so the saturn has a little over 200,000 miles how long can it really last? im thinking it is useful to keep as long as it doesnt cost more than a 1500 bucks a year its worth keeping? i figure if i was going to buy a new car or a used one it would cost around 200 a month which is 2400 a year. when do you guys throw in the towel and buy a new car?
how long is practical to keep a car?
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When the rust is too bad, and if its full of leaks i would say.
Personally, I keep a car (truck, really) until my needs change or the thing is no longer reliable. Keep the oil changed, fix every thing that breaks when it breaks and wash it frequently.
When it strands me beside the road it's time to take a serious look at replacement.
When it strands me beside the road it's time to take a serious look at replacement.
Once its paid off, I would keep it until it dies. Just to be free of monthly payments.
I'm in the middle of deciding the same thing.
Had the 88 325is since 03. Driven VERY sparingly and recently since moving to the coast have a head gasket leak that's dripping all over the parkade.
Over the years I have had some repairs/maint. done to the car incl major things like:
Rear subframe bushings
Front control arms
driveshaft
a/c repaired
The previous owner took really good care of the car too, the body is great and it has never let me down.
The head gasket repair is going to be about $1,500 to repair...at MOST. Considering it's condition, the car is worth about $3,000 for cars in similar condition (uncracked dash, no rust, non-faded paint and undamaged sport cloth seats)
should I sell or fix? Personally I'm leaning towards fixing as I hardly drive the car in the part of town where I live, and put MAYBE 3,000 miles on a car per year. Any car I replace it with will also just be a weekend grocery getter.
thanks for your responses
Had the 88 325is since 03. Driven VERY sparingly and recently since moving to the coast have a head gasket leak that's dripping all over the parkade.
Over the years I have had some repairs/maint. done to the car incl major things like:
Rear subframe bushings
Front control arms
driveshaft
a/c repaired
The previous owner took really good care of the car too, the body is great and it has never let me down.
The head gasket repair is going to be about $1,500 to repair...at MOST. Considering it's condition, the car is worth about $3,000 for cars in similar condition (uncracked dash, no rust, non-faded paint and undamaged sport cloth seats)
should I sell or fix? Personally I'm leaning towards fixing as I hardly drive the car in the part of town where I live, and put MAYBE 3,000 miles on a car per year. Any car I replace it with will also just be a weekend grocery getter.
thanks for your responses
When i was 17-21 i had a 1990 pontiac sunbird with the 2.0 ohc and a 5-speed. I got it with just over 300,000km and it was in pretty decent shape. it didnt smoke or burn too much oil. you could not put any in and still be a hair above the add line.
in about 8000km oci.
It saw cheap cheap dino for the few changes i did and cheap dino up here is not the advisory oils, its mostly pyb and house brand oils that were fairly decent.
My speedometer stopped working at 555,xxxkm. I drove it for a couple more years and put about 250,000 more k's on it. By that point it was running on three cyls and left a huge cloud of smoke where ever it went.
I got rid of it then and the total costs for the car were 500$ for the car and about 1000$ in all oils and parts for the car. suprisingly it needed only a timing belt and a battery when i owned it.
So about 1500$ was put into the car including the purchase price and i paid 70$ a month for insurance and it was quite good on gas. It was a cool car it was a 2-door and had a removable sunroof. it was a dark blue and was one of the best and longest lasting car Ive ever owned. I bet i could have put wwaaayyyy more k's on it if i did more maintenance on it.
But i would never want to keep some stinky old car for too long. I like the new stuff that comes out like even single press window switches. My versa does up and down.
I can honestly put my pregnant wife in the versa and be 99% assured that it will start every time and not stall in a bad spot. Even the crash ratings now adays and even after 5-6 years ago are way ahed of stuff in the 90's. My car has something like 10 airbags. My old ford truck has one and im afraid one day when im playing in the hills its gonna smash my face.
