How long do you keep your cars?

[VEA]

OK, OK, I know this has probably been done before.

How long on average do you keep your cars?

I purchased my most recent car around February this year. I had planned to keep it around 5 years...
However after a series of site visits I have found myself doing a little more mileage and don't really want to put too much on the Zed. Due to this I have found myself looking at cars again. To me this seems too soon. OK I won't be doing massive amounts of miles once this contract is up so that's not really and issue but I just don't appear to be able to help myself.

So changing from the Zed (lets say I do decide to go down the route of changing), what would one look at? I am finding myself drawn to something a little larger. E46 M3?

[Rumple]

Last one five years this one three, looking to get rid now.

[Paul O]

Typically 3 years or so, although I'll probably keep the current flock for longer than that as quite happy with them.

[300bhp/ton]

VEA said:

OK, OK, I know this has probably been done before.

How long on average do you keep your cars?

I purchased my most recent car around February this year. I had planned to keep it around 5 years...
However after a series of site visits I have found myself doing a little more mileage and don't really want to put too much on the Zed. Due to this I have found myself looking at cars again. To me this seems too soon. OK I won't be doing massive amounts of miles once this contract is up so that's not really and issue but I just don't appear to be able to help myself.

So changing from the Zed (lets say I do decide to go down the route of changing), what would one look at? I am finding myself drawn to something a little larger. E46 M3?

You couldn't have been a little more comprehensive with your poll options then?

Meaning no offense, but having 3 years as the highest answer is somewhat naive as I'm sure a good number of PH'ers have owned cars for longer.

[deltashad]

Depends what they are,

Company car every 2 years
Lancia, it replaced a rotten Lancia which I'd had for 10 years. Had this one for six years and dont intend to sell it (undergoing restoration now before completely perforates).
MGF VVC, about three to four years, unsure if I should get rid of it as I have no need, its worthless but fun to drive.
Mercedes, had it three years, unsure if I should sell it. Its got four seats and its in pretty much mint condition, when funds permit I shall chop it in for a 500e, that will probably also be a keeper.
Lotus, Only had it a few months but this is going to be a keeper. No plans to sell.

I used to chop and change every 2 to three years out of boredom but always kept a Lancia.

I would like an ultimate collection of four cars, three keepers and one to chop in when I felt the need.

[VEA]

300bhp/ton said:

You couldn't have been a little more comprehensive with your poll options then?

Meaning no offense, but having 3 years as the highest answer is somewhat naive as I'm sure a good number of PH'ers have owned cars for longer.

Umm, does it not say more that 3 years?

What would be your suggestions? I can edit it.

[300bhp/ton]

VEA said:

Umm, does it not say more that 3 years?

What would be your suggestions? I can edit it.

It's your poll, so your choices are fine.

It's more the case of owning something for 10, or 15 years isn't really well conveyed by simply saying 3+. Personally I'd have said, less than a year. 1-3 years, 3-5 years, 5-10 years, 10-15 years, 15 years +

e.g. my current fleet:

-TR7 owned for almost 13 years
-88 owned for 7 years
-Camaro owned for 8'ish years
-Roadster over 3 years
-Impreza under 1 year

[droopsnoot]

Ages. I become unreasonably attached to inanimate objects. My daily driver is just coming up to ten years at Christmas (hardly worth anything now, so might as well keep it rather than crystallise the massive loss I'll have made if I sell it). My previous dd was going in part-ex, but I decided to keep it so that's been with me since 1988. The Firenza arrived in 1986. The project car only arrived in 2008, but I first owned it from 1985 to around 1998.

[Ozzie Osmond]

However much you pay for a car, it becomes great value if you keep it for long enough!

[MartynVRS]

I get bored easily but I'll keep a car for a minimum for a year, normally because I have to save to change again. But I kept my last vRS for 3 years, and my current Fabia vRS for 2 years but I'll be changing in 3 years for a GT86 if all goes to plan.

[dbdb]

Ozzie Osmond said:

However much you pay for a car, it becomes great value if you keep it for long enough!

My dad used to say that! He would generally buy a car new, then keep it for at least six years. He reckoned depreciation between different makes levelled out if he did that, because none of them were worth much at that age. Just as well since he tended to buy Jags whose initial depreciation was appalling! Over time, even a Mercedes lost its value though; my dad reckoned their lack of depreciation over their first 2 years at that time was the only reason to buy a Merc.

[Synchromesh]

Historically (says the 20 year old!), just under a year. My present one, which I picked up a few weeks ago, I hope to keep until either a) it borks, or b) I decide to get a barge, at which point it'll be relegated to track slag duties.

[Bill]

dbdb said:

My dad used to say that! He would generally buy a car new, then keep it for at least six years. He reckoned depreciation between different makes levelled out if he did that, because none of them were worth much at that age. Just as well since he tended to buy Jags whose initial depreciation was appalling! Over time, even a Mercedes lost its value though; my dad reckoned their lack of depreciation over their first 2 years at that time was the only reason to buy a Merc.

Surely it'd make more sense to buy Jags at 3 years or so or new Mercs, if you plan to sell after two years?

I seem to keep cars four years, partly coincidence, partly because I hate buying cars - it's such a faff.

[kambites]

I keep them until they no longer fulfil my needs. Thus far, that's always been over five years, and sometimes over ten.

[wjb]

I usually, on average, keep my cars for under a year as I get bored quickly. I've had 3 cars in the last 12 months!

Hope to keep my next car for a bit longer.

[leafspring]

I only buy snotters (whilst saving for something nice) So I keep a car till it goes bang.

So I voted anywhere between 1-3 years.