10 Years! 2003 ALH Fuel mileage information and Cost(s) of Ownership

Perfectreign

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2013
Location
Los Angeles
TDI
2000 Jetta GLS 5-speed
Wow, that's an amazing amount of data! I've never done this for any of my cars/trucks.

However, one thing to keep in mind. Unless the car/truck is costing you more in maintenance/fuel than a new car/truck, it will be worthwhile to keep. The only exception will be if you have a change. (For example, a family of four would not do well in a MGB as a primary car.)

Never knew the Golf came in a four-door.
 

KAT90

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2010
Location
Mass
TDI
99.5 Jetta
Thanks KAT! I wonder what your total "savings" will be at .565 by the time you are done with the Jetta? Isn't that a $9,000 a year difference between reimb and cost?
That's a good guess, I reckon the car has netted me over 100K including purchase price during the past 13 years.


Mike is great- we took the Jetta to his new shop last month. Beep at me next time you see me! What color is your Jetta?
The car is red with a "RKBA" sticker by the plate. Planing on having Mike do the 400K TB this winter using the high mileage kit. He'll do well in Agawam, word of mouth will keep him going.

Regards
 

hskrdu

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Location
Maryland and New England
TDI
2003 Golf GLS 4D 5M, 2015 GSW SE 6M
Wow, that's an amazing amount of data! I've never done this for any of my cars/trucks.

However, one thing to keep in mind. Unless the car/truck is costing you more in maintenance/fuel than a new car/truck, it will be worthwhile to keep. The only exception will be if you have a change. (For example, a family of four would not do well in a MGB as a primary car.)

Never knew the Golf came in a four-door.
Hi Perfect!
It's funny about the cost of maint + fuel of current car vs new car, since prior to looking at all this info I might have agreed with you- or at least called it a wash. I think it's more accurate to say that even with high maint and fuel costs, keeping the car you own is almost always better financially than a new car, since the cost of depreciation within TCO is so high. That being said, I'm not counting for catastrophic loss or replacement of an engine, etc. More simply, that a new car's lower maint costs (if we say for SofA they are lower), and improved FE will still be outweighed by the costs of buying new. Of course, the real kicker is where your money goes- for the old car expenses go to maint and fuel, and the car may be unavailable. For the new car the cash goes to depriciation, registration, taxes and fees, etc., but you are paying, in a sense, to ensure the car is available and safely operable a greater percentage of time.

I think it's the 2 door Golf that was produced in far lower numbers, but I don't have the exact data. Someone here will know them, I'm sure.:)
 

hskrdu

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Location
Maryland and New England
TDI
2003 Golf GLS 4D 5M, 2015 GSW SE 6M
That's a good guess, I reckon the car has netted me over 100K including purchase price during the past 13 years.

The car is red with a "RKBA" sticker by the plate. Planing on having Mike do the 400K TB this winter using the high mileage kit. He'll do well in Agawam, word of mouth will keep him going. Regards
I wonder how many people would understand what you mean by netting over 100K from owing a TDI? Pretty amazing!

I'll watch for a red Mk IV Jetta. Lots of TDI in the Berkshires, not many TDIClub plates. Is RKBA 2nd Amendment? You also don't see many of those in the Berks!:) (Which is funny, since I previously associated an increase in wilderness with a corresponding increase in liberty...).

BTW, my wife's Jetta is platinum grey with Club plate frame, you might see that one, too.
 

Perfectreign

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2013
Location
Los Angeles
TDI
2000 Jetta GLS 5-speed
I think it's the 2 door Golf that was produced in far lower numbers, but I don't have the exact data. Someone here will know them, I'm sure.:)
Interesting! I tend to see only 2 door Rabbits and Golfs around here, along with a plethora of Type 1 Beetles.

Oh, and having looked at your name, I'm now listening to Candy Apple Grey on the computer. My poor co-workers will have to suffer!
 

hskrdu

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Location
Maryland and New England
TDI
2003 Golf GLS 4D 5M, 2015 GSW SE 6M
Interesting! I tend to see only 2 door Rabbits and Golfs around here, along with a plethora of Type 1 Beetles.

