Are you hanging onto your car longer than usual?
Discussion
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 used to buy nearly new cars and keep them for a long time. 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.
Now I prefer leasing and changing every 3 years. Personally, I like the newer tech, whether it's the touchscreens or the driver assistance tech. Even a 5 year old car feels so out of date now, when it comes to digital tech.
Pistom said:
Yes - changing cars regularly is really for car enthusiasts who get bored quickly.
They're just a means of getting somewhere. Why change something when it's working fine.
My fridge freezer is 20 years old now. No plans to change that either.
I’m not sure ph is the place for a person who thinks a car is just a means of getting somewhere. They're just a means of getting somewhere. Why change something when it's working fine.
My fridge freezer is 20 years old now. No plans to change that either.
I frequently go nowhere in mine, just driving for the enjoyment of it.
Back on topic. I do find new cars are silly expensive.
Edited by blueg33 on Friday 29th November 04:49
Yes I am hanging onto my cars longer. I have an old Audi A3 diesel for work. I have had it over 8 years and it’s done 225k miles (I think). It’s not worth selling. I service it myself every 10k. It does no work just sitting on the motorway everyday and I get 50/55mpg plus from it. Just fitted Michelin cross climate tyres so probably doubled the value of it…
I’d like something newer and nicer but cars are so expensive and I’d just lose a fortune with my use.
I also have a 20th Anniversary Lotus Exige in the garage. If I knew then what I know now I wouldn’t have bought it new. I think I have probably lost a lot of money and I did like swapping my “fun” cars.
But I can see me keeping it for a few reasons. It is probably my perfect dream car. I’d want a Caterham/ atom/ mono next and they are useless really. Couldn’t use one of them how I can Exige as it’s still “half practical”
It’s reasonable to run, also looked at McLarens but the running costs are in another league. I’m tight/ careful
and don’t fancy taking a massive hit on it when I sell it. Probably keep it a few more years…
I’d like something newer and nicer but cars are so expensive and I’d just lose a fortune with my use.
I also have a 20th Anniversary Lotus Exige in the garage. If I knew then what I know now I wouldn’t have bought it new. I think I have probably lost a lot of money and I did like swapping my “fun” cars.
But I can see me keeping it for a few reasons. It is probably my perfect dream car. I’d want a Caterham/ atom/ mono next and they are useless really. Couldn’t use one of them how I can Exige as it’s still “half practical”
It’s reasonable to run, also looked at McLarens but the running costs are in another league. I’m tight/ careful
and don’t fancy taking a massive hit on it when I sell it. Probably keep it a few more years…swisstoni said:
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.
When I sold my Mk7 Fiesta ST-2 after 6 years of ownership (having bought it 18 months old) I worked out it had cost me the equivalent of £83/month in depreciation.To be fair, I've not been one for selling up cars too quickly, I still own one from 2006 and another from 2010 but daily/project cars have come and gone a little more quickly.
That said, my current daily car (2008 Saab) I've hard for 2 years and despite 145k on it, I have no plans to sell it. My other half's car is a 2011 Mercedes ML with 90k on it and again, no plans to move into anything newer.
I'm not a fan of the PCP type offerings, which can enable you a much newer car for less per month but even if I wanted to get some finance and buy a car, there's nothing new that really appeals anyway. There are newer cars that appeal but if someone said I had to pick brand new, I literally don't have anything in mind I'd jump at.
That said, my current daily car (2008 Saab) I've hard for 2 years and despite 145k on it, I have no plans to sell it. My other half's car is a 2011 Mercedes ML with 90k on it and again, no plans to move into anything newer.
I'm not a fan of the PCP type offerings, which can enable you a much newer car for less per month but even if I wanted to get some finance and buy a car, there's nothing new that really appeals anyway. There are newer cars that appeal but if someone said I had to pick brand new, I literally don't have anything in mind I'd jump at.
We've had our Volvo V40 since 2016, bought it when it was 3 years old, now 110k miles, can't see me changing it, nothing new appeals
52 mpg average, £0 to tax it, £196 pa to insure it. great ( heated ) seats, parking sensors, still looks good, everything works.
I clipped it on the gate post the other, don't care....
Why would I change it ? I'd rather go on holiday.
