Everyone has their own opinions, but a second vehicle is often like having a second bathroom in a house where only one person lives...it sure is convenient, but you can only use one toilet at a time! Dings and dents dont happen often out in the middle of nowhere in the parking lot, I have rental reimbursement for the day I am in an accident and I can rent a POS car for $20 a day if I need to have work done on my truck. The additional costs of the vehicle, insurance and upkeep come nowhere near penciling.

As a society I think it shows just what a high standard of living we have in this country if second or third vehicles are even being discussed...just like "poor" people in this country having cable TV, Cell phones and...CARS! But that's just my humble opinion.

 

I don't see were you've accounted for state registration (TAGS) and inspection. With those accounted for your probably down to only $4 in savings each month.

Still that's not bad and good job with putting it down on paper. Although you are betting a lot of your figures on future unknowns like what you'll sale the car for in 2 years and it not breaking down.

 

I understand some of the view points, love "psd1" comment about the poor .... but those of you who say you're driving 10k,20k, and even 30k a year for work/business .... I don't understand very well unless you own your own business (which case miles/payments are a tax write off).

When I have to drive my truck for work (not commuting but work purposes) I get the state mileage reimbursement of 55.5 cents a mile. At $.555 a mile I personally don't care what mileage my truck gets vs a beater car! At 20mpg and D2 for $2.65 my fuel cost per mile is less than $.14, the rest goes in my pocket to pay for the miles I drive that are on my dime. For me every mile I drive for work I can drive another 2.5 miles personally for free. Its very rare for me to have to dip into my personal budget to pay for fuel.

Does not anyone else get reimbursed for miles driven while working?

 

I bought mine used; paid a low cash price; get some IRS deductible miles and always average above 19 mpg no matter city or country. I changed fluids, added tires and shocks for repairs in past 35,000 miles, and, this has been the cheapest vehicle I've ever owned (knock on wood). There will be some work done the next calendar year due to miles, but spec'ng the truck the way it is (and a long search for the right one) has paid off handsomely.

All vehicles are a compromise. This one is hard to park, rides not at all smoothly, is slow & heavy, etc. But the work it is able to do makes it worthwhile. Trucks are not toys, IMO, and if ones truck is not making money (by cutting other costs) then owning one is a bit foolish.