Oh, and having looked at your name, I'm now listening to Candy Apple Grey on the computer. My poor co-workers will have to suffer!
C.A.G.! Love it!
Here's today's C.A.G. trivia: If you see the movie Adventureland (2009), when love-interest girl (actress from Twilight) takes suitor boy (from Social Network) home in her car, she turns up the radio and plays...


Don't Want to Know If You are Lonely!

I'll see if I can find the production numbers for 2/4 door somewhere- it would be interesting to compare.
 

Wankel7

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2012
Location
Indiana
TDI
2003 Jetta Wagon
Wow, seeing the numbers laid out like this....cars are expensive! Where is my bike :p
 
8

8v-of-fury

Guest
Makes me proud to say I have been driving an '84 my whole driving career.. lol

I wish I kept better track of all of this, however I'd say TCO would be $20,000-$22,000.

6 years of daily, 4 different engines, 3 transmissions, many many renditions over the years. Lowered, raised.. back to stock height.

Still though, on the bigger guys with the 500K from new.. DAMN, thats some cheap transpo!
 

hskrdu

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Location
Maryland and New England
TDI
2003 Golf GLS 4D 5M, 2015 GSW SE 6M
A friend of mine just sent me an abstract from the newest AAA yearly cost of ownership study:

AAA says the average American worker drives a mid-sized sedan about 15,000 miles a year, give or take a few thousand. That equates to $760 a month spent on a combination of gas, maintenance, tires, full-coverage insurance, license and registration costs, depreciation and finance charges. All of these factors bring the average year-long cost of driving to a whopping $9,150.

Of course, this meant I had to do some math and create more graphs....

(I used 2013 data, since my TCO is still being gathered for costs after Nov 2013).




10 Year Total Cost of Ownership (TCO):

My TCO factors include:
(1) Depreciation (initial cost minus current TMV, including financing).
(2) Fuel Cost (fuel only, additives are included in “Maint Items”).
(3) Maintenance Items (tools, oils, filters, consumable fluids, bulbs, belts, fuel additives, battery, shocks, struts, suspension items, tires, windshield, dent removal, glow plugs, fuses, sensors, clamps, sprays, various cleaners, waxes, paints, wiper refills, etcetera).
(4) Labor (Fees paid for labor connected to maintenance, installation of parts, diagnostics, shop fees).
(5) State Fees (Vehicle tags, registration, title, inspection, emission fees. Includes initial state sales tax).
(6) Insurance (Includes several periods of reduced cost due to lower miles/year).

Not included: Highway or bridge tolls, parking garage fees, and items purchased just for fun.



So, using the AAA analysis, even compared to the average "small" sedan, my TDI is "saving" me $3,700 per year, and compared to the average, is almost $6,000 less expensive to operate per year. That's amazing.

The AAA study is pretty decent, compared to many other TCO or COO evaluations. I think this is the 65th year the study has been conducted. Here's a link to their 2013 study, so you can see their factors:
http://newsroom.aaa.com/2013/04/cos...ording-to-aaas-2013-your-driving-costs-study/



March 2014: Audi Avant solid rear wiper and rotating twin rear washer jet getting tested!
 
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Genesis

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 26, 2003
Location
Sevier County TN
TDI
'03 Jetta Wagon
Yeah, the TCO on my '03 TDI has been utterly amazing. Leaving aside the very-reasonable (by today's standards) acquisition cost with all the bells and whistles that are on the car (leather, premium sound, heated seats, etc) the simple bottom line is that beyond routine scheduled maintenance and expected wear items (battery, tires, brakes, etc) the only non-scheduled work it has required was a pump reseal, an alternator pulley, a glowplug harness (under $100) and a serpentine tensioner.

In 10 years and 185,000 miles of operation.

AAA says $9,194 in maintenance over that period for an "average" sedan is average for maintenance. That's $900 a year -- I haven't spent anywhere near that sort of money.

Never mind that fuel, at today's prices, is about a dime a mile as opposed to 14.45 cents in their table.

