Car costs coming down

IT is now cheaper to own and run a family car, relative to what we earn, than when compared to the early 1990s, a survey by the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria has revealed.

But to buy and keep a large car on the road today, it still costs more than one quarter of the average weekly wage.

According to RACV's 2003 Driving Your Dollars Survey, a traditional Australian family sedan can cost about $200 a week, to own and operate over five years.

With today's net average weekly wage at $699, this means up to 29 per cent of the pay packet each week goes into the family car.

In 1991, with the net average weekly wage at $440, it cost on average $154, or 35 per cent of the income, to own and run the family car.

Today, the family-sized Ford Falcon XT 4.0-litre auto cost $202.21 a week or 29 per cent of the average weekly wage, while the Holden Commodore Executive 3.8-litre automatic costs $190.88 (27 per cent).

RACV chief engineer, vehicles, Michael Case, said many factors had made the cost of motoring more affordable, namely the highly competitive small car market, the arrival of many South Korean vehicle models in Australia and less taxes on cars through the GST.

This year's survey compares the average weekly cost of popular selling cars based on the purchase price and subsequent running costs.

It shows how "hidden" expenses such as registration, insurance, servicing, tyre costs, RACV membership, depreciation and any borrowings affect the bottom line when owning a car.

"Depreciation is the hidden cost. The difference between what we pay for a new car and what it's worth when we go to sell it is an enormous cost we often forget to include. This year we have used a new method of assessment that gives a far more accurate indication," Mr Case said.

According to the RACV survey, it now costs at least $102 a week to buy and then run a popular small car. A large 4WD can cost between $230 and almost $300 a week. Petrol prices fluctuate, almost on a daily basis, but savings can be made by watching the weekly trends and buying fuel when the price is low - usually mid-week.

At $101.99 average costs per week, the Hyundai Getz three-door 1.3-litre manual was in the survey the cheapest car to run. The most expensive, at $296.46, was the Toyota LandCruiser GXL diesel 4.2-litre manual four-wheel drive.

2003 RACV Driving Your Dollars Survey
Vehicle Running Costs

Based on a five-year ownership period, travelling 15,000km annually.

LIGHT	Average cost per week
Honda Jazz 4D GLi 1.3L man.	$118.29
Holden Barina 3D hatch 1.4L man.	$127.70
Hyundai Getz 3D hatch 1.3L man.	$101.99
Toyota Echo 3D hatch 1.3L man.	$108.62
SMALL
Toyota Corolla 4D Ascent 1.8L auto	$138.14
Holden Astra 4D City 1.8L auto	$144.76
Mazda 323 4D 1.8L auto	$148.15
Nissan Pulsar 4D 1.8L auto	$142.39
MEDIUM
Mazda6 Limited sedan 2.3L auto	$173.90
Subaru Liberty GX sedan 2.0L auto	$167.33
Toyota Camry Altise sedan 2.4L auto	$166.44
LARGE
Toyota Camry Altise 3.0L auto	$183.65
Holden Commodore Executive 3.8L auto	$190.88
Ford Falcon XT 4.0L auto	$202.21
Mitsubishi Magna Executive 3.5L auto	$190.14
MEDIUM 4WD
Toyota Prado GXL 4.0L auto	$250.43
Mitsubishi Pajero GLX 3.5L auto	$231.74
Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.7L auto	$249.99
Nissan Pathfinder Ti 3.3L auto	$229.60
LARGE 4WD
Toyota L'cruiser V8 GXL petrol 4.7L auto	$280.61
Nissan Patrol 6cyl ST petrol 4.8L auto	$263.91
Toyota L'cruiser 6cyl GXL diesel 4.2L man	$296.46
Nissan Patrol 6cyl ST diesel 4.2L man	$229.71
COMPACT 4WD
Honda CRV 2.4L auto	$159.64
Nissan X-Trail ST 2.5L auto	$171.76
Toyota RAV4 Edge 4D 2L auto	$168.91
Subaru Forester X wagon 2.5L auto	$165.66
Mazda Tribute Limited 3.0L auto	$178.08
PEOPLE-MOVER
Toyota Tarago GLi 2.4L auto	$233.57
Kia Carnival LS 2.5L auto	$207.81
Holden Zafira 2.2L auto	$183.58