Long term owners..
Discussion
Recently, I bumped into a friend of my late grandad who is into cars as much as our family so the conversation quickly turned onto the subject. He still has an old Triumph 2500S on an R reg (1977) which he bought for next to nothing in 1987. It's not used daily, but fairly regularly for mundane tasks like shopping - it's in stunning condition but has never seen a show.
This got me thinking, 31 years is of course a long time to keep a car - my nan has had her Micra for 11 years which feels like an age but it serves her well and doesn't go far now. It's the only car in our family that's been kept longer than a decade, my dad had an Astra GTE for a month or two shy of 10 years in the 90s.
Has anybody on here kept a car longer than say, 10 years and what was it about that car that earned it that right to stay in your ownership for so long?
This got me thinking, 31 years is of course a long time to keep a car - my nan has had her Micra for 11 years which feels like an age but it serves her well and doesn't go far now. It's the only car in our family that's been kept longer than a decade, my dad had an Astra GTE for a month or two shy of 10 years in the 90s.
Has anybody on here kept a car longer than say, 10 years and what was it about that car that earned it that right to stay in your ownership for so long?
Longest I've owned a car is 6 years and that was my Cerbera. My Dad however had his 1979 Mustang Cobra for 10 years, and he's still got his 1993 Granada Scorpio 24v that he's had since 1994(only does about 100 miles a year in it now though).
Only seems like yesterday to me when he got his Granada, because I purchased his Xr4x4 off him when he got it...time certainly flies.
Only seems like yesterday to me when he got his Granada, because I purchased his Xr4x4 off him when he got it...time certainly flies.
My mum still has an ek shape Honda Civic that she's had since 1997, which would make 21 years this year.
It's in pristine condition, as it's only driven once a week, if that, and each journey is barely 7 miles. So in that time she's probably only put 10K miles on it max in that time!
She just doesn't have a reason for the need to change it, as she barely drives, and it always starts first time and is cheap to insure and repair. It gets that little use, my old man takes it out every now and then to give it a 'good run' as he would put it.
It's in pristine condition, as it's only driven once a week, if that, and each journey is barely 7 miles. So in that time she's probably only put 10K miles on it max in that time!
She just doesn't have a reason for the need to change it, as she barely drives, and it always starts first time and is cheap to insure and repair. It gets that little use, my old man takes it out every now and then to give it a 'good run' as he would put it.
Still running an Audi A6 as a daily after 18 years. My wife ran a Honda Prelude for 18 years, recently passing it on at 21 years old.
I still own (and run) a former daily, a Morris 1000 van, family owned since 1970.
The bus (19 years) is another story . . . but I have owned it for longer than did its original operator!
I still own (and run) a former daily, a Morris 1000 van, family owned since 1970.
The bus (19 years) is another story . . . but I have owned it for longer than did its original operator!
longest owned car was my s2000; a hair over 8years ownership when i bought at 8year old; 16year old car.
always started and reliable but life changed so needed a different car.
went showroom new on a 2015 Civic typeR and plan for it to last 10-15years. i cant see how this car wont be suitable for the long haul - 4seats, powerful, dog friendly and phenomenal on track.
always started and reliable but life changed so needed a different car.
went showroom new on a 2015 Civic typeR and plan for it to last 10-15years. i cant see how this car wont be suitable for the long haul - 4seats, powerful, dog friendly and phenomenal on track.
My Dad still has his 1994 W124 E320. It is mostly pristine apart from the jacking points and one or two of the arches where it could do with some TLC.
The W210 that replaced the W124 was so nasty and awkward that he refused to change the W124. He gave Merc another chance and tried the A Class with an A190.
That bucket of s
t killed a 30 year love affair with Merc.
The W210 that replaced the W124 was so nasty and awkward that he refused to change the W124. He gave Merc another chance and tried the A Class with an A190.
That bucket of st killed a 30 year love affair with Merc.My mum has an S-Reg Vectra B estate that she bought nearly new in the 90s. It's not a driver's car by any stretch of the imagination, but it is reliable and cheap to fix.
I have an Alfetta GTV that I bought in 1988. MOT is valid, I really ought to buy it 6 months tax this year.
I still have a 2001 Alfa 156 V6 as a daily, bought it at 13 months old, 50% off....
I have an Alfetta GTV that I bought in 1988. MOT is valid, I really ought to buy it 6 months tax this year.
I still have a 2001 Alfa 156 V6 as a daily, bought it at 13 months old, 50% off....
kieranblenk said:
Has anybody on here kept a car longer than say, 10 years and what was it about that car that earned it that right to stay in your ownership for so long?
I bought an S reg Civic in 2002 and ran it until 2014. It was a very reliable and easy car to own so there was no need to change it. The car was pretty much at the end of its useful life when I swapped it. I subscribe to the "look after it and run it into the ground" school of thought. Bought my previous Corvette brand new and kept it 13 years.
My latest Corvette is still brand new so has just had its first MOT.....
It's incredibly effective to buy decent cars, look after them properly and keep them a long time. Always helps if you buy a new model so that it doesn't go out of date in a couple of years. The motor industry generally gives full parts supply/dealer support for at least 10 years from end of production.
My latest Corvette is still brand new so has just had its first MOT.....
It's incredibly effective to buy decent cars, look after them properly and keep them a long time. Always helps if you buy a new model so that it doesn't go out of date in a couple of years. The motor industry generally gives full parts supply/dealer support for at least 10 years from end of production.
Generally I'm crap with keeping cars but my 1993 classic mini was bought in 2006 and I've no intention of ever selling it but I've covered less than 5k miles in that time. It's now on just over 39k miles.
My dad only buys cars when he needs to. He had a 1976 triumph 1500tc from 1979 to 1993. A 1993 vauxhal asra (ex demo) from 1993 to 2005 and a 2002 Honda jazz from 2005 to present.
My dad only buys cars when he needs to. He had a 1976 triumph 1500tc from 1979 to 1993. A 1993 vauxhal asra (ex demo) from 1993 to 2005 and a 2002 Honda jazz from 2005 to present.
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