I'll chime in here with a data point
notes:
**maintenance includes EVERYTHING: tune-up, repair, oil changes, tires, body work,-- I keep a very detailed excel spreadsheet
**I do all my own work with the exception of AC recharges and alignment / balance

My '90 240:
In my possession for 6.8 years (290k now, 209k at time of purchase)
$3,000 purchase price
$5,673 total maintenance
=$8,673 / 6.8 years = $106/mo cost of ownership (including purchase price)
maintenance = $70/mo average

My '93 940:
In my possession for 10.75 years (295k now, 93k at time of purchase)
$7,000 purchase price
$9,276 total maintenance
$16,526 / 10.75 years = $128/mo cost of ownership (including purchase price)
maintenance = $72/mo average


thoughts:
**I paid too much for the cars initially although both were in excellent shape
**Interesting how close the maint costs are: $70 & $72 respectively
The 940 has crisscrossed the country on family vacations, has been rear ended, hit a deer, hail damage, smashed by shopping carts in a tornado, hit by a piece rebar kicked up on the highway.
** If you pay someone to work on your car you will probably lose, do the work yourself, you win.


Maintenance costs never go away no matter what car you drive, with newer cars I would argue they are less frequent (no tinkering), but will cost you minimum $1,000 because you have to go to the dealer.

But, I like tinkering, and you cant argue with the just over $100 total ownership cost shown above. Sure I've had the occasional no-start, but these cars have never ever left us stranded, never been towed. knock on wood. Nothing a cleaned fuse or a swapped FPR couldn't handle. I can even leave a diagram in the car, with spare parts with directions for my wife and children.

So for now in the state of WI where we thankfully have NO inspections whatsoever, we will continue bricking, in fact, when the rust eventually wins I will probably head south to find another vehicle. Plus, I've been blessed to meet and learn from everyone here on the BB.
Can't wait for my next box of parts to arrive and to get dirty.
faithfully and respectfully
Matt - Near Madison, Wisconsin
--
'90 245 285k, '93 945 296k