How long do you keep cars for?

[funkyrobot]

mackay45 said:

I know where you're coming from OP. You aren't fussed yourself but don't want to embarrass your kids by turning up in a heap, which may lead to banter from the other kids. Makes sense to me.

An older car isn't necessarily a heap.

This thread is just snobbery nonsense.

[Jakdaw]

RobM77 said:

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 fear it is unusual, but I'm in the same boat. And, when I do decide to replace the car, I then inevitably want to punch the salesmen whose first question is to repeatedly ask my budget and whom are then unable to fathom why I might not want to spend it all.

[greggy50]

Normally manage a year tops now 23 and owned 6 cars not including company cars which are normally hire cars so swap every 3 months tops when hit 12k miles...

Exception is my classic mini owned at 16 and still have it now

[RobM77]

Jakdaw said:

RobM77 said:

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 fear it is unusual, but I'm in the same boat. And, when I do decide to replace the car, I then inevitably want to punch the salesmen whose first question is to repeatedly ask my budget and whom are then unable to fathom why I might not want to spend it all.

Salesman always seem to ask when I'm changing my car, as if it's something I plan to do at a particular point! The whole principle of that is just totally weird to me. I have no idea at all when I'm going to change my car next, but perhaps if they did their job and showed me something I could change to, then I might be tempted. As you say, budget's the other thing most salesmen don't understand: I don't spend everything that I have, like a kid emptying his piggyback, on anything that I buy, and unless I do how would I know what I'm going to spend?! If I see a feature or model that I think is worth £2k more, then I'll have it! Maybe this thread explains why I think salesman are usually so bad at their jobs - I've totally mis-understood what their job is...

[aka_kerrly]

funkyrobot said:

mackay45 said:

I know where you're coming from OP. You aren't fussed yourself but don't want to embarrass your kids by turning up in a heap, which may lead to banter from the other kids. Makes sense to me.

An older car isn't necessarily a heap.

This thread is just snobbery nonsense.

When I was a kid my parents had a 1983 Metro that was bought new when I was born. The metro stayed in the family until 1999. Did i care about it , NO, instead of having a new car every few years we went on holidays all over the world.

As a adult I am far far happier knowing that I've been to dozens of countries that friends of mine haven't!

I'm also getting sick of listening to people who cannot fathom that a well maintained car will last for decades.

Back on topic, If I had more space I'd never sell any of my cars. At present I have a 2 cars that have been owned for over 3 years, 1 that I've owned for nearly 10 years and 1 that has spent 6 months with me.

[ch108]

When I was younger I used to change cars every 2 to 3 years. These were generally older cars and alot of the time I was doing a higher annual mileage than I do now including commuting. So having a car that worked was important.

In recent years my last 2 cars I owned for about 4 years each, and my current car I've owned for 6 years. I see no reason to change as the car is still reliable, and I'm not racking up a huge mileage as my commute is a 12 mile round trip.

[freshkid]

Other than a facelift CLS Shooting Brake I can't think of a replacement. Waiting to see what the new e class is like...but if that's not too appealing I'll probably wait for the Panamera shooting brake. Can't be bothered to chop and change for the sake of it so will keep my car until something better comes out. 5 years is no issue. I could probably go 10

[Riley Blue]

sider said:

funkyrobot said:

What an odd thing to say.

Do you think?

I'm not looking for an argument but I just saw it similar to turning up in an out of date type of clothing/fashion? I'm no 'hipster' and really don't give that much of a toss about clothing and fashion, but I'm pretty sure if my parents would've turned up at school to pick me in say flares, I'd have been a bit embarrassed and teased by the other kids.

Really? I'd have reckoned my parents were really cool if they'd turned up in flares at my boarding school.

[Busa mav]

funkyrobot said:

An older car isn't necessarily a heap.

This thread is just snobbery nonsense.

Good post

The last 9 years I have been served by a T5 Volvo V70 then a D5 estate. I only swapped the last one out when it started failing to start and the dash looked like the Blackpool illuminations with flashing warning lights.

Wife's S2000 was purchased new 12 years ago , that's now on 60,000 and will probably be with us till our end , luckily she still loves the car.

