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slyphoxj
join:2002-06-23
united state

slyphoxj

Member

The longest you've ever kept a car?

I'm closing in on a decade with my 2005 Honda Accord LX with about 177k on the clock now. I cling to it because it still looks good, has good gas mileage for its size (around 30MPG with mostly highway driving), it's still reliable, hasn't started to nickle and dime me too bad yet, the interior is still nice and mostly clean and the only nonworking item is the remote on one of my key fobs. I just don't see any pressing need to replace it anytime soon. I'd sorta rather have an SUV-type vehicle, but my work commute is too long (about 65 miles round trip)... I need good gas mileage.

I guess, really, I cling to it because it cost me 20 grand LOL.

My friend at work has a '78 Trans Am that he got back in 1987. He's only put a few hundred miles on it since he's had it and it just sits in his garage.

My mom got her 2005 Taurus a decade ago this month (or next?)... it's only got about 26k on it now.

So... what's the longest you've ever held onto a car?

Also, on average, how long do you hang on to your daily driver? For me:

1983 Pontiac Phoenix - 11/1989 until summer 1993 - about 3.5 years
1986 Buick Century - spring 1994 until 3/1998 - about 4 years
1997 Toyota Corolla DX - 3/1998 until 6/2005 - a little over 7 years
2005 Honda Accord LX - 6/2005 until present - over 9 years, closing in on a decade

That's about 6 years average per car, with my Accord skewing that average somewhat.

aurgathor
join:2002-12-01
Lynnwood, WA

aurgathor

Member

I usually keep cars for a long time, usually close to or over 10 years. For example, I bought a '95 Bronco in '99 with 120k on the odometer. I still have it with 298k on the odometer. I have another Ford I bought in 1996.

hortnut
Huh?
join:2005-09-25
PDX Metro

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Current vehicle is a 2002 Ford F150 Supercrew 4wd FX4 with the 5.4l. Just now pushing 150,000. Bought in 2003 and from the Build Sheet, it has all options, except the Navigation System. All maintenance, fluids, brakes, tires, shocks, plugs and more from front bumper to rear bumper is up to date. Get 10 -12 mpg in town and up to 20 mpg on Freeway, especially if drafting behind semi [I use CB to ask permission].

Bought a 1970 Maverick the Fall of my Senior year and gave it to BIL in 1981. Was pushing 170,000. Only regular maintenance, tires, plugs, points, wiring, oil changes and clutch replaced while I had it.

1978 to 1996 drove Company Cars, 2,000 to 4,000 miles per month. Got a new one every 2-3 years. Usually could choose make, color, interior color and a few other goodies. Company paid for everything. And I could use car after work, weekends, vacations and all with no money out of my pocket.

Wife had a 1983 Nissan 280Z and she drove it past 1995.

Had a Farm Truck, 1979 Chev 1/2 Ton PU bought for $350 in 1996. Sold it in 2009 for $350.00 with a Salvage Title. In 2000 I was rear ended on the Freeway with a State Patrolman as my only witness, State Patrol said guy was doing over 100mph after they did their accident reconstruction. State Farm Valued it at $2250 with Salvage Value at $150, so I kept it Went to wrecking yard and got used bed for $300.00. Using a chain, big tree and come-along straightened out bumper.

Somewhere around here I have a worksheet my Dad made up for the cars he owned for the previous 54 years. What he bought them for and what he sold them for. Capital Costs came out to around $16.67 per month for all those years. He skimped on cars, but put his money into his homes and in the end made a tidy profit on them.
HarryH3
Premium Member
join:2005-02-21

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Still driving the '91 S-15 4WD GMC Jimmy that we bought new. It has 225K on the odo. Everything but the Star Wars digital dash still works. The only major repairs have been an a/c compressor at 100K miles and a rear ring and pinion at 125K miles.

Bought our '94 Suburban in 1998 with 76K miles. Still driving it 14 years later with 182K on the odo. It's had an a/c compressor change as well.

Inherited a 2005 Honda Accord EX when my dad passed about 3 years ago. It "only" has 132K miles on it, but the clear coat is peeling (even though it spent most of its life parked inside a garage!) and the steering wheel is literally crumbling away. My old GM junk has held up MUCH better.

I've had my '75 K5 Blazer since 1986, but it mostly sits in the garage since it's been modified for off-road use and I don't get time for much of that these days.

So yeah, I tend to drive stuff until the wheels fall off, but I take very good care of them all so they still run and drive like new.

beck
MVM
join:2002-01-29
On The Road

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17 years for a 85 S10 Blazer.
Over 10 years for the evil 2001 Ranger now.

shdesigns
Powered By Infinite Improbabilty Drive
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join:2000-12-01
Stone Mountain, GA

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Still driving:

1988 Mustang (bought new)
1990 Jeep Cherokee (Bought in 2000)
1983 GPz550 (bought new in 1984)

My newest vehicle is a 2001 Ninja 600.

The only one I would like to replace is the Jeep.

