Mazda Demio Expenses - 5 Years

It has been two years since my last blog post on the expenses incurred on my Mazda Demio. I have continued tracking the expenses and this post is a summary of the 5 year expenses since I bought the car in 2018.

Purchase Price (With No Loan Interest Cost)

In September 2018 I purchased a 1,300cc second hand Mazda Demio (manufactured in 2011) for KES 700,000. It was imported from Japan in mid-2018 and the seller had already registered it in Kenya. This was paid for from funds from the sale of the car I previously owned and savings. I paid the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) KES 2,615 for the transfer of ownership and issuance of the new logbook.

Had I borrowed this money from a SACCO at an interest of 12% per annum for 3 years. I would have incurred an additional loan interest expense of KES 137,001 and been making monthly payments of approximately KES 23,250.

Depreciation

The assessed value for the Mazda Demio was KES 750,000 for the insurance cover. One year later, in Sep 2019, the assessed value was KES 670,000 so it had depreciated by KES 80,000 (10.67%). By Sep 2020 it had further depreciated by 22.4% and was valued at KES 520,000. Oddly in the last 3 years it has maintained its value as it is currently valued at KES 500,000.

The loss due to depreciation, if considered an expense, is KES 200,000.

Distance Driven

The total distance I have driven the Mazda Demio in the last five years is approximately 23,132 km.  An average of 386 km a month.

The majority of my daily one-way trips are no more than 3 - 5 km as home, work, school A and shopping centers are in close proximity. The longest trips were 20 km to school B for about one and half years.

Expenses

KES 643,241 spent in the last 5 years on direct expenses, excluding the purchase and logbook costs. This works out to approximately KES 10,720 a month.

Parking - KES 23,840
The expenses for the first two years are estimates. I do not pay for parking at work so these costs are mainly at malls and the occasional airport entry fee.

Accessories - KES 21,185
Fortunately the seller had tinted the front windows, added a fancy wide rear view mirror and radio expander. As I am very lazy about adding accessories to a car. I reimbursed him KES 5,035 for these extras. I did however buy blue kikoys as seat covers, rubber floor mats and a windscreen sun shade for KES 1,950.

The expander became faulty earlier this year so I bought a new radio and had it fitted at a total cost of KES 11,250. Dennis who did the installation work was amazing, incredibly skilled and a master of his trade.

Car Wash - KES 39,306
I like my car clean and tidy so I get washed at least thrice a month. Happy to pay the kind people who do this for me. The monthly payments have been just less than KES 700.

Insurance - KES 118,721
The annual premium payments have dropped in tandem with the valuation of the car but the next payment will be a huge increase to approximately KES 48,000 due to significant changes in vehicle insurance in Kenya. Cars below KES 500,000 now only qualify for third party insurance whilst premiums for comprehensive insurance for vehicles valued at more that KES 500,000 will more than double. 

Fuel - KES 271,568
My fuel bill spiked in 2021 and 2022 due to longer trips to my daughters school, then in 2023 because of the hike in prices. The average amount spent each month, from 2021 to 2023 is KES 5,582.

Service - KES 168,621
This is primarily the two scheduled services at the garage I have been taking my cars to for more than 20 years. In 2019 I replaced the tires. Earlier this year I replaced the air flow sensor, which was identified as the cause for a major problem. I could not drive the vehicle to the garage rather had to have it carried there on a flatbed truck. 

Since the end of 2022 there has been an intermittent I-stop warning sign but that does not cause any other problems. I suspect the reason is the aging battery as the charging system of the car seems fine. I have not replaced the battery since I bought the car.