"It depends"

I put 44,000 miles on my car in 22 months. Others barely accrue 4,400 in two years.

To quote another forum I frequent (dedicated to frequent flyers): "Your mileage may vary."

 

I looked at my 1998 XJ8 through a garage door window.

 

27,427 miles out of front pads and rotors, must have been doing some serious braking or the shop were thieves.

 

Coming from an ALFA Busso and SAAB Aero I'd say my XJR is comparable in day to day running costs, bar fuel (the ALFA was quite similar around town, the SAAB high 20s, 43mpg on a run).

The ALFA was of similar vintage and the SAAB a few years newer, but as long as nothing goes wrong with a black box, or major mechanical component, most of the work I've had done, at my SAAB specialist, it's straightforward and not costly.

HOWEVER, if something serious was to go wrong then it'll be mega-bucks. As it would be for an auto 'box failure on the SAAB or the £800 major cambelt, idlers, tensioners, water pump, etc service, every three years on an ALFA V6.

He'll do my annual (plugs, oil, filters, coolant) service for about £200, which compares to the £150 for the Aero, given I need twice as many plugs, that's not so bad.

If you've come from a more mainstream car, then I'd guess the costs may be much more than you're used too.