How much does driving your car cost? Most of us would consider car payments, insurance, and gas in determining the cost of owning the car. Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) has released a Driving Costs Calculator on their website to help Canadians calculate the real cost of owning and operating a vehicle.
According to CAA, many people don't factor in depreciation when it's actually one of the largests costs of ownership. Their research showed that 80% of Canadians underestimate the cost of driving, and 60% of these respondents underestimated the cost by $4,000. Another finding noted that 67% of Canadians think their annual grocery bill is larger than their car ownership costs. CAA reported that the “[y]early ownership costs for an average compact car are about $9,500, while the average Canadian spends $5,400 on groceries a year (figure provided by Statistics Canada).”
The website also shows the cost of public transportation (specific to each province) as well as a list of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market.
We recently had the opportunity to film with Cosmo TV. For this episode of Man Cave, we put two "not-so-manly-men" (as described by their girlfriends) against each other to compete on an automotive task: changing a spare tire. I showed both contestants how to do it and then it was off to the races. They got points for doing the job safely and in the right order.
It was a fun opportunity—I mean, these guys were up to the challenge! Of course, they wanted to be the first one done, but my tech and I really emphasized the importance of safety. 'Cause you can change the tire fast but if it falls off after two feet, we've got another problem. The host, Wilder Weir, was great to work with. He is a cutie and looks quite manly, but you'll have to check out the episode to see how he handles the task of replacing the tire!
A few things to keep in mind when you change your tire (these tips are among those in your owners manual):
Do you know how to change a spare tire? If not, take some time and do it on your car. That way you'll know what to expect when the emergency arises. You can find instructions in your owners manual—now that the warmer weather is coming, why not do it with your kids?
Episode airs on CosmoTV on May 15th at 9pm. Watch it and let me know what you think!
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