What makes you want to KEEP a car?

[Falcon_LS]

One thing I forgot to add - not having to deal with the so called warranty 'requirements'. As the dealerships here are also the authorized importers, they have these money making gimmicks where if they don't service the car, they refuse any warranty claims. Some dealerships, such as Ford, tell you the warranty is still valid - provided you get them to do all the services you missed.

It ticks me off they would cancel your warranty because you didn't service the vehicle with them, yet they dump a Group I 20W-50 in an application calling for something like a 5W-30.

 

[Superbuick96]

Although Im getting the itch for a new car,n ot having a monthly payment is GREAT!

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Question: What makes you want to KEEP a car?

It seems to me that it is an easier decision to keep a vehicle when it meets your needs and your expectations.


I agree with that..That is why I keep my Panthers till 300K miles and then get another one.

 

[citationxeleven]

The Mazdas are paid off and I like both of them. The Honda I keep because it is an EX model pretty loaded runs great, drives great, and the "Honda Rust" makes it look like a beater and it would be hard to justify a good selling price because of the rust.

 

[Tdbo]

1. The vehicle is dependable
2. Financial considerations

As long as the vehicle does what I need it to do and it doesn't "nickel and dime" me to death, I tend to keep it.

 

[wander2039]

Uniqueness.. sorta on my Festiva. Hard to find auto's with sunroof and ac. If we have to upgrade the Escape this fall the Festiva may go into storage till I can afford to license and tag it. Don't want to get rid of the Escape either since it's been really good to us.

 

[k24a4]

Aside from the financial reasons, I'd say the curiosity to see how far the vehicle can go with proper maintenance, which is the reason I'm on this site and like it so much. Also, and I'm not sure many would agree with me, but older cars that have been well maintained have a certain "character" to them. I like seeing older cars on the road.

Sometimes newer is not necessarily better. Personally, I think the 7th gen Honda Accord is a better car overall than the 8th gen. Its reliability according to CR is better as well.

 

[01rangerxl]

For me, "character" and reliability get the most credit.

My truck looks like [censored]. It has significant body damage and has body parts ranging from 1994 to 2010. However, the original engine, trans, axle, and frame are doing great after 104K miles and 8 years. It runs and drives like a new truck. From the driver's seat, you can't tell at all what the truck has been through. You definitely wouldn't think that it has taken out some road signs, trees, and raised cement manhole covers. I will not sell it. The thought never crosses my mind. It has earned its place in my driveway.

 

[eljefino]

The new smog rules! Even in my 2000 SL1 they're bothersome, with a "dashpot" keeping the idle at 2k rpm between shifts. I just wish it would drop to 800 like a rock so I'm not always slipping the clutch between gears.

Add a fetish for NOx meaning rich-burning engines, obnoxious-to-diagnose "EVAP small leak" codes, and required OBDII state inspection here, it's trouble.

And new cars are HEAVY. My W-body 2000 Century is a slug and weighs 700 lbs more than the A-body it replaced in the lineup. I don't care if the older cars are less safe; my motorcycle is my "less safe" ride and I pay attention when I drive whatever I drive.

We all know old geezers who want to return to longitudinal engines with carbs and points distributors. Not me. My golden age in cars is about 1988-1995.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Absolute number one is mechanical reliability. If it's a good vehicle you generally know it well in a couple of years.

Second is cheapness! No payments are my goal. We are on a tear around here to get rid of ALL debt.

Third is fun factor. If it's not entertaining it may get the axe simply because I can't stand it.

 

[GMFan]

Originally Posted By: Familyguy
I used to switch cars every 18-24 months "just because." With the current state of the economy, I've settled in to a cheap commuter beater that's easy to work on, gets good mileage, and is cheap to fix. Now I'm putting that semi-annual $20-30k impulse buy budget into my 401K.

Best,


This advice is worth its weight in gold!

 

[97tbird]

1. Proven Reliability
2. Emotional Attachment
3. Low cost maintenance, already paid off, etc
4. Just great to have that "extra" car for those cases if/when the "main" car(s) has a problem in the morning when one's about to go to work, or it/they have to be in the shop, etc...saves the rental finding hassle and cost - (We were so glad to have the Tbird around during the last 2 weeks of wintry mess in NC)
5. It's somehow more appealing to keep a "beater" high mile car running in tip top shape than knowing that the new car runs fine...it's sort of expected.
----- 5a - serves as a "test" car various oils, additives, etc
6. The hope of turning it into a showpiece someday with subtle modifications when the model becomes not so commonly seen anymore.. (in my case, the 2nd part of this is already happening, sort of)

All of the above were reasons for not getting rid of my ever trustworthy 1997 Tbird which still runs like a champ at 150k or so.

 

[Ashtray77]

Im buying precious metals, guns, and alcohol with what used to be my car payment... In that order.

 

[powayroger]

Not replacing?

As long it is running and my repair costs are still low, I keep it. I tend to keep my vehicles between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, however, we're replacing my wife's ford contour that only has 95,000 on it due to what I wrote in the beginning-Repair costs are still low. Having spent about $1400 in the last 4 months and with a new problem that our mechanic can't figure out, it's time for a change.

 

[Bruce_Anderson]

I wonder where I'd find a car as nice as the one(s) I have?

2003 Subaru Forester 62,000 mi
2006 Mazda MX-5 45,000 mi

Paid for, maintenance current, condition excellent

 

[callbay]

Money is the only reason. I don't get attached to vehiles. I would trade every year if it was not for the cost. I know I am different but I like the car shopping and buying experience. I even help other people buy cars sometimes. The one thing I don't like is selling a car outright so I don't do that anymore. I just trade the old one in.

On the other hand we do have an old 98 Jeep Wrangler that was ny son's and I love driving it.

 

[fsskier]

OK, I keep them a long time because I am a "motorhead"!!
First, I shop a long time and buy a car I WANT. Not the one my neighbor wants or that looks cool to somebody else, but one that suits me. That has often been a small 4 cyl wagon... a Zephyr Wagon, an Escort Wagon. Then, a 5 speed, adds reliability and some fun factor and makes driving satisfying.

Then, the motorhead part takes over. Use synthetic oil, how long will it last.... I have to know!! 200,000 miles later, these cars still run like new, gotta go another 100,000. And it seems like they are free miles, certainly no depreciation, cheap insurance and plates...
Heck why would a BITOGER care about the best oils if he was going to trade every few years anyway??

 

[callbay]

I know people that trade all the time and are never satisfied. A couple of guys I know trade seveal times a year including their wife's car. One guy owned three Corvettes in a year and a half. He has a California retirement form being a school priciple so he has a lot of cash coming in every month.

Another guy I know always buys cars that are good deals or special rebates and financing. Not the cars he really would choose so he is never satisfied either. He trades twice a year.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I must admit, if I develop an attachment to a car, it's hard for me to part with it. It was easy for me to trade away perhaps the nicest car I've ever owned, a 2001 Cadillac STS. I just never "felt" that car, never got a warm-fuzzy with it. I traded that for a 5-speed economy car and enjoyed the economy car much more than the loaded Cadillac.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Some cars have "it".

Some don't. Very personal thing, this silly attachment we get for machines!