Realistic Life Expectancy of a car?

[JHZR2]

Based upon the cars that we've owned, 20-30+ years and 300k+ is very doable. Granted a few parts need to be thrown in there in time, but if rust and paint can be kept, and youre not a slob, respect the vehicle, etc., it is doable.

 

[HTSS_TR]

The body of CA car can lasted almost forever, but bits and pieces of the interior falling apart after about 15 years under the hot sun. But I saw some well kept 20+ years old cars with excellent interior.

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: insomnia
Yesterday, my CEL went on in the middle of the high way. I immediately got off and went to the closest auto part store (AAP).
Wow, you're a lot braver than I am. When I get a CEL on, I open the sunroof and hit the eject button!

 

[ueberooo]

20 to 30 years on the west coast. but often earlier if repairs get too expensive.

 

[Falcon_LS]

Depends on a lot of factors to be honest.

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
A coworker was joking with another, when his license plate light burnt out, that it was time to trade in, and he then actually did it.

FIL paid $41k for an accord V-6 back in 2003...

On one of his thrice weekly visits to his wife's grave in 2009, the fuel pump packed it in, and roadside assist beat it into new life.

He rang better half to tell what had happened, she rang me, I told him to get a new pump, small bickies on a car that had gone 6 yrs with no probs at all, whatsoever...

He drove straight past town, 45 miles to the Honda dealer, and asked for a trade...on anything that they had on the lot, didn't matter which colour.

 

[rjundi]

IMHO vast majority can do 8yrs/150,000 without serious problems and basic care. I think most will go to 15 yrs 200k+ but may encounter some items some deem maintenance(expensive) others repairs. A smaller subset in the latter life run trouble free.

Finally you have a tiny subset that does the 15yrs - whenever. Those cars fall into either luck, low mile or atypical usage owners, and enthusiasts.

My parents hang on to vehicles. They seem to get to between 12yrs - 14yrs and rust eats something expensive to repair with their Toyota, Subaru, Chevy vehicles.

An odd one for them was 15 yrs/300k out of an AMC Eagle and few issues with automatic and 4.2L Jeep motor. It was really hot in the summer (no AC) and my dad a territorial manager left at a gas station for owners and sold for a $1 and rented a Lincoln to continue on.

 

[exranger06]

I think manufacturers design vehicles to last about 17 years and about 200k miles.

 

[yaris0128]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
I think manufacturers design vehicles to last about 17 years and about 200k miles.
If they wanted every car to last 17 years they wouldnt get enough repeat business. Thats like McDonalds having to wait a year for each customer to come back for their yearly burger. Would never work.

 

[javacontour]

I take a different approach. I do think they want the cars to last to 150-200K miles.

Why?

They know the typical first owner isn't going to keep the car much past the last day the payment book is finished.

But others will buy those used cars.

So those who buy new will likely still buy a new car in 5 years, even if their old one is serviceable. Most folks are not into cars like our membership. So they'll trade when the warranty is up, or some other imagined milestone is reached.

The number of folks who keep a car from mile zero to it's no longer cost effective to repair it is so small I don't think it registers with the automakers.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: yaris0128
Originally Posted By: exranger06
I think manufacturers design vehicles to last about 17 years and about 200k miles.
If they wanted every car to last 17 years they wouldnt get enough repeat business. Thats like McDonalds having to wait a year for each customer to come back for their yearly burger. Would never work.

Two words: market share. The goal isn't to get the same customer to buy the same car year after year, its about taking sales away from other manufacturers. If every person in the US is buying your cars, it doesn't matter if each one of them lasts 17 years, you'll still sell a ton of them every year. And plenty of vehicles are taken off the road prematurely due to accidents, rust, and neglect anyway. Then you get the people who want the latest and newest car who will trade up every few years....

Toyota got to be the world's largest automaker by having a reputation of building reliable LONG-LASTING cars. GM had (HAD, not has) a reputation of building junk that falls apart after a few years and they went bankrupt. Automakers WANT their vehicles to last a long time, not 7 years. Like I said, if you build a reputation for building long-lasting cars, you get bigger market share and good reputation, and sales soar.

 

[IndyIan]

I think up here its not that uncommon for people to buy a new car and run it until its a $1000-2000 beater atleast. So that's probably part of the reason Civics and Corollas are the top selling cars here as well.

Also I guess if you've got a simple common car, even things like engine or transmission failure don't have to take your car off the road. The body on my Neon is starting to go, but if it wasn't I would price out a transmission from the wreckers installed, if the trans failed.

