my cars average about $600/yr to insure, for million dollar coverage in NJ none the less.
Registration is $25-50/year.
I can choose which car I need depending upon the location Im going to, the utility required, and the fuel economy desired. It certainly doesnt save me over having less cars, but it makes up some for it, over if I had still been using my first car, my 98 Chevy S10 ZR2, which I bought new when I got my license in 98 (when gas was 80c/gallon in NJ). I still have it, and use it for a lot of different things, and plan to keep it as long as I possibly can - its justnot my DD anymore, and Im glad.
The part of the equation that only I can put a dollar value upon is the joy of owning the vehicles that I do own and enjoy. I like to learn about them, I like to tinker on them, maintain them, wash and shine them, etc. That is worth a lot to me, and I have no problem spending the money to keep them. I still manage to maximize my retirement savings, buy stuff I like, and to have recently have bought a nice house at 25 years old. Im not saying Im rich or well off, but I handle my money responsibly, do what brings me joy, and its OK.
I wouldnt buya fit unless I had to. The thing is this - I just bought a house that puts me at an 8.1 mile commute each way (according to MS streets and trips) as opposed to my old commute, which was 36.7 miles each way. I bought my saab after being rear ended in my MB - which saved my life - on I-95 in traffic - on my old commute. The car is great, my fiancee and I absolutely love it, and currently have 22k on it - but Im not so sure I care to subject it to the stop and go and short commutes where the oil may not get up to full temp even.
Im currently thinking to use my 91 BMW E30 318i, which is a great little city car, great in stop and go traffic, and which I enjoy driving. However, recently, I noticed that the dash was developing a small crack, and the one door was developing a rust spot on the weld at the bottom. Neither of these are major, and the car gets 30 MPG on the highway, and runs great... However, I enjoy cars (obviously), and know the realities of what happens sometimes when cars get older in age (particularly when theyre not diesels). If I have to sink $1000 or even $2000 into the car, fine, Ill do it without blinking. But since I like to look at cars, read about cars, and think about new cars, and since I dont know what could happen at any point when driving my new commute in my trusty BMW... I just enjoy going through the exercise of seeing what cars are offered, how Id spec them out, etc. just in case...
Plus, to add to all that wordiness, my fiancee has an acura integra that now has 175k. It runs like a top too, but is starting to develop a rust spot along one of the rear quarters. The transmission isnt all that great feeling, despite a new clutch putin by the dealer. some day itll kick the bucket too, and since they dont make integras, dont make rsxs, the tsx is overpriced (IMO), and the civic is too big, the fit might be a nice chooice for a utilitarian vehicle.
Anyway, enought typing... thanks all!
JMH