Cost of Ownership

[Plati]

I've kept track of every penny I spent on my 2003XLT purchased new.
It cost me $32,000 (including sales tax) to purchase & $14,100 maintenance since then.
Residual value is like maybe $1000 (not that I will ever sell)

I did not include gasoline or insurance or NYS registration.
Did include tires, brakes, oil/filter, wipers, fluids, parts, and all required maintenance.

Probably burned 14,000 gallons of gas ... $28,000
Insurance maybe ... $11,000
NYS Registration/Inspection maybe ... $1200

So with those added in I've spent about $85K for the privilege of being with her.
That's $0.47/mile.

183K miles on the Old Girl. Runs like a champ, but BUTT UGLY with Corrosion.
I keep hoping she will die so I can buy a new Vette, Porsche, or BRONCO.

Recent years I'm running about $700/year on maintenance, $500/year insurance, $100/year Reg/Insp, $600/year fuel to drive it 3000 miles/year. Thats $0.57/mile. I think that tells me it's more expensive to drive an older BEATER than a newer vehicle? I suspect that will be way worse in the future with a newer vehicle that has all the electronic crap on it.

 

[Aspen03]

I very highly doubt its more than a new one. Being a 2020 XLT is about 60k sticker and gas now is very likely more than it was in the first decade you owned yours. Assuming it lasts as long as this one the vehicle cost alone is 30 cents a mile. Gas is at least another 14 cents, even on an EcoBoost, using 87 octane. My guess is youd be north of 70 cents 17 years from now on a 2020, the maintenance at high miles and age on these newer vehicles is likely to become devastatingly expensive with all the tech and safety equipment on them.

My 03 EB I plan on about 25 cents a mi for basic operational costs. Fuel averages about 15 alone, wear items, consumables, etc. That budget has worked out pretty well in the past 16 months. Major repairs are not in that as I've never done anything. I've put almost nothing into this other than gas, brakes, oil, air filter in about 17k miles of ownership. I'll be due for tires this winter, that's going to be 700-1k depending on how fancy I go. It'll likely be the last set it sees so going to get something I like for the hwy.

Next spring I plan to service the LSD and 4wd components to hopefully avoid any surprises and keep w the service interval the PO used. According to the substantial records I received with it the 2 owners before me spent $6093.37 on maintenance over 205k miles. That's including tires, oil changes, diagnostics, hub replacements, etc. I'm at about $500 w my brakes and oil changes so far. When tires go on that'll push the total of maintenance to probably around $7500 and it'll have north of 230k on it by that time. Pretty reasonable if you ask me as that's about 3.5 cents per mile.

What's maddening is our navigator. A tank of gas has been lasting her about 6 weeks and that's at an average of 11mpg in the city w all of the extended idling we have to do w the way things are. Breaking her down to cost per mile is crazy. It's probably close to 60 cents without budgeting for repair. This tank of gas was $73, last one she got almost exactly 300mi. Insurance is 60 percent more than expedition despite her not working and has no commute. Same year vehicle as well. I know the maintenance will be more overall just due to the differences in it, air ride, the extra electronic goodies, etc. Hers will be a good $2k year expense just to sit in rhe driveway assuming nothing goes wrong and the few miles for the errands she does. Theres no payment as it was bought outright.

 

[BlackCoffee]

I look at the cost of repairs/ownership from a different view. 18 months ago, after putting new tires on my 2003 Eddie Bauer, I lost the transmission. Sure, it's got 250K, but the interior and body is pretty good and I like it. I put about 7K into a complete engine and transmission rebuild. While in, I replace the radiator support and cleaned up all the little stuff. Noticed the inner rocker panels were rust and payed 3K to a body shop to weld in new rockers. All said it was 10K. A new Expo is running over 50K. That's about $1000 a month payment. So, when I past 10 months on the rebuild, I figured I was doing good. I don't mind a 18 year old Expo as long as it is reliable, starts every morning, and has good power.

That all being said, notice the most expensive thing is body work. Especially since I get someone else to do it. Also, I can tell you from the rebuild, it is beginning to get hard to find parts for the gen 2 Expeditions. My cams were gone and I was lucky to find a CompCam stock grind to substitute.

Noticed you are from Penfield, spent my formative years in upstate NY back when the drinking age was 18 (that'll date me) and chicken wings were only available in Buffalo. Love upstate NY.

 

[Trainmaster]

I've kept track of every penny I spent on my 2003XLT purchased new.

A very interesting thread. Thanks, Sticker for sharing and for keeping the records. From what I've read over the years, your 47 cents/mile sounds right on average. I'm a bit surprised, as I don't usually trust those type of statistics.

