At what milage do you get rid of your car?

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AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
Originally posted by: Drakkon
Originally posted by: FoBoT
after the transmission dies after 100K+
or the engine has a MAJOR problem after 100K+
This has been my perogotive. That or major crash in which car was close to or totaled.
You've gotta think though - if the mechanical aspect is all that needs work, then it's still a great car IMO, especially if you've owned it from the start since you'll know what kind of shape it's in and what has been done on it, and by where.

If you decide to change cars only because of mechanical things, then the next car will financially, be very likely the wrong choice. Example:

Current car is worth $2k if in running and good shape.
New (used) car is $8k

Right away, there's a $6k difference, take that $6k, divide in half, and you could probably fix a lot, including a transmission rebuild. If that's all that needs work, then you're set.

That comparison ignores two large things... first is cost of repairing the new car and second is insurance. The car that's $2k in value probably doesn't cost much to insure, I'd bet that the next car is probably more.

Now, this is where a lot of people think about the "hassle" of doing this, especially if you only have one car and can't really go a week without it. If you don't have more than one car to use, then yeah, you're at the SOL and might not have a choice.

Personally, while I'm not saying I don't like a newer car, I will say that depending on the situation, it may not be a bad idea to hang onto the older car.
 

giantpinkbunnyhead

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2005
3,251
1
0
Just because I like new stuff, I usually ditch a car by about 30K. My last car, I sold off at 13K; the one before that; 17K. It's like video cards. It may not be broke, but something better always comes out next year. I like riding the front of the wave.
 

judasmachine

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2002
8,515
3
81
I'm assuming those who rid themselves of their cars under 30K are just leasing. If not daaaammmmnnn. So many cars today will easily hit 150K and beyond. (with some TLC that is.)
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,857
6,021
146
Originally posted by: DrPizza
When it has to be towed to the junkyard. My car payments from Jan 2006 thru Mar 2007: $0.00
Repairs: roughly $200, including a new battery, brakes, serpentine belt.

something like that, only car payments from 1984~present = 0
I pay cash, drive them a couple hundred K, and they don't owe me anything after that. I sold the last one to a neighbor and it still keeps going after 350K.
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
Originally posted by: judasmachine
I'm assuming those who rid themselves of their cars under 30K are just leasing. If not daaaammmmnnn. So many cars today will easily hit 150K and beyond. (with some TLC that is.)
Meh, some of us trade down to reduce payments and insurance.

I bought the Mustang new in Feb '06, drove it for a year and 15K miles, decided that I was getting raped on insurance and missed having a back seat that was useful, so I traded it in for what I owed on it and picked up an older Volvo. Aside from gas and insurance (oil changes were free at the dealer), the only expense on the Mustang was the payments, so I figure that was worth it for that year I drove it. :)

ZV
 

judasmachine

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2002
8,515
3
81
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: judasmachine
I'm assuming those who rid themselves of their cars under 30K are just leasing. If not daaaammmmnnn. So many cars today will easily hit 150K and beyond. (with some TLC that is.)
Meh, some of us trade down to reduce payments and insurance.

I bought the Mustang new in Feb '06, drove it for a year and 15K miles, decided that I was getting raped on insurance and missed having a back seat that was useful, so I traded it in for what I owed on it and picked up an older Volvo. Aside from gas and insurance (oil changes were free at the dealer), the only expense on the Mustang was the payments, so I figure that was worth it for that year I drove it. :)

ZV

makes sense to me. i traded a bonneville in on a civic, for the gas mileage, and practicality. my bonne was paid for though.
 

NoShangriLa

Golden Member
Sep 3, 2006
1,652
0
0

Depends on the vehicle.

I have driven a car till it almost died at 350,000+ Km, and got rid of a lemon at less than 60,000 Km.

 

91TTZ

Lifer
Jan 31, 2005
14,374
1
0
Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Just because I like new stuff, I usually ditch a car by about 30K. My last car, I sold off at 13K; the one before that; 17K. It's like video cards. It may not be broke, but something better always comes out next year. I like riding the front of the wave.

The biggest depreciation on a car happens when you drive it off the lot. By getting new cars and selling them with 13k or 17k, you're just throwing a ton of money out the window.
 

I Saw OJ

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2004
4,923
2
76
I turned over 55k on my Cobra before I sold it. I beat the hell out of it and it was starting to show so I get rid of it before things started to turn for the worst.
 

funboy6942

Lifer
Nov 13, 2001
15,368
418
126
How about a "not about miles option, just when Im bored of it" added
I buy and drive cars with 100k+ on them, miles dont come into play with me. Just when I see something else I must have that someone is selling dirt cheap. I then sell my ride to make a few bucks and buy the new car. Then in about 1 month to a year when the next one comes up do it all over again.

