newspaper blurb:

Where Your Auto Dollar Goes

Last year, gas accounted for 17 cents of each $1 spent on the typical car
... just half of the 34 cents that gas ate up in 1980.  Insurance rose
slightly, from 11 cents of each $1 in 1980 to 14 cents in 1993.  Tires,
maintenance and other costs went from 8 cents in 1980 to 13 cents in 1993.
The biggest bite?  Depreciation and interest on finance charges, which rose
from 47 cents in 1980 to 56 cents last year.

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so for all of you whose older buses are completely paid off, well done. :)
you're doing better than most folks.

joel