Americans keeping their autos longer than ever

[stratovani]

Interesting article that was featured on NBC News last night about how people are keeping their cars longer than ever. Myself, my daily driver is a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero, with 173000 miles on the odometer. The check engine light is on, and I can see needing a power steering pump this summer, and the tires are starting to get a bit worn, but other than that, it doesn't burn any oil, it has plenty of power, and the automatic tranny still shifts smoothly.

So how old is your car?

Bottom Line - Americans keeping their autos longer than ever

 

[elgecko]

Coming up on 11 years and 200k miles.

 

[Chebass88]

5.25 years, 73K miles.

I have at least another 130K miles before I get a new one...

 

[electracoyote]

Main work vehicle is a 2001 Chevy Suburban. 150K miles. Great truck. No plans for anything else anytime soon. She's still clean, black, and presidential, and she can haul it uphill at the drop of a hat.

 

[Bassman316]

2004 Ford Focus, bought in spring of '05. Seven years, coming up on 150K. Plan to drive it 'till it quits.

 

[MatticusMania]

2004 Saturn Ion, 130k miles. Just passed a smog check!

 

[Passinwind]

So how old is your car?

2001, second owner, 104K miles.

 

[aborgman]

1996 Honda Accord

 

[MJ5150]

2002 Dodge Ram for me. The wife has a 2011 Ford Edge.

-Mike

 

[nickrs540]

92' 4runnner 320,000 miles still runs great.

 

[relsner]

2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 202,000 miles. I told my kids I am trying to get 238,800 miles out of it so I can say it drove it to the moon in terms of distance. So far so good.

 

[kserg]

3 years 46k miles - bought it brand new

My old car, still sitting on my driveway is a 93 jeep grand Cherokee with 250k miles

 

[Sneakypete]

A 1997 Audi A4 but with only 91,000 genuine miles on the clock. Lovely car but a bit crap for transporting bass gear - entrance to boot/trunk is too narrow to squeeze a 1x15 or 2x10 through.

 

[thumpbass1]

I have a 97 Ford Ranger 4x4 that just hit the 90,000 mark last year. It wasn't driven much by the original owner before I bought it back in 04. I traded in a 95 Taurus wagon, with about 92,000 on it last year to get my, new to me, 2010 Chevy HHR LT, which has 42,000 on it at the moment. I do my best to keep my cars well maintained, and for a good number of years in general.

I'm not surprised that folks are keeping and driving their vehicles longer these days, given the economy. When I went car shopping last September I was amazed at the premium prices that clean newer used vehicles are commanding, and are still commanding right now. Heck, even some of the older and mildly dinged up stuff on the lots I went to, was absurdly priced as towards the initial asking price. Makes you wonder how long the pricing bubble on used vehicles is going to last.

 

[AfroCubanFunkMa]

Last car was a 1995 Chevy Conversion Van that I had for a good 8 years and 200,000 miles..

Latest is a 2007 Honda Element SC.. I plan to keep her for as LONG as possible..

 

[Jake Saint]

first car was an 88 Jetta Carat... had about 170K on her when i got rid of it, as she was an automatic, for a 94 jetta, with a stick, that had the same mileage, which i then ran to 225K miles before the tranny threw a gear.

current car? 1987 nissan sentra, with a five speed. 40 mpg, 93K miles, all original, with no signs of quitting.

 

[f.c.geil]

2003 Dodge Caravan, 186,000 miles. Two more years before I can get another one. I keep my cars 10 years, my wife does the same, so every five years we buy a new car.

 

[sloasdaylight]

2004 Toyota Matrix, second owner.
I got it with 47k miles on it about 2-2 1/2 years ago, and I've put 43k on it in the last year, all city driving. The car's a boss.

 

[MonetBass]

I'm oustide the norm because I average a different car every three years or so. All of my cars have been used until I bought my first new car two years ago: a 2009 Mustang GT/CS. 32K miles so far and I plan to keep it a LONG time.

 

[clutchcarter]

A long time customer brought his Lexus ES300 in to our shop today to give it a pre-sale check up, didn't find much wrong with it....it has 292,000 miles on it.