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Triumph TR6 - Running costs (or what are you paying for petrol?)

With the recent volatility in oil prices, I was wondering how that is being transferred to the pump price around the world?

Here in West Oz, we are a bit over $1 (AUD) per litre for 96RON and $1.10 for 98RON.

How are they where you are? An owner of a 7 litre Mercedes once told me that the cost of petrol is the least of his running costs!!!

It would be interesting also to get a few other basic costs - insurance, licence tyres etc. This is what I pay.....(in Oz dollares)

Licence (Road Tax) $416 p.a.
Insurance (collision etc) $403 p.a.
Road Tyres (good middle range) $120 ea (f+b)

Here is a link to help with conversions http://www.convert-me.com/en/

It could be interesting to look back on this thread in a years or two and remember.........ahhh...those were the days!!!
Roger H

Here the RON and MON are averaged and most places offer three grades that are typically 89 (RON+MON/2), 91 (RON+MON/2) and 93 (RON+MON/2). These last two are probably about the equivalent of your 96 and 98 RON. Forget leaded gas/petrol except as specialty fuels. In general, I have been seeing stuff in this area at about $1.85 to $1.90 USD for the 91 and $1.95 to $2.00 USD for the 93. All prices are for US gallons, about 3.8L. There is a great deal of price variations across this country. Some is tied to local taxes, some to tailored blends for geographic or metropolitan areas. This area happens to have some of the lowest prices in the country as the state tax take is fairly low relative to other places. All in all, prices in this country are pretty low compared to the ROW.

Insurance for a limited use policy on my TR6 is about $100/year. If "convential" insurance was used, it would like be about 5 or 6 times that figure. Taxes are ad velorem only, and at least where I live they pretty much assign the lowest value to cars that are old regardless of make. My last tag was $21.00 if I am remembering correctly, $20 was the tag itself, $1 was the ad velorem tax. Trust me, it is much higher on our late model daily drivers. Tires, probably somewhere in the $100 each range. Can't say for sure, I haven't had to buy tires for the TR6 lately.

Now what I want to know from you Roger H, are all the ads that I have been seeing true? Is Foster's really Australian for beer or is that just something to snag us poor, ignorant, northern hemisphere types?
SteveP

Hey Roger

Gas here in Ontario Canada at your 1 dollar = .92 cents Canadian is about ten cents cheaper but it bounces high .70s to high 80s. Not far off.

License is $76.00 for the year so I imagine the gov. gets it in other taxes..:)

As for insurance I am old with no tickets or accidents last 44 year. Insurance is about the same for older vehicle. Maybe a bit less with normal coverage. Antique or classic can be bought quite a bit cheaper but with major restrictions. If you have an apraisal it goes sky high. Friend has a 62 Vette apraised at 35,000 insurance is double his 2004 Cad worth about 75,000? Company says its due to unknown costs on the older car.

My 72 TR in 98 if destroyed was worth $1900.00 due to pictures and facts on file with insurance co.. $500. without. Yes they just write them off for minor damage. Without apraisal they realy don't fix I was told.

Tires are about the same.

Bill
Bill Brayford

Just to avoid confusion our gas price is by litre.

Bill
Bill Brayford

Regular gas has been $1.75 to $1.89 (US) a gallon for the last few months. Taxes are minimal, about $25 a year, seems they go down to very little when they get to be 10 years old or more. Insurance varies as stated above. Repair labor seems to be $40 to $60 and hour, hope I don't have to pay anyone to do anything soon.
Tom

Fuel prices in Wisconsin are high for the US, but modest compared to the rest of the world. 89 (RON+MON/2) is hovering just under $2 per US gallon. $2.15 for the TR's 93 grade. Plates cost $55 (but my personalized plates cost $15 more).

Wisconsin has no toll roads or significant other taxes other than sales tax of 5.6% when I bought the car (yep, on a used car purchased from a private party). Insurance (State Farm package deal for my/our House & 3 cars) runs me about $30/month for the TR's driving season.

I'm currently shopping tires and expect to put on a set of near high end 205/70R15's for less than $400.

