How long do you keep your cars?

[GoodSteward]

[sv2007]

Just curious - how often do you get a new car? Do you drive it till it is falling apart, a certain mileage, certain age? (Assuming you don't need to upgrade to a larger sized vehicle for an increase in family size or similar reasoning)

The last few cars didn't last more than 5 years. Our current 09 Camry is the longest lasting car (it's gone past the 5-year curse). I'm afraid that our current 11 Chrysler T&C isn't going to survive the 5 year as we are looking to replace it already.

We are not car enthusiasts so we don't really think about (or cared much) for cars except as transportation. So if everything works well, we don't even think about getting a new car; it is just something that we don't care for.

Our last few cars died because of insurance companies totaled 2 cars, 4 cars finally developed problems (we replace cars on first sign of problem).

[Fishindude77]

Seems like we trade vehicles every 3-4 years or so.
I put about 25,000 per year on a vehicle and wife probably does 15-20,000. We could keep them a lot longer, but just like to get a new one every so often.

[scfr]

Seems like we trade vehicles every 3-4 years or so.
I put about 25,000 per year on a vehicle and wife probably does 15-20,000. We could keep them a lot longer, but just like to get a new one every so often.

I like your honesty!! Your households and my household have completely opposite "car philosophies" but at least we are both making conscious decisions.

[disneysteve]

Seems like we trade vehicles every 3-4 years or so.
I put about 25,000 per year on a vehicle and wife probably does 15-20,000. We could keep them a lot longer, but just like to get a new one every so often.

I like your honesty!! Your households and my household have completely opposite "car philosophies" but at least we are both making conscious decisions.

Yep, different philosophies.

If I drove 25K/year, I'd be looking at 5-6 years most likely, not 3-4. Around that 150K mark seems to be when repairs start getting more frequent and more costly.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I've noticed that the value of the car starts to get higher than repairs over 150k. When they say they want to redo tranmission or engine it's time to go.

[GoodSteward]

I've noticed that the value of the car starts to get higher than repairs over 150k. When they say they want to redo transmission or engine it's time to go.

That's why I switched to Toyota. That rule of thumb doesn't apply. I've had several Toyota cars and none of them needed any major repair well after 200k mile range.

[Jluke]

Commuter car: 5-6 years for previous 2 cars; current one is coming up on 6 years; hoping to get 7-8 years on this one.

Weekend car: held one for 15 years; current one is coming up on 3 years old.

[Fishindude77]

I like your honesty!! Your households and my household have completely opposite "car philosophies" but at least we are both making conscious decisions.


No kids at the house anymore, no mortgage or debt, still working a good job, so the disposable income is there. We didn't always operate this way.

[frugal saver]

For years I worked downtown, swing shift, and the car not starting or breaking down at 2am just wasn't an option, so I traded in every 5 years or so.

Now I'm no longer working, and want to trade in my 2007 for a model with more safety features--back-up camera, etc.

[msnln]

I hold on to the car until repair cost outweigh value of the car. My first car, I owned for 12 years and 145K miles when a friend borrowed it and wrecked it. So I got a new car for $11K, drove that for another 9 years when coolant fluid started leaking into the engine and repair would have been 2K, so I got rid of it. Right now, our household has three vehicles, 15 year old, 12 year old, and 11 year old. My daily is 11 year old Accord and I love the car. Instead of upgrading the car, I upgrade components inside to fit my taste. For example, last year, I upgraded stereo system when OEM one started fritzing out. Recently I upgraded stereo speakers and the radio sounds so much better! My daughter will inherit the car next year when she gets her DL, and then passed down to my son in about three years. So, unless something catastrophic happens, I have no plans of getting rid of that car. 15 year old is driven by wife and she loves the car. She plans holding onto the car at least until she can get collector car status when car turns 20. 12 year old car is an SUV which we use for weekends and summer road trips/vacations as it holds a load of cargo with roof rack & cargo carrier.

[greenskeeper]

Around that 150K mark seems to be when repairs start getting more frequent and more costly.

Depends on the vehicle and how well the maintenance has been performed.

Our current vehicles are approaching 200k and 250k miles. No major repairs yet aside from maintenance related items.

Both vehicles are still on the original drivetrain and show no sign of failure.