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Vehicle History Reports: Ever look up your old cars?
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:19 pm
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:19 pm
I typically get rid of my vehicles after they turn about 8 years old with the understanding that they'd be more costly to keep around after that point. I figured that the average lifespan for most cars is between 10-12 years before they get sold off for parts or scrapped - and that's assuming they are not in any major accidents.
I recently looked up the VIN numbers for my old vehicles (both Chevrolets - I couldn't find info on our old Honda), and saw service entries with vastly higher mileage than when I sold them - far exceeding what I thought those vehicles could handle before being scrapped. They are now over 15 years old and appear to still be accident-free and still getting occasional maintenance.
It's caused me to rethink how long I keep my cars. My estimates that a usable lifespan for a modern car being 10-12 years appears to be a big underestimation. That's especially true if they operate most of their life south of I-40, where salted roads are not common in the winter.
If you buy your vehicles (not least), how long do you tend to keep them?
I recently looked up the VIN numbers for my old vehicles (both Chevrolets - I couldn't find info on our old Honda), and saw service entries with vastly higher mileage than when I sold them - far exceeding what I thought those vehicles could handle before being scrapped. They are now over 15 years old and appear to still be accident-free and still getting occasional maintenance.
It's caused me to rethink how long I keep my cars. My estimates that a usable lifespan for a modern car being 10-12 years appears to be a big underestimation. That's especially true if they operate most of their life south of I-40, where salted roads are not common in the winter.
If you buy your vehicles (not least), how long do you tend to keep them?
This post was edited on 10/22/20 at 2:47 pm
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Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:22 pm to dewster
The sweet spot of cheap, realizable transportation today, is anything made from the mid 90s to the mid 00s, assuming you DIY
New cars are for suckers
New cars are for suckers
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:23 pm to dewster
quote:
I typically get rid of my vehicles after they turn about 8 years old with the understanding that they'd be more costly to keep around after that point
Your precious Toyotas don't last longer than that without becoming expensive to maintain?
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:23 pm to dewster
We planned on keeping ours for around 8. At 8 they were fine so we kept putting money in the bank and said we would go to 10. At 10 it became a game. Due to other unrelated life circumstances we replaced both car and truck at 14 years. Both vehicles were fine and sold cheaply to friends kids.
quote:my Toyota went 14 without any repairs that were not normal maintenance (battery, brakes, shocks, etc)
Your precious Toyotas don't last longer than that without becoming expensive to maintain?
This post was edited on 10/22/20 at 2:25 pm
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:25 pm to dewster
Probably every 5 years or so on average. I plan on keeping the current one until the wheels fall off. I'm not really a car guy.
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:25 pm to dewster
quote:
It's caused me to rethink how long I keep my cars.
I'm hoping to keep my current car for 10 years minimum. Maybe longer, but I was on the road a lot the first two years I had it and put 40K on it.
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:25 pm to dewster
I don't do it but it's pretty much always cheaper to keep repairing your old vehicles. Even if a new engine was 6k (just a guess) that would be a years worth of $500 notes.
This post was edited on 10/22/20 at 2:30 pm
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:27 pm to northshorebamaman
quote:
Probably every 5 years or so on average. I plan on keeping the current one until the wheels fall off. I'm not really a car guy.
I used to get a new vehicle fairly often but I'm planning on ending this practice. I've had 8 vehicles in my nearly 28 years of driving
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:27 pm to dewster
I happened across the old family SUV on Copart one day. It was kinda sad really seeing it smashed all to hell within a few months of me getting rid of it.
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:28 pm to dewster
Good thread. I run a carfax on just about all of my old cars every so often just to keep in touch with old friends
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:29 pm to madamsquirrel
quote:
my Toyota went 14 without any repairs that were not normal maintenance (battery, brakes, shocks, etc)
Can't say enough good things about Toyota and Honda....as well as GM trucks/SUVs. They've all served us well. I can't say the same about a Chrysler that my wife and I sold when it really was on it's last leg. That thing was a huge POS and left us stranded a lot.
We'd still have our Honda Accord if it had decent traction in winter weather. Accords are legitimately awesome cars.
My current dilemma is determining how long to keep our Subaru. It's had some minor issues, but it's mostly very sturdy. It has a CVT which I've been told can be very expensive to replace when they go out. My attitude now is that a new CVT or some new head gaskets, while expensive, are WAY cheaper than a whole new car.
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:30 pm to fallguy_1978
quote:I've had 12 but several of those were beaters I'd buy when I was stationed overseas.
I've had 8 vehicles in my nearly 28 years of driving
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:30 pm to ConfusedHawgInMO
quote:
I happened across the old family SUV on Copart one day. It was kinda sad really seeing it smashed all to hell within a few months of me getting rid of it.
An old Trailblazer I sold about 8 years ago looks like it has some front end damage, but is still trucking along with around 200,000 miles. It's getting occasionally serviced in the same town where I sold it.
The Trailbazer had more miles on it when we got it than the PT Cruiser did when we sold it. The Trailblazer was vastly more reliable.
This post was edited on 10/22/20 at 2:41 pm
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:33 pm to dewster
Actually, it’s cheaper to fix your old vehicle that’s paid for than it is to buy a new one.
I drive vehicles until they fall apart ala Blues Brothers though.
I drive vehicles until they fall apart ala Blues Brothers though.
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:33 pm to northshorebamaman
Only my first one was used. Technically my current one was too but it was a program vehicle and had like 7k on it so I don't count it.
I went through a period where I'd get a new vehicle every 3 or 4 years. I've only put 100k on one of them.
Now I've got another kid about to be driving in a few years. I think I'm going to drive this one into the dirt.
I went through a period where I'd get a new vehicle every 3 or 4 years. I've only put 100k on one of them.
Now I've got another kid about to be driving in a few years. I think I'm going to drive this one into the dirt.
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:36 pm to fallguy_1978
I will have my Jeep until I die. It's not an every day driver.
The other cars I have - don't care.
The other cars I have - don't care.
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:37 pm to fallguy_1978
quote:Only two of mine have been new. The first car I bought out on my own and the one I drive now (which is only because I got a deal on it).
Only my first one was used.
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:38 pm to fallguy_1978
quote:
Only my first one was used. Technically my current one was too but it was a program vehicle and had like 7k on it so I don't count it.
I went through a period where I'd get a new vehicle every 3 or 4 years. I've only put 100k on one of them.
Now I've got another kid about to be driving in a few years. I think I'm going to drive this one into the dirt.
I've got a 7 year old Subaru and a nephew that will be driving in about 5 years. Wonder if he'll take it off my hands then as a very high mileage and likely worthless station wagon.
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:38 pm to dewster
Wife's Escalade is 12 years old, and for now I'm planning for 2-3 more years before I turn it in. It only has 120k miles on it (bought in 2010 with 40k miles on it), so she's only averaging about 8k/year. She still likes it, so I'm not going to complain. She has also said she wants a Jeep when we trade it in, which is not happening, so I'll put that 'discussion' off as long as possible
Posted on 10/22/20 at 2:40 pm to dewster
quote:
I've got a 7 year old Subaru and a nephew that will be driving in about 5 years. Wonder if he'll take it off my hands then as a very high mileage and likely worthless station wagon
My daughter will be 14 fairly soon and my wife has an 8 year old Accord with about 75-80k on it. That will probably be her first car.
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