A survey by the Royal Automobile Association (based in Adelaide) has conducted recently to look into the most cost effective cars to run on our roads. If you are going to look at purchasing a new car in the coming months, you may want to consider looking at this research.

The survey assumes that the average driving distance is 15,000 kilometres year. It also factored in depreciation, and used costs from the service infustry instead of the car manufacturers. This will no doubt give a more accurate report than some of the other surveys out there.

The survey also takes into account the purchase costs, interest, service costs, insurance, registration, tyres, day to day running costs and depreciation calculated over a 5 year period.

“This approach gives us the full story, because how much you pay to purchase a car is just part of the picture,” said RAA technical manager Mark Borlace.

Mr Borlace said while costs were down overall, most of last year’s survey winners in the various car categories came out on top again this year.

They included the Hyundai i30 as the cheapest small car, the Kia Carnival as the cheapest people mover and the Nissan Patrol as the cheapest large four-wheel-drive.

They surveyed 75 cars and found costs were down about seven per cent over the past year with the downturn leading to ultra-competitive market conditions, lower interest rates and cheaper petrol prices.

The most expensive car was the Mummy mover, the Toyota Landcruiser Diesel at an average of $371.10 per week.

Compared to the cheapest car, Hyundai Getz at $122.18, it makes you wonder whether it’s worthwhile buying that big tanker to transport all the kiddies around in.

Among the locally-made cars, the Ford Falcon XT running on LPG was the best at $221.73 ahead of the Holden Commodore at $227.47 and the Toyota Aurion at $229.02.

PD