Robotics
See You On The Dark Side
Premium Member
join:2003-10-23
Louisa, VA

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I have a 1992 Honda Accord 174k miles still going strong except for the transmission is starting to act up.
I was told it is the TCU/TCM. But I replaced that and still having issues.
I don't want to get rid of this car any time soon.

Fir_Na_Tine
Time to get riggity riggity wrecked son
Premium Member
join:2001-01-03
South Jersey

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I've always said drive it till it dies or costs more than a car payment to keep running monthly.

My current 1987 K5 Blazer I have had for 20 years now and it still runs great. Although it sat for awhile after I got my 1999 Infiniti I30T in 2003. It has 103k on the OD, the engine runs great and the truck still looks good too but has some rusty spots. Just need to fix up the interior as the dash and carpet are well worn. Plus the power windows need motors replaced.

The I30 I've had for 11 years now and that has just turned 100k. Runs great and looks decent just needs a new front seat bottom.

I'm in the market for a 4 door pickup within the next few years to retire the Blazer to toy status only.

CovMac
Premium Member
join:2000-11-06
Covington, LA

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Bought my 2001 Silverado 1500 LS (2 wheel drive, 5.3L, HD towing package) in Dec 2000. Almost 180,000 on the clock and still going strong and looks good with no rust problems. Only major mechanical work was a broken valve spring back in 2006. A few minor things like the wiper/cruise control/high-low stem going out and having to be replaced. Still gets 20+ MPG on the I-way. Going to drive it until the wheels fall off.

CylonRed
MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
·Metronet

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The minimum I try and keep cars is 10 years and I do not buy new. So it is 10 years + the age, when I get it. I got my -'89 Honda Civic HB about 1995 and sold it around 2008/09. I had a '97 Honda wagon that we got in 2001-2002 and sold late 2010 I believe (sold it for my mid-life crisis car).

We couple not keep the 2002 T&C for 10 years - it was a crap car. Most disappointing car i have ever bought.
PrntRhd
Premium Member
join:2004-11-03
Fairfield, CA

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I have a 2003 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner with 343000 miles as a daily driver.

MEDIAN2k3
Your Ad Here
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join:2002-12-04
Howard Beach, NY

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List of my cars

1987 Toyota Corolla FX - Totaled
1995 VW Jetta 5spd - Sold (totaled by 3rd owner after me)
1993 Honda Accord LX - Sold
1997 Chrysler Cirrus - Junked
2006 Honda Element LX - Traded in for Focus
2007 Ford Focus - Repossessed
1995 Mitsubishi Galant - Junked (dropped an axel)
2008 Ford Edge - Traded in for VW
2009 VW CC Turbo - Traded in for Honda
2011 Honda Accord LX - Current and LAST vehicle until its paid off

Phoneman63
join:2001-02-22
Hauppauge, NY

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I have the following all bought new:

2004 Honda Accord LX 102,500 Mi. Just gave to daughter, just got her license
2004 Dodge Caravan SXT 83,300 Mi.
2005 Chevy Cavalier 75,750 Mi. Will give to other daughter when she gets her license next year. She's already complaining that older daughter got the Honda. I said ok, take the Caravan, no more complaining, LOL.
Liberty
Premium Member
join:2005-06-12
Arizona

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In '81 I bought a '69 F250 for $2000 (with 40,000 miles)

Great work truck except it had a hard time only passing by gas stations.
After rebuilding every major part over the years & wearing back out again, put it on craigslist in 2011.
You could still do a cross country in it, if you could afford the gas.
First guy by picked it up for $1500.

Thirty years
TheMG
Premium Member
join:2007-09-04
Canada
MikroTik RB450G
Cisco DPC3008
Cisco SPA112

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I'm still on my first car, didn't buy a car until after graduating from college.

2006 Mazda3, bought in 2010 with 27,000km on it. It now has 72,000km.

I plan to keep it until one of the following happens:

1) If it starts to look like crap from body rust (just a matter of time for any car in Canada).

2) If it starts to give me reliability issues and becomes expensive to maintain/repair.

chip89
Premium Member
join:2012-07-05
Columbia Station, OH

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I keep cars until they break & it's to much $ to fix. Right now I have a 2010 Ford Escape with 82,000 miles on it! Only a few more payments & It's paid in full!
chip89

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I've actually had a compressor blow in my 2010 Ford Escape covered under warranty.
MaynardKrebs
We did it. We heaved Steve. Yipee.
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join:2009-06-17

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13 years - 1999 BMW 540i with all the trimmings
Of all the cars I've owned, it is my hands-down favorite.

Still driving BMW's, but my eye is drifting towards a Tesla S right now. I absolutely love the way it drives.
rody_44
Premium Member
join:2004-02-20
Quakertown, PA

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The last 5 or so cars i have kept until my wife gets around to totaling it. Probably averages about 5 years or so with a few fender benders thrown in between. Not sure how any of the 30 or so accidents is never her fault. But they arent

WK2
Premium Member
join:2006-12-28
united state

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Recently, I had my 1999 Mountaineer for 12 years

2003 Ranger for 2 years
scross
join:2002-09-13
USA

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My car is a 1993 Corolla, purchased new. My neighbor drives a 1998 Nissan, also purchased new. For both of us, our other family members drive much newer vehicles, and in my case, I also drive new(ish) rental cars on a regular basis; most of these leave me fairly unimpressed, though. I might be excited to drive them at first, but by the end of the week or whatever I usually have no regrets about turning them back in.