I dont know about anyone else but im not keeping a car past 120,000km and i might get a new one before that well for her anyway, I do want a nice new ecoboost f150. Im at a place in my life where I can have a car that is less than 3 years old and im gratefull for that but if you cant afford one I guess you dont have a choice.
And that doesnt count for the camaro, I plan to see my kid take it to grad.
in about 8000km oci.
It saw cheap cheap dino for the few changes i did and cheap dino up here is not the advisory oils, its mostly pyb and house brand oils that were fairly decent.
My speedometer stopped working at 555,xxxkm. I drove it for a couple more years and put about 250,000 more k's on it. By that point it was running on three cyls and left a huge cloud of smoke where ever it went.
I got rid of it then and the total costs for the car were 500$ for the car and about 1000$ in all oils and parts for the car. suprisingly it needed only a timing belt and a battery when i owned it.
So about 1500$ was put into the car including the purchase price and i paid 70$ a month for insurance and it was quite good on gas. It was a cool car it was a 2-door and had a removable sunroof. it was a dark blue and was one of the best and longest lasting car Ive ever owned. I bet i could have put wwaaayyyy more k's on it if i did more maintenance on it.
But i would never want to keep some stinky old car for too long. I like the new stuff that comes out like even single press window switches. My versa does up and down.
I can honestly put my pregnant wife in the versa and be 99% assured that it will start every time and not stall in a bad spot. Even the crash ratings now adays and even after 5-6 years ago are way ahed of stuff in the 90's. My car has something like 10 airbags. My old ford truck has one and im afraid one day when im playing in the hills its gonna smash my face.
I dont know about anyone else but im not keeping a car past 120,000km and i might get a new one before that well for her anyway, I do want a nice new ecoboost f150. Im at a place in my life where I can have a car that is less than 3 years old and im gratefull for that but if you cant afford one I guess you dont have a choice.
And that doesnt count for the camaro, I plan to see my kid take it to grad.
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What's your level of punishment?
Society kind of decides when we're tired of beaters when you can buy a running parts car for slightly over scrap value, when it's hard to find parts or mechanics who can work on it.
If your car still has resale value, it means someone somewhere thinks it's worth driving.
With the economy how it is, any car I would replace mine with would be more expensive and with more belayed maintenance. So it's like a game of musical chairs where I'm staying sitting down for now.
Society kind of decides when we're tired of beaters when you can buy a running parts car for slightly over scrap value, when it's hard to find parts or mechanics who can work on it.
If your car still has resale value, it means someone somewhere thinks it's worth driving.
With the economy how it is, any car I would replace mine with would be more expensive and with more belayed maintenance. So it's like a game of musical chairs where I'm staying sitting down for now.
Depends on your mechanical skill, how much you drive it, plus where and how you drive it.
I've had my 88 325ic since 96 (waxed it today) and don't plan on getting rid of it. It doesn't get more than 2000 miles a year anymore since I drive the Corvair more, and take the Grand Cherokee on all trips since there is little pavement.
If is depreciated, paid off, and runs or you can easily keep it running, (and you like it) why sell?
I've had my 88 325ic since 96 (waxed it today) and don't plan on getting rid of it. It doesn't get more than 2000 miles a year anymore since I drive the Corvair more, and take the Grand Cherokee on all trips since there is little pavement.
If is depreciated, paid off, and runs or you can easily keep it running, (and you like it) why sell?
buy used no more than 3 years old..
after my auto is 10 yrs old (and very well maintained by me) it goes up for private party sale for a fair price..
I apply the money from this sale to the purchase of my next gently used auto to re-start this procedure.. and most often pay off in 3 years or less.. this always has me driving a car/truck for 5 years minium with no payment..
this method has served me well for almost 20 years now, with sometimes multiple autos and motorcycles in the stable at one time.
and my comfort zone for stressing over a cars miliage is 130,000 miles, most of mine never get that high but if ones approaching this number its time to list it... nothing scientific about this, just part of my routine.
after my auto is 10 yrs old (and very well maintained by me) it goes up for private party sale for a fair price..
