Here is my earlier "cost to own" analysis. The numbers come from a website called cars.com (edmunds.com also has similar numbers) which I calculated with the assumption "Owner keeps car until it dies" so no financing or depreciation costs. Just a flat upfront pricetag + maintenance + fuel.
The bottom line is we spend a LOT of money on our cars, but the non-hybrids/non-diesels tend to be cheaper in the long term (if you buy one with ~40 mpg numbers).
We'd all be better-off if we could telecommute to work.
Or else live close enough to minimize fuel costs. My former boss only burned 2 gallons per week (I spend that much per day). Of course she also spent an extra $500 per month for that "living in the city" privilege, so she may have been spending more cash overall (versus me).
