If you're happy with a car, do you hold onto it or swap it?
If you're happy with a car, do you hold onto it or swap it?
Author
Discussion

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

44,475 posts

209 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
I was just thinking that I've had the 370Z for 6 years now, and the F82 M4 for 4 years as well. So in general if I'm happy with a car, then I tend to hold on to it.

So what do you prefer to do? Do you swap and change cars regularly, or do you hang on to what you've got instead?

Super Sonic

14,228 posts

83 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
Keep

Leftfootwonder

1,776 posts

87 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
+1 keep.

I've had my Accord Type R since 2017 and no plans to sell. The wife's FR-V will only succumb when the rust finally finishes off the body leaves us only with the engine. laugh

wombleh

2,366 posts

151 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
If happy with it then I tend to keep until it's scrap.

Alex Z

2,065 posts

105 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
I’ve had my Mini for 7 and a bit years, which is the longest I’ve owned a car.

For quite a while I was doing a lot of mileage so was changing around 3 years old, but the only thing I fancy now without spending a fortune is another Mini (albeit a JCW).

a340driver

630 posts

184 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
Another keep here!

brillomaster

1,864 posts

199 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
Keep. My 330d is on 173,000 miles now, and sure a 120d would be more sensible choice across the board, but... I really like the 330d.

On the other hand, my boxster is good but that's the fun car, so potentially fancy a change, maybe....

CG2020UK

2,953 posts

69 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
What would you consider swapping to is probably the question?

Longest I’ve ever had a car was 3 years with my Mk7 Golf GTI.

J4CKO

46,821 posts

229 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
Yeah, keep, I think I would miss my ST so much I cant bear to sell it, been around for eight years or so, four as my car.

Spent too much on, love it to bits and have plans for more mods and track days, so it stays. Took a mate out in it the other day as he asked for a blast, a few miles cross country and his right leg went into spasm from pressing an imaginary brake pedal biggrin

But, do want something else, life is too short to experience one car for too long on its own for too long, need to drive and own others but budgets, tax, insurance and space constraints get in the way.

Im looking at a barge to compliment the Fiesta, Jag XJ or Audi A8, but probably the Jag.

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

44,475 posts

209 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
I spend quite a bit of time browsing the classifieds, so there is always that temptation with something different, but that usually involves spending more money though. So if I'm happy with the car, then I definitely tend to stick with it.

I also think that it is important to get the car that you're buying "right" in the first place as well, because I have bought the odd car over the years that I haven't ended up being happy with for example.

mjlloyd500

246 posts

115 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
21 years of my tvr but change my alfas every 2 years maximum

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

44,475 posts

209 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
mjlloyd500 said:
21 years of my tvr but change my alfas every 2 years maximum
That is a fantastic length of ownership for sure. thumbup

It always makes me smile when I think of my Dad having had his 1993 Granada Scorpio Cosworth 24v since 1994 as well. Although he only does about 12 miles a year in it now in fairness though! hehe

Gary C

15,236 posts

208 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
The 911 I have had since 2007

But then again my dad had it from 1990 so its been in the family for 35 years so far.

Square Leg

16,070 posts

218 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
Normally swap within 12-18 months even if I’m happy with it.
Although I kept my M2comp and Boxster Spyder both for 3 years.

Too many cars to try in too little time…

Miserablegit

4,441 posts

138 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
I tend to buy what I want and therefore keep them a long time albeit I’m running a few cars at the moment laugh

AC43

13,607 posts

237 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
I was just thinking that I've had the 370Z for 6 years now, and the F82 M4 for 4 years as well. So in general if I'm happy with a car, then I tend to hold on to it.

So what do you prefer to do? Do you swap and change cars regularly, or do you hang on to what you've got instead?
I've held on to my E500 for 8 years now, a record for me. I had the money to change it 3 years ago but upgraded the ICE instead.

I'm about to have the money to change it again but am really struggling to find a replacement. I know I'd like a G30 5 Series (2018/19) but did nobody EVER spec one with adaptive cruise? HK seems reasonably common, panos vanishingly rare, adaptive dampers forget it. Memory seats? Anyone? I'd like all that in M Sport trim in Mediterranean Blue please. Seems like company car tax has killed off fully loaded cars at that age. Or something.

I'll probably end up getting some paint done on mine and a little interior work and hanging on for another year or two. Or three.

Terminator X

20,543 posts

233 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
I'm a regular car changer every 18-24 months usually. Now though each new version of a car seems worse than the last so I think current cars will just stay.

TX.

Mr E

23,039 posts

288 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
AC43 said:
I've held on to my E500 for 8 years now
I had the 500 for 8 years I think.
I have owned the elise for nearly 15 years. What would I replace it with?

(Spoiler, I am thinking about replacing it)

Jaguar99

675 posts

67 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
I have changed cars a lot in the past (I once worked it out the average length of ownership is 8 months) and regretted getting rid of many of them, at the time I had good “reasons” to change but the grass was almost never greener in the other side

If I could have my time over I would have kept them for longer

Anyway, the Auto Trader app is calling so I must be off….

generationx

9,125 posts

134 months

Tuesday 25th February 2025
quotequote all
I used to change a lot, but I’ve had my Alfa for eight years and still don’t want to sell it.