I apply the money from this sale to the purchase of my next gently used auto to re-start this procedure.. and most often pay off in 3 years or less.. this always has me driving a car/truck for 5 years minium with no payment..
this method has served me well for almost 20 years now, with sometimes multiple autos and motorcycles in the stable at one time.
and my comfort zone for stressing over a cars miliage is 130,000 miles, most of mine never get that high but if ones approaching this number its time to list it... nothing scientific about this, just part of my routine.
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I always double the time it took to pay off and after that, its anyone's guess.
For example, my 98 Toyota Camry V6. Took 5 years to pay off. So I've been driving it for another 5 years of payment free enjoyment. The thing has been so reliable and good to me that the clock is still ticking on my ownership of it. 15 years and counting now (I got it in 1997 as a 98 model). Current mileage is 223,000. I want to take it to 300k before throwing in the towel regardless of its condition and how much it cost me to get there.
No monthly payments while driving a decent, reliable car = win in my book.
I have the same procedure going with my 2007 Honda Civic EX that was bought new. I have about 4k left before its paid off and I start enjoying my new ride that much more. (She's in perfect condition with 140,000 miles on the clock).
Most people sell their car because they're tired of it and want something new, not because the car is bad.
For example, my 98 Toyota Camry V6. Took 5 years to pay off. So I've been driving it for another 5 years of payment free enjoyment. The thing has been so reliable and good to me that the clock is still ticking on my ownership of it. 15 years and counting now (I got it in 1997 as a 98 model). Current mileage is 223,000. I want to take it to 300k before throwing in the towel regardless of its condition and how much it cost me to get there.
No monthly payments while driving a decent, reliable car = win in my book.
I have the same procedure going with my 2007 Honda Civic EX that was bought new. I have about 4k left before its paid off and I start enjoying my new ride that much more. (She's in perfect condition with 140,000 miles on the clock).
Most people sell their car because they're tired of it and want something new, not because the car is bad.
Well, my grandfather's last car is still here alive and well: 1962 Buick Lesabre, and my father's first car is still going strong: 1941 Studebaker
Seriously, I dump them when they need more $ in repairs than they are worth, or when I could do better for the same $ as the repairs.
I'll be pondering the same thing soon as my work car inspections run out in April '13 and my mechanic flat-out told me he won't sticker that car again.
Seriously, I dump them when they need more $ in repairs than they are worth, or when I could do better for the same $ as the repairs.
I'll be pondering the same thing soon as my work car inspections run out in April '13 and my mechanic flat-out told me he won't sticker that car again.
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Artem,
You drive a lot of miles. Here in FL there is no reason why a car can't last 250K miles with no snow/salt.
You drive a lot of miles. Here in FL there is no reason why a car can't last 250K miles with no snow/salt.
My aunt gave me a lecture because my car has 200k and I'm Taking it to Chicago for the bitog meeting and my honeymoon. And she just can't fathom the idea of going that far on a car with the amount of miles. I wondered how many people think like that
That's a question with too many variables-there is no "practical" line in the sand for a vehicle.
A lot depends on your ability to continue to maintain the vehicle so it's both safe and dependable. You also have to be willing to put the extra time, effort and expense into it as age related failures begin to show up. If you're willing and able to do what it takes, you could drive it forever, such as Irv Gordon has done with his 1966 Volvo.
In the past there was a mental barrier at 100,000 miles that many people had-beyond that a vehicle wasn't dependable and should be scrapped. Modern vehicles have made that mindset obsolete, but there are still a few that are stuck on a mileage number as an indicator of a vehicles life expectancy. After all, there are still people that believe that thicker oil is always better and that all oil should be changed at 3000 mile intervals.
You also have to make certain that if you reach your personal line in the sand for a vehicle, that you're not trading one ageing money pit for another. Choose that line wisely otherwise you'll end up with a different vehicle with just as many problems.
Keep in mind that if you're not responsible enough to save up for a newer vehicle you'll end up tethered to payments, which is financially foolish. And whatever you do, don't get fleeced by a lease.
