How long do you keep you car?

[exitseven]

My wife is thinking about getting a new car. Her car is only 8 years old. She really likes the car and they are not made anymore. I told her that when it is ten years old we can think about replacing it. We usually keep vehicles 12-15 years or more.

[MysticDevice]

I keep it until it cannot be fixed and is reduced to its base elements. I'm sentimental about them so I keep them basically forever. I've had mine for 10 years so far.

[Iron_Man]

I keep it for life or until they’re caught on fire like my other truck

[exitseven]

my wifes 15 year old Ford Country Sqire had an engine fire. It was still in the garage so it is good the fire dept came really quick.

[Iron_Man]

She’s lucky

[Iron_Man]

Thanks for the award, my Republican friend

[Lliam]

When I turned 16 in 1970 and got my license, my parents bought me a 1966 Rambler American 2 door, 6 cyl with an automatic trans. I drove that for a couple of years before it got totaled out. The crash was deemed not to be my fault.

Then my dad bought a new car and gave me his '63 Buick Sabre 2 dr, hard top, 401 V8 with an automatic trans. I christened it The Bismark. It was a great car. I drove that for several years until trading it to a guy for a 1969 El Camino.

After a year or so, I sold that and bought a '72 El Camino with a small block 327 bored out to 350 cu, RV cams, a modified transmission and rear end, a Hearst shifter, air shocks in the back, and fat tires. It was semi-race and it's theme song was Highway Star by Deep Purple. I loved that car.

I sold it in 1982 when the new company I worked for started giving me company cars.
For 28 years, my company bought me a new, all expenses paid car every 80k to 100k miles (about every 2 years).

When I retired in 2010, I bought a used Prius from a friend who was a highway engineer, drove like a little old lady, and had all scheduled maintenance done at the dealer. He had all the receipts. You know how anal engineers are.
The car was pristine with about 85,000 miles. At 149,000 miles, the hybrid battery went bad and the dealer replaced it for free because it was warranted up to 150k.

I drove it until almost 2020 when one of the cylinders went bad. So I sold it for $1500 and bought a fully loaded 2010 Rav4 Limited 6 cyl, 4WD with 83,000 miles. The lone owner had been an old lady who had all scheduled maintenance done at the dealer. She had all the receipts. The car was like brand new.
It now has 120k miles on it. I maintain it really well and like it a lot. I plan to drive it for the rest of my life.

[exitseven]

My Ex girlfriend had a Rambler station wagon. She lived in Oklahoma so the body was in geeod shape since they do not get snow. It did notn have air conditioning so her father installed an add on A/C kit be bought from JC Whirney. We drove that car all the way to Dallas one day and it was a good car.

[midnightmoon05]

Around 5-6 years then I get bored with it then I go get the next car that catches my eyes.
my ford Torus, (free from my brother.. had it for a very short time because the engine went).
Nisan Sentra, (4-5 years. Was a really good car… sold to my cousin)

Nisan Murano (was a lemon) got rid of it fast. Chevy Cavalier. CRV.

When I met hubby, he had a 4 Runner for 16 years. Very soon… we upgraded to a newer used 4 runner. We sold it around covid and made a few bucks.

When I had my CRV, I asked my mechanic if I can trade up to a BMW he said no. They are hard to work with. That my CRV will run forever lol… I was disappointed… so I kept it till 5 months ago and hubby donated to a young couple who could not afford to buy a car. We had some contact, they said the car is still running well… must been over 20 yr old car by now… forgot. My mechanic is right lol

Then I got a very nice Lexus 450h… that was really really pretty and fun to drive… I totaled after 3 months. Then another Lexus. (We still have).
after we sold the 4 Runner, we got another 450H… (also gone… someone hit me going south of I-95…. It’s not a big deal but they refused to fix it) still waiting for insurance to clear up.
then we bought another car..

we buy all our cars cash. And never new.

damn… that’s a lot of cars 😂 I do like cars and want a fun car to drive hubby said no… oh well.

we don’t have a time frame how long to keep a car. But I generally want something different around yr 6-10.

I also drive my brother in laws alpha Romeo sometimes… a fun car to drive around.

[AviatorTom]

I keep my car until it dies or not worth fixing. All my cars have gone that way. I had a Volkswagen for 11 years until its fuel line rusted out and started spewing fuel, a Honda for 14 years until the foam in the driver's seat completely disintegrated, and my Toyota is 15 years old and still in good condition.

[FreyaRed]

3 year leasing, then I bought it out. Now I can do with this car I want.
Usually 6 years or 150000 km is optimal age to get rid of a car. My car is 5 years and 48000 km so it's too soon.

[exitseven]

is it cheaper to do it that way as opposed to just taking out a car loan and paying it back?

[OlderAndWiser]

I have driven a series of used cars that I acquired when they were approx. 10 years old, and then driven them for another 3-4 years. However, last year, I bought a 2023 Ford Explorer.

[Simslover92]

This will be my 4th year leasing my car in December and I'm only at 29,300 miles so I will keep it for at least another 4 or 5 years before I get another one. I have a Toyota Corolla.

[exitseven]

does that make any sense?

[Simslover92]

Not sure. I don't know about cars that much to be honest. Probably not since it's a Toyota. But the dealership keeps wanting me to trade in my car now while the mileage is low which I thought about doing. So that I can have new warranty on it. But I think I'll just keep this one for a long time. Maybe more than 5 years then.

[exitseven]

@Simslover92 When you buy a car you make a certain number of monthly payments and pay interest on the outstanding balance. When to loan is retired you are the owner of the car. When yo lease a car you make monthly payments to rent the car and at the end of the program you do not own anything but a desk drawer full of reciepts.

[Simslover92]

Thanks. Didn't know the difference.

[Jeff51]

That's a long time. I have a honda 24 accord and old 2001 dodge van. I like the new stuff but they dont last that long. My old van will probably out live this car. I swap cars every few years cause I drive far for work.

[Just_Ken]

You are doing well if you can keep a car 10 years.

I keep a car up until it starts giving problems

[TrueConfection]

We keep them until they cost more to fix than to replace. Our oldest so far, 25 years from brand new.

[Chazmatazz269]

Until it is no longer reliable and/or keeping it reliable becomes costlier than a payment on a more reliable vehicle.

[NathanDavis]

about four or five years... but I've never had a "brand new vehicle" before

[BonzoInBitburg]

3-4 years. I don't like driving a car with more than 70k miles on it.

[thegreenyogi]

Oh gosh... I've kept mine for 24 years now...

[DishLady]

Till the lease runs out.

[AngryCarl3]

I kept my last car 12 years.