 

[Kestas]

AAA reports that (barring accidents) only 3% of car owners keep a car from cradle to grave. These 3% buy a car new, than run it into the ground until it is junked. We've done this to two cars in our family.

So typically, a new car buyer will divest himself from his vehicle long before it's used up.

 

[insomnia]

Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
Originally Posted By: insomnia
Yesterday, my CEL went on in the middle of the high way. I immediately got off and went to the closest auto part store (AAP).
Wow, you're a lot braver than I am. When I get a CEL on, I open the sunroof and hit the eject button!


For a sec, I did think of stopping my car on the side to inspect the car. But there's no smoke/vibration or anything and it's night time on the highway. I love my car, but I'll hate to get ran over by another car.

 

[insomnia]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Based upon the cars that we've owned, 20-30+ years and 300k+ is very doable. Granted a few parts need to be thrown in there in time, but if rust and paint can be kept, and youre not a slob, respect the vehicle, etc., it is doable.


My car has been pretty reliable and rust-free so far. However, the Texas sun is pretty harsh on her, especially when she's parked outside 99% of the time. Most of the rubber parts have been replaced last year, but other than that there's no repairs other than maintenance.

However, her paint is starting to fade too. I guess I've to do something about it soon.

 

[Vikas]

Assuming you were serious in your reply, the only time you really need to urgently take care of CEL is when it is flashing. Even then it is not the end of the engine. A solid CEL is something which can be handled at your leisure. A flashing CEL indicates misfire and that can destroy your catalytic converter if you drive like that all the time.

That is why CEL light is YELLOW and NOT RED, like engine oil or temperature light.

- Vikas

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
I think manufacturers design vehicles to last about 17 years and about 200k miles.


Holden tried to argue that the "design life" was 5 years and 100,000 km, and that after that point, they should undergo ever more rigorous inspections for registrations.

(Same time, the mechanics association were arguing that owners should have log-books of maintenance performed by licenced mechanics to maintain their insurance.)

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: exranger06
Originally Posted By: yaris0128
Originally Posted By: exranger06
I think manufacturers design vehicles to last about 17 years and about 200k miles.
If they wanted every car to last 17 years they wouldnt get enough repeat business. Thats like McDonalds having to wait a year for each customer to come back for their yearly burger. Would never work.

Two words: market share. The goal isn't to get the same customer to buy the same car year after year, its about taking sales away from other manufacturers. If every person in the US is buying your cars, it doesn't matter if each one of them lasts 17 years, you'll still sell a ton of them every year. And plenty of vehicles are taken off the road prematurely due to accidents, rust, and neglect anyway. Then you get the people who want the latest and newest car who will trade up every few years....

Toyota got to be the world's largest automaker by having a reputation of building reliable LONG-LASTING cars. GM had (HAD, not has) a reputation of building junk that falls apart after a few years and they went bankrupt. Automakers WANT their vehicles to last a long time, not 7 years. Like I said, if you build a reputation for building long-lasting cars, you get bigger market share and good reputation, and sales soar.


I'll have to disagree, you want your market share and you engineer things to last a noticeable but not exceptional time longer than your competition.

IIRC, consumer reports gives a half red dot for 10% above average, and full red for 20%. So 20% would be a good target.

For loyal customers, you want a car that is loyal, eg always starts, and gives lots of warning... sloppy shifts, noises from the engine, noises from the front end, etc. Maybe a window regulator could fail, at least it doesn't leave you stranded.

Hold on to any car long enough and it will get expensive and/ or annoying. Do your own work or understand your car or blow off non-critical systems and it will last longer, cheaper.

Where marketing and engineering meld, and where planned obsolescence kicks in, is having you feel good about your clunker when you trade it in for another of the same. A disaster would be brewing if a non-repairable car frustrated mechanics in its endgame, even dealer ones, and reflected poorly on the make's engineering.

 

[45ACP]

Until it gets hit by a Caprice or Silverado 2500, your car should be able to run.

No excepctions.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I think up here its not that uncommon for people to buy a new car and run it until its a $1000-2000 beater atleast. So that's probably part of the reason Civics and Corollas are the top selling cars here as well.

Also I guess if you've got a simple common car, even things like engine or transmission failure don't have to take your car off the road. The body on my Neon is starting to go, but if it wasn't I would price out a transmission from the wreckers installed, if the trans failed.


Baloney!

What you would do is price out a wrecked SRT4 drivetrain transplant!

No excuses now.