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by **nomadgecko** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:12 am

A fun survey for Friday.

According to Wikipedia, in 2007 the median age of automobiles in the US was 9.7 years. [Seems high]. So by my back of the envelope math, the median US car has 120,000 miles [Seems high, but hey who knows.]

I'm curious if this community is representative of the US or skews toward newer or older cars.

Proud driver of a 1996 Corolla - 184,000 miles.

by **galectin** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:16 am

1997 Ford Aerostar Van 214,000

2001 Subaru Legacy Wagon 187,000

by **BigD53** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:19 am

My Toyota Camry is 7.5 years old. I just reached 34,000 miles.

What does that tell you about my (lack of) a life?!

(And most of those miles was my work commute... but I lived only 3 miles from my employment. Many times I just walked to work! :beer

)

by **harrychan** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:22 am

06 Subaru Impreza 39,000 miles
12 Subaru Legacy 900 miles

by **CokeSlurpee711** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:24 am

92k~ 05' Chevy Silverado

by **nirvines88** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:24 am

98 Honda Accord ~212,000

by **MathWizard** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:28 am

I own 4 cars, mine, my wife's and two teenager's cars.

Mine : 2001 Gran Caravan 103K
Wife's: 2000 Buick Century 40K
Son #1 : 1999 Buick Century 112K
Son #2 : 1999 Buick LeSabre 132K

So I'm 2 under, 2 over.

Son #1 drove our old Ford Van with 150K on it before the 1999 Century until
it became unreliable.

I can diagnose/repair many issues with a car, but lately it's easier on my back to let my
mechanic do the repairs.

Cars are lasting much longer these days. My wife and I don't put too many miles on a
car in a year, so we tend to have older cars. A big problem is that the cars start to rust
long before they are mechanically shot.

by **bottlecap** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:29 am

00 Explorer - 248,000

by **MathWizard** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:30 am

BigD53 wrote:My Toyota Camry is 7.5 years old. I just reached 34,000 miles.

What does that tell you about my (lack of) a life?!

(And most of those miles was my work commute... but I lived only 3 miles from my employment. Many times I just walked to work! )

Walking 3 miles to work, impressive!

I live 2 miles from work, and ocassionally bike, but have never walked it.

by **N1CKV** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:41 am

40,005 as of this morning on a 2009 GMC Sierra Z71
I would be close to the 120,000 mark with my last truck but it was 2WD and not getting me where I wanted to go.

by **Sam I Am** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:45 am

We have only 22,000 miles or so on our 2008 Ford E150 van, purchased new in August of 2009. It has a real drinking problem, at only 15 MPG, but we drive very few miles a year, around 8,000. So gas prices aren't really an issue, in the grand scheme of life.

Our 1999 van had about 117,000 miles on it when I replaced it in 2009. I could have kept it longer but I had the cash at the time and I wanted something newer to haul the grandkids around.

Unlike my 1999 van, which was a conversion van that had a wheelchair lift added, the 2008 van was built specifically for wheelchair transport. It has a much heavier-duty lift installed, so my entry and exit experiences aren't white-knuckle rides. I did have to add a bench backseat to accommodate the grandkids. Plus all the electronics like DVD/CD player, GPS, back-up camera, HD stereo, amps and such had to be installed. My brother-in-law does that for a living, my van was probably the cheapest vehicle he has worked on for a long time. A lot of his customers are pro athletes, way out of my $$ class for sound systems and such.

I'm hoping with this vehicle to have transportation for at least 15 years. It shouldn't be that hard to realize, with the low mileage we are adding to it each year, assuming we can remain accident free.

Sam I Am

by **zaboomafoozarg** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:45 am

98 Civic, 260K miles, still runs great. Shooting for 300K+! But lately I've been looking for a newer vehicle in case the Civic doesn't make it. But everything that looks decent seems to cost around $10K, and the cheap side of me wants to get another decade on a $5K car.

by **desertbandit442** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:47 am

2002 Jeep Wrangler - 186,000. My plan is 25 years or 500,000 for da jeep.

Wife: 2008 Dodge Charger - 36,000.