A lot depends on your ability to continue to maintain the vehicle so it's both safe and dependable. You also have to be willing to put the extra time, effort and expense into it as age related failures begin to show up. If you're willing and able to do what it takes, you could drive it forever, such as Irv Gordon has done with his 1966 Volvo.
In the past there was a mental barrier at 100,000 miles that many people had-beyond that a vehicle wasn't dependable and should be scrapped. Modern vehicles have made that mindset obsolete, but there are still a few that are stuck on a mileage number as an indicator of a vehicles life expectancy. After all, there are still people that believe that thicker oil is always better and that all oil should be changed at 3000 mile intervals.
You also have to make certain that if you reach your personal line in the sand for a vehicle, that you're not trading one ageing money pit for another. Choose that line wisely otherwise you'll end up with a different vehicle with just as many problems.
Keep in mind that if you're not responsible enough to save up for a newer vehicle you'll end up tethered to payments, which is financially foolish. And whatever you do, don't get fleeced by a lease.
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Artem,
You drive a lot of miles. Here in FL there is no reason why a car can't last 250K miles with no snow/salt.
True. My main problem has been suspension bits and pieces getting destroyed due to bad roads. I've spent more time replacing bushings, tie rods and doing alignments then anything else in the past 5 years.
Artem,
You drive a lot of miles. Here in FL there is no reason why a car can't last 250K miles with no snow/salt.
True. My main problem has been suspension bits and pieces getting destroyed due to bad roads. I've spent more time replacing bushings, tie rods and doing alignments then anything else in the past 5 years.
im not sure i agree with that pop rivet. i dont think making payments is bad as long as the amount and time is reasonable. i mean if i had to choose taking 2000 and buying a car or taking 2000 as a down payment and could easily afford a car payment it would probably be better in a stable situation to buy a newer car. besides if you have little credit and need a cosigner its a good way to build credit. but it has to be the right situation. i guess 200,000 worries me i think of head gaskets alternators and front end parts. you know general gm failures. the suspension is almost all original except for outter tierods and i think the hub bearings have been done. most stuff looks original . starter has been done to but a lot of big failures could happen its all physiological but still .
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i377/dakota1820/satrurnside.jpg
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i377/dakota1820/saturndside.jpg
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i377/dakota1820/saturnfront.jpg
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i377/dakota1820/saturninterior.jpg
this is the saturn not to bad right?
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i377/dakota1820/saturndside.jpg
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i377/dakota1820/saturnfront.jpg
http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i377/dakota1820/saturninterior.jpg
this is the saturn not to bad right?
doesn't burn much oil anymore i fixed that it uses a very moderate amount now
i am going to Chicago because its a neat place and not to expensive and the bitog meeting is going on while im there so im going to go to that. im just a country boy but i went to Chicago a few years ago and really liked it . i was with family so i didn't experience it like i would have liked so im going back
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
so the saturn has a little over 200,000 miles how long can it really last? im thinking it is useful to keep as long as it doesnt cost more than a 1500 bucks a year its worth keeping? i figure if i was going to buy a new car or a used one it would cost around 200 a month which is 2400 a year. when do you guys throw in the towel and buy a new car?
Look at my sig...you'll see that I don't base it on age...or miles.
The real decision point is safety/reliability. Too rusted to be safe? It's time for the crusher... If it's not reliable? Well, I wouldn't have kept it this long...
Miles don't matter much if it's running well and been maintained.
so the saturn has a little over 200,000 miles how long can it really last? im thinking it is useful to keep as long as it doesnt cost more than a 1500 bucks a year its worth keeping? i figure if i was going to buy a new car or a used one it would cost around 200 a month which is 2400 a year. when do you guys throw in the towel and buy a new car?
Look at my sig...you'll see that I don't base it on age...or miles.
The real decision point is safety/reliability. Too rusted to be safe? It's time for the crusher... If it's not reliable? Well, I wouldn't have kept it this long...
Miles don't matter much if it's running well and been maintained.
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