Quote:
Originally Posted by DJBecker
My experience doesn't support this theory.
I bought my BMW new about 13 years ago. Since then the engine has needed only yearly oil changes, occasional coolant changes, and one new sensor that cost $42.
Overall, gasoline engines are very reliable and cost little to service compared to the rest of the car. There are always examples of reliability screw-ups for specific models and parts, but much of what goes wrong is elsewhere in the car even if it "feels" like it's the engine.
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You are describing a best-case scenario. IF you do all of the maintenance yourself and IF you only change your oil once a year and IF you happen to not run into any of the myriad problems that a gasoline engine could face in 13 years, then yes, your costs might be less than the cost of replacing a battery.
However, you are obviously not representative of the general populace. Basic maintenance alone for the first 5 years of driving my car 15,000 miles a year would add up, and if you combine that with the money saved on fuel expenses, a replacement battery wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility.
If you want some objective numbers, compare the cost of ownership of the Leaf with one of the cheaper cars on the market:
2012 Nissan Leaf Electric 1-speed Direct Drive True Cost to Own
2012 Hyundai Accent 1.6L 4-cyl. 6-speed Manual True Cost to Own