S
Slop said:
We've had our Volvo V40 since 2016, bought it when it was 3 years old, now 110k miles, can't see me changing it, nothing new appeals
52 mpg average, £0 to tax it, £196 pa to insure it. great ( heated ) seats, parking sensors, still looks good, everything works.
I clipped it on the gate post the other, don't care....
Why would I change it ? I'd rather go on holiday.
S
That's a very un-pistonhead answer but yeah, I kinda relate! The monthlies I'm not paying on a new car go towards my pension contributions and ISA as I'd rather retire earlier than have the newest car in the street. 52 mpg average, £0 to tax it, £196 pa to insure it. great ( heated ) seats, parking sensors, still looks good, everything works.
I clipped it on the gate post the other, don't care....
Why would I change it ? I'd rather go on holiday.
S
I'm picking up a 2024 pre-reg VW Passat B8.5 Estate diesel just before Christmas to replace our 2020 Passat B8 Estate. The Passat B9 is no longer available with a diesel. The 2020 car is nearly on 100k, and our mileage will shrink with only one final Uni run next year. This will give us a forever diesel car with a humongous range should we need it and we'll probably be electric for short/medium journeys.
I'm not bothered if cities restrict diesels in future, there's plenty of other places to go.
I'm not bothered if cities restrict diesels in future, there's plenty of other places to go.
Terzo123 said:
...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.
My daughter is learning to drive and we have a 207 for her.It's actually a perfect car for a new driver.
Analogue, predictable, cheap, economical, great visibility and safe enough.
Plus no better incentive to get on with your life than the goal of earning enough to get a car you want rather than the 'thing' your parents put you in!
I've always bought 2nd hand and ran them until they're uneconomical to repair.
Currently have MK I Mazda 3 MPS that i've had 12 years and is 17yr old itself, but only has about 72k miles on it.
Costs buttons to run and will be a sad day when it goes. I think I've got my heart set on a G31 540i next but can't justify the cost.
Currently have MK I Mazda 3 MPS that i've had 12 years and is 17yr old itself, but only has about 72k miles on it.
Costs buttons to run and will be a sad day when it goes. I think I've got my heart set on a G31 540i next but can't justify the cost.
Stick Legs said:
Terzo123 said:
...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.
My daughter is learning to drive and we have a 207 for her.It's actually a perfect car for a new driver.
Analogue, predictable, cheap, economical, great visibility and safe enough.
Plus no better incentive to get on with your life than the goal of earning enough to get a car you want rather than the 'thing' your parents put you in!
I use it to commute for my work, dump trips, parking in crap places, you name it. It's been great.
I'm maybe just using my daughters dislike of the car as an excuse, as i'd like to upgrade it before the clutch/head gasket/gearbox or just whatever presents a bill i can't be bothered dealing with.
I've been keeping an eye on F56 1.2 Mini's. Id still use it as i did the 207, but the daughter would be happier driving it, and if im being honest, so would I.
My 2016 Fiesta has just hit 76,000 miles which is very little compared with previous cars so it'll stay for some time yet as it only does around a thousand a year.
My '63 Riley is now on 81,000 and it'll never leave; it does around 4,000 each summer. My '65 Riley which has been in pieces for over 10 years will probably stay that way for another decade, perhaps...
I did manage to get shot of my A8 which was SORN'd for five years and won't be replaced as its purchase was just to scratch an itch at the time.
All pretty boring really but that's been my last 12 years of car ownership.
My '63 Riley is now on 81,000 and it'll never leave; it does around 4,000 each summer. My '65 Riley which has been in pieces for over 10 years will probably stay that way for another decade, perhaps...
I did manage to get shot of my A8 which was SORN'd for five years and won't be replaced as its purchase was just to scratch an itch at the time.
All pretty boring really but that's been my last 12 years of car ownership.
Have you seen the road tax prices for new cars now? It is completely utterly scandalous. The Tories told us but we didn't believe them given their track record but Labour are destroying the country. There has to be a way to stop this sh*tshow.
Vehicles emitting between 226-255g/km of CO2 pay first year tax of £4,680. Models producing anywhere between 191-225g/km CO2 will now pay £3,300 in the first year, double the current £1,650 fee.
Vehicles emitting between 226-255g/km of CO2 pay first year tax of £4,680. Models producing anywhere between 191-225g/km CO2 will now pay £3,300 in the first year, double the current £1,650 fee.
