The 'what does it cost to run a Cerbera daily driver' thread
Discussion
I'm pondering Cerbera ownership. Seriously, but at a leisurely pace as I probably won't be pondering it with 'rape-the-bank-account' seriousness until next year or so. But a common thread I can see from every newbie in the same position as myself is the question "What will it cost to run as a daily driver?".
Well I did my own figures and thought I'd put them up here for people to comment on. I hasten to add that I do NOT own a Cerbera (yet) and these are extrapolations I've made from other owners' comments. I'd very much appreciated people's comments on whether they think I've under- or over-shot, or if they think I'm pretty much spot on.
Assuming 15,000 miles per annum, averaging 17mpg:
Insurance - £1,200 per annum (male, 31 yrs old, 5+ yrs protected NCB)
Road tax - £200 per annum
MOT - £45 per annum
Petrol - 15,000 miles at 17mpg = 882.35 gallons * 4.54 = 4,005.88 litres. Assume £1.10 per litre = £4,406.47 per annum
Tyres - assuming say 12,000 miles per set of rubber (because I drive like a sissy), 15,000 miles will use 1.25 sets of tyres. At say £170 a tyre, that's 1.25 x 4 x £170 = £850
Servicing - assuming £600 for the 6,000 miles service and £1,200 for the 12,000 mile service equates to £1,800 per 12,000 miles. Over 15,000 miles that becomes 15,000/12,000 x £1,800 = £2,250 per annum
Maintenance - budgeting £2,000 per annum (this is the total guesstimate figure).
That lot adds up to £10,951.47 per annum, or just over £900 a month. Obviously the 'maintenance' budget of £2k is a complete guess plus the extra costs for things like hire cars during service, modifications, etc. are not included.
Does that sound familiar/right to anyone who does around 15,000 miles per annum?
Hoping to educate myself plus provide a little insight for other similarly curious newbies
Jim
Well I did my own figures and thought I'd put them up here for people to comment on. I hasten to add that I do NOT own a Cerbera (yet) and these are extrapolations I've made from other owners' comments. I'd very much appreciated people's comments on whether they think I've under- or over-shot, or if they think I'm pretty much spot on.
Assuming 15,000 miles per annum, averaging 17mpg:
Insurance - £1,200 per annum (male, 31 yrs old, 5+ yrs protected NCB)
Road tax - £200 per annum
MOT - £45 per annum
Petrol - 15,000 miles at 17mpg = 882.35 gallons * 4.54 = 4,005.88 litres. Assume £1.10 per litre = £4,406.47 per annum
Tyres - assuming say 12,000 miles per set of rubber (because I drive like a sissy), 15,000 miles will use 1.25 sets of tyres. At say £170 a tyre, that's 1.25 x 4 x £170 = £850
Servicing - assuming £600 for the 6,000 miles service and £1,200 for the 12,000 mile service equates to £1,800 per 12,000 miles. Over 15,000 miles that becomes 15,000/12,000 x £1,800 = £2,250 per annum
Maintenance - budgeting £2,000 per annum (this is the total guesstimate figure).
That lot adds up to £10,951.47 per annum, or just over £900 a month. Obviously the 'maintenance' budget of £2k is a complete guess plus the extra costs for things like hire cars during service, modifications, etc. are not included.
Does that sound familiar/right to anyone who does around 15,000 miles per annum?
Hoping to educate myself plus provide a little insight for other similarly curious newbies
Jim
I've just looked at my profile, I average about 10k a year, and it currently shows best park of £6k a year to run.
However, my estimated petrol costs are way off (it's showing 86p a litre, which is what fuel cost back then), also my last two services are not included either (and I'm due another one very soon).
Taking all that into account, if I upscaled my mileage to 15k, I reckon it would come out at just over 11 grand. Which is not far from your estimate.
Neil.
However, my estimated petrol costs are way off (it's showing 86p a litre, which is what fuel cost back then), also my last two services are not included either (and I'm due another one very soon).
Taking all that into account, if I upscaled my mileage to 15k, I reckon it would come out at just over 11 grand. Which is not far from your estimate.
Neil.
Your proposed figures are about grand more than my actuals were for around 13,000 miles as a daily driver. Breakdown here.
Your fuel costs show a higher amount (my average was a comparatively low 98.43ppl), but the servicing a lot less. Whilst I was quoted similar ballpark figures for a service, there was always something else that needed looking at - my figures include some warranty work but no major one-off costs.
Your fuel costs show a higher amount (my average was a comparatively low 98.43ppl), but the servicing a lot less. Whilst I was quoted similar ballpark figures for a service, there was always something else that needed looking at - my figures include some warranty work but no major one-off costs.
Insurance is a bit high, you may get away with a classic policy (350 pounds/ear). For other running costs, you are looking at 2 services /year if you do 15k. Costs for servicing per year may vary between 2k to anything really. Its like owning a ferrari
Edited by QuiteQuietCerb on Tuesday 4th December 09:10
Edited by QuiteQuietCerb on Tuesday 4th December 09:11
:coat:You buy a cerb with your heart not your head. Safety, practicality, running costs etc should be concerns but there is a point where if they are so overt at this stage then you need to ask yourself if it is the car for you. It is effectively a supercar. There are better everyday cars that will cost less to run and will be less of a drain emotionally and logically.