I didn't finance and my insurance is relatively cheap as I'm a middle-aged baztard with a clean driving record, but still....
 

hskrdu

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Location
Maryland and New England
TDI
2003 Golf GLS 4D 5M, 2015 GSW SE 6M
Gen- I hear ya! I think our '03's have a lot of factors that favor low TCO, given lower initial costs than CR's, higher FE, and lower maint costs.

Here's the PDF of their 2013 study:
http://newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/YourDrivingCosts2013.pdf

The "average" refers to small, medium, and large vehicles combined, so that, for example, the 2013 gas cost per mile of 14.45 cents includes gas guzzlers. Note that the 2013 gas cost per mile for small sedans is 11.46 cents, which sounds reasonable.
 
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TornadoRed

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 3, 2003
Location
West Des Moines (formerly St Paul)
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI wagon, silver; 2003 Jetta TDI wagon, indigo blue; 2003 Golf GL 5-spd, red (PARTED); 2003 Golf GLS 5-spd, indigo blue (SOLD); 2003 Jetta TDI wagon, Candy White (SOLD)
TDIs are for people that drive a lot more than 15,000 miles a year. That's where the savings really add up.
 

nicklockard

Torque Dorque
Joined
Aug 15, 2004
Location
Arizona
TDI
SOLD 2010 Touareg Tdi w/factory Tow PCKG
Wow. I LOVE this thread data and presentation. Just wonderful :)

I should keep such accurate records. What dedication :) I think I tend to buy used and let someone else take the lion's share of depreciation expenses. I just bought a 2008 Aprilia Shiver with 21,500 miles on the clock. Other vehicles are a 1997 Mercedes 430 for the wife and a 1998 BMW 318ti. All bought used. Between me and my wife, we've bought 3 new cars and 23ish (me) + 5 (her) used vehicles.

I made money on my first Tdi and broke even on the second one, in my estimation at least. Been shopping for a 335d, but in no hurry--has to be the right one.

How did you figure depreciation costs by year? Some standardized formula or a formula you devised? Your thread really makes for a good read and thinking.
 
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cabot

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 21, 2013
Location
Atlanta
TDI
2002 Jetta ALH
This is amazing. I need to improve my record keeping. I did some quick math. I have about $12000 into my 2002 Jetta over 2.5 years, 50k mi. I like to buy things that other people didn't take care of and then take care of them for some reason. I wouldn't advise it. This includes the purchase price, an second 01M, and reconstruction from a serious crash.

Depreciation is typically calculated by assigning an asset a service life and subtracting the yearly amount from total assets on your balance sheet once yearly. Under the circumstance here, where the car is a personal asset, I'd think the most reasonable way to calculate it would be PURCHASE PRICE - ESTIMATED VALUE. Estimated value could be Kelley blue book private party or NADA or an appraisal. I would like to know what you used here too.
 
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hskrdu

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Location
Maryland and New England
TDI
2003 Golf GLS 4D 5M, 2015 GSW SE 6M
TDIs are for people that drive a lot more than 15,000 miles a year. That's where the savings really add up.
TR- I missed your post. It's funny about the big mileage- prior to really breaking down all my costs, even at 5 years of ownership, I would have said you need really big miles per year to see big savings (or a lower TCO than most owners). We hear it all the time: TDIs are for highway drivers or those with long commutes. But the numbers in my case, where my miles-per-year are not especially high (on average), yet my car has returned incredibly low cost per mile (and TCO). Fewer miles does result in higher resale value, lower costs on some maint items, and (for some cases) lower insurance. Still, given that how much fuel savings favor the TDI over other cars, and how much fuel costs factor into TCO, the more you drive, the more you'll save in comparison to a comparable gasser.
 

greengeeker

Vendor
Joined
Feb 8, 2006
Location
Cambridge, MN
TDI
2002 Jetta GLS
How did you figure depreciation costs by year? Some standardized formula or a formula you devised? Your thread really makes for a good read and thinking.
Depreciation is typically calculated by assigning an asset a service life and subtracting the yearly amount from total assets on your balance sheet once yearly. Under the circumstance here, where the car is a personal asset, I'd think the most reasonable way to calculate it would be PURCHASE PRICE - ESTIMATED VALUE. Estimated value could be Kelley blue book private party or NADA or an appraisal. I would like to know what you used here too.
I'm interested in hearing what you used as well.

