cents/kWh

Wow. That must make life expensive. Thx for the info.

[The_Hawk]

QLD does not have timed tariffs.
You have to hardwire the thing in to a particular tariff to use it, the distributor turns it on off at will.
Tariff 11 is the only tariff you can use with a removable plug appliance (except for swimming pool filter on tariff 33)

Next week the rates jump anyway.

Tariff 11 General Tariff 29.37 cents/kWh
Tariff 31 Hot water only 11pm to 6am 13.64cents/kWh
Tariff 33 Off peak hardwired (pool, spa, dishwasher) 18 hrs per day 19.91cents/kWh

That's some nice detail! I went to look up those rates and got very bored before I found anything. I did notice that Origin seems to have dedicated power outlets for charging EV's which may very well have different rates completely (I didn't notice anything obvious but there you go).