Charlie Smith
EC Smith

UK Prices in £ sterling

Unleaded Petrol £0.80/litre
Road Tax £165 per annum [free if pre 1973] we have a sliding scale of road tax for modern cars depending on the CO2 emmissions up to a max of £165.
Annual MOT test £35 or cheaper
Middle Price range tyres for TR6 £50 ea
Insurance for middle aged man with a good driving record for a classic cheap at £120 per annum. Insurance for young people VERY expensive, causing a lot of problems with uninsured drivers.
Ron
R. Algie

I wish I had to pay $2,- per gallon !!

Dutch prices : Euro 1,35 (98 ron), about $1,68 PER LITRE !! (about 70% of the price is taxes !!)

Road tax is free for cars older then 25 years.

Insurance about Euro 250,00 ($ 312,50) a year for a car with a taxation value of Euro 15.000,00 ($ 18.750,00).
Eric de Lange

Costs in Canadian Dollars.
Fuel Price $0.73 Reg, $0.84 Mid, $0.93 Premium (all/liter) - my 74 TR6 is averaging 23 mpg city and highway
Provincial registration $68.49/year
Insurance $183.00/year for a very restricted collector package (ING through Baker Ins. Brokers), for an appraised value of $17,000. Clean record.
Goods and Services Tax (7%),but no Provincial Tax
No inspection/testing for cars previously registered in Alberta.
Current exchange $1.00 Canadian is equal to:
US Dollars 0.77
UK Pounds 0.43
Australian Dollars 1.09
Euro 0.63
Polish Zlotys 2.79
Mexican Pesos 8.74
Fiji Dollars 1.35
You just never know where you may find parts!
Steve
Steve Crosby

Very interesting - thanks guys - everything bounced up another 5c/litre a few days ago.

hi SteveP - been away, hence the delay in reply to the important question.....

In a word - NO !! I can't remember the decade when I last had a Fosters!!! That could be due to cerebral cell death (alcholitis) but more true to the fact that we don't drink it much here, at least my scaly mates and I don't. Fosters became 'associated' with Australian beer when a local criminal named Alan Bond took everyone for a ride after winning the America's Cup. He became a hero and was able to fool many into giving him millions. He was very good at promoting himself and his businesses and that's when Fosters 'became international' from our point of view. In fact it was the other way around as a bit of research into the local Carlton and United Beverages company has shown. I didn't know that Fosters was started in New York by two brothers in the 19th century!!!

Don't get me wrong - the parent company CUB makes many fine beers - in fact, what is acknowledged as one of the best 'top shelf' brews is Crown Lager, which I am told comes out of the same tap as Fosters!!

So there you go. I prefer to support our local 'boutique' brewers who produce some great drops, and then there is our wine industry as well which I am keen to support... ;-)
Roger H

Roger,

I had suspected something along those lines. As for your wine industry, we have too have been keen to support. In part of the household division of labour, it is my responsibility to take care of the brewed and distilled beverages, my wife's to take care of the fermented beverages. I have noted that she picks up on a goodly number of wines from Oz. She also informs me that there is some good stuff coming out of Argentina, South Africa and now Chile. When it is time to throw a chunk of cow on the grill/barbie, more often than not she seems to select something from Oz as an accompanying beverage.

As for our fuel prices, they have dropped as of late. Most of the stuff has been in the low 1.70's USD per gallon (3.8 L) for 91, but yesterday afternoon saw one place at 1.68 USD. Perhaps the calm before the storm so to speak.
SteveP

Steve & Roger -

All the Fosters here is brewed in Canada.

We have the "Outback Steakhouse" - a not too bad resturant chain that markets itself as Australian, right down to the bad accents on radio commercials. Of course, it's not. Plastered on the walls inside are pub signs for a bunch of Aussie beers, so I decided to have a VB. "Uh - we don't have that beer" was the response. OK - I'll have a four X. "We don't have that, either. We don't sell any of those beers on the signs." Sigh.
Brent B

At a glance - that's quite a range!

96 RON
91
USA $0.90 USD/Gallon
Canada $2.46 USD/Gallon
Australia $2.61 USD/Gallon
UK $5.45 USD/Gallon
Netherlands $6.25 USD/Gallon

Eric & Ron, the Visa office is open 8:30 am to 5 pm., the line forms to the left.