For my sheet (will hit 10 years this fall) I simply used my purchase price minus my current market value and then divide by number of years owned. With buying a new car you take a big hit in depreciation and so long as your miles/year is pretty steady I would say your depreciation rate stays pretty steady over the years. Since I bought used I start out after the big hit so I think my approximation shouldn't be too far off.
 

SFHGolfTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Location
Ventura, CA
TDI
2002 Jolf GLS TDI - Reflex Silver (purchased 2011; sold 2023) | Previously: 2001 Golf GL TDI - Indigo Blue (sold 2005)
Steve, not sure how I missed this thread. Impressive! I keep a google spreadsheet and fuelly, but this tops every kind of compulsive record-keeping! ;)

By the way, your mileage is impressive. I live in LA and don't do too many long commutes, but even on road trips I don't usually see much over 50 mpg. But then again, on road trips I'm usually going around 80 I guess.

Can't beat silver ALH Golfs! :)
 

hskrdu

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Location
Maryland and New England
TDI
2003 Golf GLS 4D 5M, 2015 GSW SE 6M
Wow. I LOVE this thread data and presentation. Just wonderful :)

I should keep such accurate records. What dedication :) I think I tend to buy used and let someone else take the lion's share of depreciation expenses. I just bought a 2008 Aprilia Shiver with 21,500 miles on the clock. Other vehicles are a 1997 Mercedes 430 for the wife and a 1998 BMW 318ti. All bought used. Between me and my wife, we've bought 3 new cars and 23ish (me) + 5 (her) used vehicles.

I made money on my first Tdi and broke even on the second one, in my estimation at least. Been shopping for a 335d, but in no hurry--has to be the right one.

How did you figure depreciation costs by year? Some standardized formula or a formula you devised? Your thread really makes for a good read and thinking.
Thanks Nick!

You might have noticed (above) that your graphs and charts from long ago actually were my (long delayed) inspiration to learn how to graph my data and present it here. I know, not hard for some, but it was my first time. There was also the thread about weighted consideration of fuel economy.

I'm the same on buying used: This is the first (and possibly only) new car purchase for me. The depreciation hit is so large, it just doesn't often make financial sense. In my case, I knew exactly what I wanted, and the Golf GLS ALHs were almost all gone. I also wanted to be the only "caretaker" of my car, so that I would know 100% of its history. Our '03 Jetta TDI was purchased used, but is otherwise comparable to mine, and at some point I'll do a TCO for that car to better illustrate how two very similar cars can be so different in TCO just by getting out from under depreciation.

Depreciation: I found some standard equations but I didn't pay too much attention to them. Under my TCO "factors," (and I call them mine only because they didn't match any of the articles or research I did ahead of this thread), depreciation equals total cost associated with purchase, minus true market value, calculated on Nov 1 each year. When I say costs "associated with purchase," I mean the cost to buy the car, which includes any costs of financing the purchase, but not costs associated with driving the car- as if the two are independent items. To this end, registration fees, plate fees, inspection fees, insurance fees, etc. are set aside as different TCO factors. I set these aside for a variety of reasons: I wanted to be able to evaluate the cost of buying the car (as if I was going to tow it home and not drive it) independently of the costs of driving the car. This allows me to see and compare state fees and such, which vary greatly from one location to the next, just as I can compare insurance, which varies also. Financing was included, even though it varies, since it nicely fits into the evaluation of "cost to purchase."

