Frugal Rides: Top 10 Least Expensive Vehicles to Own

We’ve already brought you the list of the top 10 most expensive luxury vehicles to own, as well as the the top 10 least expensive luxury vehicles to own. But what if you’re not looking at the luxury market at all? What if you’re looking for something cheap that doesn’t cost you too much to own either?

The lower the starting price, the less expensive a car ends up being to own and maintain over time, despite the fact that low-end models tend to depreciate at a higher rate than luxury vehicles.


Top 10 Least Expensive Vehicles to Own (With 5-year cost of ownership):

10. Pontiac Vibe: $35,348
9. Hyundai Accent: $34,808
8. Kia Rio: $34,802
7. Toyota Matrix: $34,778
6. Ford Focus: $34,092
5. Chevrolet Aveo: $34,048...
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budfrogS4 - 8/22/2007 4:57:05 PM

-1 Boost

I wonder how the list would change for 5 year cost of ownership minus cost of the actual car. My guess is BMW would be one of the cheaper cars since they still have the 4 year maintenance package. Wish Audi and MB didn't get rid of that...

Hose - 8/22/2007 9:14:35 PM

+3 Boost

328i Total Cost To Own = $48,891

r_driver04 - 8/23/2007 9:56:46 AM

+2 Boost

BMWs are expensive to own no matter how much Incl. Maintenance you throw in. I'm not even talking about the insurance part of owning one, which is also high. If a 3 Series is 48K, imagine what a 5 or 6 Series is. That's why most BMW owners lease their cars.

david989 - 8/22/2007 8:25:54 PM

+1 Boost

Haha no German cars on the list!

BimmerFan - 8/22/2007 11:41:27 PM

-3 Boost

Frugal cars do not sell in my neighborhood. The common people can drive them, I really dont care. Someone has to be at the bottom of the totem pole.

rack - 8/23/2007 12:44:10 AM

+4 Boost

Yeah, because BMW's are very uncommon.

r_driver04 - 8/23/2007 9:57:55 AM

+3 Boost

Unless it's an M car, BMWs are a dime a dozen.

ronnsscooby - 8/22/2007 9:38:23 PM

+1 Boost

who gives a crap.

XYZZ - 8/23/2007 7:40:22 AM

+4 Boost

rich people, and people who aspire to be rich, WOULD "give a crap" while perpetual peasants like you blow all your money on expensive toys.

the favorite vehicle BY FAR of most millionaires, is the ford f-150. not as frugal as cars on this list, but not an expensive toy either. and it can haul things.

r_driver04 - 8/23/2007 9:58:40 AM

+2 Boost

Sam Walton drove a Ford p/u.

rok_altima - 8/23/2007 8:50:04 AM

0 Boost

How does the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac vibe differ in cost? They're exactly the same car minus some trim details and bumpers

1970toyotamarc - 8/23/2007 3:41:16 PM

+1 Boost

Just a guess, but I would assume the Toyota has a higher resale value than the Pontiac. My Matrix XRS residual when I turned in the lease early was very high.

w209w114 - 8/23/2007 9:09:29 AM

0 Boost

They dont call these cars "econoboxes" for nothing. Big surprise.

rocker - 8/23/2007 11:13:08 AM

0 Boost

What would be total expense if you had the car for 5 years then took the resale value out of the equation? The Ford Focus is probably $5,000 or less of a vlaue after 5 years but a higher resale value car such as a BMW or Lexus would have a higher value at the end of 5 years and might come in less than all of these when factored with the resale value after 5 years. Does that make sense?

XYZZ - 8/24/2007 3:48:45 AM

+1 Boost

...

XYZZ - 8/24/2007 3:51:24 AM

+1 Boost

they've already factored that in. higher priced cars may depreciate less on a percentage basis, but the GROSS depreciation amount is still larger.

XYZZ - 8/24/2007 3:53:53 AM

+1 Boost

not to mention, insurance and operating expenses are higher too.

additionally, the amount of $$$ tied up in the costlier cars is also a cost, as in "lost capital opportunity" costs.

rocker - 8/24/2007 12:26:42 PM

+1 Boost

I would think most of the cars on this would depreciate faster and thus the difference even with Insurance, etc factored in at much higher rates would still favor a let's say nicer vehicle. Again the Focus would basically be worthless after 5 years as would the Aveo, Rio, etc., I thinik only the Yaris, Fit, Corolla, Matrix, Vibe would hold any value after 5 years and even then not much.