How long do you keep cars for?
Discussion
Chatting to a client this morning, he's just ordered a new Rav4 Hybrid - his 3rd Rav4 in 4 years. He has very good terms with his Toyota dealer so gets 2 year PCP deals but changes before the end of the contract.
Got me thinking though - my current mileage is only around 9k a year - a lot less than the 27k I was doing between 2011 and 2014. My current car is 9 years old and is only on 83k. Car currently drives great, so other than having something that looks and drives new, I've no real reason/justification to change right now and can't see myself having reason for a while as yet.
My Dad always used to look to replace his petrol engined cars at around 65-70k when I was younger, and my Father in law always buys new Nissan diesels now and looks to replace by the time they hit 50k.
For me, our family car is the wife's Toyota Verso, so mine does hardly any miles at weekend and through lack of kids is generally clean and tidy, and I've used my pedal powered bike the last 3 days of commuting. On that basis, I'm wondering if I buy my next car, a year or two old with a view to keeping until its say 10-12 yrs old and has done say 100-120k miles.
Do you set yourself a mileage limit/age where you need to start to look to replace?
Got me thinking though - my current mileage is only around 9k a year - a lot less than the 27k I was doing between 2011 and 2014. My current car is 9 years old and is only on 83k. Car currently drives great, so other than having something that looks and drives new, I've no real reason/justification to change right now and can't see myself having reason for a while as yet.
My Dad always used to look to replace his petrol engined cars at around 65-70k when I was younger, and my Father in law always buys new Nissan diesels now and looks to replace by the time they hit 50k.
For me, our family car is the wife's Toyota Verso, so mine does hardly any miles at weekend and through lack of kids is generally clean and tidy, and I've used my pedal powered bike the last 3 days of commuting. On that basis, I'm wondering if I buy my next car, a year or two old with a view to keeping until its say 10-12 yrs old and has done say 100-120k miles.
Do you set yourself a mileage limit/age where you need to start to look to replace?
Gary29 said:
When I'm bored usually, counting them up in my head, I've had the same number of cars as years I've been driving, so every 12 months on average for me.
Yes, boredom has a lot to do with it I guess.I had a SEAT Ibiza Cupra a few years back. Loved it and generally made me smile most days. Only reason I got shut was through getting a company car HOWEVER I had started to look at new cars too. Not through boredom - just because the cost of repairs was getting expensive. Not talking £3 bulbs here and there, stuff like clutches and belts etc. All stuff that starts to crop up after doing say 60k.
I'm a massive petrol head but I have only had 2 cars in 10 years. I bought my Corsa just before my 17th birthday (around this time 10 years ago) and then in July 2010 I bought my Twingo.
Other than my Dad buying the mini in 2008 and me helping him with it and buying some of the parts that's all I've had.
So the Twingo is coming up on 6 years now.
Other than my Dad buying the mini in 2008 and me helping him with it and buying some of the parts that's all I've had.
So the Twingo is coming up on 6 years now.
I'm not sure if I'm unusual, but I don't make plans to replace anything that I own (cars, TVs, washing machines etc), I just replace when something better is available than I fancy, my priorities change, or if neither of those two things have happened by the time that thing wears out, I replace due to old age, which I admit rarely happens. The longest I've kept a car is 8 years, the most miles on one car is 82,000 and the shortest time I've had a car is 3 months.
I only ever really replace things when they are dead, don't perform their task correctly anymore or they just aren't financially viable anymore and the same goes for Cars really. Had my first car (rover 25) for a couple of years until i realised i didn't need it while at university and it was just draining my money. Current car is a Mazda Premacy which I've had over 5 years and around 80,000 miles (it had 78k ish on it when i brought it) and only looking to replace that now as has become un-viable financially.
Think it is a bit of a mix of becoming attached to things, if it ain't broke dont fix it and better the devil you know.
Think it is a bit of a mix of becoming attached to things, if it ain't broke dont fix it and better the devil you know.
Cars, to folk who use sites like PH, are generally of interest though.
For example, I don't ever plan to replace say my fridge. If it lasts 25 years then great. The last fridge we had lasted 5 years, current one is 6 years old and going strong (in case you're interested.... if so you need to get out more!.....). Cars though are a bit different - they're something that people judge you by. That's possibly the only thing that pushes me driving a 9 year old Skoda Octavia. The engine is fine and does what I need it to do on my fairly restricted and congested commute. If only I could replace the body with something a bit sleeker/fresher!
I do recall buying my SEAT Ibiza, that I kept just under 4 years. I started using it and it was a hard ride after my Bora - to the point where long trips to the North East were starting to get tiresome in it. I toyed with chopping it in after 6 months due to the hard ride. Finances said no! Glad I kept it though.
For example, I don't ever plan to replace say my fridge. If it lasts 25 years then great. The last fridge we had lasted 5 years, current one is 6 years old and going strong (in case you're interested.... if so you need to get out more!.....). Cars though are a bit different - they're something that people judge you by. That's possibly the only thing that pushes me driving a 9 year old Skoda Octavia. The engine is fine and does what I need it to do on my fairly restricted and congested commute. If only I could replace the body with something a bit sleeker/fresher!
