This project requires students to explore the costs of owning and operating a new or used vehicle. Students must select one new vehicle and one used vehicle to research, examining factors such as fuel costs, maintenance, insurance, taxes, depreciation, and financing options. They will then objectively compare the total costs of both vehicles over time and various transportation alternatives to determine the most consumer-savvy choice. The rubric outlines the specific calculations and analyses required across categories such as vehicle selection, fuel economy, maintenance costs, taxes/fees, depreciation, financing, and presentation format.

1. Name: Consumer Mathematics 30S
Project #3
Owning & Operating a Vehicle
* Please staple this sheet to the front of your final work.
In this project you will explore the world of owning and operating a vehicle. You will be
selecting two vehicles that you will consider to purchase, one new and one used. Each vehicle will be
examined for fuel, maintenance, insurance, registration, delivery, depreciation, and interest costs
among other hidden costs. In the end you will objectively compare both vehicles in all categories,
while comparing them to other forms of transportation and make an informed consumer decision as to
which type of car and / or transportation is best for you!
RUBRIC:
 SELECTING VEHICLES:
* List some things that are important to you in a vehicle. /5
* Make a list of the makes and models of vehicle you would /8
consider buying. List some advantages and disadvantages of
each vehicle.
• Use newspapers, magazines, or the internet (www.autotrader.ca)
and select one new and /5
one used vehicle you would like to buy. Find pictures of these vehicles
and display them, along with the make, model, and price of each vehicle.
TOTAL: / 18
 FUEL ECONOMY:
* Find the fuel economy of the two vehicles you have chosen to research. /2
You can ask a local dealership, go to the web site:
autosmart.nrcan.gc.ca/pubs/fcg3_e.cfm, or estimate using the table on p.144.
* Determine the type of fuel used in each vehicle along with the cost /4
per litre for this fuel in the city you live in currently.
* Assume you are driving 10 km each way to work and an average of 50 km /8
each weekend. Calculate the total distance driven in one year, based on 50
weeks of driving to and from work and 50 weekends of driving. Then
calculate the distance travelled for a two-week road trip to a destination in
Canada. Choose a destination and establish the distance from your home.
Complete a table like the one on pg.145 in your text.
* Use your fuel economy figures for each of your vehicles and find the cost /6
of fuel to estimate the number of litres used in one year and the total cost of
fuel for one year for each of the vehicles.
* Divide the total yearly fuel cost from your answers above by 12 to /4
determine the average monthly cost for fuel for each vehicle.
TOTAL: / 24

2.  MAINTAINING A VEHICLE:
Here you must determine approximate costs for one year of repairs and maintenance for
each of the two vehicles you chose. You can research prices at a local automotive shop
or estimate using the price list on pg.151 of your text.
* For the new vehicle you must change the oil and filters three times, replace the /8
antifreeze once, replace the windshield wipers once, and have at least one tune-up.
* For the used vehicle you must do all the above plus include one major repair. / 10
TOTAL: / 18
 COSTS AND FEES for a new vehicle:
* Investigate costs of various options for your new vehicle you chose.
Make a list of the options you would want on your new vehicle. /5
* Research and list freight charges or any other up-front charges. /3
* Calculate the sticker price. /3
* Research what the documentation fee would be. /2
* Assume you have a trade-in allowance of $5000. Calculate the
total price of your new vehicle before taxes.
* Assume you manage to negotiate a “deal” for 2% less than the
sticker price. Calculate the total price before taxes. /3
* Calculate the total price including taxes (in your province). /2
TOTAL: / 18
 DEPRECIATION:
* Determine the depreciation and the resale values after each of the first
three years for each of the vehicles you selected.
* Also determine the total depreciation after three years.
> Assume a depreciation rate of 25% for the first year of a new vehicle.
> Assume a depreciation rate of 10% a year after the first year for a
minivan, truck, SUV and 15% a year after the first year for other
vehicles.
TOTAL: / 10

3.  COSTS OF A USED VEHICLE:
* Calculate the total cost for the used vehicle you selected. If you selected a vehicle for
sale privately, include the costs for a lien search, a vehicle inspection, and for new
brake pads.
* Include all relevant taxes for your province.
* You may consider the book value to be the same as the price asked for the vehicle.
* If you selected a used vehicle for sale through a dealer, you need only include the
relevant taxes.
TOTAL: / 10
 FINANCING:
For your new vehicle, research the financing rates offered by the dealership
you selected. Imagine that you have a down payment of 10% of the purchase
price. Use the purchase price of the new vehicle to calculate the following:
* The down payment. /2
* The amount to be borrowed. /2
* The monthly payment. /2
* The total paid for the loan. /3
* The financing charge. /2
* The total paid for the vehicle, including your down payment. /3
If you cannot find out the financing rate from a dealership, choose one of the following
options: 3.0% annually for 2 years or 5.5% annually for 4 years. Make sure to state the
rate you chose.
For your used vehicle imagine you have saved 10% of the cost. Determine the amount
you will need to borrow from the bank to finance the balance (pay the rest). You may have to
find out what your current bank interest rates are. Use the price of the used vehicle you chose
to calculate the following:
* The down payment. /2
* The amount to be borrowed. /2
* The monthly payment. /2
* The total paid for the loan. /3
* The financing charge. /2
* The total paid for the vehicle, including your down payment. /3
If you cannot find the interest rate for a loan from a bank, use either 6.5% annually over two
years or 7.5% annually over four years. Make sure to state the percent and time period of the
loan you are using.
TOTAL: / 28

4.  PRESENTATION, ORGANIZATION:
* Neatness, organization of ideas, cut-outs, placements, logical reasoning…etc. / 20
* Form of presentation: (out of possible 20 – one or more of the following)
> only paper /5
> presentation board (including paper…and assuming everything is neat) / 17
> digital (powerpoint, web site, other…etc.) / 20
* Presentation to the class (organized, clear, and 7 minutes or less) BONUS / 10
TOTAL: / 40
GRAND TOTAL / 166 = %