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04/02/2012 |
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Values:
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Cost to the world of owning a BMW Mini Cooper per 10 years: Expressed in Carbon emitted to the atmosphere in tonnes Obtaining the worlds resources, such as iron, battery materials, catalytic materials, water. Transport of raw, part finished and finished materials to the assembly plant. Manufacture of the component parts. At the plant assembly, painting and operations. Overheads (include design, marketing, image building and protection, and others) energy consumption. About 36.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Fuel: 1,000 gallons should take the car 50,000 miles at 50 miles per gallon. So over 10 years doing 10,000 miles per year it would use 2,000 gallons. That is about 24.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
It is unknown what energy is used in the manufacture of the spare parts, the garages and logistic support. But it would be expected to be about 4 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
It might be as low as 15% of the manufacturing effect; say 5.5 tonnes Overall total over 10 years: 36.7 Manufacturing 24.6 Fuel 4 Maintenance 5.5 Recycling and disposal 70.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide at 10,000 miles per year |
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Cost of owning a BMW Mini Cooper per 5 years: Expressed in 2009 prices:
Pepper extras plus number plates, registration and duty etc £785 + £500 = £1285 Total new on the road £15,000 If the down payment is £5,000 and so £10,000 is borrowed at a flat rate of 1% per month is £100 per month. Over 5 years that amounts to £6000 extra due to interest rates. If the rates are different then the costs will change proportionately. Trade-in price is 5 years estimated to be £8,000 then cost of possession is £7,000. Annual Road fund tax: £120 per year So for the next 5 years = £600 Insurance: £132 per year -> for 5 years = £660 Petrol The car might do 50 - 75,000 miles in 5 years. At 50 miles per gallon that would be 1 - 1.5 thousand gallons.
Total ownership costs over 5 years = £ 7,000 Possession cost £ 6,000 Interest payments £ 600 Road fund tax £ 660 Insurance £ 4,540 Petrol costs £ 500 Maintenance costs £19,300 for 10,000 miles p. a. £21,570 for 15,000 miles p. a. |
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Cost of owning a Morris Minor per 5 years: : Purchase: On the road second hand car £5,000. No borrowing of capital Trade-in: Resale price about £5,000. Cost of possession is zero Annual Road fund tax: Zero Insurance: £120 per year = £600 Petrol: At 35 miles per gallon for 5,000 miles it uses 142 gallons. Over five years that comes to 710 gallons. If petrol is about £1 per litre: at 4.54 litres per gallon, £3,223
Total ownership costs over 5 years = £0 Possession cost £0 Interest payments £0 Road fund tax £ 600 Comprehensive insurance £3,223 Petrol costs £2,500 Maintenance costs £6,323 for 5,000 miles per year |
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Cost to the world of owning a Morris Minor per 10 years: : Manufacture: This is a recycled product Fuel 142 gallons should take the car 5,000 miles at 35 miles per gallon. So over 10 years doing 5,000 miles a year, it would use 1,420 gallons. This is about 17.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
It would be expected to use recycled parts in the main, but would need more maintenance than its modern counter part. Perhaps it would make 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Recycling and disposal The car is a durable car and so this aspect is hoped to be close to zero. Overall total over 10 years: 0 Manufacturing 17.5 Fuel 5 Maintenance 0 Recycling and disposal 22.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide at 5,000 miles per year |
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In praise of Morris Minors |
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Cost of ownership to self This comparison is based on 5 years as this is a normal period of ownership, and having £5,000 capital available to purchase the car. The figures are indicative of what might be expected. The modern car would be used more and have some greater value in looking smart and being more convenient in general. But the costs can be compared as follows: |
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Cost of ownership to global warming This comparison is based on 10 years of operation as this is a normal lifespan for a modern car. For more information about this, please refer to Minor Matters volume XXX number 6 May/June 2009. This comparison is based on that information. The old car would be used less and public transport a bit more. The figures are accurate only to an order of magnitude to indicate of what might be expected. But the costs expressed in terms of carbon dioxide sent up to effect the global warming can be compared as follows: |
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Icon of the values of a past age Passer-byes often say to me, "I remember when we went to XX on holiday with my parents. We had great times together." "I remember forty odd years ago, my Aunt bought this Morris Minor new - to go round villages as a Doctor." "I remember going to the family home at the foot of the Cuillin Mountains in the Isle of Skye. This Morris Minor did lots of trips there and back - robustly with good reliability." "My Cousin told me about having driven this car all day and then in a surprise moment finding the car had done a 360 degree spin on an icy road - just before returning the car to his Mother with no damage done." "I remember driving this car to the wedding - with my future daughter-in-law all dressed up in the back seat. She looked great as she got out - ready to process up the aisle." One passer-bye in France said to me "I remember coming to England for special training to work on these cars. Those days, we could fix everything that came to us, there and then." "I remember driving with a friend, who had been an apprentice with me, from John O' Groats to Lands End averaging 60 mph - without any incident." I remember being part of the procession of Morris Minors going passed the Lord Mayor of London - in outstanding style." "I remember holidays in France, staying in a gîte, staying with friends in the south, and another time staying with other Minors On Tour. Happy times." All these memories are about one, fairly typical, Morris Minor by Julian |