I do recall buying my SEAT Ibiza, that I kept just under 4 years. I started using it and it was a hard ride after my Bora - to the point where long trips to the North East were starting to get tiresome in it. I toyed with chopping it in after 6 months due to the hard ride. Finances said no! Glad I kept it though.
Have had the current car just over five years. Had the car before that for 6 months (but got rid as it was rubbish (Astra)). The car before that I had owned for six years, and the only reason I got rid was because it was written off by a banned drink driver.
If I had the funds, I'd probably change my car more often. I have been thinking about changing the current one, but each time I get close to doing so I don't see why (as long as it runs ok).
I would like another 'hobby' car. However, that will have to wait until I am not the sole wage earner in our household.
I do like cars. Just don't like spending loads of money on them.
If I had the funds, I'd probably change my car more often. I have been thinking about changing the current one, but each time I get close to doing so I don't see why (as long as it runs ok).
I would like another 'hobby' car. However, that will have to wait until I am not the sole wage earner in our household.
I do like cars. Just don't like spending loads of money on them.
hawaza said:
I only ever really replace things when they are dead, don't perform their task correctly anymore or they just aren't financially viable anymore and the same goes for Cars really. Had my first car (rover 25) for a couple of years until i realised i didn't need it while at university and it was just draining my money. Current car is a Mazda Premacy which I've had over 5 years and around 80,000 miles (it had 78k ish on it when i brought it) and only looking to replace that now as has become un-viable financially.
Think it is a bit of a mix of becoming attached to things, if it ain't broke dont fix it and better the devil you know.
What you said exactly!Think it is a bit of a mix of becoming attached to things, if it ain't broke dont fix it and better the devil you know.
I bought my Skoda on 62k. Never thought I'd ever buy a 'new' (to me) on anything over say 30k, but just found the last few VW engine cars I've had so reliable that why not! I think I'd set my limit at around that 62k figure now as far as buying a car goes. Then again, buying a car at 80k would last me a couple of years before the magic 100k was reached.
I do think about my kids though. The oldest being 8 at the moment. He doesn't give a monkeys about cars right now but I don't want to be rocking up at high school picking him up in a what will then be a 14 year old car. Seem to recall a few schoolmates years ago cruely taking the mick out of a lad in our class who's parents had a C reg Cavalier with at least 4 different coloured body panels (this would've been circa 1996 ish).
My daily car tends to change every 2 years or so although I don't run brand new cars for day to day use.
I bought my Megane 225 new in 2006 and still have it, bought my Twingo 133 new in 2010 and still have it. Partly because the mileage on them is so low it's now worth me selling them on, may as well enjoy them for longer.
Bought my CLS as my day to day car but due to circumstances I bought a cheap mile muncher so I'll keep the CLS along with the other two and run the Saab for a couple of years and then go for something else.
Personally I'm not one for PCP deals and chopping a car in every few years, hate the idea of never owning the vehicle.
I bought my Megane 225 new in 2006 and still have it, bought my Twingo 133 new in 2010 and still have it. Partly because the mileage on them is so low it's now worth me selling them on, may as well enjoy them for longer.
Bought my CLS as my day to day car but due to circumstances I bought a cheap mile muncher so I'll keep the CLS along with the other two and run the Saab for a couple of years and then go for something else.
Personally I'm not one for PCP deals and chopping a car in every few years, hate the idea of never owning the vehicle.
I found myself getting bored of cars very quickly when I passed my test. Went through 3 cars in 4 years. Took the decision to own 2 cars. I find that owning 2 cars keeps things fun because if I get bored of driving one I just drive the other.
2 very different cars too. I have a daily driver Astra J 2.0 and an S2000.
Had the Astra 3 years now though and I would like something different I think.
2 very different cars too. I have a daily driver Astra J 2.0 and an S2000.
Had the Astra 3 years now though and I would like something different I think.
I'm usually around 3 years.
Had my current CLS for three years now.
Its been excellent with up to 45mpg for long drives to Germany but I'm really get itchy feet. I know my Wife's a bit annoyed and I think she is right. I wouldnt get anything much better for what I use it for.
Had my current TVR for nearly 7 years now and hopefully never part with it.
Normally change my Wifes every 3 years for the same itchy feet reason. She does very low mileage and so the trade in figures always make me smile.
Had my current CLS for three years now.
Its been excellent with up to 45mpg for long drives to Germany but I'm really get itchy feet. I know my Wife's a bit annoyed and I think she is right. I wouldnt get anything much better for what I use it for.
Had my current TVR for nearly 7 years now and hopefully never part with it.
Normally change my Wifes every 3 years for the same itchy feet reason. She does very low mileage and so the trade in figures always make me smile.
Like many people, until I'm bored, or I'm forced to see by other factors.
I've had my current Megane for 5.5 years and am part exchanging it in a month or so. I've loved it, but I'm ready for a change.
I only had my Fiesta ST (2.0) for two years but after it got broken into 4 times and then had it's bumpers nicked, I just couldn't face dealing with the hassle anymore.
I've had my current Megane for 5.5 years and am part exchanging it in a month or so. I've loved it, but I'm ready for a change.
I only had my Fiesta ST (2.0) for two years but after it got broken into 4 times and then had it's bumpers nicked, I just couldn't face dealing with the hassle anymore.
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