I just added up all of my RA orders, back from 2013 when I started fixing up the Jeep. I bought it used from the original owner in 2007, with only 72,000 miles on it. It mostly needed regular maintenance until 2014. Then it started needing more care and spending.

Just the RA orders alone are close $6,000. Estimating junk yard parts, parts purchased from all other vendors, a few mechanic visits for stuff I could not do (emergency also), and throwing in tools, I would say I have spend about $10,000 to fix the Jeep since 2014. Divide that by 7 years, and that is a rounded cost of $1,429 per year. Divide that by 12 months, and that is a cost of $119 a month. So I think of it as a monthly car payment of $119.

If I go beyond maintenance, and add up monthly insurance ($90) and gas ($80), that is $119 + $90 + $80 = $289. So that is my true monthly cost for my Jeep. Compared to my other transportation options which are taking trains, buses or renting cars, this is way cheaper and more convenient. And if I decided to lease or buy a new vehicle, the payment alone would be way more than my $119 maintenance cost. And my insurance would go up too. And I would not have as much fun driving.

Additionally, the joy I get back from fighting rusty nuts and bolts, brake fluid soaked hands, mystery noises, that more than makes up for it.