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If you took the amount of money I've spent in the last year keeping old cars running and divided it by 12, they would easily make a decent car payment. I've got so much money into my car that I basically have no choice but to drive it into the ground just to get my repair "investments" back. Sometimes buying new just makes more sense...
If you took the amount of money I've spent in the last year keeping old cars running and divided it by 12, they would easily make a decent car payment. I've got so much money into my car that I basically have no choice but to drive it into the ground just to get my repair "investments" back. Sometimes buying new just makes more sense...
Drover, I think you're onto something there! My daily driver is a '92 Ford F150 (with over 192,000 miles). It runs really good, looks like heck (got a "cheapie" paint job; uh oh!...) and I've had most of the major components outside of the engine block replaced. I don't dare add up the total repairs lest I find that buying a new vehicle would've made more sense...
If you took the amount of money I've spent in the last year keeping old cars running and divided it by 12, they would easily make a decent car payment. I've got so much money into my car that I basically have no choice but to drive it into the ground just to get my repair "investments" back. Sometimes buying new just makes more sense...
That's why we buy new and drive them (heavily traveled with high mileage) for 8 to 10 years. We take excellent care of our vehicles ... change the oil, maintenance and repairs as required and they are a dream for the second-owner. The bad news for the US automakers is that we are Toyota / Honda loyalists - that's the key to our success as happy car owners!
Still have my '91 Geo with 150K miles. Bought it 4 years old, for $2,500 with 89.5K miles already on it. Never had any engine problems, but the A/C & speakers haven't worked since I purchased it & after a few hundred $$'s, I gave up trying to fix either. My mechanic recently told me the under carriage rust is too great to repair & it won't pass inspection upon my return to the states, so I'll be getting rid of it within months. Too bad. Although the body is falling apart, still no engine problems, starts up everytime, immediately, even in Montreal cold.
Interestingly, this is the only used car I ever purchased & the only good one. Every other car was brand new junk that disintigrated before my eyes, along with my bank account, before 40K miles. No worse feeling than buying a brand new car that continues to cut into savings the second driven off the lot... or mailing that huge check to the loan company every month for a car that you'd like to kick to pieces each morning if you weren't in heels & carrying a travel mug filled with hot fluid.
Think I'll take the bus for awhile when I return. I'll eventually need a car, but oh so dread buying another. Car salesmen make my head & wallet hurt.
I was amazed when I heard that number this morning. I had just been talking about it a day or two before. I figured the average was up to 8 or 9, did not think it was as high as 11.
DETROIT - Americans are keeping their cars and trucks longer as quality improves and the uncertain economy makes new purchases less appealing, according to a study released this week by automotive consulting firm R.L. Polk & Co.
Being that money is tough to come by, cars are more reliable than ever this seems like a moot point unless you are an automaker/car dealer. In years past, cars were a fashion statement, today more people approach cars like appliances (after all look at the popularity of the Prius!).
Would you replace your fridge' if it still keeps the beer cold?
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