TrueCostMotors

The sticker price is a lie.

TrueCostMotors calculates the REAL cost of owning a performance car — loan, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and the repairs nobody warns you about.

Calculate your true cost Browse the cars

Real numbers, not MSRP

We add up everything the dealer never mentions: monthly loan payments, insurance, fuel, scheduled maintenance, and typical repair bills — so you see the full cost of ownership before you sign.

New + used, side by side

Every car gets a new and a used estimate (2–4 years old). Sometimes a "cheaper" used car is the expensive one once repairs kick in. We show both so you can compare honestly.

Problems with repair costs

Crank hubs, transmission shudders, oil consumption — every performance car has known weak points. We list the common ones with approximate repair costs so they don't blindside you.

The cars

Five-year true cost of ownership for twenty enthusiast favorites, based on 10% down, a 60-month loan at 7% APR, 12,000 miles per year, and national averages.

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

MSRP
$69,995
Est. used price
$65,000
5-year true cost
$119,854
Monthly true cost
$1,998
See full ownership costs →

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

MSRP
$70,035
Est. used price
$49,700
5-year true cost
$119,792
Monthly true cost
$1,997
See full ownership costs →

How it works

  1. Pick a car

    Choose from our growing list of performance cars — or run the calculator on any car with a known price.

  2. Adjust for your life

    Set your down payment, loan terms, APR, annual mileage, and local gas price. It takes about a minute.

  3. See the real monthly cost

    We stack loan payment, insurance, fuel, and maintenance into one true monthly number — plus the 5-year total.

  4. Compare

    Line up cars side by side and see which one is actually affordable before you fall in love at the dealership.

Frequently asked questions

What is true cost of ownership?

True cost of ownership is what a car actually costs you to buy, insure, fuel, maintain, and repair over a set period — not just the sticker price. For a BMW M3, that means $140,817 over 5 years, not $77,195. The monthly loan payment is usually only half the story.

Why are performance cars more expensive to own than the MSRP suggests?

High-horsepower cars cost more in four ways the window sticker ignores: higher insurance premiums, premium fuel and worse gas mileage, more frequent and pricier maintenance (tires, brakes, fluids), and expensive repairs for known weak points — turbo and transmission work can run into the thousands.

Should I buy new or used?

It depends on the car. A used Toyota GR Supra at $45,000 costs about $76,452 over 5 years versus $90,214 new — a clear win. But used cars get a 25% maintenance bump in our math, and cars with expensive known failures (crank hubs, turbos) can erase the savings. Compare both numbers on each car's page before deciding.

How accurate are these estimates?

Our figures are built from national averages for insurance rates, fuel prices, and maintenance costs, plus forum and repair-shop data on common problems. They're realistic baselines, not quotes — your insurance rate, driving style, and local shop prices will move the number. Use our calculator to dial it in for your situation.

How does TrueCostMotors make money?

We may earn a commission from links on this site — it keeps the calculator free. It never changes our numbers: every estimate comes from the same public data and the same formulas, whether or not a car has an affiliate link attached.

Get new car cost breakdowns monthly

One email a month: a fresh car breakdown, real ownership numbers, and the repairs to watch for. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Know what it really costs before you buy.

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Calculate your true cost