So, my initial cost to purchase was what I paid the dealer. I then add in the cost of financing (if any) the purchase for the evaluated period of ownership, which gets rolled into initial cost. One year later, on the anniversary date (Nov 1), I used Edmunds True Market Value calculator, adjusted for location, condition, mileage, etc., to establish a baseline of the car's private sale value. I then compare Edmund's TMV with a variety of sources of private party sales. This results in a decent (but not perfect) private party resale value. Initial purchase cost and financing (for that period) minus private party resale value, gives me my depreciation cost, in dollars (not %), for that first year- which is also the biggest hit. The following years follow a similar formula, and the total depreciation cost in dollars grows, even as it goes down as a total percentage. Since mileage and condition play such a large factor in depreciation, the actual depreciation cost per year can fluctuate quite a bit. This flux also takes place since financing is a cost over an initial period, say the first 3, 4, or 5 years of ownership. Financing during these years adds to the total initial cost to purchase, but after these years the total cost to purchase levels out, and private party sale value (hopefully) does too.

Now, I calculate these costs every year, on or near Nov 1, by looking back at my TDI logbook and doing all the math. You'll notice that graphing of the depreciation, although accurate in total, does not reflect yearly flux after the first year. That's only because I figured what it was for the first anniversary year, but when graphing it, (one of my early graphs), took the remaining years and entered it as an average. The graph should really reflect slightly lower cost per-year, each year, with a bump downward after year 5, and then a little more stability. The total depreciation numbers are good, but the graph needs to be adjusted. I'll try to fix it before I hit year 12!


Summer, 2005: GTI heated High Bolster Sport Cloth seats from Texas installed.
 
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hskrdu

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Location
Maryland and New England
TDI
2003 Golf GLS 4D 5M, 2015 GSW SE 6M
I'm interested in hearing what you used as well.

For my sheet (will hit 10 years this fall) I simply used my purchase price minus my current market value and then divide by number of years owned. With buying a new car you take a big hit in depreciation and so long as your miles/year is pretty steady I would say your depreciation rate stays pretty steady over the years. Since I bought used I start out after the big hit so I think my approximation shouldn't be too far off.
green- That's certainly it in a nutshell! If there's no financing cost, it's just straight purchase price. TMV is good, but some calculators are better than others- and they seem to be about 6 months behind. I can see the ALH prices rise and fall, but (at least, Edmund's) are always a bit behind. Also, although I messed up the graph, if you don't do an annual depreciation calculation, it looks like it's an even per-year cost, even though we know it's a declining cost. This is key when owners actually need to "see" the costs that prove benefits from longer ownership.


Fall 2006: I think was taking a pic of clear sidemarkers, but it's clearly just VW love.
 

hskrdu

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Location
Maryland and New England
TDI
2003 Golf GLS 4D 5M, 2015 GSW SE 6M
Steve, not sure how I missed this thread. Impressive! I keep a google spreadsheet and fuelly, but this tops every kind of compulsive record-keeping! ;)

By the way, your mileage is impressive. I live in LA and don't do too many long commutes, but even on road trips I don't usually see much over 50 mpg. But then again, on road trips I'm usually going around 80 I guess.

Can't beat silver ALH Golfs! :)
Shady!
Thanks! I am officially going to ask the mods to change my status from 'Veteran Member' to 'Compulsive Member'!:)

I think my lifetime FE goes up as my age goes up! I guess I'm getting slower as I get older? Some of those "best MPG" trips are just that- I was probably driving the speed limit +3, and going easy on the pedal for fuel economy. My lifetime avg reflects a lot of long road trip and non city driving- I don't think I could get anywhere near that in LA, of course.

It's funny about the silver- I was close to going with black, and still think the shiny black Golfs look great, but quite often I see a RS Mark IV in good condition (like yours!) and think: Wow, that looks really nice!

Oh, here's my Reflex Silver Golf disguised as a candy white snowbank, imagine this in LA...


The Blizzard of Jan 2015: This area got 34.5 inches of snow. The trained eye will recognize that Mark IV side mirror in a heartbeat.
 
