How long do you keep your cars? 10 years for me

[Kristi1357]

We also like to keep our cars until the bitter end. We do rack up the miles commuting and travelling though!

I had a 1993 Saturn SL1 that I bought brand new. It was totaled in 2001 at 8 1/2 years old, 184,000 miles. That car ran great & I loved it! And was paid off for 4 1/2 years. Too bad some mean ole Big Dig construction worker dumped their load of ground-up pavement on Rutherford Ave (and took off) and I had the misforntune of being the one to come around a corner and hit it head on. Lucky I wasn't hurt! But, the car died... That thing would have run forever!

I replaced it with a 2001 Saturn SC2 (used, with only 1500 miles on it). I have had it just about 3 years and it has 85k on it. I was hoping to have it paid off by 100k, but that's not going to happen.

DH's 1996 Ford Ranger is paid off and is our "extra" car. We use it for Home Depot runs, dump runs, etc. We wouldn't get much for it if we traded or sold it, so until it costs alot in repairs, we'll keep it around. It has 130-140k on it.

Last year we bought a used 2003 Caravan. Figured out the hard way we couldn't fit a rear-facing car seat in the back of my Saturn! It had 29k on it when we bought it (high I know, but the price was better). This is our "baby" car. Whoever is home with the baby keeps the van. The one who is commuting takes the Saturn into Boston. We tend to work opposite shifts, so my car is taking a serious mileage beating now! After a drive to WDW, another to PA, and to the lake many weekends, we are up to 45k already (only 1 year of us owning this minivan)!

I have always been sort of religious about oil changes and other preventive maintainence. I think this helps our vehicles have a longer life. It also helps that DH, with DF's or DFIL's help at times, can fix many things on our vehicles ourselves.

 

[cajunmommy]

I'm also in the drive it 'til it drops club!

Last summer I reluctantly parted with my 95 Nissan Maxima. Had it since summer of 94, and spent over 190,000 miles worth of my time in the driver's seat. We decided to get rid of it because it was starting to spend a little more time in the shop other than for routine maintenance.

After tons of comparison shopping, we were able to purchase a low mileage '01 5-series BMW with a better warranty for about the same price as a brand spanking new model Maxima.

Let's just say that baby's just getting broken in. I've put 30,000 miles on it this 1st year, and I'm not planning on getting rid of it any time soon!

 

[meeshi]

We usually drive them until they die. We don't like car payments, so we usually buy a good used car and then drive the life out of them.

Right now I drive a 1992 Toyota Camry with over 130,000 miles. (We bought it used from my SIL) Runs excellent, looks great, no rust or anything. (Actually dh did barter work for a free paint job on it a couple of years ago). I love my camry!

DH has a company van that he drives.

Our family vehicle is a 2000 Chevy Astrovan with a wheelchair lift for dd.

 

[kashkdz]

We typically drive'em 'til they don't move anymore. We 've owned a 85' Honda Civic (bought new) that we sold years ago w/over 200k miles. Owned a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder (bought used w/24k), that we had to sell ealy because of an accident. Currently own a 1995 Pontiac Bonnevile w/ 97,000 miles (purchased w/29k miles), which runs fantastic; I expect to be the last owner of this fine automobile, which I will plan on driving until the engine stops. My spouse drives a 2003 Chrysler T&C Limited, but we expect to own this vehicle for a long time.

 

[patsal]

I buy what I want with the features I want brand new and keep them for 10 years or perhaps a little less if repairs are adding up to more than a payment would be. Right now we have a 2004 Grand Caravan which we traded a 1995 Dodge Caravan for--I purchased a few months earlier than I had planned, but it was worth it for the extra space. DH drives a 2000 Dakota which he will drive until it costs more in repairs than a new one would. He only uses his to commute and carry home improvement supplies as well as the occasional friend or family member who needs something moved, so though his milage to commute is high he doesn't drive it all that much. Mine gets used for the vacation driving, commute to work and carting the kids all over the place! My mileage tends to be high, but that has not been much of a problem.

 

[kfeuer]

Another vote for driving until the wheels fall off. Just this past April we finally had to replace our 89 Honda Accord. The transmission died and it wasn't worth doing such a major repair. We replaced it with a 04 Honda Civic, and are hoping our 3.5 year old learns to drive on it We've been enjoying having a nice new car so much, would you believe some jerk hit it in the parking lot and drove away a few weeks ago We now have 4 gouges in our bumper where the screws from a license plate were dug into it Fortunately we have a friend who repairs bumpers for a living and is going to give us a deal on fixing it.

Our other vehicle is a paid-for '98 Nissan Quest. We want to have it at least another 4-5 years. We followed Clark Howard's advice and only financed the new car for 3 years (if you finance for longer, you're "upside down" in the loan, which is a terrible place to be if your car is in a serious accident). When the Honda is paid for we will immediately put our car payment aside to pay for our next vehicle. We want to get to the point where we pay cash upfront for our vehicles. We've got our cars "staggered" so we never have more then one car payment at a time. Plus, we save alot on insurance and car taxes by having one older vehicle.

 

[SouthFLMommy]

We both have Honda's. I have a 2003 Odyssey and my dh has a 2003 Accord. We'll keep them until 2008 and then trade them in for a newer model.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

This thread answers the oft asked question about how we all afford to go to DW so often. We are smart shoppers.

I love my Camry also. I know a lot of the other models named are good too but since I have had such good luck with the Toyota I will stick until proven otherwise.

I erred in that my Camry is a 2000. We buy new, do the suggested maintance (oil changes every 3,000 miles) and do many of the other things that you wise people do.

