Posted on 01/17/2012 1:39:47 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The average vehicle on America's roads is almost 11 years old, according to the auto market analysts at Polk.
The 10.8-year average is the highest figure recorded since Polk began tracking vehicle age in 1995. Back then, the average was just 8.4 years.
Vehicle age has increased rapidly over the last five years as new vehicle sales have slowed. Polk's analysis is based on vehicle registration data.
Older cars represent an opportunity for some businesses.
"Dealer service departments and independent repair facilities, as well as aftermarket parts suppliers, will see increased business opportunity with customers in need of vehicle service," said Mark Seng, global aftermarket practice leader at Polk.
With vehicles getting older, fewer cars are covered under their original factory warranty, said Seng. That presents a challenge for auto dealers to bring those customers back into the dealership service department.
The number of cars under warranty is now the lowest it's been in the last 12 to 15 years, he said, and drivers whose cars aren't under warranty tend not to go to the dealer.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
BMW, Honda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Suburu, Isuzu, Toyota and Tesla all have plants in the USA.
At least you got your priorities right.
“Our pickup Truck is a 1995 Dodge ram 2500 (Cummons Turbo Diesel engine).”
Did the paint job go to hell after a few years?
As a recently retired automotive engr, I can attest that we HAVE learned a few things in 40 yrs.
In my driveway:
1976 Chevy 1 ton dually 454 gas engine truck with Granny low 4 speed with over 341,000 miles on it.
1979 Buick station wagon which has over 197,000 with Old 403 engine.
1974 2 horse Navajo straight load trailer.
2001 4 horse slant load Thurobilt trailer.
Will keep fixing & replacing as necessary.
Replaced the brake booster in the Buick in Nov. Was the original....
“Did the paint job go to hell after a few years?”
Yeah. Dark Green.
Oh my gosh, it’s horrible! The truck runs like a champ, and has always done everything we’ve asked of it. It is a workhorse, but a damned ugly one with the paint so badly oxidized. Then the headliner started sagging to the point I had to cut it out. The paint on my Durango (white) is holding up fine. but the headliner is starting to fall in the Durango now too.
Yes crash worthiness has improved immensely.
I work on 60s cars a lot as a retirement hobby. People romanticize about the styling, but don’t realize the design and quality was suspect in a lot of parts.
I’d much rather have a big wreck in my 2012 Cruze than my 67 Camaro.
Just turned my 98 F-150 over 200K coming home from work today!
OK the break-in period is over.
:- )
I’d much rather have a big wreck in my 2012 Cruze than my 67 Camaro.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For sure.
Have you seen this? 59 Chev. vs. 09 Chev.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joMK1WZjP7g
Big blocks vs. turbocharged Small Blocks? How about a turboed Big Block? (WOW, I could'a had a V-8.)
Tons of fun.
We have three cars.
1987 Toyota Camry
1990 Honda Civic
1981 Toyota Corolla
We have never owned a new car, all of these were bought or given to us second hand. Cost of upkeep is low, insurance, low, gas mileage, good.
Someday, I’d like my husband to have a brand new car, but who knows when that might be.
It was great as we could easily see over the traffic until the inevitable proliferation of a higher concentration of SUVs. Now the trick is to live and drive in lower density rural areas and stay the heck away from everyone else.
Lotsa stuff was worse (tires, small suspension bushings, shock life, cheap exhaust material, brakes (too many issues to detail), body corrosion protection, crash performance, fuel economy, body hardware durability, durability in general, steering accuracy, the use of carburetors (with no altitude compensation).
60's vehicles are fun to drive though and the maintenance/repair IS definitely more easier and more straightforward.
Yeah I love to work on old stuff.
Cars where you won’t lose tools forever if they’re dropped in the engine compartment (that’s actually happened to me on my 04 Cadillac, LOL).
And how long until we start to hear the word “safety”... fascist speak “safety”, pulled out of the file?
Attempting to force-buying seen every commercial “five” minutes?
Look at where you want to go, not at where the trouble is or will be (e.g. between the trees or vehicles) Don't do anything rash. Never give up. Even on the iciest surface the traction is not zero.
I've had the good fortune to spend some time on isolated ice sheets testing vehicle handling with ABS, Traction Control (way overrated compared to almost all 4x4 systems), and more sophisticated vehicle dynamics control systems. Knowing what you are doing, what you want to do and some experience in your vehicle practicing same are a great advantage. Being lucky is a big plus.
It's a tough world out there, where Physics rulz.
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