Are you hanging onto your car longer than usual?

[tim0409]

I started a similar thread a while back about “enforced” keepers. I bought a Skoda Scala in early 2020 just before covid kicked off. I wouldn’t normally buy such a new car (6 months old) but the model was newish and I got a great deal as the main dealer had switched from Skoda to Ford and just wanted to move it on (not least because lockdowns were already being discussed).

It had covered 3500miles when we bought it and it’s now down 55k. Apart from brakes, a wheel bearing, tyres and servicing (all done by me) it’s been a very cheap car to own and surprisingly good to drive. I can’t justify replacing it with a newer car as 1) they are ridiculously expensive and 2) I hate all the new safety “features” and touch screen nonsense. The Scala has the most annoying lane assist, which I always switch off immediately, and that’s bad enough.

The plan is to keep it for my wife and I will get something fun and older….I currently would love an old Porsche 924.

[Frank Flowers]

Gulf7 said:

200bhp, 320Nm and a limited slip diff. Last of the proper STs. Since the end of Fiesta production, Ford now thinks an ST is an automatic SUV with a 1L engine

I fully intended to correct you there, but yes, you're right the Puma ST is available with a 1.0 litre engine.

[sooty61]

Yes. I used to change cars every 1-2 years but I have now retired and can’t get excited about newer cars these days. The cost is astronomical, the complexity is ever increasing, the looks are bland plus I have just paid the last £600 VED and don’t want to start another 5 years of that rip off

[Frank Flowers]

Massive discounts and cheap PCP finance deals are gone. Inflation has hit new car prices hard.

Very hard to justify changing to a new car now and thats having a knock on effect in the market.

[Nyloc20]

Ive owned my 18 plate Focus ST3 for six years from new, it’s one of the last of the old shape. It’s been a great car, very reliable, top spec and now on 62k miles. If I was ten years younger and doing the mileage I used to for work I’d no doubt have changed it but as an old git I’ve no desire for the latest model, I’d sooner spend my money on holidays.
Same applies to my wife’s 70 plate Fiesta ST Line, great little car. We bought it as a runabout but it copes fine with longer trips.

[Baldchap]

I can't replace the Alpina now and they'll never make another. Anything slightly newer has the silly bings and bongs every sign, which I can't stand.

Same goes for new GRY and I'm confident there won't be another Reliant Robin or properly rotary engined like my RX8.

I would happily replace the Volvo with something else, possibly electric given how it's used, but only as a shopper so something like a used Leaf without bings and bongs.

[Gin and Ultrasonic]

I'm possibly the opposite, but for similar reasons outlined above - we have a Volvo XC60 T8 PHEV which has so much hybrid componentry as well as a turbo and supercharger that feels like a bit of a ticking time bomb. It is the last generation before the Volvo 112mph limit cars, so it would be good to get my money's worth out of that somehow before I'm done!

Possibly going to swap sooner than usual for something like an M340i Touring or a 540i to go back to a less complex engine but avoid the super-new car nannying, and run that for a while.

[Bobupndown]

Had my nearly 11 year old Freelander 2 for 7 years next week.
It has 126000 miles on it. Well looked after, I service it myself, it still looks immaculate inside and out. It is comfortable, reliable, practical and reasonably economical (for a 2 ton brick).
It is Euro 5 so no adblue nonsense, not Ulez compliant but since there is no Ulez in Northern Ireland that isn't an issue.
It's paid for, worth relatively little and would cost a significant amount to upgrade to a newer car of similar abilities.
It has none of the silly 'nanny state' technology that new cars are lumbered with now.
I'll happily drive this for another 5 years and then have to seriously consider my options, I don't fancy the Euro 6 complexity of modern dieselsand might be tempted to go for a petrol estate, something like a Subaru Outback.
Don't think I'm ready for electric.

[ghost83]

Yep, cost of cars puts me off! When 4yrs ago a rs3 was 44k (41/42) after discount and now it’s 70k I think that’s overpriced!

Range rovers were 63k-70k 4yrs ago now they start around 100k

Porsche macan started at 47 and went to 58 for a gts and now you’re talking 75k-100k

Absolutely no interest whatsoever


Even your run of the mill cars like fiestas and corsa an and clios which were 15k are now over 20k and in some cases over 30k!

No thanks

[mike9009]

Pica-Pica said:

Agree. My 8 year old 335d seems as new. It should last another 7 to 10 years easily.
If I want an EV, I won’t save money. If I want an EV to save the planet, that won’t work, someone else will still be running the 335d.

Slightly wrong. Whomever bought your 335D, will have scrapped a 2001 reg Skoda Fabia.

