Start with an ownership-ready acquisition subtotal
Combine vehicle purchase, inspection, agreed preparation, origin movement, freight and applicable destination costs. State exactly where the subtotal ends. The landed-cost worksheet helps prevent an imported quote stopping at the port while a local quote includes readiness for use. Include required compliance work only from a supported estimate. Do not add hypothetical savings from an unconfirmed tax exemption or warranty. If financing is involved, distinguish principal already represented in purchase cost from interest and fees; otherwise the same vehicle cost can be counted twice. Obtain appropriate financial advice for the actual arrangement.
Build fuel spending from distance and realistic consumption
For litres per 100 kilometres, annual fuel cost equals annual kilometres divided by 100, multiplied by consumption and the price per litre. As arithmetic only, 15,000 kilometres, 8 L/100km and USD 1.50 per litre produce USD 1,800 a year. Those inputs are illustrative, not CX-5 measurements or a fuel-price forecast. Use the unit and route assessment to choose a defensible range for the actual engine and use. Repeat the calculation with adverse fuel prices or consumption when affordability depends on a narrow result. Do not mix US and Imperial gallons.
Separate routine service from known repair and uncertainty
Price applicable scheduled work using local supplier and workshop estimates. Put already identified preparation in acquisition, not again in annual maintenance. Add condition-specific repair scenarios where supported by inspection, but do not predict an invented major failure for every car. The service budget provides the first-year evidence review. Track an unspent reserve separately; if a scenario spends part of it, include that actual scenario cost once. A cash buffer improves resilience but is not the same accounting item as a confirmed repair invoice. Keep expected timing visible so a low average does not hide a large early bill.
Use real insurance and destination ownership inputs
Request a quote for the actual VIN and use, including imported status and any modifications. Identify recurring registration, parking or other necessary ownership costs that apply to the intended location. Do not transfer fees or insurance assumptions from another country. The local-versus-import comparison should use the same ownership environment. Include financing costs separately where relevant and reviewed. If an expense is optional, show it as a choice rather than silently including it in one car but not the other. Currency and time basis must be consistent across the worksheet.
Make resale an explicit scenario rather than a promise
Choose the planned sale mileage and a range based on comparable destination vehicles. Include selling preparation and fees where relevant. The resale evidence method avoids applying a foreign percentage to the purchase invoice. Be consistent about accounting: acquisition minus future resale already reflects depreciation, so do not add a second depreciation expense to the same calculation. If resale information is weak, show a wider range. A purchase that works only with the most optimistic exit price deserves reconsideration, particularly when the buyer needs those proceeds to fund a replacement.
Check the worked example before substituting your figures
Here is a hypothetical USD example with no claim about actual CX-5 prices: ownership-ready acquisition 18,000; three-year fuel 5,400; routine service 1,200; insurance 1,800; selling expense 300; resale proceeds 11,000. The resulting three-year cost is 15,700, or about 436 per month over 36 months. Parking, financing, additional registration and repairs are omitted and must be added if applicable. The monthly equivalent is not a finance repayment. Keep every input labelled so a reader cannot mistake this exercise for a quote, valuation or guaranteed resale forecast.
Compare alternatives with the same assumptions and cash timing
Apply the same time, distance, route, destination and selling method to each candidate. Change only inputs genuinely affected by its identity, condition or equipment. Also list when cash is needed: a total-cost advantage does not guarantee the initial payment or early repair bill is affordable. Preserve an appropriate reserve even when a central scenario looks attractive. Review the worksheet when a quote, inspection or fuel assumption changes. The result supports a purchase decision; it cannot predict all future faults, currency movements or resale demand. Choose a vehicle whose plausible adverse case remains manageable, not just the one with the lowest central estimate.
Decision record
Evidence checklist
- Same ownership period and mileage
- Dated local costs and fuel range
- No duplicated preparation or principal
- Unspent reserve kept separate
- Conservative and adverse resale cases
Buyer questions
Is the worked USD example a real CX-5 quote?
No. Every figure is illustrative arithmetic; replace it with verified inputs for your candidate.
Should I add depreciation after subtracting resale from purchase?
Not again in the same total-cost calculation. Avoid counting the same value loss twice.
Reference and inspection scope
The worked figures are explicitly hypothetical, not stock prices, tax advice, finance terms or a resale valuation. Use actual quotes and appropriately qualified advice for transaction-specific financial questions.
Verify the exact vehicle
Specifications vary by year and market. Match the VIN, vehicle documents, inspection findings and manufacturer service information before purchase.
