Technology

I'll say $2700 on the oil changes. Two accessory drive belts are like $30. $160 for a couple drain and fills, with pan gasket and filter, for my transmission. $240 for front pads and rotors, twice. For posterity I'll add $300 for complete rebuild of the rear brakes (drums, shoes, springs, tensioners, cable, bell cranks, cylinders). I'm at almost 190k miles with no fuel issues so I question that fuel filter figure, but $105 for 7 filters. $110 for the pump I've yet to need. Could be cheaper but I go with Denso since they make most of the OE stuff. $125 for the alternator (also yet to need). $400 for two AISIN timing belt/water pump kits, because they should be done at the same interval. Napkin math, erring toward our current gas prices rather than the cheaper past, $33,250 on that 190k miles. I bought used for $10,000, so I'm not even on the hook for all 190k, but we'll say I'm all in for $47,420, still running strong and owner serviceable. All maintenance being done myself. Substantially increase the figure if you're paying a shop.

A used 2022 Leaf with 17k is gonna run me $15,000 (just lazily searching for "inexpensive reliable EVs" and seeing what pops up in my area). I'll have four years or 83k of warranty left on the battery. Middle of the road - $1,500 to have a charger installed at home. I'm estimating $7,000 in electricity based on driving habits and local rates (and assuming those rates won't increase). Add the low-ball figure of $7,500 for an out of warranty battery replacement, which I'm seeing will probably be needed (or at least wanted, due to degradation) by around 150k. $31,000 "all in."

$47,420 vs $31,000 for the same 190k miles.

The Leaf will also need pads/rotors and it has some of its own fluids that require changing. Mine needs plugs and coils, the occasional sensor, etc. Both need brake fluid flushes but no sense factoring that in for one and not the other. The difference isn't small, $16.4k is nothing to scoff at, but I'm also comparing operating and servicing my 22 year old Tundra against a 4 year old electric car. I bet the gap closes even more if I had something like an old Corolla with better mpg going toe to toe. Hell, that'd probably cut my gas expenditure nearly in half, nevermind potentially cheaper parts for a car vs a truck.

Not sure what my point is but that list compelled me to actually math it out. I'm keen for corrections or other insights. Maybe a Leaf was a poor choice, but I'm poor too and not buying new so I glanced at "affordable" used listings nearby and it's what I found. Even if I could buy new, given current offerings I can't say I'd want to, neither EV nor ICE. Micro transactions, rolling data mines, the erosion of ownership... Until things get better (wishful thinking), fuck the whole lot. I'm mid life and inching towards my cranky old man arc; the next generation can own nothing and be happy if they don't start resisting it.

Not sure I follow your intent of the post. Please allow Me to give some background. The battery has a good chance of dying early, even after the warranty period. Which makes the average cost of the car very expensive