# Calculating True Cost of a car **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [September 29, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/calculating-true-cost-of-a-car/204162 "2025-09-29T13:10:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 92
**Author:** ![LoudThunder](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/loudthunder/32/27769_2.png) [@LoudThunder](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LoudThunder)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/calculating-true-cost-of-a-car/204162/92 "2025-10-09T18:52:45Z")
> [@johnlump\_191311](#): > > I’ve only had one ■■■■■ used car. Ironically my first. A Pinto Wagon. However it was very cheap and I maintained it myself and it still lasted about 6 years. Cost me $200 a year in depreciation. When I read your remark about your Pinto Station Wagon, it brought back memories about servicing mine… This posting is from a few years back… > [@Do You think Engraving the VIN Number on a Catalytic Converter Will Prevent Thefts?](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-you-think-engraving-the-vin-number-on-a-catalytic-converter-will-prevent-thefts/189813/70): > > I can’t speak to the "No-Drain-Plug issue, but in 1983, I had a 1973 Pinto Station Wagon, V6, 2300cc, 4-speed, and it was a really nice car, ran well, was comfortable and in spite of its age, it was in really nice shape. I had just noticed that the rear end, at the input shaft, was leaking a bit and the house we rented at the time had a garage with a dirt/gravel floor, so I had no idea how long it had been leaking. I tried to loosen the fill plug so I could top it off, but it was not coming l… --- _[View the full topic](https://community.cartalk.com/t/calculating-true-cost-of-a-car/204162)._