I'm comparing two used cars for my next daily driver: a 2020 hybrid sedan and a 2018 diesel SUV. The upfront price is similar, but I know the long-term total cost of ownership will be drastically different. I'm trying to build a realistic spreadsheet that factors in more than just fuel, including estimated maintenance schedules, insurance differences, potential repair costs for known issues with each model, and even depreciation. For others who have done this deep dive, what are the most overlooked expenses I should account for? How do you reliably estimate maintenance costs for a specific model year, and is there a point where higher upfront reliability (like with the hybrid) clearly outweighs the lower purchase price of the SUV?
Good approach. Overlooked costs include tire wear and rotation, brakes (especially with hybrids where regen changes wear), maintenance intervals and fluids, warranty gaps, registration/insurance, and potential major repairs like a hybrid battery/inverter or a diesel’s particulate filter/turbo. For the 2020 hybrid sedan vs the 2018 diesel SUV, expect the hybrid to potentially incur a high‑voltage system itemization later, while the diesel could face costly emission‑system or turbo work; plan for 1–2 major repairs over five years as a rough baseline. To estimate maintenance costs, pull model‑specific data from sources like Consumer Reports or RepairPal, check recalls/TSBs, and approximate per‑mile upkeep by age. Build a simple Excel model with inputs for miles/year, fuel price differential, maintenance by category, depreciation, insurance, and financing, plus three scenarios (base/optimistic/pessimistic). Compute break‑even where fuel savings and reliability offset the higher upfront price. In practice, hybrids often win if you keep 6–7+ years; diesel can be better for shorter horizons. If you want, I can draft a starter template tailored to these two models.