Motorbike was purchased new in 2001 , that's isn't going anywhere , even mentioned in my will

Recently took a different direction , by leasing a new E class Merc that is here for 2 years , actually feel a little too flash in it when I arrive at a punters house , whereas the volvos were a go anywhere car .

Edited by Busa mav on Tuesday 16th February 20:09

[55palfers]

Usually about 18 months.

I bought an AU FFRR 4.2 SC September 2014 and it is being sold for a G Wagen

[Bungleaio]

I change when I want to. My longest has been almost 10 years and counting, shortest was around 10 weeks. When I love a car I'll keep it for ages.

I had and impreza for almost 4 years and had no plans on changing it but I was forced to do when it was written off (by someone else crashing into me) and it took me a while to find something that I really liked again. So I went through a few cars keeping them for about a year each.

Currently got a golf GTI that I ordered new, it's got a 5 year warranty so I'm hoping to keep until the warranty runs out at least.

[RDMcG]

All over the place on this

in last dozen years or so (all cars bought new):

2003 Mercedes SL 500 - Still have it.
2004 BMW 645 Ci- two years
2004 VW Touareg V8 -three months
2005 Smart For Two - Still have it
2005 VW Touareg V8- three years
2006 BMW M6 - six years
2008 Porsche 997.1 GT3 RS.. still have it
2008 Cayenne S - still have it
2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 RS - four years
2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - still have it
2016 Porsche 991 GT3 RS - just got it and its a keeper.

Edited by RDMcG on Tuesday 16th February 20:18

[MrAverage]

I get far too bored with cars and I don't have the means to own 2 vehicles at once, so cars generally last upto 6-8months before I have to get something else. Currently owned the Saab 7 months and I'm ready for it to go BUT I am trying my best to get a year out of it!
I have owned 9 cars and 6 bikes in 6 years of driving.

[Cliftonite]

Current fleet: Austin 47 years, Honda 19 years, Daimler 18 years, Audi 17 years, Opel 1 week.

HTH!

:-)

[sider]

Snobbery or not - it's not how I wanted the thread to be. As a driver of a 9 year old Skoda, I'm pretty sure I can't be branded a badge snob.

As I said, the thought stemmed from speaking to a client who really regularly replaces his car and i wondered if i wasn't normal replacing around the 4 year mark.

The comment regarding turning up at school was purely based on thinking back to my high school days and seeing a fellow pupil in a battered old car and taking a bit of stick for it. On reflection - he had a car. Some of the other kids used to travel in on a bus (myself included on the homeward journey) and in theory those taking the mick could've either had worse/older etc, or no car at all!

I do believe it's a bit about priorities. As another poster said earlier about having an older Metro but going on nice holidays etc. For now, I'm sticking with mine and any spare money goes into either something similar, or towards our new house (materialistic maybe, but generally an appreciating asset and one that will improve family life).

[freshkid]

Cliftonite said:

Current fleet: Austin 47 years, Honda 19 years, Daimler 18 years, Audi 17 years, Opel 1 week.

HTH!

:-)

Worthy of respect.

[sider]

One thing that's only been mentioned briefly on here as far as i've seen is warranty.

My Dad currently drives a Kia Ceed with the 7 year Kia warranty. Absolutely no intention of replacing it until the warranty is up. 62 plate currently on circa 50k miles. Will be interesting to see it in 3 years at 6 years old and 100k as to how much Kia may try to wriggle out of any work.

Likewise, the other half. Had her last car (Grand Scenic 1.6) from December 2008 until March 2015. She wasn't really bothered about replacing it either but it was costing more to keep it going every month. Fortunately she liked the Toyota Verso so replaced it with that, and happens to have a 5 year warranty so hopefully peace of mind until May 2019 when it's 5 yrs are up. Can't see us replacing before that especially as she only does circa 10k per year.

Edited by sider on Tuesday 16th February 22:43

[SidewaysSi]

I don't see the point in changing. I don't buy cars that will bore me and inevitably new cars are worse than the older stuff so there is little incentive for me to change.

Just seems like a big waste of money.

[164 coupe]

I normally get itchy feet after about 2 - 3 years but I have had te D3 for 4 years now and have no plans to change it anytime soon!

[jdw1234]

As soon as a manufacturer builds something as stylish, understated and as well built as my 1989 Mercedes R107 in navy blue with creme leather I will consider changing it... I won't hold my breath!