Running costs vary greatly among different car models

On average a new car costs �438 a month after fuel, insurance, maintenance, tax and depreciation are factored in, �21 more than the average mortgage.

And recent petrol price rises will add �3.75 a week to car running costs, the survey said.

Overall, running costs can vary by up to �250 a week between car models.

Fuel efficient

According to the RAC quarterly cost of motoring survey, large cars such as the BMW 7 series and Land Rover Discovery are among the most expensive to run.

AVERAGE ANNUAL COSTS Car: �5,526 Mortgage: �5,004

It found that typical running costs for a BMW 7 were �16,224 a year, nearly three times the average.

This compares unfavourably to the �5,004 annual cost of repaying a �80,000 mortgage at an interest rate of 6.25%, RAC Insure added.

At the other end of the scale, small cars such as the Toyota Yaris and Vauxhall Corsa cost the least.

The survey concluded that the average cost of motoring actually fell in the first three months of 2004.

One of the UK's best selling cars, the Ford Focus, proved slightly cheaper than the average at �421 a month.

Motorists switching to cheaper more fuel efficient cars and a slight fall in the price of new cars accounted for a �6 decrease in average running costs, said RAC Insure.

But the group warned that the fall in costs would be short-lived because of rising petrol prices, insurance premiums and MOT charges.

"Despite the gloomy outlook of future price rises, motorists can make some savings by shopping around for competitive prices on other costs such as car insurance, servicing, and petrol and ensure that their motoring costs remain lower than their other outgoings," RAC spokesman Nick Hall said.

Your comments:

A huge part of the cost of owning a new car is depreciation. The simple answer, don't buy a new car, but one a couple of years old that probably still has a warranty, low mileage, and drives and looks like new.
Lawrence, UK

Three years ago I bought a petrol-electric hybrid. I got laughed at. "You'll never recoup the extra money you paid for that thing" said my friends. "What's the point?!!!" said Jeremy Clarkson. Today, if you try to buy a hybrid you'll find you can't. The waiting list is nine months and growing. But I've got mine. And even if fuel prices were to rise to double again what they are now, I could still afford to run it.
Julian Sinton, Cambridge, UK

I think it is a disgrace how much we pay to run our cars now. If the Americans can pay about 30p per litre on petrol why can't we ?
Aidan, Manchester

It's not what it costs to run a car that matters, its the fact that its still far cheaper, and more convenient than public transport in undertaking the same journey!
Steve, UK

I've been thinking this for a while after calculating all of the cost involved in running my car recently (MOT, road tax, insurance, cleaning, petrol, etc). I would be better off selling it and getting a bigger house!
Paul Spence, Edinburgh

How about finding something less destructive to spend your money on. Something that actually benefits everyone instead of consuming so much of the earth's resources and billowing out foul fumes that poison everyone and then whinge about how much it costs you to do it. Walk, cycle - campaign for better public transport - use them maybe we wont all be moaning fatties if we do.
Jimmy Fellini, Leeds

Campaign for better public transport? At what cost? It costs me roughly �20 a week in petrol to get to & from work and the weekend run around. If I were to use public transport to do the same it would cost me in excess of �50! I say that the car driver is always looked over, charged too much for petrol and has too many speed cameras in places where they are not needed! Lets face it, if it were not for us paying all these inflated taxes on things like petrol then everyone look out because that tax would be collected from other means! Watch out cyclists, you could be next!
Pol, Hants

I have to travel up to 650 miles a week by car, because there is no suitable work for me closer to home. My monthly petrol bill is twice my mortgage payment, without considering tyres, and insurance. Sadly, I am stuck with using a car if I continue to live where I choose: during the last 12 years none of my contracts have been at any site that could be reached by rail directly. I would love to be able to use the trains and a bicycle to get around, but the current railway policy is to only allow one bicycle on a train at a time, and it has to be booked in advance. It is time we had an integrated transport system instead of a disintegrating one, but could we afford it?
Adrian Stapley, Semley, Wiltshire

I think we have to start rethinking the "status symbol" car. Is it really worthwhile having 300 bhp under the bonnet for being stuck in the traffic jam ? Interestingly, Top Gear presenters race their cars, may they be small or powerful, accross an airfield, or a beach. They always rave about the performance and torque of the engine. They never speak about running costs. How realistic is that ?
Marcus Meyer, Glasgow

When public transport costs less (are you listening, Mr. Darling?) then more people will use it, convienent or not. It is an outrage when using a train costs more per mile than a flight on Concorde (eg. Heathrow Express). The railways need re-nationalising and first class needs scrapping - carriges of empty seats on commuter trains make no sense!
Edward Byard, Oxford, UK