Both of our older vehicles were manufactured back when "Made in Japan" still really meant something. And they are both of a generation when cars were computerized at a more basic level, with minimal sensors - unlike today's cars which are computerized to death and have so many sensors on them that the sensors themselves are often a major point of failure.
billydunwood
join:2008-04-23
united state

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My Grandpa, before he passed last year, was the original owner of his 66 Chevy Malibu. Bought it for $2500 in 1966 and drove it almost everyday since then. Only 160k miles too!

slyphoxj
join:2002-06-23
united state

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said by scross:

My car is a 1993 Corolla, purchased new. My neighbor drives a 1998 Nissan, also purchased new. For both of us, our other family members drive much newer vehicles, and in my case, I also drive new(ish) rental cars on a regular basis; most of these leave me fairly unimpressed, though. I might be excited to drive them at first, but by the end of the week or whatever I usually have no regrets about turning them back in.

Both of our older vehicles were manufactured back when "Made in Japan" still really meant something. And they are both of a generation when cars were computerized at a more basic level, with minimal sensors - unlike today's cars which are computerized to death and have so many sensors on them that the sensors themselves are often a major point of failure.

I guess the only real reason to go with a newer car is for better safety. My 2005 Accord has most of the essential safety features that the newer cars do, such as side air bags, ABS, built to eat the forces of the collision so they don't hurt me as bad. But I just don't see any must-have safety features in any of the newer vehicles.

Although I'd really like to have a TPMS that tells me all my tire pressures on the dash when I first get in it and start it up and also warn me if one of my tires is losing pressure. Checking tire pressure in the winter is no fun.

And I wouldn't mind an AUX jack on my stereo (too difficult and expensive to upgrade my sound system).

But other than that, there's really no compelling must-haves I can see on any of the newer cars... just more expensive parts to break, more difficult to diagnose and fix anything myself, have to go to the dealer for more and more things.

paintref
Look, I see stars
join:2003-02-21
Houston, TX

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Current Vehicle: 2006 Nissan Altima

Now has 133K miles on it (Had just under 132K miles when I got it).

Runs great. Engine and transmission works good. Even came with a lifetime warranty on the engine.

Hope to keep it going for the foreseeable future, which I will do with basic maintenance (Oil changes).

Previous Vehicle:
1995 Nissan Pathfinder 4WD. Ran great till the end (Got in an accident and the vehicle was totaled). I don't miss it much, as it was a gas hog and had to replace some parts, but otherwise it ran good till the end.

houkouonchi
join:2002-07-22
Ontario, CA

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My oldest car is a 2006 Subaru Impreza which is just s spare car between me and my dad. When I bought it after a 4 year lease we split the cost to pay off the rest of the car and kept it as our spare cars. It only has around 70k miles on it.

My second oldest car is my 2010 Nissan 370Z. It has around 75k miles on it and has served me quite well. Only reason I kept it after buying something new was I still wanted a car with a manual transmission that was still fun to drive.

My newest car is my 2014 Nissan GT-R, it has 10k miles on it right now.

All these I bought new and had less than 50 miles on them when I bought them. I do like to hold on to them though. I will plan to keep the GT-R for 10 years. There is no longer really things I can 'upgrade' to which was an excuse to get something newer/better before.

My dad still has his 2004 Nissan 350Z. It has 190k miles on it. Its finally starting to have some mechanical problems though.

south1178
Premium Member
join:2001-12-17
Cleveland, OH

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I buy cars every couple of years. I hate old stuff.

WK2
Premium Member
join:2006-12-28
united state

1 recommendation

WK2

Premium Member

I buy and keep used cars because I don't like the new car style. To each his own.

CylonRed
MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County

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My current daily driver is a 2001 bmw 330I with almist 203k miles. I got it 4 years ago with just under 150k miles.

karthwyne
join:2003-04-27
Atlanta, GA

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Bought a Corolla wagon in 1980 brand new. Sold it in late 1998 when a got a new celica. It was rear-ended in 2008. I got a 2000 mr2 spyder and still daily drive it.

So, I guess I only get cars that I have little to no intention of selling.

fuziwuzi
Not born yesterday
Premium Member
join:2005-07-01
Palm Springs, CA
Hitron EN2251
Nest H2D

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I had my 1988 Ford Escort GT for 24 years. I bought it new, literally drove it off the showroom floor. It had 189K original miles. Never had any major problems, only normal maintenance and replacing old parts (like water pump, fuel pump, etc.). It drove beautifully, still got about 27mpg around town/38mpg highway, and everything operated as it should. It didn't even rattle or squeek and looked great. But, it couldn't survive being t-boned by an idiot driver making an illegal left turn at an intersection. It was like losing a best friend, I grieved for a long time. I still miss it terribly.