According to the AAA's latest study that's how much we spend when everything from routine maintenance and insurance to depreciation and gas are taken into account.

That works out to $8,100 a year if you drive a fairly typical 15,000 miles. Of course, the bigger the car or truck, the more costly they are to buy and run. If you drive a:

• Compact sedan you'll spend 42 cents a mile.
• Mid-size sedan you'll spend 54 cents a mile.
• Full-size sedan you'll spend 65 cents a mile.
• Minivan you'll spend 58 cents a mile.
• Mid-size sport-utility vehicle you'll spend 69 cents a mile.

But that estimate could already by outdated because it was calculators using an average fuel cost of $2.941 per gallon, the price in late 2007. The U.S. Department of Energy forecasts gas will average $3.54 per gallon from April 1 to Sept. 30, the summer driving season. In some areas, gas could hit $4 a gallon. If you're looking for a way to beat high gas prices, take a look at our list of the best small cars. Buy one and we suspect you'll be shocked at how little they have in common with the boring subcompacts we've come to know and hate over the years.