Im sure I cant be the only one that does this.
 

Slew Foot

Lifer
Sep 22, 2005
12,379
96
86
Well Ive only owned one car in my life and I still have it. Ill probably ditch it in a year or so with a little over 100K on it.
 

Jawo

Diamond Member
Jun 15, 2005
4,125
0
0
Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Just because I like new stuff, I usually ditch a car by about 30K. My last car, I sold off at 13K; the one before that; 17K. It's like video cards. It may not be broke, but something better always comes out next year. I like riding the front of the wave.

Damn!!! What a waste!

My current car is 12 years old and has nearly 110k miles on it. I'm looking for cars, but just that, looking. Three people learned how to drive manual in it and the tranny has been slowly slipping for the past 15k miles.
 

BUTCH1

Lifer
Jul 15, 2000
20,433
1,770
126
Originally posted by: randomint
depends .. American 50k, Japanese 900k

<flamesuit on>

Wow, 900K really...are you using lawn chairs for seating and 900lbs of Bondo??either your 14 and dont
or 64 and still driving mom's 1966 Toyo......WHAT A LOSER.....
 

funboy6942

Lifer
Nov 13, 2001
15,368
418
126
Originally posted by: Jawo
Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Just because I like new stuff, I usually ditch a car by about 30K. My last car, I sold off at 13K; the one before that; 17K. It's like video cards. It may not be broke, but something better always comes out next year. I like riding the front of the wave.

Damn!!! What a waste!

My current car is 12 years old and has nearly 110k miles on it. I'm looking for cars, but just that, looking. Three people learned how to drive manual in it and the tranny has been slowly slipping for the past 15k miles.

I do that but with much older cars with high miles. I get them dirt cheap in need of minimal maintenance, then resell them usually for more then I have in them. Unlike what you do Im never upside down and I get to drive many cars, granted not new ones, but then I dont have to worry where I park it, having the need for full coverage insurance, and in most cases if it hasnt blown up by the time I got it, it wont be any time soon.

Many people have the false assumption that when a car hits 100K its done for. In most cases it because of neglect and lack of care and just needing spark plugs, brakes, and normal wear and tear items making the car run bad around that time. Instead of spending around $500-$1000 to get it the stuff it needs people would rather go dump it, be upside down in their loan, and spend another $20K.

For me, I love these people because it allows me to buy their "junker" dirt cheap they feel is worn out at 100K and misfiring or running poorly, slap in a few spark plugs, clean it from top to bottom, and own a kick ass car on the super cheap. Then get bored of it and turn around make a few bucks and buy the next one. I that you people from the bottom of my heart. Because of you I been buying cars since the age of 14, have owned well over 300 cars since that age, and have driven piratically almost every car make and model on the road and have never been upside down. And of all the cars I have bought, I have had 1, only 1, blow a motor, a 1976 Buick LeSabre back when I was 16.

Why anyone would buy new and do what I do is beyond me and a serious waste of money.
 

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Doesn't matter what the mileage is. Does the vehicle still run? If not, would the cost of repair be less than the price of a replacement vehicle?

My 00 Corolla just passed 75k miles last night, btw. :)
 

spaceman

Lifer
Dec 4, 2000
17,617
183
106
Originally posted by: 91TTZ
Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Just because I like new stuff, I usually ditch a car by about 30K. My last car, I sold off at 13K; the one before that; 17K. It's like video cards. It may not be broke, but something better always comes out next year. I like riding the front of the wave.

The biggest depreciation on a car happens when you drive it off the lot. By getting new cars and selling them with 13k or 17k, you're just throwing a ton of money out the window.

these are the cars we *always look to buy :)


*always meaning once every 3-5 years.
 

blert

Senior member
Sep 30, 2005
926
1
81
Originally posted by: funboy42
How about a "not about miles option, just when Im bored of it" added
I buy and drive cars with 100k+ on them, miles dont come into play with me. Just when I see something else I must have that someone is selling dirt cheap. I then sell my ride to make a few bucks and buy the new car. Then in about 1 month to a year when the next one comes up do it all over again.

Im sure I cant be the only one that does this.


Same here...Although I do have a 1970 Ford F250 with 433,000 miles on it....keep it around for runs to the dump and lumber yard and the weekly "hey can you help me move some sheeot" phone call....

 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
my 1990 Mazda finally made it past 200,000 miles
:thumbsup:

my mechanic said the underside is so rusted out, he won't pass it on inspection anymore, so this spring, as soon as it gets too hot to drive it, i'll be gettin rid of it. should make it to 210,000 miles hopefully by then