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Originally Posted by AZCivic
Gas is only one part of the cost of operating a vehicle. Any fleet operator will tell you that. Saying that you can drive 10 hours for $30 in gas leaves out all the other expenses of operating a motor vehicle.
I went from Phoenix, Arizona to Estes Park, (outside of Denver) Colorado twice this fall. I went out and back by car the first time and by plane the second time. Let me tell you, I don't plan to do it by car again any time soon, at least not if I'm going alone again. Vehicle is only really cost effective if you have at least two people in it, and of course is more effective the more people are in it.
When you factor in maintenance and theoretical depreciation (more of an issue for you guys with new cars than for me and my '97) I figure it was about $180 to drive. My flight was $211 and got me there in less than half the time, door to door.
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There is one obvious expense, not quantified, a rental vehicle at the destination. Some destinations provide family or public transportation. Others pretty well require an addition $30+ per day.
Like you, I too drive a used car, an 03 Prius. Depreciation is not a big part of my costs. But I suspect only new car owners who trade-in while the 3 yr/36,000 mile warrante still has value, factor in another trip.
There are other less easily quantified aspects:
- driver/rider fatigue (can you do anything when you get there)
- unscheduled/scheduled flexibility (the ability to leave at anytime)
- stop overs (a favorite casino/restaurant/friend is on the route)
- the Zen of cross-country driving (if you have to ask, it is nothingness)
Bob Wilson