A new American graduate is contemplating buying a Japanese, German, or an American car. No matter the type of car, he
plans to buy a new one at the end of 8 years.
The Japanese cars will cost $30,000 and have a fuel
usage of 23 Miles Per gallon (mpg) for the first 2 years and will
decrease by 3% per year thereafter. The repair cost will start at $700
per year, and increase by 3% per year. At the end of year 8, the
car can be sold for $5000. Insurance cost will be $700 for the
first year, increasing by 2% per year thereafter.
A German car will cost $45,000 and have fuel usage
of 21mpg for the first 5 years, and decrease by 1% thereafter to
year 8. The repair cost will start at $1000 in year 1 and increase by
4% per year. It will have a salvage value of $7000 at the end of
year 8. Insurance cost will be $850 the first year, increasing by
2% per year thereafter.
The American car will cost $35,000 and have fuel
usage of 20mpg for the first 3 years and will decrease by 3% per
year thereafter. The repair cost will be $800 in year 1, increasing by
4% per year thereafter. Being an American, the graduate will price
the pride of owning an American car at $0.4 for every 20 miles
driven, increasing by 2% per year. Insurance costs will be $800 per
year increasing by 2.2% per year. The car can be sold for $5500 at
the end of year 8.
If the graduate anticipates driving 150000 miles by
the end of year 8 and the average interest rate is expected to
remain at 5% per year, which car is economically affordable based
on present worth analysis? Assume fuel cost will be $3 per gallon
in year 1 and increase by an average of 2% per year. Show all your
workings.