Amidst a recent whirlwind of car maintenance expenses with my trusty nine-year-old Range Rover Sport, I embarked on a quest to find the most budget-friendly car brands for long-term upkeep. With my finances feeling the pinch, I’m on a mission to squirrel away as much cash as possible over the next three years to regain some financial freedom.
Thankfully, Consumer Reports recently released its Annual Auto Survey, polling members on their maintenance and repair expenses over the past year. Here’s the lowdown:
According to the data, Land Rover takes the crown as the most expensive car brand for long-term maintenance! Whoo hoo! While I’ve always championed striving for the top spot in something, I can’t say I’m thrilled to discover that I’m driving the priciest vehicle to maintain.
The Cost of Car Maintenance Is Outrageously Expensive
The survey question may leave us scratching our heads: Did respondents really spend that much on maintenance and repairs in just one year, or is it a cumulative expense over the vehicle’s lifespan per five-year segment?
The figures likely represent total expenses over periods like 1-5 years or 6-10 years. I mean, let’s be real, no average Range Rover owner is shelling out $15,000 a year for five years straight! Instead, they’ve likely spent $15,000 over a five-year period on repairs and maintenance.
Either way, from the cheapest to the most expensive, every cost after the five-year mark seems exorbitant. I may have to rethink my belief that the ideal length of time to own a car is 10 years. Or at least, if one plans to own a car for the long term, to consider not owning a luxury car brand.
The Unexpected Champions of Car Affordability
As a long-time Tesla shareholder, I’m happy to see it emerge as the most budget-friendly car
