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How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:08 pm
by ebeard
I have a 1997 Ford F150 and took it to the shop today because the "Check Engine Light" is illuminated. I noticed the sticker on the inside of the door jam indicates the truck was made 12/96 so that means my truck is 20 YEARS OLD! I bought it used in 2000 for $10,000 and figure I've saved a "truck load" of money by not buying new cars over the last 2 decades. LBYM!

What's your strategy with transportation and How old is your vehicle?

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:10 pm
by corysold
My current vehicle is 11 years old and has 200,000+ miles on it. It currently drives 112 miles a day, so I'm hoping to get 2-3 more years out of it.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:17 pm
by ebeard
corysold wrote:My current vehicle is 11 years old and has 200,000+ miles on it. It currently drives 112 miles a day, so I'm hoping to get 2-3 more years out of it.
Wow. Mine is just a baby at 180k miles.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:26 pm
by FelixTheCat
2006 149,000 miles

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:29 pm
by alfaspider
ebeard wrote:I have a 1997 Ford F150 and took it to the shop today because the "Check Engine Light" is illuminated. I noticed the sticker on the inside of the door jam indicates the truck was made 12/96 so that means my truck is 20 YEARS OLD! I bought it used in 2000 for $10,000 and figure I've saved a "truck load" of money by not buying new cars over the last 2 decades. LBYM!

What's your strategy with transportation and How old is your vehicle?
BH strategy: don't go straight to the shop because you have a CEL. You can buy a bluetooth OBDII adapter for $15 on amazon or get the code read at Autozone for free. Once you have the code, then decide whether a shop visit is appropriate or you can get by with simply clearing the code.

Personally, I'm a "bad" bogglehead because I currently drive a 2016 with 7k miles on it (Subaru WRX STI). Before that, I always drove 10+ year old cars. This one is a "buy and hold" that I purchased CPO for over $5k off new only a few months old. Amortizing average depreciation for the model over 10 years, I should only be paying around $1,500 in depreciation a year. Came with a 7 year warranty I did not have to pay extra for. Well worth it to drive a car I love as opposed to one I can live with. My toy car is a 1986 Alfa Romeo Spider with miles unknown- the odometer broke at 130k miles many moons ago and I haven't seen a good reason to tear apart the dash to fix it.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:29 pm
by JCrack
2014 Wrangler

Feelsbad.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:32 pm
by Jack FFR1846
JCrack wrote:2014 Wrangler

Feelsbad.

Picture? (I have a 14 Wrangler Unlimited and an 04 Outback to balance it out)

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:33 pm
by LetItGrow
'95 Camry :D

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:39 pm
by jpelder
Mine is a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze with a measly 62500 miles. Hoping to keep it for 11 years or 120,000 miles, whichever happens first. I'm comfortable with buying new cars and just keeping them an extra couple of years. I don't trust other people's maintenance!

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:43 pm
by ruralavalon
Our strategy is to buy year old used cars, after having them checked by our trusted local mechanic, have the regular maintenance done by a good mechanic, and keep the cars as long as they run reliably.

Ten year old Nissan Altima, about 110,000 miles.

Eleven year old Chrysler Sebring convertible, about 95,000 miles.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 2:49 pm
by mickeyd
2005 Camry and 2011 Corolla. Both low mileage and low maintenance.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:15 pm
by stickman731
I have two vehicles -

2010 Ford Edge with 117,00 miles - no issues, great car - only oil changes and 1 new set of tires - I am due for another set shortly.

1996 Dodge Ram 1500 Magnum V-8 (MY TOY) - 95,000 miles - purchased new with cash ($21,000 - a great deal at the time since sticker was 28K). Until recently no issue only 1 set of tires that I changed at 80K (the Firestone dealer could not believe it). I recently sunk ~$2,000 into it - water pump broke about 100 miles from home with towing and then a week later fuel line leak and electrical issue (due to squirrels or chipmunk chewing on it) - the lines are now coated with a deterrent. I had a company car for years and most of the mileage is from friends and family borrowing it - only rule is that I do not help and you must return it full or lose access to it. I went over two years without paying for gas myself.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:20 pm
by MI_bogle
99 Tacoma with 180K on it. Bought 6 years ago at 110K miles for 7K.

Hoping for another 5 years/70K out of it, at minimum

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:21 pm
by 2Birds1Stone
2008 Infiniti w/ 29k miles :sharebeer

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:23 pm
by sambb
my car is less than 30 days old. I like my new one. Hoping to buy one more that is a 2 year old sports car for the weekend fun

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:35 pm
by SRenaeP
2004 BMW with ~75k miles. I'm hoping to drive it until 2019.