Planning to keep my 23 plate Corolla Touring for the foreseeable, at least past it's 10 year warranty anyway. Plan to look after it and run it into the ground. Then use the money saved to get a more special weekend toy when space and money allows.
It does everything well. Comfortable, spacious, reliable, good economy, good tech and plenty of performance for a daily driver (193hp). Plus it's probably the most modern car you can get where all the safety nannies can be permanently switched off.
Why would I want to switch for a more expensive, more intrusive car that will also depreciate more due to the over inflated prices? Only thing that would tempt me is a G21 M340i touring but not sure if I can be bothered dealing with BMW and their foibles.
It does everything well. Comfortable, spacious, reliable, good economy, good tech and plenty of performance for a daily driver (193hp). Plus it's probably the most modern car you can get where all the safety nannies can be permanently switched off.
Why would I want to switch for a more expensive, more intrusive car that will also depreciate more due to the over inflated prices? Only thing that would tempt me is a G21 M340i touring but not sure if I can be bothered dealing with BMW and their foibles.
I still have the Toyota that I bought new in 2007. It's never let me down and I can service almost everything myself. I have no interest in modern cars simply because of the nannying safety tech, and because driving around Manchester and North West generally is like being at the dodgems.
I do though also have a company car, replaced every 4 years, which confirm to me that I don't want to buy a new car with my own money. This started with an Octavia that had to be taken back by Skoda because it kept doing emergency stops, despite Skoda unable to find anything wrong with it. Came to a head when it did it with a customer in the car on a completely empty road.
The current car, a Leaf, drives well but again is ruined by electronics. With the neurotic Nissan, it bings and bongs parking sensors whilst you and all the traffic around you is stationary. It bongs when on country lanes with tight corners. I have to switch off the emergency braking because it detects cars in completely separate but adjacent lanes and slams on the brakes if they slow to turn. Which is a shame because without all that, it's a nice drive.
With the old Toyota, I get in, start it, drive away. No bonging, no distractions, it's a car and that is all I want. But no car maker is allowed to sell that now.
I do though also have a company car, replaced every 4 years, which confirm to me that I don't want to buy a new car with my own money. This started with an Octavia that had to be taken back by Skoda because it kept doing emergency stops, despite Skoda unable to find anything wrong with it. Came to a head when it did it with a customer in the car on a completely empty road.
The current car, a Leaf, drives well but again is ruined by electronics. With the neurotic Nissan, it bings and bongs parking sensors whilst you and all the traffic around you is stationary. It bongs when on country lanes with tight corners. I have to switch off the emergency braking because it detects cars in completely separate but adjacent lanes and slams on the brakes if they slow to turn. Which is a shame because without all that, it's a nice drive.
With the old Toyota, I get in, start it, drive away. No bonging, no distractions, it's a car and that is all I want. But no car maker is allowed to sell that now.
I ran my C43 estate from 5 years old to 11, the E500 that followed it from 5 years old to 12. I bought my current E500 at 7 years old and it's now 14.
What was noticeable was how much better made the 500 was to the C43. And how much better made and better to drive my current E500 is over the previous generation.
Other than Android Auto (which I've added) I really can't see how today's E Classes have moved the game on in any meaningful way. And I struggle with the way that MBUK these days have chintzed them up or murdered them out.
As I do, at most, 5k miles a year I'll just carry on with it a bit longer and probably eventually downsize to something from VAG with the 4 pot turbo and trade some engine noise for fuel efficiency. Christ, I got bored just typing the end of that sentence.
What was noticeable was how much better made the 500 was to the C43. And how much better made and better to drive my current E500 is over the previous generation.
Other than Android Auto (which I've added) I really can't see how today's E Classes have moved the game on in any meaningful way. And I struggle with the way that MBUK these days have chintzed them up or murdered them out.
As I do, at most, 5k miles a year I'll just carry on with it a bit longer and probably eventually downsize to something from VAG with the 4 pot turbo and trade some engine noise for fuel efficiency. Christ, I got bored just typing the end of that sentence.
rottenegg said:
No. I've always kept my cars for a long time because A) I like to get value from the things I buy, and B) I like actually owning the things I buy.
Yes. The key for me, at least, is to buy something you really like in the first place. That may mean months of browsing and weighing up options.There’s far less chance of becoming disenchanted and wanting to change.
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