Here's what contributes to the higher average age:

Back-up: 1990 Mazda Miata - 96,000

Hauling to dump: 1993 Chevy S-10 - ???? miles (odometer no workie)

by **theresa** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:54 am

1994 Saturn with 102,300 miles on it

by **Rodc** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:56 am

...the median age of automobiles in the US was 9.7 years. [Seems high].

Don't forget many of those used cars that people get rid of to buy new cars end up being owned by people without the money to buy newer cars, become cars for students, etc.

Us: the car that is nominally mine is a 2009 with 50,000 miles, the car that is nominally my wife's is a 2004 with 118,000 miles last I looked. In a couple of years they will be 5 years old with ~80K and 10 years old with ~140K. Around then we will begin to think about replacing the older one depending on how it is doing. We typically keep cars until 12 years old, but could go a year or two on either side of that.

by **deanbrew** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:58 am

Wow. I'm amazed at the results. I would have guessed under 20% would be over 120k miles. I've never had a car go that many miles.

Me? I have a 2011 Subaru Legacy with 12k miles. Then again, well over half of my driving is for work, often far from home (and sometimes in remote or questionable neighborhoods). I don't want a car of advanced age or mileage that would be prone to breaking down. I usually replace a car when it gets around 80-100k miles. I don't need a Lexus or BMW or other prestige brand, but I do want to drive a relatively new, nice car.

by **livesoft** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 12:02 pm

'01 SUV daily driver. I've put 64K miles on it in 10 years.

by **prudent** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 12:05 pm

We're just in the process of getting rid of our 7-year-old car with 98k miles. Our other car is 8 years old and has 52k miles (wife's car, she typically only drives in the immediate area). The 7 yo car is going to a friend who needs a car and can't afford one, and we bought a year-old used car with 38k miles to replace it.

Generally we buy year old cars with high mileage that have depreciated a lot (save almost half of the cost of new), and we keep them until the 100k mark or so.

by **tludwig23** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 12:09 pm

'07 Cannondale F400 commuter bike 17,345
'11 Subaru Outback 11,200
'00 Mazda MX-5 Miata 83,000

by **zaboomafoozarg** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 12:13 pm

I've never bought a vehicle with under 100K miles. I could, and I have a feeling it would cause less breakdowns and problems which would be awesome. But I can never justify spending $5-10K more on a single car to avoid a couple part replacements every year, and maybe a couple breakdowns over the life of the car. In the end, I'd just rather have the headaches and save the money.

by **mhc** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 12:42 pm

'04 CRV - ~60,000 miles

I would be happy with another 8 years and then get something new.

by **Dave76** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:11 pm

1987 Chrysler New Yorker (K-car) - 103,000

2012 Hyundai Elantra -- 4,300

I never have a problem with the Chrysler. The Hyundai has its issues. Thank God for warranties.

by **Snoopy** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:16 pm

2000 Mazda 626 4cyl, 5-speed manual - 121,000

by **dgalilei** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:24 pm

2005 Honda Civic 161,000 miles
202 Honda CRV 122,000 miles

by **cheese_breath** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:28 pm

2000 Silverado - 72,000 miles
2009 Impala - Should hit 20,000 next week.

1993 Oldsmobile had 126,000 when we sold it and bought the Impala in 2009. It was still running great, but we just wanted a new one.

by **tuffy7222** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:34 pm

My 2001 BMW Z-3 : bought brand new just got 28,000 miles on it yesterday

by **Saluki31** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:39 pm

2001 Honda Civic - 194,000 miles. Originally hoping for 200K miles. Now I'm hoping for 250K.

by **czeckers** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:40 pm

2003 Minivan 162,000 (50,000) at purchase
2009 Subaru legacy 30,000 (10,000) at purchase.

by **momar** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:41 pm

2002 Mazda Protege - 81000
2008 Toyota Corolla - 21000

by **investomajic** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:46 pm

nomadgecko wrote:Proud driver of a 1996 Corolla - 184,000 miles.

I have a 2003 Honda Accord with slightly more miles.

by **CrowTRobot** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 1:51 pm

nirvines88 wrote:98 Honda Accord ~212,000

bottlecap wrote:00 Explorer - 248,000

Well done! I'm at 155,000 and plan to keep my '01 Camry until the day I look like Fred Flintstone going to work. No car payment = more money for retirement + a little extra to play with.

by **Carl53** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:01 pm

96 Accord 328K
00 Gran Prix 140K

Hope for several more years on both, but if not, then they have been good value. Wife's Gran Prix wasa little more than a year old when purchased and its initial cost is now down to about 14 cents per mile. My Accord was purchased for $6300 when it was 6 years old and had 103K miles. Its initial cost is now down to less than 3 cents per mile.

by **renditt** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:03 pm

130.