Bet many of you live well within your means as well instead of struggling to keep you heads above water. What fun would a DW vacation be if you had to come home to the bills. (smile)

Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[PhotobearSam]

Our plan is to buy a new car every 5 years when the one we are paying on is done being paid for...That car then becomes the 2nd car at our house and then there is the new vehicle...

That way we always have one car payment but 2 cars...

Now that being said...We bought a car together DH and I when we were still dating and not yet living together...It will be 5 years old to us but it's a 1993 Sundance and it has lots wrong with it but still works...I only use it to go to work in the spring, summer and fall and gets parked in the winter.

We bought a new 2001 Cavalier in July 2001. By July 2006, we plan to buy an Impala and keep the cavalier as my car...then in 2011 we plan on buying an SUV and keep the Impala as my car...

I hope this makes sense...We might buy the Impala before 2006 because the old car is showing it's age...Hopefully it will last...

 

[TandyR]

Well I drive a 95 Dodge Neon that I totally love it just flipped 70k in July....my DH has a 2000 Mazda 626. The plan has always been that we would always have one car loan...like when his 626 is paid off it would be my turn to buy a car....well next year it will be my turn to buy a car....but I don't want to....I love my car she gets over 30 mpg and the only non-regular mantanace thing I have had to do was something to do with the cluch....I don't remember what now. Anyhow....since I don't want a new car yet....what I am thinking about doing once DH's car is paid off put a "car payment" in a savings account and when it gets to the point I _HAVE TO_ replace my car...I will see what I have in the savings and then maybe by a car that is a couple years old with that money....and continue to put money in savings until it is DH's turn to get a new car....maybe if I do that we could pay for his car in cash.....who knows just a therory right now.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

TandyR, you are onto something here. Just figure up how much of each car payment is for interest costs and you will see how much you will save, bunches!

A hint, when you go to buy your car, research dealers actual costs carefully, do not mention the fact that you are paying cash or have a large down payment as they get a kickback from arranging financing and it will affect how good a deal they will offer you.

You should have been there the day I spent dickering for our last car, ended up paying just $11 more than I offered when I walked in the door and when they finally caved in and passed me the papers and I handed back the finance papers they were floored. To top it all I had an $100 coupon from a class action suit to boot. There is something magical in being able to write a check to pay for a huge purchase in cash. Took me a couple of tries the first time I did so but I have gotten so good I can do it first time now! LOL

In a rush, gotta run. See you all later, Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We keep them until we have enough cash to buy a new one. We just got a new 2005 Grand Caravan. Our other caravan we inherited from my deceased sister, it was a 1989 and had 176,000 miles on it, lately my dh was plugging the radiator up with bubble gum so he said it was time to get a new van. Mine has only 70k and its a 1992 so it has alot of life left in it yet. It will get a new paint job and other stuff soon.

 

[Robinette]

I just want to say...
My husband is employed by DaimlerChrysler and this thread is making me sweat!!

 

[HopperFan]

Car #1 - 3 years old bought new after unhappily trading in my 14 yr old (both vans)
Car #2 - 17 year old VOLVO to be handed down next year to teen
Car #3 - 33 year old VW, had since 1976 when I inherited as teen

All running good !

 

[jbthi]

I have a 1993 Toyota Camry that looks like it came off the showroom. Doesn't have a ding or a scratch on it.

The only work it has ever had done was new brakes.

I'm sure it's good for another 10 years.

June

 

[jeancbpugh]

Hmmm...we drive them a while. <g> My husband drives a 1989 car, but we need to replace it this fall...too many repairs needed. My minivan I consider brand new: it's a 1998. I'll drive it at least 3 more years...

 

[GADISNEYGIRL]

I drove a Dodge Shadow for 9 years. Never had ANY problems with it (except the A/C went out on it after about 6 yrs)...we had been talking about getting a new car...went out one morning and it wouldn't start. We finally got it started, drove it straight to the car dealer, traded it for a Honda Civic. We only had it 1 1/2 years, because then we found out I was pregnant, and the trunk would hold the stroller, and NOTHING else. After 9/11, traded the Civic for a Mitsubishi Galant. Still driving it, and plan to for probably another 5 years or so.

 

[lilpritch04]

Well, I am kind of new to the car buying thing...

I have a 2002 Grand Prix GT that I bought for myself as a college graduation gift. I have about 2 years left to pay on it. I plan to keep it for about 3 years after that--hopefully more. Before that I drove my parents old minivan for 6 years(which is why I bought myself a big, but sporty car when I graduated).

DH has only ever had used cars. He's gone through so many that I can't keep track. Right now he has a 1997 Monte Carlo (34Z?--whatever is the equivilent of the SS) Before that he had a slew of cars ranging from a 1989 Grand Prix to a 1979 Monte Carlo. He also had a 1986 Iroc Z which he sold to pay off debt.

Once my car is paid off we will buy him a car. He hopes to get a used SUV--maybe an Envoy.

Our goal right now is to only have 1 car payment at a time. I know that is still a lot, but we bought our house figuring that that would be the case for years to come, so we can make it work right now.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Sorry I like new cars. I get a new car every 3 to 4 years (leased). Right now I have a 2002 Toyota Camry. DH tends to keep his trucks 7 to 10 years (He has a Toyota Tundra). We are close to paying his off (almost time to snowball the payment) and will be back down to one vehicle payment, which is nice.

 

[coliebird]

Another one who keeps them. My Corolla is a 1997 and only has 53,000 miles. Believe me, I will be keeping it until it no longer runs.

My husband, on the other hand, has leased his last two. In 2003, he leased a Tahoe, but he plans on purchasing it at the end of the lease and keeping it.