I also have a Porsche 914-6 a lot like this one, in the original darker yellow color... it is not comfortable to drive at all... but it is fun...
Posted on 08/31/2007 10:27:15 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
By keeping your car for 15 years, or 225,000 miles of driving, you could save nearly $31,000, according to Consumer Reports magazine. That's compared to the cost of buying an identical model every five years, which is roughly the rate at which most car owners trade in their vehicles.
In its annual national auto survey, the magazine found 6,769 readers who had logged more than 200,000 miles on their cars. Their cars included a 1990 Lexus LS400 with 332,000 miles and a 1994 Ford Ranger pick-up that had gone 488,000 miles.
Consumer Reports calls the Honda Civic a "Good bet" to make it to 200,000 miles.
Calculating the costs involved in buying a new Honda Civic EX every five years for 15 years - including depreciation, taxes, fees and insurance - the magazine estimated it would cost $20,500 more than it would have cost to simply maintain one car for the same period.
Added to that, the magazine factored in $10,300 in interest that could have been earned on that money, assuming a five percent interest rate and a three percent inflation rate, over that time.
The magazine found similar savings with other models.
To have much hope of making it to 200,000 miles, a car has to be well maintained, of course. The magazine recommends several steps to help your car see it through.
Follow the maintenance guide in your owner's manual and make needed repairs promptly.
Use only the recommended types of fluids, including oil and transmission fluids.
Check under the hood regularly. Listen for strange sounds, sniff for odd smells and look for fraying or bulges in pipes or belts. Also, get a vehicle service manual. They're available at most auto parts stores or your dealership.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
Seriously, I have not had a breakdown in 20 years so I don’t know how it works . I have the routine maintenance done, oil change, a/c filters, oil filters etc at one of those drive in places and trade for a new Tahoe ever 70,000 miles. I never have to go to the dealership except to get another new one every 3 to 4 years. It works for me.
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Buy it from Huggy Bear?
We agree with that. To us a five year old vehicle would be practically brand new. My husband drives a ‘95 Ford pickup and I drive a ‘93 Chevy blazer. For an an occasional new car thrill we rent glamour cars when out of town on business or pleasure.
I also have a Porsche 914-6 a lot like this one, in the original darker yellow color... it is not comfortable to drive at all... but it is fun...
The BMW 2002: the sweetest car ever made.
My old Chevy Vega never depreciated and retained its full value.
It was not worth anyhing the day I foolishly bought it in 1974. :-)
Oh man...I love those cars.
I teach my kids that if you can afford a $40k car buy one for $30k, if you can afford a $30k car buy one for $24k, etc...
I could buy a Lexus or Benz easily but the Honda Odyssey looks just fine (yeah, I'm a mini-van geek - couldn't care less about who think what - I can throw sheetrock, shrubs or a surfboard in it)
And double Hey!!I have been mystifying people for years with little desk sign "eschew obfuscation";never had anyone who recognized and knew the meaning.
Ditto. ‘85 300D. I’m at 227,000, and hope to get a lot more.
Replaced the tranny twice... the second time was my fault. If you have an A604 4 speed auto you MUST use Chrysler specific tranny fluid.... and you MUST change the tranny fluid and filter every 30,000 miles. So I guess BOTH tranny problems were really my own fault.... first I never changed it (from 122,000 when I bought it until 250,000) and then I used the wrong fluid (at 285,000). Broke a rocker arm shaft at 292,000... it was over torqued at the factory. Had the engine swapped out, kept on going. Replaced the radiator twice, lots of tires, a couple of batteries, otherwise just routine maintenance.
Finally retired it as the body was rusting out too bad... northern Michigan winters will do that to you!
I do almost all my own maintenance... that way I KNOW the status of most things on the vehicle. I’ve seen all too often things that get missed by shops... they are there to do what you tell them to do... hopefully they mention to you other things that they notice, but this often doesn’t happen.
If you don’t do it yourself, the best idea is to develop a long term relationship with a good private mechanic.... and hope you never have trouble on a long trip away from your home area.
My 1966 Vespa is pretty cheap to run too. 
BTW, I also have a ‘90 Lumina with 210,000. I need to put a new battery in it, but otherwise, it still runs.
My first car was a ‘75 Scirocco. Both the gas guage and the odometer were broke, so it was a bit of an adventure to figure out how much fuel was in the tank. I don’t remember the mileage but it was real high. I sold it to a guy in college. He said it cracked in half one day sitting in his driveway.
Currently I have a ‘97 Plymouth Voyager with 186,000 miles and a 99 Chevy conversion van with 138,000. I have the minivan with a passion but try as I might, I cannot kill the beast. I’ve never sold a car for more than $1,000 and done very well buying 2-3 year old very high mileage cars. I’ve had a couple transmissions rebuilt, but when your father in law is a trans mechanic, that’s not a real huge deal.
My recommendation would be to have an extra set of keys, and keep them in your purse. Here’s why.
With the older vintage stuff, you can tell when somethings not right. Some odd noise, a lack of power, soft brakes. Something. The older stuff usually doesn’t just die when you’re tooling down the freeway. If you know your rig, you usually have plenty of warning.
The newer stuff also usually doesn’t just die on the freeway. But you have a different problem. If you shut it off, and somethings wrong, lotta times, it just AIN’T GONNA START.
You’ll get a couple pretty lights on the dash telling you something cryptic about what’s not going on, after that... nothing.
So if you are off the beaten path, and suspect there is something wrong with your vehicle, and HAVE to stop for a few minutes, you are way better off just leaving it running and lock it. If you shut er down, then all bets are off!
2002 Toyota Highlander w/113000 miles on it and paid for and will be my sons vehicle when he starts driving in 3 years or so,and we just ordered a new Saturn Outlook with some nice bells and whistles on it (Diamond White Tricoat-polished aluminum 19" wheels). We will purchase via our home equity and write off the interest. This vehicle will be my daughters car when she starts driving in 6 years.
Good advice, thanks.
Outstanding article for your fiscal health. My 1980 Ford Fiesta was over 170,000 miles before I sold it for a Honda that went over 200,000 miles. My next Honda went to 294,000 miles. My current Honda is at about 256,000 miles and running GRRRREAT! Thats 4 cars in 27 years and a tremendous amount of $$$$$ saved on gas. Each car NEVER needed any major repairs. Brakes, alternator, recommended timing belt replacement were the largest repair bills and I always did the brakes (and sometimes alternator) myself. Transportation and fuel costs have never eaten up a large percentage of my income.
That’s a good point. My 300D is almost like an extension of my body that way.
bump for later
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