Those numbers pretty much match mine, though I do all my own work, so I save a little there, but probably spend a good part of it on tools supplies and grief. Looks like you do most also.

Didn't know NYS did emissions testing up there. Though we downstate were the only lucky ones.

Of course as machines age, the probability of a big repair increases. And the likelihood of amortizing that huge repair over a long future diminishes. And that's why we eventually give up and replace these things.

 

[TomB985]

I just wanted to chip in and say THANKS for posting this! You keep outstanding records, and this is useful in a number of ways. I like how you noted which repairs were done professionally in which you did yourself, and the cost difference is substantial.

 

[BlackCoffee]

There is a nice Android app I use that tracks all expenses and you can set up service alerts. It is called drivvo. It can be synced across multiple phones if you have more than one driver. It can also track multiple cars.

https://www.drivvo.com/en

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

That's a high maintenance cost over the years, but your annual maintenance cost at the moment is low. I consider < $1,000/year maintenance to be perfectly acceptable. If it keeps up that way I would keep driving it, but don't be afraid to let her go if she becomes a money pit.

My Mountaineer only cost me ~$2,000 in maintenance for 13 years (170K miles) of ownership, but another $2,500 in the last 2 years of ownership. I bought it for $9,500 and sold it for $2,500, so it only cost me $767/year over 15 years. My Expedition has already cost me more than that. :x

 

[Plati]

That's a high maintenance cost over the years, but your annual maintenance cost at the moment is low. I consider < $1,000/year maintenance to be perfectly acceptable. If it keeps up that way I would keep driving it, but don't be afraid to let her go if she becomes a money pit.

My Mountaineer only cost me ~$2,000 in maintenance for 13 years (170K miles) of ownership, but another $2,500 in the last 2 years of ownership. I bought it for $9,500 and sold it for $2,500, so it only cost me $767/year over 15 years. My Expedition has already cost me more than that. :x

Hmmm ... $2000 can't include tires, brakes, filters, fluids, plugs & normal wear items (???) so that's an apples to oranges thing. I did get hit by 2 window regulators, 2 wheel hubs, rusted out brake lines & other corrosion expenses - but I would think my costs were typical for a rust town Expy. Even those named expenses are typical on an Expy in Rust City.

 

[Trainmaster]

Yes, Sticker. After owning and driving a half dozen of these, your numbers seem right on. Couldn't be closer to mine. The only deviation comes with some of the stuff where you paid for labor. At about $100/hour and double of part prices, that adds up. But it's pay someone or roll around in the dirt for the day. There are always a few choices depending on how you value your time, what you want to do yourself and what preventative work you choose. Looks like we service these and run these very similarly. Funny as to how the cars behave about the same.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Hmmm ... $2000 can't include tires, brakes, filters, fluids, plugs & normal wear items (???) so that's an apples to oranges thing. I did get hit by 2 window regulators, 2 wheel hubs, rusted out brake lines & other corrosion expenses - but I would think my costs were typical for a rust town Expy. Even those named expenses are typical on an Expy in Rust City.

I looked at my records after posting and it was actually about $2,300, but yes, that includes tires, brakes, etc. I never did the fluids at all (I should have, but I didn't.). In the first 13 years the only repairs outside maintenance that were needed were a radiator hose and a wheel bearing. The last 2 years (not included in that $2,400) I had all sorts of stuff go (radiator, another bearing, alternator, brake caliper, etc.). My '11 Expedition has already cost me a couple thousand plus since 2015.

 

[Plati]

I looked at my records after posting and it was actually about $2,300, but yes, that includes tires, brakes, etc. I never did the fluids at all (I should have, but I didn't.). In the first 13 years the only repairs outside maintenance that were needed were a radiator hose and a wheel bearing. The last 2 years (not included in that $2,400) I had all sorts of stuff go (radiator, another bearing, alternator, brake caliper, etc.). My '11 Expedition has already cost me a couple thousand plus since 2015.

Well, I dont think you're making anything up thats for sure. There are a lot of moving parts in an analysis like this. YMMV kinda thing.

I spent $2455 just on tires, but I insist on good tires and brakes at all times. Geez I think my E-brake might have cost $2000 but I'm afraid to add that up. A lot of people dont ever even service that, just go without.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Well, I dont think you're making anything up thats for sure. There are a lot of moving parts in an analysis like this. YMMV kinda thing.

I spent $2455 just on tires, but I insist on good tires and brakes at all times. Geez I think my E-brake might have cost $2000 but I'm afraid to add that up. A lot of people dont ever even service that, just go without.

