How long do you keep your cars?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Until they have a repair that does not make sense to fix. My last car was 17 years old when replaced. DH just got a new one at 13. A/C was not working and suspension and tires needed replacing. We replaced with a used due to the crazy dealer markups.

The a/c might have needed a new $5 Relay, 4 new walmart tires are like $300 that's basic upkeep and maintenance issues not major repairs "that don't make sense to fix."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow you all drive some real junkers. I’m amazed by this. This is not at all representative of what o see driving around town.

Because zero car payments are fantastic.

Cars are a massive waste of money. Even if you pay cash it is stupid. Throwing a huge amount of liquidity into a furnace on a depreciating asset is a terrible way to generate wealth.

We drive a 2016 Mazda 3. Bought it while were poor. We make far more money now, yet keep driving it because it is paid off and it works. I just paid to fix the suspension and did a lot more maintenance. Hope it lasts another 5+ years so we don't have car payments.

who says I'm trying to generate wealth?

We buy new (with cash, usually, or 0% financing for X amount of time and pay it off before interest kicks in) and keep our cars for 5-7 years. We don't buy anything overly fancy or luxurious (I currently drive a 2021 Mazda CX-5 and DH has a 2019 Subaru Legacy) but we can afford it, and like driving newer cars. *shrug*

Yes, there are a lot of financially dumb people out there but that's okay.

What is financially dumb about buying something you want and can afford?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drive them into the ground. Cars are suck and are gargantuan waste of money, some drive until they fall apart at the seams. Only in my second car in my lifetime.

This is the way to go! I bet you are a millionaire a few times over!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Car, clothes and wife - keep them until they die.

Amen.

What do you spend your money on?

[Anonymous]

Both of our cars are 2010s and we'll keep them until the repairs get too expensive. We live in the city and I LIKE our clunkers. As long as it's reliable, I couldn't care less what it looks like. Less likely to get broken into, stolen, car jacked, etc. Sad state of affairs, but that's reality. Hopefully they hold out until the new Subaru hybrids come out in 2025 (and the new Toyota hybrid technology is better than what Subaru is currently offering). Also looking forward to a new car with better safety features and bluetooth, but not enough to trade in our current cars while they're still in good shape.

[Anonymous]

10 years was a good rule of thumb 20 years ago. But a good well-maintained Japanese car can easily last 15 to 20 now.

[Anonymous]

My rule of thumb is that I'll keep my car as long as I can trust it. By this I mean, my car has to be able to go anywhere I want without me worrying if it will complete the trip.

I don't want a car that I can only drive locally. I want a car that if I have to travel to another state or even across country, I will have confidence that my car will make it there. If I can't trust the car for long trips, then it's time to replace it.

[Anonymous]

I would reflexively say 8-10 years, but that's based on previous lifestyle when I had a commute, put 20k+ on a car in a year. Our current Toyota is 7 years old, has 27k miles, and since we're in it so infrequently I was shocked to do the math and realize how old it is. It is getting ugly since we have street parking, but nothing substantial just scrapes and small dings. DD(4) might drive this bad boy to college at this rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Until they have a repair that does not make sense to fix. My last car was 17 years old when replaced. DH just got a new one at 13. A/C was not working and suspension and tires needed replacing. We replaced with a used due to the crazy dealer markups.

The a/c might have needed a new $5 Relay, 4 new walmart tires are like $300 that's basic upkeep and maintenance issues not major repairs "that don't make sense to fix."

The AC repair was over $1000. We just got 4 tires at Costco for $1000, replacing the suspension was also several thousand. The blue book was $2800. Even our car guy who loves to keep old cars on the road did not recommend keeping it.

[Anonymous]

As long as it doesn't cost more to repair than the cars are worth.

Right now I have a 20 year old Toyota that is getting to that point. Most cars last a long time now.

[Anonymous]

This thread is so not what I was expecting to hear. Very impressive DCUM!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so not what I was expecting to hear. Very impressive DCUM!!

Its not reality though. All one has to do is drive around town and pay attention to realize its totally false. I drive a 10 year old minivan and have the oldest car on my entire street if you don't count cars people have handed down or bought used for their teens. And frankly most of the teens have a newer car than I do. And as I said upthread, I'm not in a particuarly fancy area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so not what I was expecting to hear. Very impressive DCUM!!

why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is so not what I was expecting to hear. Very impressive DCUM!!

Its not reality though. All one has to do is drive around town and pay attention to realize its totally false. I drive a 10 year old minivan and have the oldest car on my entire street if you don't count cars people have handed down or bought used for their teens. And frankly most of the teens have a newer car than I do. And as I said upthread, I'm not in a particuarly fancy area.

yea, DCUM is an ...interesting crowd. Doesn't match reality of what I see in the DC area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20+ years.

Bought my cars in 2000 and 2008.