Long long long term car ownership

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted by JTK
KrisZ and HowAboutThis, you're right. If you are diligent with yearly rustproofing, things should go much better. Up until a few years ago, you had to go into Canada if you wanted Krown in my area. There was one or two outfits who offered an oil-like spray, but not readily available.

Without that, you're going to have issues by year 10.


Right, I keep forgetting that you guys have had very few good rustproofing choices up until recently.

I remember my 92 Chevy Corsica falling apart around year 2000, even a simple brake job was getting difficult on it. My 95 Accord that I purchased in 03 or 04 was in much better shape because the previous owner rustproofed it regularly, I think he used Rust check. Seeing the big difference rustproofing made, I started treating my Mazda 3 right from the start.

 

[double vanos]

I think Mike Miller of BMW tech fame said it best: "when keeping a BMW long term, there comes a time when you've bought the car all over again". There are some cars worth all that, but in most cases not. My 2002 330ci couldn't hold a candle to a new base model 4 series coupe, and if the costs align just half way between the two, it's probably better to get the 4 series and call it a day. But for the serious hobbyist keeping the old car makes sense.

 

[JLTD]

I have found that repairs are way less than payments. Changing vehicles is almost always a loss for the buyer, then when stacked with the payments...downward finances.

Once vehicles are paid off, I try to set aside $50-$100 a month for "just in case". Keeping up with minir repairs and maintenance are also key.

Of course the prime motivator to switch vehicles is the time invested in repairs, which can become a pain.

 

[Rumble]

I've had my pickup truck since new (1992 Chev. 1500 Sport, reg cab), so that's around 27 years now. It has been a phenomenal vehicle, and even has the original drivetrain (152K). We were planning on selling it this year (along with our 15 year old PT), but we're not all that impressed with the mid-size trucks we are seeing. Tacoma, Ranger and Ridgeline are way too pricey, Colorado/Canyon almost as pricey (and bad transmissions?). As it stands right now, we may get a Frontier crew and just keep the Chevy, as it still looks and runs great. Funny thing is, we've saved up enough money to pay cash, but not any good choices out there for us truck-wise.

 

[Railrust]

Originally Posted by HowAboutThis
It's also odd that my wife has a 15 year old vehicle with almost 200k and she wants to update. I offered her my 1.5 year old car and I'd keep driving hers but she doesn't like my car and wants AWD for those 2 days every year her rear wheels need to be used.

Anyway, I digress. I've thought heavily about selling my newish one and driving her old one. Because...I'm sure I can get 250-300k before it starts using a quart every 100 miles instead of 1 every 3k miles...and it'd be cheaper to insure.


I was in a similar situation, tried to talk my wife into taking my vehicle...she wanted no part of it

 

[HowAboutThis]

Originally Posted by JTK
KrisZ and HowAboutThis, you're right. If you are diligent with yearly rustproofing, things should go much better. Up until a few years ago, you had to go into Canada if you wanted Krown in my area. There was one or two outfits who offered an oil-like spray, but not readily available.

Without that, you're going to have issues by year 10.


I've never used "rust proofing". Just a monthly car wash when the temps allowed me to. Just traded in a 15 year old Civic a little over a year ago. Whole life of the car in MN. No rust on body. A 95 Civic lived for 17 years before that. Small, dime sized rust spots starting on fenders. Without any rust proofing, you can go at least 15 years before you'll start seeing rust bubbles, in my opinion.

 

[HowAboutThis]

And I still see my Civic driving around a couple of times per year. Just saw it last week in the grocery store parking lot. I know it's my old one because of the scuffed alloy rim due to a pickup changing lanes on me years ago and giving me no option but horn and a curb check, and a moron backing into me and leaving a small dent on the driver's side fender. Got $2300 for that one! Oh, and I admired it's beauty and lack of rust. Was hoping the owner would come out when I was reminiscing...