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SFHGolfTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Location
Ventura, CA
TDI
2002 Jolf GLS TDI - Reflex Silver (purchased 2011; sold 2023) | Previously: 2001 Golf GL TDI - Indigo Blue (sold 2005)
Shady!
Thanks! I am officially going to ask the mods to change my status from 'Veteran Member' to 'Compulsive Member'!:)

I think my lifetime FE goes up as my age goes up! I guess I'm getting slower as I get older? Some of those "best MPG" trips are just that- I was probably driving the speed limit +3, and going easy on the pedal for fuel economy. My lifetime avg reflects a lot of long road trip and non city driving- I don't think I could get anywhere near that in LA, of course.

It's funny about the silver- I was close to going with black, and still think the shiny black Golfs look great, but quite often I see a RS Mark IV in good condition (like yours!) and think: Wow, that looks really nice!

Oh, here's my Reflex Silver Golf disguised as a candy white snowbank, imagine this in LA...


The Blizzard of Jan 2015: This area got 34.5 inches of snow...
:eek:
 

cabot

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 21, 2013
Location
Atlanta
TDI
2002 Jetta ALH
I keep a google spreadsheet and fuelly, but this tops every kind of compulsive record-keeping! ;)

Can't beat silver ALH Golfs! :)
Google Sheets is a great idea for mileage and fuel. I always have my phone, and I daily use sheets for other purposes. I'm going to start today when I get fuel in the Wagen.

Always silver!

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 

nicklockard

Torque Dorque
Joined
Aug 15, 2004
Location
Arizona
TDI
SOLD 2010 Touareg Tdi w/factory Tow PCKG
Thanks Nick!

You might have noticed (above) that your graphs and charts from long ago actually were my (long delayed) inspiration to learn how to graph my data and present it here. I know, not hard for some, but it was my first time. There was also the thread about weighted consideration of fuel economy.

Depreciation: I found some standard equations but I didn't pay too much attention to them. Under my TCO "factors," (and I call them mine only because they didn't match any of the articles or research I did ahead of this thread), depreciation equals total cost associated with purchase, minus true market value, calculated on Nov 1 each year. When I say costs "associated with purchase," I mean the cost to buy the car, which includes any costs of financing the purchase, but not costs associated with driving the car- as if the two are independent items. To this end, registration fees, plate fees, inspection fees, insurance fees, etc. are set aside as different TCO factors. I set these aside for a variety of reasons: I wanted to be able to evaluate the cost of buying the car (as if I was going to tow it home and not drive it) independently of the costs of driving the car. This allows me to see and compare state fees and such, which vary greatly from one location to the next, just as I can compare insurance, which varies also. Financing was included, even though it varies, since it nicely fits into the evaluation of "cost to purchase."

So, my initial cost to purchase was what I paid the dealer. I then add in the cost of financing (if any) the purchase for the evaluated period of ownership, which gets rolled into initial cost. One year later, on the anniversary date (Nov 1), I used Edmunds True Market Value calculator, adjusted for location, condition, mileage, etc., to establish a baseline of the car's private sale value. I then compare Edmund's TMV with a variety of sources of private party sales. This results in a decent (but not perfect) private party resale value. Initial purchase cost and financing (for that period) minus private party resale value, gives me my depreciation cost, in dollars (not %), for that first year- which is also the biggest hit. The following years follow a similar formula, and the total depreciation cost in dollars grows, even as it goes down as a total percentage. Since mileage and condition play such a large factor in depreciation, the actual depreciation cost per year can fluctuate quite a bit. This flux also takes place since financing is a cost over an initial period, say the first 3, 4, or 5 years of ownership. Financing during these years adds to the total initial cost to purchase, but after these years the total cost to purchase levels out, and private party sale value (hopefully) does too.

