What kind of car are you driving?

[Keim]

Y'all drive a bunch of new cars!

The wife drives a 2004 Honda CRv. 100k

I split my time between a 1993 Ford F150. 145k (Bought about 3 years ago, rebuilt motor and clutch since then. Not the best purchase I've ever made . Running great now...)

And a 1976 Monte Carlo I bought in 1984 (my first car). Am in the process of fully restoring it. Here is a pic before the paint came off:
http://images.google.com/imgres?q=darre ... s:16,i:169

The truck see's the most miles. But I really don't drive much, mostly around my small town.

[scrabbler1]

Those Geo/Chevy Prizms that folks have mentioned are GREAT little cars. I believe GM & Toyota went in together and built the Prizms and Corollas at the same factory in California. The Prizms are surely some of the best built GM cars ever. They just keep on going, and it's amazing how many of them are still on the roads once you start to notice them.

You are correct, When I was researching 1991 cars prior to buying my 1991 Prism (a former rental car probably owned by Alamo), I read in Consumer Reports that a Prism was a Corolla assembled in California and to refer to reviews of the Corolla for more information. The Prism's design changed with the 1992 model so it is easy to identify 1990 and 1991 Prisms still on the road, even today. The Prism evolved from the Chevy Nova which in the 1980s was the joint venture between GM and Toyota (my dad owned a 1987 Nova and its interior looked nearly the same as my Prism).

[fizxman]

2013 Subaru Outback ~570 miles
It replaced a 2005 Ford Focus ST that had ~133,000 miles.

[chaz]

2006 Toyota Corolla.

[DAK]

2004 Honda Element 135,000 miles
2012 Honda Odyssey 13,500 miles

[Rick_29T9W]

I drive a 1992 GMC Sierra pickup truck with 161,000 miles. It still runs reliably and looks almost like new. The body is in perfect shape and has never been in an accident. I had it repainted about 5 years ago and the paint still looks like new. After 20 years of driving in Arizona, it does not yet have any rust.

It takes me about 25 years to wear out a car or truck, because I do not drive many miles per year. That is because I live upstairs from where I work, and do not have a daily commute.

Whenever the engine wears out, I plan to have it overhauled and drive it for many more years. So far, the engine is still running good and full power, but does leak oil out of the rear main seal. It just has a V-6 and a 5-speed manual transmission, but it still has plenty of power for the steepest hills on Arizona’s highways and freeways.

They do not require emission tests in the more lightly propulated parts of Arizona, such as where I live. If I lived in a major city, I am not sure if my 20 year old engine with 161,000 miles would have still pass the test or not. But, it does not matter for getting the truck licensed where I live.

[westcoast]

Me 2004 Honda CRV

My wife 2006 Lexus Es330

harley davidson roadking

[bkslainte]

Me 2004 Acura TL
Wife 2009 Honda Pilot

Just had to sell off my 1999 Ford Escort-165K, still 28 MPG

[NHRATA01]

I drive a 2012 Buick Regal GS 4,500 miles purchased new the June.

I have a 2001 Pontiac Trans Am with 43K miles bought new and substantially toyed with since

Wife has a 2010 Traverse bought new in '10 with 50K miles on it, and it's the kid hauler.

I can't help being a car guy, so my vehicles aren't quite bogglehead-ian. Though before the Buick I owned an '03 Blazer bought "new" in '04 for $14K (with a manual transmission that the dealer could not sell), and I sold it and purchased a used '03 Cadillac Seville for $12k in 2007, which I then passed to a family member when I bought the new Buick this year.

[NHRATA01]

I drive a 1992 GMC Sierra pickup truck with 161,000 miles. It still runs reliably and looks almost like new. The body is in perfect shape and has never been in an accident. I had it repainted about 5 years ago and the paint still looks like new. After 20 years of driving in Arizona, it does not yet have any rust.

It takes me about 25 years to wear out a car or truck, because I do not drive many miles per year. That is because I live upstairs from where I work, and do not have a daily commute.

Whenever the engine wears out, I plan to have it overhauled and drive it for many more years. So far, the engine is still running good and full power, but does leak oil out of the rear main seal. It just has a V-6 and a 5-speed manual transmission, but it still has plenty of power for the steepest hills on Arizona’s highways and freeways.

They do not require emission tests in the more lightly propulated parts of Arizona, such as where I live. If I lived in a major city, I am not sure if my 20 year old engine with 161,000 miles would have still pass the test or not. But, it does not matter for getting the truck licensed where I live.

The 4.3 V6 is a very reliable engine (particularly the older throttle-body injection versions which I suspect you have), I would not be surprised to see you get another 100K out of it fairly easily.

[stoptothink]

she drives a 1990 Ford Festiva (a tiny hatchback) with about 45K miles on it. No, that's not a typo! We could probably count on one set of fingers the number of times that car has traveled more than ten miles from home, if we could remember those occasions. We live in a small town, and two miles gets us to the other side of town.