 

[EA82]

I tend to take care of car problems as soon as I find them, I do some work myself and sometimes I take them to a reasonable independent mechanic. Ive never been hit with a $4000 car repair bill, If you neglect the vehicles and ignore the problems of course they will add up to cost thousands, if your mechanic is the dealer then of course you're going to pay thousands. Ive come to the conclusion that if you maintain the car it will serve you right, some cars are more dependable than others. If a car is over 15 years old and the power seat or power mirrors don't work and I can't fix them myself I just let it be as long as it is mechanically sound.

 

[Railrust]

Originally Posted by JTK
KrisZ and HowAboutThis, you're right. If you are diligent with yearly rustproofing, things should go much better. Up until a few years ago, you had to go into Canada if you wanted Krown in my area. There was one or two outfits who offered an oil-like spray, but not readily available.

Without that, you're going to have issues by year 10.


The first thing I did when I bought my new truck was get it rust proofed with Fluid Film, then I did it again six months later. I'm about to do it again...twice a year...I'll be [censored] in I loose another vehicle to rust, especially a pickup truck. Been there done that. Lol

 

[maxdustington]

I've struggled with this. You bond with your car and think because it is not super rusty you can keep it long term, however once that A/C stops functioning or the trans starts acting up a new car seems pretty temping.

The only option is to have a second car that you can take time repairing and doesn't see DD service. No car will last forever being driven in the winter or fast over potholes.
Your DD is a tool to get you back and forth to work and run errands. It can be a really nice tool that you are proud of, but it will still be abused like any other tool.

If you want to commit to a car, make it worth while. A classic, low mileage or special edition where it makes sense to preserve it.

My car is currently on death's door and I'll admit I am attached to it. I plan to drive it till it blows, but if the A/C stops working it will most likely be scrapped.The hardest part for me is realizing that it's not worth fixing anything anymore. It's hard to let go!

 

[Railrust]

Originally Posted by laserred96gt
I tend to take care of car problems as soon as I find them, I do some work myself and sometimes I take them to a reasonable independent mechanic. Ive never been hit with a $4000 car repair bill, If you neglect the vehicles and ignore the problems of course they will add up to cost thousands, if your mechanic is the dealer then of course you're going to pay thousands. Ive come to the conclusion that if you maintain the car it will serve you right, some cars are more dependable than others. If a car is over 15 years old and the power seat or power mirrors don't work and I can't fix them myself I just let it be as long as it is mechanically sound.

$4,000 dollar repair bills can happen regardless of how well you maintain your vehicle and keep up with it. I'll give you an example, my car needed a brake actuator...$3,000 dollar repair. Nothing I could do. And it needed tires and struts (normal stuff) and quickly added up to $4,000. I took care of the car, probably to the extreme with fluid changes/filter changes/tranny services/differential services/...yet things can and will happen.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted by HowAboutThis


I've never used "rust proofing". Just a monthly car wash when the temps allowed me to. Just traded in a 15 year old Civic a little over a year ago. Whole life of the car in MN. No rust on body. A 95 Civic lived for 17 years before that. Small, dime sized rust spots starting on fenders. Without any rust proofing, you can go at least 15 years before you'll start seeing rust bubbles, in my opinion.


You guys must use something different in terms of ice melt on the roads where you live. A 15yr/old Civic that was daily driven in Buffalo NY for 15yrs is a unicorn.

 

[Patman]

I plan on keeping my Corvette forever but it's the type of car that you don't mind putting in the investment once the miles get higher and things start failing, and it's so much fun to drive that I'd never get bored of having it. I've got a long way to go before it's considered old though, I just rolled over 10,000 miles an hour ago

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted by JTK
I wish I could be content in keeping a daily driver long term. I tend to maintain them as such. More than 10 yrs is exceedingly difficult in my climate of ~6 months worth of winter. In 30yrs of owning vehicles, I think the longest I've kept a vehicle was 5yrs. It's usually no more than 3,


Where you live it has to be tough keeping the ironworm away.

