I think this thread might be more interesting with a bit more data behind the averages. For example, approximate maintenance cost per year given X number of miles driven. It is one thing to pay a few hundred dollars in maintenance per year while driving just a couple thousand miles but if that number grows dramatically for a daily driver doing 10-15k per year...

Also, something else that might be interesting would be an approximate break down of parts and labor on some of the more common and/or expensive jobs. This might help the DIYer and the guy using an Indy or Dealer for service.

 

i currently drive btw 10-15k miles a year in my 03. i think $5k a year on maintenance is a reasonable estimate. provided nothing serious crops up. but in any given year one might need a clutch and certainly at least a set of rear tires, and, and....and that adds up quickly.

 

While impossible to predict, I feel the best advice for a prospective owner is to plan on an average of $1k-$2k per year and expect an unexpected (haha) $3k - $4k job during each @3 years of ownership.
I assume you will want to keep the car in shape - hence, plan to spend a bit each year. Another tactic is to avoid maintenance as much as possible and dump the car in a few years at a firesale price...depends on your ownership goals.

Does not include any mod money.