-Steph

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:39 pm
by catdude
2007 Camry with about 60,000 miles on it. I'm retired and don't do a whole lot of driving.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:46 pm
by avenger
3.5 years old, about to turn 30k miles on the odometer. :D

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:47 pm
by cheese_breath
johnny wrote:...I'm retired and don't do a whole lot of driving.
Ditto. DW doesn't drive at all anymore so this leaves me with two vehicles.

2000 Silverado, about 82.5K miles
2009 Impala about 48.5K miles

I try to alternate my driving between them so they both get some exercise and don't feel neglected. I'm hoping they'll both wear out about the same time. Then I can replace them both with a single vehicle.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:48 pm
by AllieTB1323
Wife's car is a 2008 Honda Accord with about 50K on it. Mine is a 2009 Chev 1500 pickup with about 45K on it. My play car is a 1994 Corvette garage queen with about 70,000 total miles. Other than oil changes none of the cars have cost us a penny in maintenance in the last four years.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:56 pm
by dm200
When younger, I commuted to full time employment, visited parents/grandparents/family several times a year a day's drive away, etc., we usually bought new (usually) and kept vehicles (one minivan and one smaller commuter car) a long time. Now in retirement, and due to some changed finances, while we still have two cars, I still drive my low mileage (bought new) 2005 small car and my wife drives a 1998 Camry purchased from friends in 2015. Together we only drive under 7-10,000 miles a year. Our strategy (probably) is (and will be) to stick with trying to buy older used vehicles and keep them for many years. If necessary, if/when we "need" a 100% reliable car for a trip, etc. , then an Enterprise rental (with unlimited miles) can be very cost-effective for just a few days.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 4:05 pm
by Dottie57
10 yr old Camry Hybrid. <100,000 mileS
Running well.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 4:08 pm
by Gropes & Ray
2004 Mazda6 (Sport Wagon) w/ 90k miles

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 4:13 pm
by mouses
Two cars, one 1969 and one 1992.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 4:19 pm
by DetroitRick
My car, 2004 Toyota Highlander with (38k miles, not a typo, lowest mileage vehicle I've ever had)
Wife's car, 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan with 90k miles.

The wife's car will be replaced sometime in the next year - it's getting to be a P.I.T.A., repair-wise. My Highlander's lifespan is still undetermined, but it won't be soon.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 4:33 pm
by Pinotage
For older vehicle/high mileage enthusiasts, we have an existing thread on the topic with quite a few replies:

viewtopic.php?t=179038

292 posts and counting.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 4:42 pm
by mbcruiser
1992 Honda Accord (yes 25 years old)
bought it 5 years ago with 102,000 mi.; (replaced fluids, timing belt, muffler, master cylinder, and distributor).
now has 121k.
Runs like a top .
Wanting a new one, but it still beats 0% interest, $0 down, $0 payments, blah, blah!.
What can I say, it's a Honda.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 5:18 pm
by Hukedonfonix4me
2006 127,000 miles

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 5:24 pm
by LibertyLover
Wife's: 2006 with 150,000 miles
Mine: 2006 with 190,000 miles (only drive a few times a week as I use my company car for business commute).

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 5:34 pm
by jmndu99
2006 dodge stratus 140k

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 5:41 pm
by Crimsontide
2017 Toyota Camry, 1 week old. Love that new car smell :happy

... my 2013 Sonata 2.0t was destroyed a couple of weeks ago when we were rear ended and shoved into a stone wall. Heck of a way to get a new car...

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 5:47 pm
by stoptothink
'09 Hyundai Accent hatchback. Bought January 1st, 2013 with 50k miles, now has 95k. Zero issues. Wife's previous job had her driving 3,000+ miles a month, now we drive it maybe 500 miles/month total as her commute is <3 miles. I walk to work and get pretty much everywhere else by bike. We'll be buying another vehicle next summer as my 4yr old daughter starts kindergarten and I'll have to pick her up from school. I've very much enjoyed the simplicity of having a single car and am not looking forward to that ending.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 5:49 pm
by stoptothink
Crimsontide wrote:
... my 2013 Sonata 2.0t was destroyed a couple of weeks ago when we were rear ended and shoved into a stone wall. Heck of a way to get a new car...
My previous vehicle was totaled in a hit-and-run January 1st, 2013. About 4am, in front of my apartment while I was asleep. The sound woke me up and ran outside to watch the offender (in a suburban) take off. Only had liability and the police could not do anything, so it was a total loss.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 5:51 pm
by bottlecap
The wife drives the "new" vehicle in the family at 12 years old.

I drive the 17 year old.

JT

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 5:55 pm
by thomasbayarea
Approximately, in order of my preference...