Now, I calculate these costs every year, on or near Nov 1, by looking back at my TDI logbook and doing all the math. You'll notice that graphing of the depreciation, although accurate in total, does not reflect yearly flux after the first year. That's only because I figured what it was for the first anniversary year, but when graphing it, (one of my early graphs), took the remaining years and entered it as an average. The graph should really reflect slightly lower cost per-year, each year, with a bump downward after year 5, and then a little more stability. The total depreciation numbers are good, but the graph needs to be adjusted. I'll try to fix it before I hit year 12!
'm glad and flattered you were able to graph from old inspiration :) Your depreciation strategy makes a lot of sense and well thought out. I've noticed that private party resale and used car dealership trade-in resale follow quite different curves. It also seems to be sensitive to type of vehicle, whether vehicle has a dedicated 'fan base' such as Tdi's, banks' lending policies (which can even be regional!)...there's just a ton of complexity. I don't envy Edmunds trying to come up with a TCO that will cover every make/model!
 

peterdaniel

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2008
Location
Campbell, CA
TDI
2003 Jetta GL 5 spd TDi, 2003 Jetta GLS Indigo blue 5spd wagon. 2003 Silver Jetta GLS Wagon 93K miles!! 1 owner Autotragic but not for long!
green- That's certainly it in a nutshell! If there's no financing cost, it's just straight purchase price. TMV is good, but some calculators are better than others- and they seem to be about 6 months behind. I can see the ALH prices rise and fall, but (at least, Edmund's) are always a bit behind. Also, although I messed up the graph, if you don't do an annual depreciation calculation, it looks like it's an even per-year cost, even though we know it's a declining cost. This is key when owners actually need to "see" the costs that prove benefits from longer ownership.


Fall 2006: I think was taking a pic of clear sidemarkers, but it's clearly just VW love.
Honestly, I love people like you...:eek::D
 

supton

Top Post Dawg
Joined
May 25, 2004
Location
Central NH (USA)
TDI
'04 Jetta Wagon GLS
I keep a logbook in each vehicle; when I do work I jot it down. [Recently I bought a tire depth guage, and have start putting in yet more info. Probably should start measuring brake pad thickness too.] I keep an Excel sheet elsewhere. If I were really smart, I'd enter in each time I made an auto payment or purchase--my wife handles the bank account, so I don't have access to Quicken.

Regardless:

I just sold my 2004 Jetta :( and tallied up what I had in various notes. Between purchase, interest (a guess), extended warranty (a waste) and final sale, I spent $25k. I spent nearly $11k in repairs, about $15k total for repairs+maintance, and nearly $22k in fuel. Ignoring registration and insurance, I had a TCO of about $61k for 11 years and 314,266 miles, or about 18 cents per mile. Wild guess says reg+ins was around $12k for those 11 years.
 

SaxmanKana

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Location
Leavittsburg, Ohio
TDI
Dweisel's Diesel, 2000 Blue Beetle 5 speed
Hi Perfect!

I think it's the 2 door Golf that was produced in far lower numbers, but I don't have the exact data. Someone here will know them, I'm sure.:)
Great read! I went thru it all tonight, loved it!

Anyone find out the production numbers for the 2 & 4 door Golfs? Think I want a 2 door. Someone told me they're hard to find.

Thanks,
Dave:D
 

hskrdu

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Location
Maryland and New England
TDI
2003 Golf GLS 4D 5M, 2015 GSW SE 6M
Thanks, Dave. Glad you enjoyed it.
I think someone has posted the numbers for 2 vs 4 door Golfs, but I'd have to search for it. The 2DR has lots of fans, but they still pop up for sale. There were a couple listed in the FS thread over the last few months.
 

hskrdu

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 17, 2003
Location
Maryland and New England
TDI
2003 Golf GLS 4D 5M, 2015 GSW SE 6M
11.1.18 = 15 years!

Haven't yet had the chance to do the calculations from year 10 to year 15, but I'll get to it!


Spring 2018: 3M Ceramic Tint from Tint King in Billerica, MA. Looks darker here than to the naked eye. Much cooler inside on hot days, and not at all dark looking outwards.
 

SFHGolfTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Location
Ventura, CA
TDI
2002 Jolf GLS TDI - Reflex Silver (purchased 2011; sold 2023) | Previously: 2001 Golf GL TDI - Indigo Blue (sold 2005)
Congrats Steve! And love the tint. My tint is very similar.

My Jolf is rarely driven these days since we are mostly in my wife's Bolt for 90% of around town and trips up to 200 miles round trip (more if we can charge).
 
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