But carry on.....

The other economic reality is even cheap, shed cars are £2k, so people are more willing to keep them on the road for the price of a new set of brakes. Previously a new clutch or set of brakes meant a car could be scrapped......

Edited by mike9009 on Thursday 28th November 22:20

[Alex Z]

My Mini will be 8 in January, and I’ve had it for nearly 7 years which is the longest I’ve owned a car in the last 20 years.

It’s still in great condition and hasn’t needed anything other than scheduled maintenance. I enjoy driving it and there’s nothing that’s tempted me enough so I’ll probably get another couple of years out of it. I’m quite happy owning something outright.

[Desiderata]

I've always bought older cars and run them for a few years until they are no longer economically viable. When I first started driving, with a combination of youthful exuberance and generally faster rotting cars than we get now, I'd be lucky to get a full year from a ten year old car.
Nowadays, I'm not sure if I'm less hashy with them or whether modern cars are better made, but even a "one more MOT" banger seems to just keep going for years.
I've been struggling to find an excuse to scrap the last few cars that have just kept on going well after I've got fed up with them. My wife still hasn't forgiven me for getting rid of her old faithful Fiesta that I assured her wasn't worth putting through another MOT only to find that the guy I sold it to for parts is still running it five years on.

[williamp]

Yes. I have a Golf 7.5 and I plan to run it onto the ground, Its perfectly fine in every way I need, so I will save money and spend on a classic.

Never thought this was before about a car.

[ChocolateFrog]

The only way I could justify buying new was to keep it a long time anyway. In 3 years there's no discernable wear and tear so no worries on it lasting.

[Mr Tidy]

I used to change every couple of years as there were so many cars I wanted and so little time - I always wanted to try something newer and better!

But then in January 2008 I bought a pre-registered BMW 123d with little more than delivery mileage. It was the newest car I'd had and I kept it for over 6 years, but by then reading about N47 engine cam-chain issues and not needing a diesel for business use I replaced it with a manual N/A petrol straight 6 and became addicted to them.

Also prefer RWD, so very few options which means I've had my 18 and 19 year old BMWs since 2019 with no plans to change either of them.

[Mr Trivial]

BMW 330d, had it just over 10 years from new, 195k and never missed a beat.
Was just saying yesterday, not worth much now but worth a lot to me.
Specced how I wanted it, no silly driving aids, no big screens on the dash, runs like new and drives well.

Previous 330d (manual) run for 14 years (2000 - 2014) and 250k, again never missed a beat or any issues - same clutch for the.250k.

Other half has a 2003 Cooper S from new, sadly on the drive with an electrical fault that cant get to the back of - power draining when not running.

[swisstoni]

I have always bought cars for the long term.
If they aren’t trouble they will likely be kept until they are beyond economic repair.

The monthlies for leasing just seem eye wateringly high to me and I couldn’t live with that purely to drive about in something newish all the time. That does nothing for me.

[Terminator X]

yakka said:

The press recently seems to be full of dire predictions for the car industry because people just aren't updating their cars so often.

I'm in just that position with a workhorse car, that although 8 years old with 112k on the clock is absolutely fine. Normally I would be thinking of changing but I don't desire any of the newer stuff with faffy driving aids, big touchscreens, titchy engines, poor steering feel, endless complexity and a huge purchase price. Needs vs wants?

Consequently I have asked the trusty garage I use to give the old bus a thorough service and I intending adding at least another 100 - 150 k to it. It does 50 plus mpg, £35 tax and is worth buttons as a trade.

By that time, about 7 years, I reckon EVs will be sorted with solid state batteries and light enough to be interesting.

I normally change cars every 2 years, from new to new. The current crop of cars is so st due to EU Regs that I have now stopped. Will just keep what I have now (Alpine) any maybe change the daily runner every few years but keep it pre-2018 before the GPF nonsense arrived.

TX.

[bmwmike]

Had usually kept them long term, 2 cars in 12 years, but sold my car during or just after COVID and haven't bought another. I look at AT daily, but as I WFH and don't really need a second car in the household, I'm not sure what or if to buy another. My NCB is already past 2 years so I need to get something I think, maybe just a shed to keep the no claims up. Few enough providers accept over 2yr ncb as it is.

Miss owning a car, don't miss owning a car. Conflicted.

[Terzo123]

We've had our Seat Leon approaching 8 years, the C63 approaching 7 years, and the shed 207 almost 6 years.

Of those three cars, it will probably be the 207 that we get rid of first, but that's only because my daughter, who's learning to drive, wouldn't want to be seen driving it.