After how many years of ownership did you upgrade your car?

[Anonymous]

We're at 9 and 8 years between us, but the 8 year car is 12 years old. We're lifers - we'll "trade up" after one dies.

[Anonymous]

We're lifers, too. We've never paid more than $10k for a car, and have never kept one fewer than 8 years. My current 10-year-old car has 90k miles, and is going strong. Just donated a 19-year-old car that we paid $3k for 10 years ago.

[Anonymous]

I traded my 11 y.o. Explorer Sport in 2006 and was thrilled to get $3k for it. DH got his MKZ, which he'll probably drive until it dies. Really low mileage, but they're hard miles communiting thru DC.

Bought a Honda Pilot in 2005 that we loved, but had to trade it in 2011 for an Odyssey. I think we got $15k for the Pilot. I tell the kids to keep the minivan clean and scuff-free because they'll still be riding in it in 10 years.

[Anonymous]

In sales I get a new luxary suv every 3 years because I drive them into the ground but I don't pay for the full monthly and don't pay for gas.

[Anonymous]

We just moved from a 2007 Audi (bought used) to a new 2012 (was only 15% more than a used 2011 with 20k miles.. so figured new was worth it). The one benefit I didn't foresee is that cars do advance in technology fairly quickly. Our new model has a backup camera (added safety and makes parking easier), and some other nice features like automatic door unlocking (the key is RFID.. no need to push a button) and is just a lot quieter due to better sound dampening. The engine is more powerful than our previous model, but gets the same mileage (due to technical advances in fuel economy).

So that's one thing to consider - a 10 year old car may not have various safety and convenience features because they just weren't common or invented back then.

[Anonymous]

Agree with 00:11 to a large extent with the safety and environmental upgrades in new cars. I especially keep an eye on safety advancements now that I have kids. The two most important ones (statistically speaking) have been side air curtains and vehicle stability assist. I'm not made of money so I can't upgrade often, but I do keep these in mind every year and they are important factors in my decision whether to buy a new car.

[Anonymous]

I'm a lifer. I had my last car for 13 years (a Toyota Celica). It died at 198,000 miles. I got a new 2004 Mazda 3 (in 2004). Plan to keep this car til it dies a "horrible too expensive to fix death" too.
My husband....same way. I dont mind buying a new car but you can best believe I'm keeping that thing til it has nothing left to give.

[Anonymous]

we keep ours 8-9 years. We sold one to carmax recently for $9,000, an 8 year old BMW SUV with 100k miles on it. Other than that we usually get $3000 for our cars at either carmax or trade in. Once the repairs cost more than the car is worth (we've had several volvos) we get rid of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with 00:11 to a large extent with the safety and environmental upgrades in new cars. I especially keep an eye on safety advancements now that I have kids. The two most important ones (statistically speaking) have been side air curtains and vehicle stability assist. I'm not made of money so I can't upgrade often, but I do keep these in mind every year and they are important factors in my decision whether to buy a new car.

But what about the environmental impact of manufacturing a new car, and of disposing of the old one? I'm sure there are studies, and I'd be interested to see one. My 10-year-old car is getting 25 mpg, so I don't think it would balance, much less be an improvement.

[Anonymous]

Bought 1st car used and had it for almost 8 years; it was 14 years (and still working fine) when I donated it. Had less than 100K miles (lived in DC for much of this time so it was mostly a weekend car)
Bought 2nd car new and had it for 9+ years; received $5,000 trade in since car was in very condition and had less than 60K miles
Hope to have current 3rd car for 10 years

[Anonymous]

We've had our current car for over 10 years. When my husband lost his job we sold the newer one that had a car payment. I don't see any reason to upgrade until this one dies. I have a different outlook on cars now. I really do not want a car payment.

[Anonymous]

We rent and park one of our cars on the street and the other in a tight parking spot so we're not upgrading cars until one dies or we buy a house with dedicated driveway or garage parking. We've dropped collision coverage on our 10yo car so it costs almost nothing to insure. It required $600 in service last year, but that's nothing compared to a new or newish car payment. It doesn't make sense for us to buy a new car when the old car is driven less than 50 miles a week, to and from my office. Our newer car is 5 years old and was purchased when it was 2.5 years old.

[Anonymous]

Kept 2004 wagon for 7 years and upgraded to a 2012 minivan. Kept 1995 compact sedan for 17 years and upgraded to 2012 compact SUV.

[Anonymous]

I've had my little Civic for almost ten years now. With only 60,000 miles on it so it's going to be a while before I buy another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just came to the realization that I'm a "lifetime" buyer. My second car is going on 12 years (honda civic), I had my first for 10 (used volvo sedan). I don't see any need to trade it in, it runs great, maintenance is still affordable and there's obviusly no payment. Our second car is a SUV we bought 5 years ago, we paid off the loan in 2 years and will probably keep it until it dies.

Dont see any need to trade in a perfectly good car, not get much for it, only to start over with new payments.

Same here. I'm driving my 1996 Geo Prizm - still! - and it's just fine for me. I bought it before marrying and having children.

When I do replace it, I'll buy whatever kind of car we need, whether or not that means an "upgrade." Fancy cars are a colossal waste of money IMO.

I drive a boxy but good 1997 Volvo 850. I would love a new car but only because the volvo is starting to have some minor issues and they irritate me. But when I think about buying a new car I just think about the huge, lube-free a$$-F****** I'm going to get when I buy the next car and then I smile and am satisfied with Volvo for awhile longer.