Who actually keeps their vehicle forever?

[Craig in Canada]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan

I mean all the heated seats, auto climate control, remote starter, heated washer fluid, power locks, power sunroof, etc, stuff that has nothing to do with actual driving... Even AC is optional for my typical driving. Keeping all that stuff perfect isn't needed for me in my climate. A couple guys in my motorsports club have even pretty much stripped the interior of their DD/autocrosser. Their other car does family duty.



And that's all the stuff I expect to be working or the car isn't "no problems whatsoever" now, is it? If my automatic climate control or heated washer nozzle stopped working, I would absolutely roll up my sleeves and work to fix it. That doesn't mean drop the car at the dealer valet and sip a latte in the waiting room, but that doesn't mean I just let it go either. If it was $500 to fix the nozzle, THEN I'd let it go at this point. If it was $500 to fix the AC I'd try to find a way to save every penny I could on the repair (used parts, salvage parts, wholesale dealers, DIY, duct tape and ty-wraps, disassemble down to circuit boards and resolder cold joints) but I would fix it.

Stripping cars to shed weight for a "motorsports club" is not exactly what I'm limiting "car guy" to. Lots of car guys still like to have an interior. "Car guy" relates to pride in ownership too.

I kind of find climate control helpful to be comfortable and keep the windows clear, power locks help people to get in and out of all four doors, heated washer nozzles do keep them from freezing solid (it's happened to me on previous cars) which is directly related to actually SEEING out of the vehicle in the winter many times, and although I don't use it all that often the AC had better work. Nothing like showing up to that job interview in your suit while basting in your own juices.

"Their other car does family duty." -- This *is* my only car, the family car, and the only thing I get to drive on weekends too. I suspect people with multiple cars may have a different way of viewing things.

Now if if I had a car dedicated to doing nothing but driving to the commuter train lot, that's different. I honestly couldn't see myself making the emotional jump to that point with my current car, though. I've invested too much, and not just money, to one day just decide it's now a rusty beater and not bother fixing anything which wouldn't lead directly to a ride on a tow truck. I'd probably buy something else for that.

 

[Craig in Canada]

Originally Posted By: chazly413
I am going to keep my Impreza until the repairs start costing more than the car is worth.


I hear that a lot. I think more along the lines of "...until repairs start costing more than it would cost to replace and carry a new car". Even if a car is only worth $3000 and needs a $1000 repair, that may be a lot less expensive than what it would cost you in payments, interest, depreciation etc... on something new(er).

Your statement is more in line with thinking about residual or resale value, which is fine, but not as much about what it is truly costing you to operate the older car.

Now, if it's so unreliable you can't count on it for family or getting to your job that's different territory.

 

[fdcg27]

Agreed.
If you can spend 1K on repairs and expect to get another 10K out of the vehicle, you're straight.
If you get another 20K out of it, you're ahead.
There is also a certain joy in keeping a faithful old machine through its older years.

 

[Steve S]

Define forever.

 

[Paulson]

Originally Posted By: Craig in Canada

I'm not nitpicking on Paulson specifically, but I see this lamented over and over and have a couple of points.

1/ there will come a time when repairs and maintenance EQUAL a monthly car payment. This will likely happen long before "frame replacement".

2/ while you're keeping an older car on the road, instead of using the extra money to buy discretionary things (to take from other posts - toy cars, vacations, TVs) save it to buy your next car so that YOU DON'T NEED CAR PAYMENTS even when you replace your current vehicle.

2a/ Your "new car" can easily be a used car. That really modifies the depreciation curve. I've never had a new car, and I may never get one.