I guess another difference is the distances between exits on the hwy. In the UK I imagine exits are a few miles apart. In North America, they can be days apart.
Mati Holland

Hey, Mati - per Liter, perhaps, on the USA gasoline? Or did you miss a '1' before the decimal? I pay US $1.99/gallon for what is called 'premium' here - or about US $0.53/l.

BB
Brent B

Your right Brent, dropped the $1. That level's the playing field a little. If anyone put their home up for sale, my appologies.
Mati Holland

Bottomline: gas is cheapest in the US. But Canadians make better beer. 1 pint of Keiths = $7.00 incl. tip. or $12/ 6 pack. Beats Bud anyday.
Bryn

Bryn,
You should try Killian's Irish Red...great beer!, but then I'm partial to Scotch so know little about undistilled wort!
db
Doug Baker

Bryn
Finally an American that agrees with us Canuks.( we have know this for years!).
UPDATE US premium $ 2.35.
Rick C
Rick Crawford

I'd pay a premium for a Smithwyck's right about now! Supposedly it's in NYC, but I can't find it anywhere. If anyone is coming from up north, I'd gladly pay for a case or two...

Oh, yeah... Regular is still under $2 by me ($1.919). I'm having a hell of a time clipping off a tenth of a penny!

Don from Jersey
D Hasara

ARe you guys running regular or premium in your cars? Premium in Palm Beach County, Florida, is going for around $2.25. Thats per gallon, not per liter or pint.

John
JL Bryan

Don,
Better jump in the 6 and motor on up. Smithycks on tap in most pubs around here!!
Cheers
Pete
Pete Russell

Posted by Doug:

"I'm partial to Scotch so know little about undistilled wort!
db "

Baa - Irish Whisky beats Scotch, hands down.
Brent B

BLIME
the gloves are off now!
Rick Crawford

Brent,
Reluctant to bash a fellow Tennessean, nonetheless, you've struck where I live so respond, I must...:) I participate with a small group that meets bimonthly for the single sole purpose of sharing a dram of three of rare single malt scotch. Since 1996 we've tasted all 114 single malts listed by the Scotch Malt Liquor Society and several others not widely distributed. We've discovered an abiding appreciation of the art of distilling fine spirits...AND...Irish, even single malt Irish, whisky does not even come close. If you travel East, you're invited to come join us on the third Thursday of odd months at 1800 sharp for a truly God-given privilege.
Regards,
db
Doug Baker

Being somewhat partial to single malts myself, Doug do tell me more concerning locale. Huntsville, if I'm remembering correctly to get me close, commercial establishment (if so which and address), individual home (we can talk details at some other time), etc.
SteveP

I thought that Scotch comment would get some backs up! It's all personal preference, of course. I have tried good Scotch, but I just don't like the taste. Same with cigars. I guess that just leaves more of those "finer things" for those that appreciate them to enjoy.

BB

Brent B

Brent,
To each his own. Taste is...well, a matter of taste!! I agree about the cigars.

Steve,
Heritage Club, 101 Washington Street, Huntsville AL. Next tasting is 18 Nov, grand gala, black tie and all and FOUR great malts...MOSSTOWIE, ROYAL LOCHNAGER, BALBLAIR, and INCHGOWER, all cask strength along with a great meal to celebrate the end of our ninth year of "The Wee Dram Society." Consider your self invited. Email me off line and I'll send you our list of malts tasted, with choices...1st, 2nd and 3rd for each get-together.

And to make sure we're on track here, Scotland is contiguous to England and LBCs do motor about there, so me with my scottish tam, a single malt and my TR-6 is a great combination on a beautiful fall day.
db
Doug Baker

We have a vendor in Huntsville making some parts for us. Occasionally we pay them a visit. I will definitely keep this in mind if it looks like I will be there on one of the annointed days.

I can claim to be a victim of an old complaint about the TR4 through TR6. The complaint being that there was no way to gracefully ingress or egress from these cars when wearing a dress or skirt. I still don't know about those items, but can attest that the same is true when wearing a kilt.
SteveP

Steve,
Send me your email address and I'll send you our listing. dbaker04ATaol.com. Do the usual w/@
db
Doug Baker

This thread was discussed between 30/08/2004 and 26/10/2004

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