When do you decide to get a new car?

[disneysteve]

We have noticed that every van that not only looks like ours (never positive about the year of the car) but has the same color of paint, all of us have rust in the same spots under the passenger doors.

Have you reported that/complained to the dealer? It sounds like a manufacturing defect. Our daughter's car recently got a service notice to bring it in for some undercoating treatment free of charge and she got a warranty extension. Apparently there was some issue in production that was resulting in rust in certain spots.

[Gailete]

I figured that as old as our car is and the snow and salt on the roads in this area, this would have been past any recall date, but we can look into it. It only had one owner before we got it.

[JBinKC]

Re Caravan/Town and County 2017 will be the last year it will be made. The Pacifica is the closest model to replace them.

I have a 3.3l 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan and other than low cost repairs and excessive oil consumptive it has been a decent van. For such a big vehicle it gets about 24-25 mpg on the highway.

I am in the school of buying a 4-7 year old car with cash when most of the depreciation hit of the car is past it and driving them as long as feasibly possible.

[Cristen Wyght]

Wow. This is hard. I can relate. We were thinking of buying a new car in the beginning of this year, but a lot has happened in the family that we decided to forgo about it.

[Gailete]

While out doing errands, I took a moment to check our odometer we are at 75550. we've driven it almost 3300 miles so far this year! When I was still working, I was filling up the tank just about every 4-5 days as I had to travel so much for work.

Sad to hear that they are stopping making the T&C, but that gives us 5-7 years to 'need' a new car when those are starting to come back to the dealers when the owners trade up.

[Like2Plan]

Re Caravan/Town and County 2017 will be the last year it will be made. The Pacifica is the closest model to replace them.

I believe 2016 was the last year for the Town and Country model. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Town_%26_Country

They did a complete redesign/retool of the factory and as you said replaced it with the Pacifica.

But, I think the Caravan continues.

[greatidea]

Next year i will try to buy a new car and my one friend also planning the same.

[Gailete]

Next year i will try to buy a new car and my one friend also planning the same.

But what made you decide to get a car next year? Is your falling apart? Is the mileage too high? Is it now a rust bucket? The point being, I believe, that for folks that are frugal or at least very careful with their money, what is the thing that makes you think you need a new car next year?

[Gailete]

I generally keep a car until the costs of repairing it over the years total more than I paid for it. So I bought my most recent car for £4000 and I have spent around £500 repairing it so far.

But then I'm not really bothered by having the latest car or latest technology, as long as it gets me from A to B i'm happy!

When I went from my first car to the second that was what convinced me and a very smart move it was. As I sat waiting for my car to be repaired yet again! at the dealer's I did some math in my head and realized between the monthly payment and the average I was spending each month to repairs along with the hassle of the repairs. I paid the bill for the repair and then asked to see new (used) cars. I probably should have done it another way, but I ended up with an Omni that thought it was a jeep or a humV! That car would go through anything and in my neck of the woods you need a car that will go through snow and lots of it. I loved that car. I could get in and out without bumping my head. However, right around the time it was due to be paid off, my sons would no longer fit in the back. Kind of mean to keep the oldest in the back because he was shorter while his beanpole younger brother got the front. Even the older kid didn't really fit back there, so I finally traded it in. But boy I loved that car as it never gave me a serious problem and even though I am tall I fit in it just fine. Then came some years with a Mr. Big Bucks that frugality was a foreign thought to him. Got rid of him and my current car. Now hubby and I have a paid off car. It cost us ~$700 for the inspection this year. We barely drive more than 4L miles so if all we have is the occasional repair, we are doing good.