Posted on 05/04/2024 4:11:17 AM PDT by RomanSoldier19
Here at Jalopnik, we know there’s nothing wrong with keeping a beloved old beater running for mile after mile, and we regularly celebrate high mileage heroes. Now, it turns out the rest of America is catching onto this way of thinking as the savings of holding onto an old car for longer begin mounting up.
Drivers across the country are increasingly holding onto their cars for longer than ever, with an increasing number hitting more than 100,000 miles in their cars, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal. The trend comes as drivers realize the savings to be had by simply not replacing their car every five years. As the site explains:
(Excerpt) Read more at jalopnik.com ...
Indeed lower maintenance cost and style nothing like the ugly toads they makes now.
You can buy a restored car better then what the factory made and it’s cheaper then a new POS.
Go yo ANY new car dealer shop and look the garbage that’s waiting to make it another few thousand mikes before you need another repair loan.
i’ve always driven my cars until the wheels fell off (so to speak) as long as repair costs were less than the value of the vehicle and less than payments on a newer vehicle ...
“There is a concept called maintenance.”
Right, and few perform it. They just drive until something breaks and trade their cars too early. I’m convinced most people waste more of their money buying cars than anything else. They make sure they have car payments permanently.
They have more than adequate power, are capable haulers of people and stuff and both are safe and very comfortable around town, off road or on the interstate, too.
And, best of all, they are paid for! Life is good! Why fix what ain’t broke?
Every neighbor I have had probably had, at least, 3 new cars per driver in the 10 years I have been in this house. I feel like I have been in training for this new downgraded lifestyle since forever. Except before it was self imposed, which does make it more palatable.
Got a chivvy 2009 Cobalt with 338,800 miles. A 1996 Saturn with 313,0000 miles. Eventually, they will be junked.I have spent about 4K bucks keeping them running...that is less than the tax for buying a new car at 45,000 bucks price.
You can buy aftermarket backup cameras for 100 to 200 bucks..
My motto: Buy them new, buy them nice, and drive them until the wheels fall off.
My 2019 Silverado is technologically obsolete so it’s going to be sold in the next few months. New 2024 GMC Sierra has already been ordered. As I’m turning 70 in a few weeks I expect this will be my last pickup and I do plan on keeping it at least 10 years. It is fully loaded with all the current technology that wasn’t available in 2019. I want to be in before the kill switch, speed limiter, alcohol detection and other big brother technology is mandated.
Oh ok. Never knew they had a Chrysler Aspen SUV? Weird I’ve never seen one on the road.
The farm Toyota Tundra, 290,000 miles. I took off all the stupid emmisions stuff since we don’t have to worry about it in my state. That’s what causes most problems on cars...
My daily driver, a 30 old Honda that I plan to drive another 30 years. All my friends who have the brand new stuff with those touch screens (which they all hate but seemed cool at first) have had nothing but problems.
Of course, thanks to Chomo Joe and his band of green controlled marxists we won’t be able to buy gasoline in the not to distant future.
Now THOSE are some gorgeous cars! Built like tanks not like these new vehicles that are made out of plastic and tend to fall apart with the least little bump. I absolutely love those older vehicles....they have so much style and personality, IMO. All the newer vehicles look alike to me. Hard to tell one from another, huh?
“Nobody wants the new crap that is only good for spying on the owner and sending all that data (including conversations) to the Gestapo”
You’re projecting. Lots of customers want the new convenience and safety features and have no problem with the privacy aspects.
“… I can still change the oil/filter & other filters. AM 84 & FEMALE.”
You’re a rockstar!
Inspiring. I better drop this tablet, get off my butt and do something useful with this day.
It’s not the engine OR the body rust that eventually cripples a vehicle. It’s the degradation of electrical components over time.
I have a 2005 Jeep Wrangler with 95,000 miles on it, it's my daily driver still, bought it brand new. It still runs like a clock and has depreciated very little in value. I keep cars for a long time, I'm 73 and have only owned four vehicles in my entire life, all stick shifts no auto trannies.
I’ve owned my 1957 Bel Air for 16 years. I’ve spent a total of $9000 on it and will get another 40,000 miles out of it before a $10,0000 overhaul that will give it another 40 years. $500 a year in operating costs sure beats buying a $50,000 Tesla good for 10 years.
I way this coming years ago. Also have a 67 Camaro and putting a 49 Chevy pickup back together..
I’m middle class and I’ve always kept my cars until they need a repair that would exceed its Blue Book value.
Maybe that’s why I have a healthy nest egg?
In certain ways I completely agree with you (stainless steel exhausts, rust protection, etc..), but most of the success in extending automotive life spans are better lubricants, e.g. synthetic. I'll give you an example. I have a friend that is well to do and is a muscle car guy. He has a 1960s Corvette and Camaro. After he had them restored he drives like you would a new car. Both have over 150,000 miles since restoration and have many more miles to go. Since those cars are considered collector's cars, he is able to get replacement parts (alternators and the like). He told me that after the engines were modified to use unleaded gas and he uses synthetic oil, he doesn't have to change the sparks plugs any where what the old specification required.
Keeping a car longer is a status thing too... Conservative Americans are too real to fall for stupid liberal ‘fashion statements’. Biden wants us broke - we’re resisting.
Besides Biden needs more money to buy the votes of deadbeat antisemite ‘students’ who want more freebies.... And his goons want more money to throw into the bottomless Ukrainian money pit. So it’s gonna get worse until Biden and democrats are voted out of office.
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