Life expectancy

[Willy Nilly]

I know there are numerous factors, but what is the typical life expectancy of a car, or should that be the average age they get scrapped?

[Blakewater]

12 years. Some sources say 10 but that applies more in the USA. Either way it's about 100,000 to 120,000 miles.

[pixieporsche]

All of mine are probably on their 7th-8th "life"

Surprised to find it's only 12 years old

[DickSkruttock]

My S3 is 11 later this year and has covered 127000 miles.

Still goes and rides very well.

[Blakewater]

It's an average brought down by all those brand new Ferraris that spontaniously combust and people who crash their cars on the way off the dealer forecourt.

[Kong]

What a strange question, how long is a piece of string? There are a zillion variables which means its irrelevant what the average is. You could make any car live for 500 years if you want to.

[Beeby]

Kong said:

What a strange question, how long is a piece of string? There are a zillion variables which means its irrelevant what the average is. You could make any car live for 500 years if you want to.

It's not really a strange question because there is an average. According to several websites the average age of a car that is scrapped is 13.6 years.

[jonesy80]

Obviously it largely depends on the car but I would say around 200K miles most cars start to get uneconomical to maintain as more major compnents start to go.

That said it should be noted that plenty of car have engines that will easily exceed this with only minimal maintenance.

[Jw Vw]

Blakewater said:

12 years. Some sources say 10 but that applies more in the USA. Either way it's about 100,000 to 120,000 miles.

12 years? Really?

My old mans A6 is 14yrs old this year and my Golf is 9yrs old. Both still drive really well. I think servicing on time and do any repairs required asap and a car will live a lot longer than 12 years!

[Jasandjules]

Beeby said:

It's not really a strange question because there is an average. According to several websites the average age of a car that is scrapped is 13.6 years.

Is that all?

[dave_s13]

The question had a logical answer backed up by statistics.

That doesn't make it anything other than worthless.

My volvo is 9yrs old, on 118k miles and just broken in.

My Honda Blackbird is 14yrs old, done 23k miles and runs like a dream.

Triggers broom and all that.

[NoVetec]

My car has entered it's fourteenth year, with nearly 130,000 miles on the clock.

I'll get a service and cambelt change done next year, and with that expect to get to 170,000 without any major expense repair/maintenance wise.

[richyb]

I would have expected the average age at scrapping to be 16-18 years.

[Kong]

Beeby said:

Kong said:

What a strange question, how long is a piece of string? There are a zillion variables which means its irrelevant what the average is. You could make any car live for 500 years if you want to.

It's not really a strange question because there is an average. According to several websites the average age of a car that is scrapped is 13.6 years.

Sure there is an average, i just mean its a totally meaningless statistic.

[Beeby]

Jasandjules said:

Beeby said:

It's not really a strange question because there is an average. According to several websites the average age of a car that is scrapped is 13.6 years.

Is that all?

13.6 years would put a car on an P/R plate wouldn't it? Up until recently when I owned my shed I used to go to scrapyards quite often. The lines of cars that were parked up ready to be taken inside were mostly on L - T plates so I guess this statistic is correct.

Edited by Beeby on Sunday 12th June 20:03

[Matt UK]

Blakewater said:

12 years. Some sources say 10 but that applies more in the USA. Either way it's about 100,000 to 120,000 miles.

Really?

These sources you mention, details/links please.

[Gwagon111]

A lot of cars have airbags. Airbags have a shelf life. If the MOT rules say you need "in date" airbags, a lot of cars will end up on the scrapheap after 10 years.

[rufusgti]

jonesy80 said:

Obviously it largely depends on the car but I would say around 200K miles most cars start to get uneconomical to maintain as more major compnents start to go.

.

Unless you own a Renault. In which case major components start to go after around 36k miles.

[Beeby]

Gwagon111 said:

A lot of cars have airbags. Airbags have a shelf life. If the MOT rules say you need "in date" airbags, a lot of cars will end up on the scrapheap after 10 years.

I wonder how it could be proven that an airbag on a ten year old car hadn't been replaced say five years ago therefore making it in date?

[carmonk]

rufusgti said:

jonesy80 said:

Obviously it largely depends on the car but I would say around 200K miles most cars start to get uneconomical to maintain as more major compnents start to go.

.

Unless you own a Renault. In which case major components start to go after around 36k miles.

Nonsense.

The average is low because most people - the vast majority - don't give a st about their cars. They don't service them regularly, they don't maintain them, they don't clean them and they don't drive them properly. When I walk into town, to avoid eye contact with freaks, I often check out the cars as I pass. Almost every one is slathered in ste, curbed wheels, scratched paintwork, seats covered in fast-food packaging. There was a couple of new ones not long back, both under three months old, one had scrapes on 3 corners (perhaps 4) and the other had its alloys completely shredded and looked like it had been driven cross-country.