Coincidence

Two things just happened after my last post:

(1) The trivia question at my local coffee shop was "What year was the 1st Earth Day celebrated?" - I knew the answer and was rewarded w/ a free latte. Yipee.

(2) I just saw this MSN article about how much cars cost in the long-run...

"A less-expensive car can cost you more in the long run than a more-expensive alternative, our new ownership-costs comparisons have found . . . In addition to shopping for a good deal, car buyers should also consider how much a model will cost them to own. That includes depreciation, fuel costs, interest, insurance, sales tax, and maintenance and repair costs."

COSTS VARY AMONG SIMILAR MODELS

• While Hyundai and Kia models have low prices and long warranties, the savings are often offset by poor resale values. Hyundai's Accent and Elantra don't prove any less expensive after five years than Honda's more expensive Fit and Civic.
• Most Lexus models have relatively high maintenance and repair costs (primarily due to maintenance), despite excellent reliability. The Lexus ES racks up an average of $2,300 in maintenance and repair in the first five years, about twice what you'd pay on a Lincoln MKZ.
• A little sports car can cost less to own than a family sedan. The Mazda Miata and Mazda6 V6 sell for about the same price. But at the end of five years, we estimate the Miata owner will be about $6,000 ahead.
• The Toyota Prius is one of the few hybrids that can save you money. It costs about $7,500 more than a similarly sized Chevrolet Cobalt to buy but costs almost $2,000 less over five years.
  

To read the full article - click here.
And, if you're in town - stop by the Brewing Market today and answer the trivia question after you read the below post.