[Responsibility2nd]

Average age of US vehicles hits record 10.8 years

CBS News - ‎23 seconds ago‎

(AP) DETROIT — That clunker in America's driveway has reached a record old age, but there are signs that people may be growing confident enough in the economy to get a whiff of that fresh new car scent very soon. The average age of a car or truck in ...

Our cars are getting older, too: Average age now 10.8 years

USA TODAY - ‎23 minutes ago‎

DETROIT (AP) – The cars and trucks in America's driveways have reached a record old age, but there are signs that people are growing confident enough in the economy to want a whiff of that new-car scent. A 2000 Honda Accord. A lot of these are still on ...

Median Age of Cars Jumps to 10.8 Years

Chicago Tribune - ‎1 hour ago‎

The median age of a car in the United States reached an all-time high last year, according to RL Polk & Co. As of June 2011, the average age for a new car in the US now stands at 10.8 years — 11.1 years for passenger cars and 10.4 years for light ...

Average age of US cars up again in 2011, may now head down

USA TODAY - ‎2 hours ago‎

By Fred Meier, USA TODAY The average age of cars and light trucks on the road in the US increased again last year, to a record 10.8 years, auto data service Polk reported today. With signs that car sales finally are picking up, Polk says it expects the ...

Average age of cars on US roads rises to record 10.8 years

Los Angeles Times - ‎3 hours ago‎

By Jerry Hirsch The average age of the 240.5 million cars and light trucks being driven in the US rose to 10.8 years last year from 10.4 in the year before, according to RL Polk & Co., an automotive market research firm. The aging fleet is a result of ...

[lormand]

Because of the Japanese, cars are made much better than in the past. We finally retired our car after having it for 11 years. I made sure we didn't replace it with a car made by the UAW.

FUUAW!!

[Paladin2]

"Older cars represent an opportunity for some businesses. "

Also an opportunity for those that have gone virtual Galt to provide themselves tax free "income" performing the labor of maintainence and repairs.

My most recent "brace" of vehicles is at 7 yr and putting along.

[proxy_user]

My Infiniti is 14 years old, and only has 85K miles. The dealership says it will last 20 years easily.

[cripplecreek]

Used car prices have skyrocketed.

We’re turning into Cuba.

[The Sons of Liberty]

Thanks to Hussein, no one has any jobs to pay for a new car; and who can afford the $5 a gallon gas to run a car anyway? BTW, I would walk before I bought a Government Motors piece of junk.

[Paladin2]

We need to see the distribution of vehicle ages.

I still have a few vehicles from 3 or four generations ago (1990, 1982).

(My kid maybe has a "non-firearm" that is ~120 yr old and worked the last time I saw it.)

[DivineMomentsOfTruth]

Americans clinging to their clunkers.. That would be me! :)

[libertarian27]

My 99 Honda is still going - lost a cylinder but got a junk yard engine off a ‘02($600) and @$400 more -good to go

Thank goodness Honda’s weren’t in the ‘cash for clunkers’ or I’d be junking that car - no parts/more expensive parts.

[married21]

We have old GM products: a ‘96 and a 98. No reason to replace them. They have not been pampered. They look a bit down on their luck. But they run and seldom require maintenance.

I think, though, that people are not hopeful. It takes optimism and prosperity for people to get enthused about taking on a new car. Who wants to do that if they don’t know whether they will have a job or not?

[G Larry]

Exactly my average since 1976.
Nothing new for the practical, focused on reliability.
Mercury Marquis 8 years
Nissan 300ZX 11 years
Acura Legend 12 years
Acura MDX 5 years/75K miles and going strong.

[READINABLUESTATE]

Still driving my 92 chev, CK 1500 with 270,000 miles on it.
Was just getting ready to junk it when the Obama economy killed my job of 24 years.
Have new job now, (23% pay cut) Still can’t afford to upgrade.

What recession?

[doggieboy]

I’ll play. My wife drives a 2008 Accord with 95K miles. I drive a 98 Volvo 840 with 205K miles. My backup is a 91 Chevy 3/4 ton Silverado with 195K miles. I average 12+ years. I intend to inherit my wife’s Accord in 2.5 years and sell the Volvo. I’m not sure about selling the truck at that time, I’m attached to it. With my car having over 200K on it, I need a spare.

[rockinqsranch]

We have two ‘99’s, and an ‘01, all SAABs, and don’t intend to get rid of them anytime soon. We’ll keep the old Ford pick em up truck too. It’s an ‘89.

If they run why buy new?

[PGalt]

My ‘98 Honda Civic has 300,000+ miles on it and still runs great.

[central_va]

I am a fanatic when it comes to vehicle maintenance.

The trick is not is having the car you want, but wanting the car you have.

[al_c]

I had a 1988 Accord until late 2002. And last summer, I finally traded off my 1997 Cutlass. Currently, I have a 2005 Mazda MPV ... I’ll have it for as long as I can keep it running.

[Poser]

My 98 Camry runs great. Why spend $23,000 for a new one?

(My 1948 Harley isn’t too bad either)

[reed13k]

Hardly clunkers - just better engineered then in the past, and very well maintained (at this household) - our Sienna will be 11 this year and running fine - only things I’ve had to fix were self created (minor ding), nature induced (wind reversed the driver door breaking the hinge), or normal wear (tires, battery, sparks, etc). Still under 100k miles and expect to get another 10 out of her provided we don’t self - induce an early demise.

Prior had a ‘93 Nissan pathfinder I bought for $4.5K at 100k miles took to 200K, sold it in ‘08 for a grand, and a month later the buyer (got it for his son) told me she gave up the ghost - blew the engine. He shrugged and said no biggey he knew what he was getting into, he was just glad he was driving or he would have accused his son of racing the engine.

[cicero2k]

I think more of us are doing the math. New cars: big sales tax bill, borrowed money(ususally), high insurance. Old cars: paid in full, maintenance not that much more than new.

Just like gambling at casinos, people are wiseing up; doing the math and acting accordingly. Same applies to timeshares and second homes. If it does not pencil out, out it goes.

Soon education will take a hit. Not trade education, just general higher education. If it does not lead to a better job, why take on the loans?

1999 Honda Civic - zero maintenance costs the two years I’ve owned it.
2000 Saab 9-3 - same
2005 Trailblazer (fuel level sending unit replaced, partially by GM)

Transportation portion of expenses continue to shrink.

[MissMagnolia]

My 26 year old Acura Legend just bit the dust. The mechanic warned me in November that I needed to find new transportation by the next inspection. Drats!