Just my twopenneth, granted that it was a couple of years ago...
Jim27 said:
Assuming 15,000 miles per annum, averaging 17mpg:
Assumes only town driving - I got around 25-26mpg out of the Cerb on a 5th gear run up and down the M40.Jim27 said:
Insurance - £1,200 per annum (male, 31 yrs old, 5+ yrs protected NCB)
Granted it was two years ago, but I paid £420pa for a 28yr old with 5+ NCB, parked on the drive. As ever, insurance is a post code lottery.Jim27 said:
Petrol - 15,000 miles at 17mpg = 882.35 gallons * 4.54 = 4,005.88 litres. Assume £1.10 per litre = £4,406.47 per annum
See above - but if you're quoting £1.10 per litre then you're either an economist and making allowances for tax rises, or you live too far down south. Jim27 said:
Tyres - assuming say 12,000 miles per set of rubber (because I drive like a sissy), 15,000 miles will use 1.25 sets of tyres. At say £170 a tyre, that's 1.25 x 4 x £170 = £850
12k is more than possible, especially if there are no trackdays involved. Figures seem wildly high - I assume you are quoting for rubbering the 18-inch Spiders as the 16-inch wheels on my 4.2 cost £360 for a full set of Toyos.Jim27 said:
Servicing - assuming £600 for the 6,000 miles service and £1,200 for the 12,000 mile service equates to £1,800 per 12,000 miles. Over 15,000 miles that becomes 15,000/12,000 x £1,800 = £2,250 per annum
Maintenance - budgeting £2,000 per annum (this is the total guesstimate figure
Would have thought even the reputable indies charge less than that, and with the vagaries of Cerbera life, the maintenance could well be higher! So probably evens out in the end.Maintenance - budgeting £2,000 per annum (this is the total guesstimate figure
Jim27 said:
That lot adds up to £10,951.47 per annum, or just over £900 a month. Obviously the 'maintenance' budget of £2k is a complete guess plus the extra costs for things like hire cars during service, modifications, etc. are not included.
Does that sound familiar/right to anyone who does around 15,000 miles per annum?
I never dared look at mine in terms of total cost - I only figured in the cost of keeping her on the road (service/maintenance/upgrades) but IIRC I spent about £6k over 12,000 - two services, numerous fixes, new suspension, new tyres etc. I think if you're walking into this with a figure of £10k in mind (and in your pocket) then you may well come away pleasantly surprised at the end of your first month. However, as said elsewhere, Cerbs are heart purchases for mental cases, not sensible investments - if you can afford it, do it.Does that sound familiar/right to anyone who does around 15,000 miles per annum?
I use mine as a daily drive but nowhere near the mileage you're suggesting. If I was you I would run a second cheap car - I'm talking a couple of grand Fiesta or something. You'll recoop the cost of the second car in just a few months.
Also, when I ran 12k miles a year when I first had my Cerb, the front was stone chipped to hell after just 8k miles and being Rosso Pearl, couldn't be touched up. A complete respray was needed at £3.5k+.
To retain value, you need to preserve the condition of your Cerb and that means cutting down the mileage IMO. Also, 15k miles stuck on motorways in traffic isn't a good way to enjoy the Cerb. I would suggest that half and half with a numpty car would still make Cerb ownership "special".
Also, when I ran 12k miles a year when I first had my Cerb, the front was stone chipped to hell after just 8k miles and being Rosso Pearl, couldn't be touched up. A complete respray was needed at £3.5k+.
To retain value, you need to preserve the condition of your Cerb and that means cutting down the mileage IMO. Also, 15k miles stuck on motorways in traffic isn't a good way to enjoy the Cerb. I would suggest that half and half with a numpty car would still make Cerb ownership "special".
My god whats going on.... I use mine everyday and have covered over 9000 miles in 8 months and all I've HAD to spend is 2 rear tyers £300.00 ish and two services one was free and the other was £300.00. The other costs have been fuel which is about £50.00 per 250 miles and insurance which is about £900 a year. I do have to say I had it remaped and decated but that did'nt really need doing.
So if you don't include upgrades my running costs this year/8000 miles have been:
1 x Service + MOT £300.00
2 x Tyers £300.00
1 x insurance £900.00
36 x Tanks of fuel £1800.00
Which makes a grand total of £3300.00 for the year(£275.00 per month)
So if you don't include upgrades my running costs this year/8000 miles have been:
1 x Service + MOT £300.00
2 x Tyers £300.00
1 x insurance £900.00
36 x Tanks of fuel £1800.00
Which makes a grand total of £3300.00 for the year(£275.00 per month)
I hate these threads. Every time I put my hand up and say they don't cost much to run, a whole flurry of hands go up saying how its cost ten thousand in maintenance to upkeep theirs and then post service bills and such.
It's very difficult to take all this on face value if you don't have a breakdown of costs for the services, so you can only suspect that the garages have been taking them for a ride, or that they actually have quite a lemon as a car.
