Indefinitely if maintained prudently. That doesn't mean it won't require expensive replacement components from time to time, sometimes unexpectedly and inconveniently, which are still likely to cost less than a new replacement vehicle.

There are other considerations in keeping a car a very long time, such as missing out on improvements in safety, efficiency, and infotainment amenities. Safety improvements, especially, are nothing to disregard cavalierly - older cars can lack extremely effective and potentially life-saving features like automated emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, supplemental airbags, better seat/headrest safety designs and lane-keeping assist, and their safety cage structures lack the degree of integrity and crush-resistance of new vehicles made with better metallurgy and safety engineering design.

It is a common mistake to focus on penny-pinching over driver safety, given the stakes involved.

You never know. My Brother in law bought a 1991 Chevy Cavalier brand new with zero options a cute red two door stick shift car. He had a job drive 30k miles a year. At 6.5 years old around 190k miles he sold it to a young blue collar guy in PA near his parents even though running perfect.

A few years ago he was visiting parents and ran into the guy now almost 30 years later! Turns out car has 500,000miles on it. Guy said he drive it to around 490k parked it in barn and his HS kid in auto shop class they did a project on it.

My BIl went to see car and looked brand new. BIL was shocked. He bought and sold four other cars since then.

Anonymous wrote:My friend has a 2005 Corolla with 215k+ miles. Still runs like a champ. Just do your basic maintenance every few months and those Toyotas last forever.

+1 A Camry or Corolla can easily go 350k

My friend has a 2005 Corolla with 215k+ miles. Still runs like a champ. Just do your basic maintenance every few months and those Toyotas last forever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one has a crystal ball. It's 2005 Toyota Camry with 150k miles. Mechanic says it is in good shape. I was out this weekend and car market is depressing so I'd like to wait. But it is my only car.

My husband is in the same boat with a 2006 Nissan Altima. The only problem for him is, there are some parts that Nissan no longer makes. Important ones, like the clips that hold the gas pump in place. Our mechanic found some from an alternate parts distributor, but once the manufacturer no longer supports replacement parts, everything gets weird. If your mechanic thinks the major stuff looks good, I'm sure you can get several more years out of it.

Spoken like someone who knows nothing of cars.

OP, you’re fine. Have you replaced the parts that can get brittle (anything rubber - belts, hoses, CV boots, etc)? If you have a trustworthy mechanic that won’t go too crazy, I’d ask them to take care of that in addition to keeping up with regular maintenance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one has a crystal ball. It's 2005 Toyota Camry with 150k miles. Mechanic says it is in good shape. I was out this weekend and car market is depressing so I'd like to wait. But it is my only car.

My husband is in the same boat with a 2006 Nissan Altima. The only problem for him is, there are some parts that Nissan no longer makes. Important ones, like the clips that hold the gas pump in place. Our mechanic found some from an alternate parts distributor, but once the manufacturer no longer supports replacement parts, everything gets weird. If your mechanic thinks the major stuff looks good, I'm sure you can get several more years out of it.

That’s when you find an independent mechanic who will go to the junkyard to find parts or who knows how to Gerry rig things. My son the mechanic is one of these people. We have cars that date back to the last century.

A car will last as long as you are willing to repair it. Ask yourself do you keep up with regular maintenance according to the manufactures suggestion? M

Anonymous wrote:No one has a crystal ball. It's 2005 Toyota Camry with 150k miles. Mechanic says it is in good shape. I was out this weekend and car market is depressing so I'd like to wait. But it is my only car.

My husband is in the same boat with a 2006 Nissan Altima. The only problem for him is, there are some parts that Nissan no longer makes. Important ones, like the clips that hold the gas pump in place. Our mechanic found some from an alternate parts distributor, but once the manufacturer no longer supports replacement parts, everything gets weird. If your mechanic thinks the major stuff looks good, I'm sure you can get several more years out of it.

Like others say, that car will last a long time. The quality of post-2000 cars is much, much higher than in years past. Especially a Toyota.

You can probably get at least 50k more miles

Anonymous wrote:No one has a crystal ball. It's 2005 Toyota Camry with 150k miles. Mechanic says it is in good shape. I was out this weekend and car market is depressing so I'd like to wait. But it is my only car.

If it is not rusted your Camry will last forever. They are super reliable.

If you keep up with maintenance, the car should be good for at least another 8 years.

Keep driving it until it breaks down, and it's not worth to fix it.

Use the would be new car note saving for hobbies or vacation.

Anonymous wrote:No one has a crystal ball. It's 2005 Toyota Camry with 150k miles. Mechanic says it is in good shape. I was out this weekend and car market is depressing so I'd like to wait. But it is my only car.

It will last as long as you want it to last, or as long as you are prepared to put money into it. Never worry about spending more on your car than what it's worth. As long as you want to keep it, then keep it.

Only 150? that's almost a new car. i was driving my 2004/210k this morning. i think you have a few more years

No one has a crystal ball. It's 2005 Toyota Camry with 150k miles. Mechanic says it is in good shape. I was out this weekend and car market is depressing so I'd like to wait. But it is my only car.