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I think I see what you mean - 750 a week is $136 at $4 per gallon at 22mpg, and $378.75 in mileage reimbursement at the 50.5 cent rate that just was raised July 1, leaving $242.75 for maintenance per week, or about $971 per month.

An oil change every 3000 miles would be about once a month or so a, at $50 let’s say since you’d probably want Mobil 1 Synthetic to give the Ford engine a fighting chance, and a new set of tires is maybe $450-$500 if you went with be big-name brands, or perhaps half that if you went with the lesser-known guys like Kumho, Continental, Republic, Jetzon, etc. Alignments are $80 around here.

Of course, with a Taurus, you’d want to set some money aside for significant engine work every so often, suspension and CV joint repairs, etc.

If you’re spending more than your reimbursement, you should save your receipts and deduct the difference on your taxes as an unreimbursed employee business expense on the form 2106, I think it is.

If you can find a used VW Jetta diesel you get a combined MPG of about 40mpg, and highway of 45-50, so that’d be around $50 a week savings right off the top (since diesel’s more expensive per gallon).

A Honda Civic or Accord would get better mileage, and significantly reduce your maintenance costs compared to a Ford Taurus. A Civic Hybrid gets EPA 40mpg in local driving, 45mpg highway.

Good luck!

I don't buy the most expensive tires anymore...but it costs me around $400 per set. The expensive set I did have when I started this job .....didn't last as long as the cheaper ones. My oil changes are at least once a month... which doesn't count the air/fuel filters I've replaced....etc.

I was buying gas at 1.79 10 months ago....and I was actually getting ahead of expenses. As the car ages and racks up the miles...I'm having to pay out for more expensive repairs. (I'm praying the A/C will hold out through summer.)

I've eyeballed the Jetta... but don't like the Honda. The Jetta would cost me about $200 more a month than I'm paying now....and I'm not sure it would take these roads any better than the Taurus. Right now I have to stay status quo for a little longer. I won't get a penny of trade-in value with such high mileage on it. BTW....we're still being paid at the 48.5 rate according to my paycheck. Oh well......onward ho! Thanks for the advice!

Oh.... I failed to mention.... that though I may drive between 500 to 750 miles a week.....I don't get paid for all that. My closest patient is 30 miles away and my office is 67 miles away.

My mileage doesn't start until I see my first patient .....or......if I have to go into the office first...I start mileage from there. I also don't get paid from the last patient I see... to home base. I've occasionally had to go see pts in a city 96 miles from home...stay for 3 hrs and go home again. Got paid nuttin. Crazy how that works....eh? :)