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What is a typical cost of owning a car in CR and driving an average of 10,000 Kilometers a year?

I realize there are many different styles of automobiles, but say the calculation uses a middle of the road, typical CR vehicle.

how much for annual registration fees/taxes, insurance, gasoline/fuel for 10,000 Kilometers travel, and a reasonable maintenance budget for tires, oil, repairs, etc....parking/storage, one speeding ticket a year, drivers license fees, etc...

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I will do my best to help. We have a fleet of 12 Hyundai Tuscan´s for our project. This year was a little different and I had to do some of the things like pay Marchamo my self as I forgot to have a member of my staff do the waiting in line at the bank for me before sending everyone off on vacation for the holidays and closing the office.

First my couple of recomendations after 5 years living here.

Diesl is likely to be the best chioce, cheaper fuel cost and longer engine life. Brands of choice are Hyundai and Toyota as parts seem to be easier to find. When doing auto repair most of the time there are significant savings if you purchase the parts yourself, but not from the dealerships such as Purdy Motor. However, it is still important to ensure you are getting new genuine parts. Many of the cheap parts are knock-off manufactures from China ... also several places will sell used parts. The labor cost of doing auto repairs is much cheaper than the US but the parts prices are higher because of taxes I assume.

There is some sticker shock in prices of cars in CR but you should also remember as long as you take car of your car it will also hold it´s value. My first car purchase I looked for a car imported from the US for afety features because of the way idiots drive here. I first bought a 2002 Nissan Altima that had been imported from the US. I later sold that when I got a company car along with a job change a couple of years back. My opinion the best car I have had was a Toyota Prado, with turbo intercooler disel.... but that car fell victim of a cow in the middle of the road on my way home from our project a year ago. That has been replaced with my Hyundai. Also had a VW sedan for a short time that was fun but with big wheels and low profile tires that looked nice, it just was not fun changing flat tire after flat tire from the pot holes of Guanacaste roads so that one was quickly sold in San Jose.

I just paid about 315,000 Colones for my 2011 marchamo on a 2008 Hyundai Tuscan. Marchamo incluldes some basic insurance, my company also pays for additional full coverage... i honestly have never paid attention to how much it is as we pay all policies at once.

Currently pay about 28,000 colones per tank of super, get almost 400 km out of a tank of gas. Current price for super is just over 600 Colones a lieter, regular I believe is around 545 and disel is about 525 or 530.

Oil change is about 40,000 colones every 4k to 5k km, when I have a chance to send someone to change the oil for me

Pay about 3,000 colones once or twice a week to wash inside and outside of the car (if the guy does not steal the coins in my center consould I ususally give him a 3,000 colones tip as I always get moved to the front of the line and rarely wait more than 30 minutes for an exterir hand wash and cleaning the interior).

annual inspection is about 20,000 Colones if I remember correctly (someone can correct me if I am wrong)

Tires are expensive where I live but I am told you can get a decent deal on tires at Price Mart or make the trip to Gulfito.

thanks CRGolfer!


If my calculations are correct, it would run no more than 200 dollars a month yearly average for annual fees, inspections, general maintenance and fuel for about 10,000 Kilometers of driving....plus the price of a typical CR vehicle.

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

there is a good website for looking at used cars.


www.crautos.com

Prices are in Colones but I think you can change that to Dolars. After selection autos usados there is a good search option if you scroll down some. There is also a calulator on the individual pages if financing a car through Grupo Q is in your future. I personally would do everything possible to avoid the 15 ot 16% interest rates whenever possible.

Pura Vida

I have a good FD3S. I am afraid to press the accelerator. It is wonderful fun to drive, but it is so specialized I ended up driving the 4 states of the engine has been rebuilt. I want to rebuild, but it's a little scary, no one to show me how. On the positive side, if I continue to drive, I will be able to rebuild quickly.

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toshiba codes

Oh Lord.....Me Too!


(right before slamming my needle dick with a 20 pound maul!)

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

Good message from Golf but some hidden fees to toss in as well...
You will have some yearly repair expenses thanks to the inspection process. I have had 2 cars for 3 years so 6 inspections. Only once has one of my cars passed on the first try. On my fuel efficient Hyundai, had to install new rings to correct the smoke problem (which wasn't bad at all) first year, struts/alignment another and brakes another. None were to the point I HAD to replace them and would have been good for months more, but Riteve made me fix them early. Luckily, my Toyota has had better luck with less than $100 in repairs in three years to make it inspection worthy. So the real cost of an inspection is usually $30 (two visits, three would be $40), not $20 (for first visit) not to mention gas for at least two trips to the nearest Riteve. Between repairs, cost of inspection and gas to get there (time I lose waiting 2 hour per inspection not included) has averaged me about $70 a year per car.
In addition, roads here take a toll. Tires are a yearly expense between worn treads, broken steel-belts causing lumps in the tires and punctures/blowouts. I'd estimate I spend $200 a year on tires.
You will also have to purchase quite a bit of stuff to keep in the car including jumper cables, reflective vests, fire extinguisher, reflective triangles, first aid kit and a few more I don't remember at the moment. One time expense of maybe $100.
Gas is already $5 a gallon and between the weak dollar and rising prices, will be around $6 soon I'd bet. More and more roads have tolls. Already $10 for a round trip to Jaco on the new road.
The basic insurance from the marchamo payments isn't much. More insurance is pretty expensive as I was paying $120 a month for full coverage on my Toyota. In addition, INS is VERY slow to pay claims and it is a terrible process to get through, costing you even more thanks to lawyer documents you will have to pay for.
One other thing, if your plates get worn, you have to pay to replace them. That involves a lawyer, several different papers from different agencies along with a ton of time/gas to get them all. My lawyer will do it for $400!!! Another said he'd do it for $150 but still have to pay my lawyers for the things related to my corporate papers which they hold.
Think that's about all I can add...

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The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

Oh, guess I should have mentioned the outrageous fines for simple traffic violations. Today, got a ticket for an illegal left hand turn (sign is painted over and double yellow lines are faded to almost non-existent) and the fine is 237,000 colone or $475 or so. NUTS!!

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The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

and if you don't already have a secure parking spot ....it will run you around $100 a month...

secure being the operative word, to say nothing of $1,200 a year

Body work and mechanic labor fees are meticulously low. Find an honest guy like I have in Aserri, and life is a breeze.