I'm an avid bargain hunter, so I often get crazy deals on things. My last set of tires on the Mountaineer were the Michelin LTX and I paid about $250 installed for all 4 (prorate, rebates, seasonal sale, credit card cashback, etc.). Those tires also get great mileage (though I think their winter performance is only mediocre, so I guess that's the tradeoff). My brakes were just whatever the shop used (basic Bendix or similar. On my Expedition, I have gone for the premium brakes instead as it's a much heavier vehicle and I think better brakes are a must.). I really had almost nothing go wrong on the Mountaineer until those last 2 years and I took a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach to everything else, so my maintenance costs were almost nil. I changed the plugs once. I never did any trans/diff fluid or coolant. I changed the drive belt once. I had a single hose go in all those miles, so all other hoses were original. Shocks were original up until the last 2 years (1 finally blew out completely a little over 200K miles). Oil changes, however, were done every 5-6K religiously. I would have kept the truck if the northern winters hadn't rotted out the suspension. I had 2 shops (my 2 regular shops at the time and friends of ours) quote me about $2k to replace it all, so I sold it.

As I said above though, my Expedition has cost me much more in maintenance. I have already spent several thousand. I have extensive records, but I don't usually add it all up until I get near end-of-life and I am considering whether I want another.

 

[Old Guy]

I have a 2003 XLT 4X4, which I bought used on Super Sunday 2006. My wife wanted a Honda Civic so we found a 2000 one for her. This is what I am comparing mine to. I am not including stuff like batteries, tires, oil changes, etc which are considered normal "wear out" items, and routing maintenance, would be necessary with any car.

The Honda got totaled in 2014 so this is about the time when both vehicles were here.

The honda required both CV joint replacements every 40K miles or so, at a cost of about $800 each time. This includes the subsequent 4 wheel alignment.

At about 80K miles the Honda started leaking oil. This required a partial dis-assembly of the front of the engine, as the seals are simply "O" rings under a keeper plate. They also replaced the water pump, as it was growing near and the timing belt. Cost near a grand

The expy lost it air conditioning compressor at about 80 K miles. With the rear air and all it was $800. In Florida, air is not an option; its a necessity.

Shortly after that, it had the normal Ford Malady of loosing a coil-over-plug coil or 2 or 3. I bought all new NAPA gold coils and my friend (who is 6' 6 so he could reach way back there) changed all the coils and plugs in an hour in my garage.Cost:450 including a steak dinner for him for helping.

So as can be seen, the Expy was cheaper in maintenance than the Civic.

It now has 130K miles on it, tows my 8000# boat, and had been super reliable. Its not for sale

 

[rjdelp7]

There is a saying 'If you have to ask..HOW MUCH?, you can't afford it". You should buy a Prius.

 

[TomB985]

There is a saying 'If you have to ask..HOW MUCH?, you can't afford it". You should buy a Prius.

Disagree with that. Yes, I can afford it.

I’ve had a couple of Priuses, they were great cars with about the lowest cost of operation in existence. But they sure won’t tow my boat.

I can afford a lot more than I otherwise would because I think cost of operation matters.

 

[aircargoo]

idk....had mine under 2 years...maaaybe $1200 since. not counting radio and money to move my new tires over from my 1st gen. 03 4.6 102000 miles 2nd owner. paid about 2000 for truck at 83000 miles after selling first gen and transfering tires

 

[larryjb]

A 4x4 will naturally have a higher operational cost, especially if you change differential and transfer case fluids. Parts for a Honda Civic are, in general, less expensive. Struts are about half the cost of those required for an Expedition.

So, the fact that your Civic had a higher operational cost than the Expedition is somewhat concerning, considering that many parts on the Honda will actually be less expensive than the Ford.

 

[Jeff G]

Some people on this site seem to have had few, if any problems other than maintenance. I have never had a vehicle with as many parts that have failed as my 03 XLT 4X4. If I didn't do the work myself, I would never have kept it. I love the beast, drives great, but the number of parts that have failed is ridicules. Here are just a few: Fuse panel, intake manifold, front blower motor, motor resistor, alternator, rear blend actuator, window regulator, PCM, overhead console, parking aid module, sun roof, oil pan gasket and numerous parts from the junk yard that are obsolete. That being said, the total spend has been less than the tax alone on a new one.

 

[Trainmaster]

I have never had a vehicle with as many parts that have failed as my 03 XLT 4X4.

Jeff, I'd say that's been about average based on my experience with 18 year old trucks. I don't know your mileage, but things do break over a long lifetime...

 

[Jeff G]

Trainmaster, agreed. Just had a spate of issues this past year that consumed a lot of my time and energy. That being said, a new one on the lot at the local dealer is about $70k plus tax and fees. The cost of ownership for the six years that I have had it seems like a bargain.