No such thing as a free ride

The cost of owning a car is more than simply the amount of the payment mailed to the lending institution each month.

In its annual “Your Driving Costs” study, AAA calculates what it costs to own and operate a vehicle for 10,000 miles of annual driving and five years of ownership before trading it in.

AAA says motorists pay an average of 68.9 cents a mile, or $6,890 a year, for a 2004 model car, up from 64.2 cents a mile, or $6,420 a year, for an ’03.

That takes into account gas, oil, maintenance and tires as well as insurance, depreciation, financing charges, license, title, taxes, registration and plates.

The 68.9 cents a mile/$6,890 a year is the national average for all vehicles. Costs vary depending on the size of the vehicle.

AAA says it will cost you:

* 56.8 cents a mile for a compact car such as a Chevrolet Cavalier, up from 55.3 cents a mile for an ’03. That translates into an annual cost of $5,680 to own and operate a compact for ‘04, up $150 from $5,530 for an ’03.

* 71 cents a mile for a mid-size car such as a Ford Taurus, up from 62.1 cents for ’03. That’s $7,100 a year, an $890 increase from $6,210 for an ’03.

* 79 cents a mile for a full-size car such as a Mercury Grand Marquis, up from 75.2 cents a mile for a full-size 2003. That’s $7,900 for the year, a $380 increase from $7,520 for the ’03.

If, like so many others, you’ve opted for a sport-utility vehicle, the cost per mile for a mid-size ‘04, such as a Chevrolet TrailBlazer, will run 72.7 cents, or $7,270 a year. That’s up $730 from $6,540 for an ’03.

A full-size SUV wasn’t included in the study but AAA calculated the cost and found that for an ’04 Ford Expedition, it would be 65 cents a mile, or $6,500 a year, up from 63 cents a mile or $6,300 a year for an ’03.

The full-size SUV runs less than the mid-size because of slower depreciation, said John Nielsen, director of automotive repair for AAA.

“Full-size SUVs hold their value much better than mid-size SUVs,” he said.

Those who choose minivans will spend 64 cents a mile, or $6,400 a year, to own and operate a Dodge Caravan, for example. That’s a $430 increase from the 59.7 cents a mile and $5,970 a year for an ’03.

AAA said actual costs will be higher now because the study was conducted when gas was priced at $1.51 a gallon and the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded on Tuesday was $1.73.

All costs were based on two-wheel-drive vehicles, not four-wheel-drive models, which consume more fuel. And the costs don’t take into account tolls and parking fees, two major daily expenses for many drivers.

Nielsen said higher gas prices (up from $1.46 a gallon a year earlier) were only one reason the cost to operate an automobile rose in 2004. “New vehicle prices were slightly higher for ‘04, which, in turn, affected financing costs, vehicle insurance, repair and maintenance costs, as well as taxes, title and registration fees,” he said.

AAA has conducted a vehicle ownership cost study annually since 1950, when the national average for all vehicles regardless of their size was 9 cents a mile, and the average price of gasoline was 27 cents a gallon.