Keep your vehicles longer?

[Bubba1235]

Rean an article about how Americans are keeping their cars longer and the average age of cars on the road has gone up significantly in the last 5 years. (http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=2000008430)

The article suggests its due to the economy and while I am certain that's a part of it I would say another big factor is that the cars / pickups last longer. I can remember a time that if you managed to put a 100,000 miles on a (US) car it was pretty amazing, now 200,000+ isn't all that uncommon. I know I keep my vehicles a lot longer and it really has little to do with finances, I simply don't need to replace them nearly as often.

How about you folks?

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

Not only do I tend to keep cars longer, I purchased a '95 Tahoe a little over a year ago with less than 100k miles. I can fix just about anything on it and I paid cash! It can do just about everything that the new ones can do!

 

[Philster]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

I just purchased a car with 98,000 miles as a daily commuter.

My last two vehicles I kept for 11 years and over 130,000 miles each.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

...the car and truck quality and particularly the reliability and longevity is so advanced I think 160,000 km (100,000 miles) is nothing for almost any vehicle these days.
Even the consumer magazines state that it is very hard to even buy a 'lemon' given the fact they are all so well built.
I think this kind of evolution is great. That said, I would never buy a new vehicle....on principal alone.....its a massive waste of money given the depreciation over the first 1-3 years. I don't think new vehicle sales have as much impact on the auto industry as they claim given the fact that the money in vehicles is mostly in servicing what is already out there and not necessarily in new vehicle sales. The service and parts bays seem to be the ones invoicing 75%+ of any dealerships bottom line.
My two bits.
BP

 

[aspeck]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

Coming from a New Car Dealership family I will be the first to say there are definite reasons to buy new and upgrade often for SOME people. I am not one of those people. Last year I bought my wife a 2007 Acadia with 36K on the odometer and gave her 1991 Bonneville to the boy. I am driving a 2000 Denali (bought new as a sentimental purchase - father ordered it and passed away before it came in). I don't see us upgrading vehicles for another 10 years or so.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

For me, it's both a case of vehicles lasting longer and also a tighter budget. 100-200,000 mile cars are common now, where as years ago, 100,000 was cause for celebration if you hadn't traded it already. Also my general philosophy is, if you don't need it, why buy it? I know many people like to and do buy newer vehicles before they "need" to, and I say more power to 'em. I'd probably feel the same way if I weren't such a bottom feeder!

 

[rbh]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

We need to upgrade fast as the wifes ranger as it has 400.00+ km on it!
It runs good but is starting to rust out.
Once that truck hit 300.000 KM there was no way we could have sold it and made any monies on it, the truck has always been a HWY truck that for the most part put on 80 KM per day (round trip) so even though we needed to replace it back then, it was decided to run it till it dropped!

As for buying a new vehicle, I cannot see taking the big "HIT" when driving off the lot! 3-5 year old vehicles depreciate alot, I think thats were we will go for our next one. (cash not loan)

 

[idrownworms]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

I have a 79 chevy truck c30 and considering the frames or lack of in the new trucks. I would not think of any thing newer

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

Not only do I tend to keep cars longer, I purchased a '95 Tahoe a little over a year ago with less than 100k miles. I can fix just about anything on it and I paid cash! It can do just about everything that the new ones can do!

+1 on the 95 Tahoe as a boat puller. I wanted one of those soo bad when I was in High School. Well. now that I am an adult I can actually afford the gas and maintenance that go along with it.

 

[gus-gus]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

My 1991 Lexus LS400 has 160,000 miles is in perfect condition so it will remain ours for many years to go. Plus my 2004 Dodge Cummins Ram 3500 4WD dually has 100,000 miles and is a great truck. Looking for 300 to 400 thousand miles before it is replaced.
I do need a small commuter car for racking up the miles, but that will be next year.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

Hmmm. No catagory for me. I lease and have been for a number of years now. Suits us best.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

Friends don't let friends lease!
Makes little economic sense to lease.

Buy a car and keep it for at least 10 years! My last 2 cars each had over 200K before I replaced them.

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

I would never buy a new vehicle....on principal alone.....its a massive waste of money given the depreciation over the first 1-3 years. I don't think new vehicle sales have as much impact on the auto industry as they claim given the fact that the money in vehicles is mostly in servicing what is already out there and not necessarily in new vehicle sales. The service and parts bays seem to be the ones invoicing 75%+ of any dealerships bottom line.
My two bits.
BP

I totally agree! I dont plan on ever purchasing a new car/truck. waste of money.

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

Hmmm. No catagory for me. I lease and have been for a number of years now. Suits us best.

If you just want to burn money... lol

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

I just sold my mint 1999 Dodge Neon with only 89k on it. .

So my next newer car should last me until I die.

 

[Philster]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

I have a 79 chevy truck c30 and considering the frames or lack of in the new trucks. I would not think of any thing newer

New trucks have frames, but many SUV's and crossovers do not. New American trucks are as tireless or tougher than the old ones.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

Alot of the new trucks have boxed frames which are stronger than the older ones....

 

[JB]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

I am a certified vehicle nut. I have to try everything with wheels and a decent reputation. That means I change vehicles very often and measure their "value" by how long I keep them before lusting for something else. The longest I ever owned one road vehicle was "Shining Armor", a 1998 Mercedes ML 320; bought her used in '99 and traded up to a used ML430 (Old Blue) in '05, with 135K on her.

I am the same way with boats. . .errr... Boston Whalers. Since Sunshine, which I had for 17 years (1966 Sakonnet), I have had 6 more of every size up to and including 2 Outrage 18s. I am currently (and probably permanently) boatless, unless you count the 12' Tinny on The Hideout fishpond. Too old and feeble to launch and retrieve and forbidden to go out alone by the Docs.

Tractors may be different. "Big Orange is my second Kubota (B-2150); I bought her new 15 years ago.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Keep your vehicles longer?

I'm a keeper if it's a great one. I have an '84 Toyota 4x4 truck w I bought used in '85. It now has 250,000+ hard-4wheelin, firewood, hunting, fishing- mi. on the chassis, and a swapped all original 82 22R motor running pretty good today! Decent mpg, It is easy to work on,parts are fairly cheap, and it's just a good, tough, design IMO. I'll never git rid of it! I sold an old hotrod years ago and regret it all the time. :facepalm: The newer ones are nice, I'd love to have a new Caddy wagon w 600hp! I also have a 98 S10 4.3LS and it just keeps running even though I flog it constantly. I rebuilt the tranny recently 150k, because the motor runs well and it gets 20mpg running 75 on the interstate. It still tows my boat pretty well, but I want a fullsize soon.

 

[VegasNordie]

Got an 02 gmc 2500hd duramax at 130k, going to keep it until the wheels fall off, gf has a toyota corolla with 225k with no signs of dying, and well maintained...shes going to keep it until the wheels fall off. My 66jeep has 36k and I never drive it

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