Bought my new F150 Saturday, loving it!

by **zeusrock1** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:10 pm

2005 Honda Accord 4cyl manual - 127,000 miles

by **DAK** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:13 pm

2004 Honda Element 128,000
2012 Honda Odyssey 5,000

by **Frobie** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:14 pm

2006 Acura RSX-S, 28,000 miles. Best thing is, my wife and I share it--it's the only car we own.

At this pace we should hit 120,000 miles sometime in 2028.

by **FireProof** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:23 pm

2000 Toyota Avalon XLS, 179000.

by **Hector** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:41 pm

car1 ~ 200k
car2 ~ 100k

by **nwrolla** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:51 pm

Lots of subaru people on here !
I have a 2006 subaru impreza with 85k
And a 2008 subaru impreza with 45k both cars have been very reliable and seem to have a lot of life in them
my previous car was a 98 Honda civic with 165k when it was sold.

by **jackpistachio** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 2:54 pm

Primary: 2005 Altima - 121k miles (just meets the threshold) - bought new for $16k
Secondary: 2000 BMW 323i - 156k miles - bought used for $2k

RIP: 1988 Camry - 365k miles

by **hazlitt777** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 3:03 pm

Primary: Chevy Impala 125,000
Secondary: Ford truck 168,000

by **chaz** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 3:05 pm

About 30,000 on my 2006 Corolla.

by **Leif Eriksen** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 3:27 pm

Almost 200,000 on a 2001 Camry. Original owner.

by **scrabbler1** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 3:39 pm

2007 Corolla - 16,000 miles.

For most of the 23 years I worked, I did not use the Corolla or its 2 predecessors to go to the train station, as I lived walking distance from a train station. I have driven about 76,000 miles combined on the Corolla and its 2 predecessors going back to 1986, so I find it breathtaking that someone would own a car which has 100,000 miles.

by **sscritic** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 3:42 pm

You poll has too few choices; there should have been at least 200,002 choices:
0
1
2
.
.
.
200,000
over 200,000

by **Powerslave** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:41 pm

1996 Civic DX Manual with 230000 Miles

by **Mudpuppy** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:45 pm

I'm not going to answer the poll because my answer would skew the results due to a faulty premise. Not all old cars are high mileage cars. My car is 13 years old and barely over 80k miles because I've always found a decent place to live within 10 miles of work/school (currently 3 miles). I only go on road trips a few times a year, usually to a place within 300 miles of home (often less).

It's great being a low mileage driver. I only need one tank of gas a month (unless I'm going on a road trip). I get discounts on my car insurance. I don't have to do maintenance as often. The only downside is skewing poll results like these

by **dbltrbl** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 4:50 pm

Owner of 2000 Honda Accord only 151000 Miles. Expect to keep at least two more years barring unforeseen circumstances.

by **ryuns** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:05 pm

Powerslave wrote:1996 Civic DX Manual with 230000 Miles

A base model late nineties Civic might be high in the running for "lowest cost of ownership vehicle ever built". An HX might win over the long term assuming no additional repairs. (My 2000 Civic is an EX--I'm spoiled that way!--but has only ever had a single repair, a $150 muffler replacement.)

by **nomadgecko** » Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:20 pm

Carl53 wrote:96 Accord 328K
00 Gran Prix 140K

Hope for several more years on both, but if not, then they have been good value. Wife's Gran Prix wasa little more than a year old when purchased and its initial cost is now down to about 14 cents per mile. My Accord was purchased for $6300 when it was 6 years old and had 103K miles. Its initial cost is now down to less than 3 cents per mile.

I had never thought of amortizing the purchase price of a car over its mileage; that's interesting.

So that would put our 96 Corolla at ~$0.10/mile and my wife's 2006 RAV4 at $0.60/mile. We bought the 06 RAV4 used in 2008 with 30,000 miles on it; now it has 65,000 miles.

How many miles are on your primary vehicle?

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