My first car was a 1986 Toyota Corolla that my grandfather sold to me in '00. The 14yr old car had 19k miles on it at the time and looked like it just came off the showroom. He was retired and didn't do much but read and occasionally walk a few blocks to the movie theatre. I put about $25k miles on it the next 4yrs and then gave it to my mother when her car was totalled while parked out front of her home by a teenage driver who fell asleep. It was totalled within a matter of weeks, when she lent it to my younger sister.

[VictoriaF]

HONDA Civic DX 1992 213900K miles

This means that I have another 100k miles of life left in my 1997 Civic DX. Thanks for the implied encouragement.

Victoria

[mmmodem]

2009 Hyundai Sonata, 36,000 miles (DW)
2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In, 4000 miles (Had to give up my 2006 Honda Civic 169,000 miles so I can do musical cars and hand down my car to my mom and her car to my FIL who's SUV gave up the ghost.)

Anyone else notice that majority of cars owned are older vehicles >3 years old and very few hybrids or luxury vehicles? This is in contrast to the post about net worth and everyone seems to have a million dollars in the bank. Conclusion? New and expensive cars doesn't = great wealth. A Prius doesn't save you money.

[telemark]

2003 Mazda Protege 5 with 140K miles on it. It eats expensive tires for breakfast, otherwise an excellent car.

[thomasbayarea]

Nobody with motorcycles?

[brisni]

1997 Honda Prelude with about 140k miles. I just went through a bunch of minor repairs, and hoping it lasts a few more years.

[mike143]

2003 Mazda Protege 5 with 140K miles on it. It eats expensive tires for breakfast, otherwise an excellent car.

Had to order a rear camber kit (bolt) for a Suzuki Aerio that couldn't be adjusted into factory spec, car was 100% factory, what a crappy car.

Also have a coworker with a Mazda Protege 5 with the same issue, don't know they year. Told them my advice, don't know what they did.

[JupiterJones]

2004 Honda Element, purchased used in 2006.

Man, I love that car. Shame they quit making them.

JJ

[interplanetjanet]

Nobody with motorcycles?

I used to have an FZR1000 and an '80s shaft-drive Honda Nighthawk. Fun times.

[steve roy]

I drive a 2003 Saturn Vue, five-speed stick. Like it a LOT. Perfect size for me, and plenty of interior room. Picked it up for 12 grand in 2005, and it's been in the family ever since.

[Ice-9]

2009 Honda Fit. Prior to that, a 2001 Honda Accord that I would gladly have kept driving if someone didn't run into me from behind and total it.

I had a 2001 Honda Accord that I would have gladly kept driving too, until someone deliberately drove into the side of my car when it was parked in a Home Depot lot. Many witnesses. It was harassment due to my work.

I guess these 2001 Accords must have been magnetic then. Seriously though, that's scary what happened to yours.

[SHL]

Nobody with motorcycles?

I have a 2004 Suzuki SV650, but I don't ride much anymore. It's just getting too dangerous out there. Will probably sell the bike come Spring time, and enjoy the (relative) comfort of my Civic instead.

[treypar]

I drive a 2008 Acura MDX with 50,000 miles on it. I will probably keep it another 5 years.

[thomasbayarea]

Nobody with motorcycles?

I have a 2004 Suzuki SV650, but I don't ride much anymore. It's just getting too dangerous out there. Will probably sell the bike come Spring time, and enjoy the (relative) comfort of my Civic instead.

Naked SV650 rider here too. I don't ride as much as I want to... Just busy with kids, family and work.

[bru]

2002 CR-V, under 100K miles

2012 Hyundai Elantra, under 4K miles. This replaced my wifes '99 Dodge Avenger that was totalled in March.

We don't put many miles on either vehicle.

[burgrat]

2008 Acura TL. 41k miles. I love it. Fully paid off. I'm going to drive it for a least a couple more years.

[SHL]

Nobody with motorcycles?

I have a 2004 Suzuki SV650, but I don't ride much anymore. It's just getting too dangerous out there. Will probably sell the bike come Spring time, and enjoy the (relative) comfort of my Civic instead.

Naked SV650 rider here too. I don't ride as much as I want to... Just busy with kids, family and work.

Great bikes aren't they? Tons of fun, and cheap to own (as motorcycles go).

[magicmom]

HONDA Civic DX 1992 213900K miles

No I am wrong make that 231900K miles.
even better.

ANd I bought it at 110K miles for $2800.00.
Hows that for frugal?

[Mister Whale]

.....

[Average Investor]

I only drive plastic cars.

Lotus Elise 2005.

Smart Car 2009.

[jwa]

I drive a big old Mercury Grand Marquis.

Wife drives me nuts.

[travellight]

2008 Cadillac STS-V. About 70K miles on it.

I was thinking about the Tesla S sedan but I don't think I'm going to do it.

[westie]

2008 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab 44K bought new - my DD
2009 Honda CRV 53K bought new -wife's car
2007 Honda S2000 8K bought new - toy

[zebrafish]

08 Subaru Outback

07 Lexus IS250 (wife)


I got the shaft

[gator15]

Nobody with motorcycles?

