What is the cheapest car to operate?

Answer 1

New cars have high depreciation. Old cars have high repair and maintenance costs. Volatile gas prices suck your money throughout the life of the car. The danger of an accident haunts every driving moment so insurance companies must have their cut. (Or you can risk driving without insurance as more folks do everyday - I don't recommend it. In an accident, if they can, they may try to walk or run away from the wreck). As Simon and Garfunkel sang 'any way you look at it you lose'. Best to organize your life so you don't need one of these wasteful polluting behemoths. Fewer cars on the road would be good for everybody.

But for most of us, who are stuck with having to use one of the damned things:

A 'banger' is a British term for an old car. Bangernomics means buying and operating an old car on the cheap.

To practice bangernomics you buy old (antique?) vehicles that are easy to repair and get good gas mileage.

Suitable cars from the web site and personal experience:

Ford Model A

Ford Falcon

Early Ford Maverick (a re-skinned Falcon).

Ford Econoline Van

Opel Kadett 1965

Opel Rekord 1959

Valiant mid 1960's such as the 1964 model with 170CID 163 3 speed column shift.

Dodge Dart with 61c manual transmission.

Old Toyota Corolla

Chevrolette Chevette diesel. This car may be easily converted to run on home or locally produced bio-diesel - getting 55 miles per gallon. Do a search to find web sites that show how to make the conversion

If a car is not mechanically perfect but is easy to repair and service it is a good choice.

If you are not using your car on a daily basis, perhaps only monthly or on an occasional road trip - perhaps because it is a second car - put the insurance in 'suspension' (the insurance company term). Activate your insurance only when the car is going to be used.

I favor cars that are easy to fix, get good gas mileage, and are safe in an accident.

For safety, old small cars need to be modified for greater safety - in my opinion: with a reinforced frame (so you have a chance in an accident with an S.U.V. -or any larger vehicle.

In fact a truly safe efficient small car has not yet been invented. I believe what is needed is something like a tandem ride two seater - with plenty of 'crush space' all around, massively strong structural core around the occupants incorporating the 'greenhouse' (upper half of the car) in the structure so a S.U.V. hitting you from the side doesn't smash into your head with its front end.

Consider installing a 'roll cage' inside a cheap small old car