How Long do you keep your car?

[Anonymous]

My Honda needed a significant repair almost every year after it hit 100k miles (starter, alternator, engine mounts, etc). I also did a bunch of smaller repairs myself. I finally gave it up at 150k miles with a number of deferred repairs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I trade mine in every three to four years.

Do you own or lease?

Whichever gets me a better deal at the time I get the car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am about to drop off my youngest child to college next month in same SUV I drove her to Kindergarten. Cars and SUVs seem to be lasting longer and longer. How old is your oldest vehicle still in use?

Til they die.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just got rid of our 2009 Honda. It was running fine, but the AC broke and it was starting to feel like other things were going to start as well. Low miles, so we still got $5k for it, which was a nice surprise.

what model was it? i have a 2009 honda too and just like yours, AC broke

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you guys keep your cars for so long? Do you have a trusted mechanic or DIY repairs?

Both.
Also just put a new engine and rebuilt transmission in it and keep on going. There are many vehicles out there over 70 years old and still going.

[Anonymous]

At least 200,000 Mike's.

[Anonymous]

In my brain I’m always aiming for 100,000 miles and then it’s just whatever happens after that.

[Anonymous]

My brother in law his Mom got a Ford Model A for her 19th birthday when she got married. She died at 99 and had car 90 years. It was registered for whole 90 years. Used to be in parades in town and driving for fun in summer.

Family still owns it. Soon to be in family 100 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I drove a 2000 VW til 2022.

My rule is to drive it until it becomes inconvenient to do so. I've gotten rid of cars once they required too much time/ money on repairs. And once for a car that was running fine, but had an unfixable AC issue. Everyone's definition of too much/ too inconvenient will vary.

We had a similar AC problem with an otherwise great 15 year old Honda Civic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drove a 2000 VW til 2022.

My rule is to drive it until it becomes inconvenient to do so. I've gotten rid of cars once they required too much time/ money on repairs. And once for a car that was running fine, but had an unfixable AC issue. Everyone's definition of too much/ too inconvenient will vary.

We had a similar AC problem with an otherwise great 15 year old Honda Civic.

I had a similar a/c problem with a then 10yo Honda Prelude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't like to go longer than 10 years. It's a balance of frugality vs. having something nice.

I don't want to be driving around a 15-20 year old car - they start looking dingy and all the tech and safety features are outdated.

I currently have an 11 year old car that I'm trading in for a 2025 model this summer. I may accelerate to a 5-7 year cycle going forward.

This is where I come out as well. Have had 4 cars in my lifetime 1991, 2001, 2011, and 2019 (bought used/certified pre-owned under duress when the 2011 died). Current car is 9.5yo and will likely get a new one within a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am about to drop off my youngest child to college next month in same SUV I drove her to Kindergarten. Cars and SUVs seem to be lasting longer and longer. How old is your oldest vehicle still in use?

Til they die.

My son is driving the $12,000 Ford Focus he came home from the hospital in.

[Anonymous]

At least to 200,000.

We own Fords, a Flex and an Escape.

Before that I had a Mercury Mariner for 225,000.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like me. My kid will be dropped off to college in the car we got while he was in daycare. Even more of a kicker we still haven’t hit 100k miles, although that’s very soon. However it is at the age point that if something serious were to pop up I would get a new car. It’s our only car and if I feel reliability is gone I want a dependable one.

[Anonymous]

Newer cars are actually not lasting as long as older cars because the electronics fail faster than the mechanics.

I did just sell a 13 year old car. It would have gone longer but I didn't want to put $1500 worth of repairs into it when it was only worth $5000. I expect the replacement car to last 7-10 years.