I have a 2012 Harley Softail Deluxe with tequila sunrise color. Love the bike.

[fareastwarriors]

Mazda 3 sedan 2011
Mazda 3 hatchback 2005

[Atilla]

Nobody with motorcycles?

Well now since you asked...down to just one bike now - a 1999 VMax.

Last spring I sold a first generation 1987 GSXR 1100 to a friend. Streetfightered out with no bodywork and dual headlights, jetted carbs, Kerker exhaust, Vance and Hines ignition box, a sprocket on back big enough to limit the top speed to around 120...and the coop de grass - white painted magnesium 17" Marchesini wheels I scored super cheap a bunch of years ago. Those wheels you can lift one with a finger. The whole bike was so light you could lift the front of the bike off the ground with one hand and it registered an honest 113 rear wheel horsepower on the dynamometer when I had it tested. Not bad for a Reagan-era relic.

With that back sprocket, anything over half throttle in first gear would lift the front wheel. Coming up to stop lights you could lift the back wheel with two fingers on the front brake lever.

Now I'm a boring old fart on a VMax.

[Busting Myths]

2012 VW GTI.

I know the GTI is not very frugal compared to the 1993 Infiniti J30 that I bought in 2005 for $4,000.00 or the 1990 Mazda MX-6 GT I bought in 2001 for $800 but I still love the GTI after one year of ownership.

[bertie wooster]

Just sold my 94 Acura Integra hatchback w/ 190k on it. Was a great car but we just had a kid and bought a VW Jetta wagon TDI - which is sweet. The integra was never driven and we live in SF - so I had to move it once a week. Was sad to see it go, but a new college kid will now have the joy of experiencing life with that car. They don't build them like that anymore...

[thomasbayarea]

I drive a big old Mercury Grand Marquis.

Wife drives me nuts.

I think a used Grand Marquis is going to be my next car. I love the old school Detroit comfort-mobile.

[22twain]

Those Geo/Chevy Prizms that folks have mentioned are GREAT little cars. I believe GM & Toyota went in together and built the Prizms and Corollas at the same factory in California.

We've had two of them: a 1990 and our current 2000. We bought them because we wanted Toyota's reliability without having to drive 20-30 miles to the nearest Toyota or Honda dealer for warranty service. Our small town and the one next to it (about 5 miles) have only dealers for American cars: Ford, Chevy, Chrysler.

We've put a lot of miles on both Prizms because we've used them for all our out-of-town trips, to the nearby "big cities" and for vacation road trips. We've been all over the eastern US in them, and to Arizona several times.

When we finally get a new car sometime in the next few years it will probably be something like a Ford Fiesta or a Chevy Cruze. I hope the Cruze turns out to be a decent car, because it's built a few miles from my old hometown in Ohio.

[KiasuChick]

LOL

2003 BMW M5 107k miles, fully paid off

Yes, that was me overtaking you! Love my car!

[magicmom]

HONDA Civic DX 1992 213900K miles

This means that I have another 100k miles of life left in my 1997 Civic DX. Thanks for the implied encouragement.

Victoria

I love my car. Just keep it full of oil.

[shmidds]

2005 Honda Accord

[Tim_in_GA]

1996 Ford Taurus
1999 Dodge Ram 4x4

I will replace the Taurus soon - probably with a Mazda 3 hatchback.

[DonM17]

Wife - 2007 Buick Lucerne 25,000 miles - replaced a 2000 Buick Lesabre - both have the same engine - the 3.8 l is one of the best engines that GM ever made. We use this for extended trips.

Me - 2008 Toyota Yaris 5-speed 21,000 miles - one of the most reliable vehicles on the road today with almost the same fuel economy as a Prius but with a lot lower purchase price.

[jwa]

I drive a big old Mercury Grand Marquis.

Wife drives me nuts.

I think a used Grand Marquis is going to be my next car. I love the old school Detroit comfort-mobile.

It's a great car. I inherited it from my Dad and at first wanted to sell it because... it's big and sort of an old man's car. However, I'm not that young anymore so I guess I qualify. I have since fallen in love with it as the car is incredibly comfortable. A large independent service garage I frequent services a taxi company that uses Mercs and the garage owner says it's not uncommon for them to still be on the road at 350,000 miles and he also stated that the taxi cab business owner does not take care of them.

[aceoperations]

2005 Toyota Corolla CE -- 100k miles

[tomd37]

We are in mid to late 70s.

Wife - 2001 Lexus ES300 with 58,000 miles. Has no desire to trade
Me - 2010 Toyota Venza 4 cyl with 10,000 miles.

[NHRATA01]

2008 Cadillac STS-V. About 70K miles on it.

Very nice. I considered buying a used '08 or '09 for awhile. But I already have a fun car and needed something somewhat snow worthy. The gas mileage was a bit a of bummer too.