I think the car is potentially very expensive if you just it to a garage every 6K for them to do what they like on. But I reckon those who are prepared just to do a little work themselves don't pay that much at all per year.
It's very difficult to take all this on face value if you don't have a breakdown of costs for the services, so you can only suspect that the garages have been taking them for a ride, or that they actually have quite a lemon as a car.
I think the car is potentially very expensive if you just it to a garage every 6K for them to do what they like on. But I reckon those who are prepared just to do a little work themselves don't pay that much at all per year.
julian64 said:
I hate these threads. Every time I put my hand up and say they don't cost much to run, a whole flurry of hands go up saying how its cost ten thousand in maintenance to upkeep theirs and then post service bills and such.
It's very difficult to take all this on face value if you don't have a breakdown of costs for the services, so you can only suspect that the garages have been taking them for a ride, or that they actually have quite a lemon as a car.
I think the car is potentially very expensive if you just it to a garage every 6K for them to do what they like on. But I reckon those who are prepared just to do a little work themselves don't pay that much at all per year.
I agree.It's very difficult to take all this on face value if you don't have a breakdown of costs for the services, so you can only suspect that the garages have been taking them for a ride, or that they actually have quite a lemon as a car.
I think the car is potentially very expensive if you just it to a garage every 6K for them to do what they like on. But I reckon those who are prepared just to do a little work themselves don't pay that much at all per year.
Not taking upgrades into account i have probably only spent £300 per year on repairs. Infact probably not even that much!
MIke
julian64 said:
I hate these threads. Every time I put my hand up and say they don't cost much to run, a whole flurry of hands go up saying how its cost ten thousand in maintenance to upkeep theirs and then post service bills and such.
It's very difficult to take all this on face value if you don't have a breakdown of costs for the services, so you can only suspect that the garages have been taking them for a ride, or that they actually have quite a lemon as a car.
I think the car is potentially very expensive if you just it to a garage every 6K for them to do what they like on. But I reckon those who are prepared just to do a little work themselves don't pay that much at all per year.
It depends on what you're counting. I've put most stuff on my profile, so you can see what it costs all in. Whilst I've had some trouble, I don't regard my car as a lemon. I think some people talk about servicing costs only, but if you factor in fuel, insurance, tax, tyres upgrades etc. it all adds up (rather alarmingly) It's very difficult to take all this on face value if you don't have a breakdown of costs for the services, so you can only suspect that the garages have been taking them for a ride, or that they actually have quite a lemon as a car.
I think the car is potentially very expensive if you just it to a garage every 6K for them to do what they like on. But I reckon those who are prepared just to do a little work themselves don't pay that much at all per year.
However, if you work on the premise that you need a car of some description anyway, then the marginal cost of running a Cerbera isn't so outrageous. And there are certainly more expensive cars out there to run.
I think then we'll have to disagree.
I do find it terribly off putting for those who ask the question because they are considering buying a cerb and are met with a whole bunch of 10K bill examples by the various posters. Its difficult to just sit quietly and watch one person put off after another without saying anything.
Who would spend 15K on a Cerb and then continue to pay 10K a year keeping it on the road? Not many I would suggest.
One thing I will agree with you though is that no cerbera costs buttons to run. It either costs sensible money in the form of your own time to keep running, or sensible money from an indie. Its just that these threads seem to be sensationlist to me not sensible.
I do find it terribly off putting for those who ask the question because they are considering buying a cerb and are met with a whole bunch of 10K bill examples by the various posters. Its difficult to just sit quietly and watch one person put off after another without saying anything.
Who would spend 15K on a Cerb and then continue to pay 10K a year keeping it on the road? Not many I would suggest.
One thing I will agree with you though is that no cerbera costs buttons to run. It either costs sensible money in the form of your own time to keep running, or sensible money from an indie. Its just that these threads seem to be sensationlist to me not sensible.
Dave 500 said:
My god whats going on.... I use mine everyday and have covered over 9000 miles in 8 months and all I've HAD to spend is 2 rear tyers £300.00 ish and two services one was free and the other was £300.00. The other costs have been fuel which is about £50.00 per 250 miles and insurance which is about £900 a year. I do have to say I had it remaped and decated but that did'nt really need doing.
So if you don't include upgrades my running costs this year/8000 miles have been:
1 x Service + MOT £300.00
2 x Tyers £300.00
1 x insurance £900.00
36 x Tanks of fuel £1800.00
Which makes a grand total of £3300.00 for the year(£275.00 per month)
But looking at your profile, the "free" service was £1200, you've only had the car seven months, you've got it all to look forward to.So if you don't include upgrades my running costs this year/8000 miles have been:
1 x Service + MOT £300.00
2 x Tyers £300.00
1 x insurance £900.00
36 x Tanks of fuel £1800.00
Which makes a grand total of £3300.00 for the year(£275.00 per month)
Your car will be slightly more reliable than most, as you paid £29K for the reliability of having a later car, so you've still got around £19k depreciation to come on top of your low running costs.
It all balances out in the end, trust me.
Julian's car costs 5 pence a year to run, as he works on it himself. If memory serves me correctly, he's even got a ramp in his garage.
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