20 year old Porsche
10 year old Toyota
5 year old BMW

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:00 pm
by wtjbatman
12 year old Ford Mustang. Bought when I got my first full time job. Regretted it for a number of years, but at this point it's been paid off for a long time, and I intend to drive it into the ground. Maintenance is surprisingly affordable. In the last three years, outside of oil changes, the only things I've had to do are put in a new alternator and battery, and replace a rusted out muffler (thank you Minnesota winters). About $700 total including parts and labor. My wife thinks that is outrageous as she feels it is throwing money down the drain on an old vehicle. How much would I have spent on car payments on a new vehicle over that same time frame?

Gas mileage could be better. Luckily I have a short commute for work, and for long trips I drive the Fusion. 35mpg :mrgreen:

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:06 pm
by bengal22
2017 Traverse - wife
2005 - Avalanche - mine of course. I bought it new way back when. Will drive until it quits and then get something new.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:18 pm
by fsrph
2010 Forester 28k miles
2003 350z 60k miles

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:26 pm
by kelway
2007 Honda Civic with 173000 miles... I was lucky and had the engine block fail literally a month before the 10 year warranty on that part expired, so now I have a new upper/lower engine and plan to push this thing to 300k or beyond. Yes, pulling up next to a 27 year old attorney in a BMW can make me feel less-than, but not for long!

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:26 pm
by stormswami
2000 Mercury Mountaineer with 219,000 miles
2001 Buick Le Sabre (which replaced my wife's 2003 Saturn L200 with a bad engine)

As those cars illustrate... I gave up on being "cool" a long time ago, as I told my friend the other day.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:43 pm
by Broken Man 1999
We have a 2008 Ford E150 van bought new in August of 2009. Now has a tad over 62,000 miles. Should last another 10 years unless wrecked. As we get older the mileage driven will most likely decline. It might outlive me!

Broken Man 1999

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 6:51 pm
by Herekittykitty
2002 Honda Accord. Cherry red, looks good. 80,000 miles. Bought it in 2004.

Maintenance as recommended, garage it at home, covered parking ramp at work.

I think it is a hoot that before long it will be 15 years old. Still an adolescent.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 7:23 pm
by ebeard
alfaspider wrote:
BH strategy: don't go straight to the shop because you have a CEL. You can buy a bluetooth OBDII adapter for $15 on amazon or get the code read at Autozone for free. Once you have the code, then decide whether a shop visit is appropriate or you can get by with simply clearing the code.
Thanks for the tip.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 7:24 pm
by Tamalak
Honda Civic Hybrid, 9 years old, 65k miles.

My commute is so short my car actually had some issue caused by driving too LITTLE.

Aside from that it's barely needed maintenance, and other than some minor dings, a nonfunctional cruise control, and an old-looking interior, it runs just great.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 7:34 pm
by dm200
ebeard wrote:
alfaspider wrote: BH strategy: don't go straight to the shop because you have a CEL. You can buy a bluetooth OBDII adapter for $15 on amazon or get the code read at Autozone for free. Once you have the code, then decide whether a shop visit is appropriate or you can get by with simply clearing the code.
Thanks for the tip.
My friendly neighborhood independent auto service place checks this and then we make a determination of what to do.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 7:40 pm
by bhsince87
2weeks! Traded in a 13 year old one on it. I sort of regret that I didn't upgrade sooner.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 7:42 pm
by InterestingMoney
2003 Honda CR-V (bought in October 2002) with 138k miles. So, 14 years old. I'm thinking of buying something new in 4-5 years.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 7:50 pm
by stretch
FelixTheCat wrote:2006 149,000 miles
I am like Felix. 2006 Toyota Highlander with about 150,000 miles. I never had the chance to drive across the US. But in the last 10 days we have taken the car 3000+ miles and we'll be in L.A. by the end of the week. The car doesn't burn a drop of oil and doesn't skip a beat. Original owner.

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 8:09 pm
by SoySauceMagic
2011 VW with less than 20K miles on it. Needless to say, I won't be buying another vehicle anytime soon!

Re: How old is your vehicle?

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2016 8:14 pm
by jhfenton
We have a 2008 Ford Fusion with 75K miles that we bought several years ago from my wife's grandmother after she suddenly became unable to drive it. We also a 2012 Honda Odyssey that we purchased new.

My just-turned-14-years-old son opened a checking account last month with birthday money and wants to get a job this summer to save money for a car. If he follows through--which he will if there are any places left that will hire a 14-year-old--I will probably offer him my car in exchange for him paying gas and insurance. At that point, it will be 10 years old with probably 90K miles.

I'll probably buy myself a new or CPO car then, depending on what the market looks like. My wife's van should have many years left.