3/ It may not be an issue with many here, but a lot of people don't take as much care as they think they do. I see it every day. They will say "no problems except a starter in 300k - runs great! Best car I've ever had!" Meanwhile their suspension is shot, bushings are rattling loose, springs are cracked, only 1.5 brakes actually work, they couldn't perform an emergency avoidance if needed, there's a cloud of blue smoke behind them, their headlight adjusters are broken and one is shining on the road in front of them and the other is flickering into the mirrors of the person in front of them on every bump, the seats are torn and the interior smells like a gym sock. Over time soft things get hard, hard things get soft, and everything wears out. I'm very dubious that anyone claiming hundreds of thousands of miles with little service and "no problems" simply isn't paying attention. ***If you keep them on the road, keep them SAFE.***

Honestly, in terms of an 'oil' forum, one of the LAST things standing in our way of keeping a car forever is the engine.



1. With my vehicles the cost to replace them (even used) would still be in the 15K to 20K range. Even if both vehicles broke down at the same time and needed replacement engines I would come nowhere near that amount.

2. I bought a $17,999 Impala and made $2000 a month payments on it to pay it off in under a year. I had enough money saved up to put 20% down on my almost $200,000 house, and I bought my Suburban with an $8600 check. I'm the king at saving and spending money wisely.

3. None of the vehicles between my parents and myself are rust buckets, have suspension issues, are unsafe, and are constantly kept up. We haven't had to replace the engines or transmission and have been saving all the money we spend on not having car payments and putting it towards savings or other things we want that are more important than a car. You wouldn't want to live in your car so why spend more than you have to.

The key philosophy to keeping something until it's truly not worth fixing is to always keep it safe. No blue smoke, no shoddy suspensions, no rust buckets (and we live in Minnesota), safe tires, new brakes when necessary... everything that has to be done to ensure the vehicles are safe without having to buy a new vehicle.

Nickels and dimes are a [censored] of a lot cheaper than $300 to $500 a month car payments.

 

[otis24]

Not forever, but for a very long time. Two years left to pay. By then, it'll have about 150K miles on it. I purchased it new, so I know its maintenance history. After that, everything will depend on finances. I hope to be able to bank my payments at least long enough to put a huge down payment on something newer, or purchase something decent for cash.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
The 318i has a fun engine.
I am starting to think that I need to look for an e36 318 stick sedan for the winter.
The thing just loves to rev, yet you could drive it for its econobox fuel consumption alone.
30.3 mpg on this tank, with a car that is really entertaining to drive.
Love the four cylinder BMW!
Too bad BMW no longer imports four cylinder cars.
Would make a great alternative to a Japanese make sedan.
The Mini doesn't count.


Be patient, BMW NA will soon have some fours in the pipeline. Now, if they will only install them in a new radically lightened 1 Series...

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
We'll have our jeeps as long as there's fuel to put in the tank. I'll never run out of parts and can, if need be, adapt just about any other drive train component to them.


I'll probably hang on to my Wrangler TJ as well. The 4.0 I6 is indestructible and the rest of the vehicle is holding up extremely well after 8 years. I'm not tempted at all by the JK, although a 2006 Unlimited Rubicon would be difficult to resist.

 

[fdcg27]

I was hoping that the 1-series would be a return to BMW's small sedan roots.
Boy, was I wrong!

 

[Trvlr500]

Well, I bought a '73 Coupe DeVille about 14 years ago. I rebuilt the engine which has about 80,000 on it. I fixed all the rust and painted it and I've been driving it ever since.

It just got it's second front end rebuild and I did the rear suspension as well. It still has the original transmission.

It is getting a little rough around the edges and when a car gets this old you start having problems with all kinds of things you don't expect. Like the power door lock solenoid locking up with the door locked so you can't get it apart to fix it. LOL.

All in all, I don't intend on selling it because it's not worth it. It's reliable and has never left me stranded and I've driven it all over the country.

There is one thing that allows me to do this though. I've been an OTR truck driver for the last 12 years and with the exception of last year where it was driven constantly to work sometimes 250 miles away I only have to count on it a couple times a month when I go home.

If it wasn't for that I would have to have a second car that was much newer. Ever two or three years I have a major problem with something which always turns out to be a cheap fix. Such as the entire car going dead because the firewall plug for the wiring harness needs to be cleaned or the positive battery cable has corroded in two where I didn't see it.