As I get older and wiser, keeping a car longer is easier and makes more sense.

It was rust that lead me to get rid of my 2003 Mazda Protege5 in Sept 2017 with over 225k miles.

Likewise, a year earlier in 2016, oilBabe was tired of her 2010 Altima we had had for 7 years, so we let the 2002 Camry with 277k miles go in the deal, passing the Altima to our son who was still in college.

It used oil, leaked oil, needed new tires and a new exhaust. We could have kept it after putting more money than it was worth into it.

So the Camry went.

 

[Chris142]

My dad kept the 68 valiant he bought new in till 2013 when he stopped driving. I bought my 02 jeep new and have no plans to sell it.

 

[Leo99]

I've been lucky and never had a major repair on my Rav4 or Corollas. Never heard of anyone I know using rust proofing in NJ. I don't use it. Friend of mine had his old Escort rust away but that was an older car that was always kept outside and short tripped its whole life.

Had the Rav4 parked at the airport for a week and backed out of the parking spot and put in Drive and no go. Gave it the gas and the rpms went up but speedo didn't budge. Thought it was the end. Put in park and put it back in drive and all was good. Wife thinks there's no problem since it started to work again.

I just replaced the valve cover gasket in it as it was starting to leak again. Replaced it only 100k miles ago. Didn't really need to replace it but I find it fun to replace. Used my new Husky power ratchet. Worked great.

 

[JHZR2]

People chest thump about keeping cars forever and 300k+, but few ever actually do.

Long term ownership is really contingent on how well the car is holistically kept. The car is worth what it costs to replace it. But the standards of replacement make that pretty broad. Realistically it's how far the whole thing is headed towards ruin, not just the repair of the day.

 

[vw7674]

To keep a car going for 300-500k, you have to be your own mechanic or have a family member who is on the spot & ready to babysit it to get there.
That way you can score an engine or cylinder head for $100-200 at Pull A Part & take the shops $$$$ & new/used dealers $$$$$ out of the equation.

 

[barryh]

Bought a 5 year old Mercedes 190e with a view to keeping it 10 years. It was so cheap to run I actually kept it for 21 years with only minor maintenance and repair costs i.e. no repair cost more that £100. Eventually though Rust and the list of other work that needed doing grew to be much greater than the cars value so that was the time to let it go.

I very much doubt I'll be able to repeat that with a modern Mercedes but I'm having a go. My current C class is 10 years old this year and other than a faulty damper replaced under warranty, zero faults so far in the 5 years I've had it.

My motorcycle is 40 years old but I've only had it 12 years. I doubt it will ever be sold as long as I can ride it.

 

[Railrust]

Originally Posted by double vanos
I think Mike Miller of BMW tech fame said it best: "when keeping a BMW long term, there comes a time when you've bought the car all over again". There are some cars worth all that, but in most cases not. My 2002 330ci couldn't hold a candle to a new base model 4 series coupe, and if the costs align just half way between the two, it's probably better to get the 4 series and call it a day. But for the serious hobbyist keeping the old car makes sense.

I think out of all the long term car owners, the BMW people are my favorite, and the ones I find most interesting. First they are a nice car to drive, they can be fun and depending on which model, fast. Second, they can be expensive to own...when something breaks the parts are expensive and repairs are too. Third...and I know this isn't popular with the BMW crowd...they break more often. And lastly, I've seen some BMW owners that are awfully proud about spending to maintain these things, guys and gals that think nothing of spending 20k-25k grand over five years in out of pocket repair costs. They almost wear it like a badge of honor. Some of these guys on the BMW forums are absolutely giddy about blowing an engine and dropping twelve grand replacing it, then having a transmission go. They consider it not bad, or price of ownership, or you've got to pay if you want to play. I see it on Audi and Mercedes forums too. I don't know why but I actually enjoy seeing people go to extremes to keep a vehicle...I've never had the stomach for it.