In any case, I can still hop in it and drive anywhere without worrying too much about it not getting me there. At this point in time I drive 160 miles each way to get to work when I take time off.

I've just never been able to justify buying another car. Besides, I'm attached to this one. I'll keep it until it rusts out from underneath me. The "cool factor" is another plus. I NEVER see myself driving down the road.

I don't know how many '73 Coupe DeVilles there are left but I've never seen another one on the road.

 

[pavelow]

Originally Posted By: MCompact
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
We'll have our jeeps as long as there's fuel to put in the tank. I'll never run out of parts and can, if need be, adapt just about any other drive train component to them.


I'll probably hang on to my Wrangler TJ as well. The 4.0 I6 is indestructible and the rest of the vehicle is holding up extremely well after 8 years. I'm not tempted at all by the JK, although a 2006 Unlimited Rubicon would be difficult to resist.
Same here. The JK does nothing for me. The next "new" Jeep I buy is a 06. lol

 

[pavelow]

Originally Posted By: chazly413
I am going to keep my Impreza until the repairs start costing more than the car is worth.
On most older vehicles this is a moot point because a transmission, engine or AC problem can exceed the value of the car or truck, especially if you pay somebody to do the work. So do you junk or sell the broken down car for pennies on the dollar and walk away with chump change and a new car payment or do you replace the problematic part and keep the car running and bank those car payments? I'd replace the part and keep driving it.

 

[pavelow]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Define forever.
For me it's until I am no longer breathing or parts are no longer available. With the Jeep, I cannot see it ever not being on the road...with the VW, it may not last as long as the Jeep because there isn't the cult/fanatical following like the Jeep has.

 

[caprice_2nv]

I'm keeping my 1984 Olds Cutlass Supreme forever. It's basically rust free and it's my daily driver in the summer and parked all winter.

I've had it for about 4 or 5 years now and my first car was my 87 Cutlass. After it rusted out beyond repair lots of the parts got transferred into the new one. The engine is a mid 1970's 350 Oldsmobile which AFAIK has not been rebuilt yet but mileage is completely unknown. I'd guess at over 200k though.

I'm driving it 138 miles round trip 5 days a week to work. So the engine is getting a pretty extreme durability testing. Since the parts are so cheap and easy to find and so easily replaced I will have no reason to ever stop driving it. This is why I like the piece of mind of running one of the higher end oils in it instead of just a cheap HDEO like everyone usually recommends.

 

[Vizzy]

Originally Posted By: pavelow
[ With the Jeep, I cannot see it ever not being on the road...with the VW, it may not last as long as the Jeep because there isn't the cult/fanatical following like the Jeep has.


Actually VW products has at least as much of a cult following in the USA and around the world.

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: pavelow
Originally Posted By: Steve S
Define forever.
For me it's until I am no longer breathing or parts are no longer available. With the Jeep, I cannot see it ever not being on the road...with the VW, it may not last as long as the Jeep because there isn't the cult/fanatical following like the Jeep has.
There are many nice jeeps around here.

 

[pavelow]

Originally Posted By: Vizzy
Originally Posted By: pavelow
[ With the Jeep, I cannot see it ever not being on the road...with the VW, it may not last as long as the Jeep because there isn't the cult/fanatical following like the Jeep has.


Actually VW products has at least as much of a cult following in the USA and around the world.

I was referring to the VW I have. No doubt there are plenty of Vdub fanatics out there...not sure if they are into Jetta IV wagons though. lol

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Define forever.


I inherited my Dad's 1956 Ford Crown Vic in 1974 when he passed away and I still have it. My son will inherit it from me when I die. As for as I'm concerned that will be forever.

 

[cjhepburn]

So far, every car I've owned has died in my possesion. Most from being a teenager and a couple from engine repair cost many times beyond the value of the car.

 

[stenerson]

The vehicle I owned the longest was a 95 vw jetta for 13 years.
I'd still be driving it but a ten pointer deer decided to use
it as a suicide weapon.
I love my 2004 Ram 1500 and will keep it as long as I can. Rust
prevention is the key around these parts.