How long on average do you keep your cars ?

in order of apearance

2003 - rover 214 (1994 plate) lasted about a year
2004 - toyota carina E 1.8 (on a 1996 plate) also lasted about a year, engine cracked :(
2005 - 2008 - fiat punto 1.2 (1997 plate)
2008 - current - 2.0 vectra DTI (2002 plate)
2011 - current - astra 1.6 turbo (2010 plate)
 
[TW]Fox;19184504 said:
Totally this. No interest in constant swapping.

Had current one 5 years, plan to keep the next for 5 as well.
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Do you not just feel like a change from time to time?

I do get the benefits of sticking to one car but its nice to have change even if its just to a different colour of the same car, a little like being married :D
 
Some a few months, some a few years - depends how much I like them :)

Ones worth mentioning (had a load more but boring stuff - age of owning cars also roughly)

Saxo VTR (18)
Evo II GSR (18-20)
Scooby STi v7 JDM (20-21)
MK3 Supra (21)
Alfa 145 (22-23)
Corsa VXR (24)
Focus RS Mk1 (24)
Integra Type R DC2 UKDM (24 - current)
 
I've had my (first) car for approaching 4 years. I'll probably be keeping it for another year or so. It just doesn't make sense to spend money on changing cars when I am still in full time education.
 
Got my Capri before i even passed my test in Feb 2005 and still own it, although i have had 3 other cars at the same time as i only had a single car during my first 18 months of driving, since then i've always had two.
 
206, ~3 years, CTR ~3 years., MX5 1.5 years and still here. Had a Mk1 Punto as a first car but that went for the 206 when I was doing some mileage to get to work.

I only got rid of the CTR as my ex wanted to do her nurse training at uni so it was no longer viable to run it with the house etc and that's how I ended up with the MX-5. I'm quite happy with keeping the MX5 for now. Cheap enough and certainly fun. Not fast but that can be fixed. I like the idea of a project car as such although I just get someone else to do the big jobs for me! I would love an FD3S, S2000, maybe an Elise but I'd sooner save for other things like getting back only the property ladder.
 
Average is 2 years 2 months, but had my Mondeo for 3 years 3 months now, will be replaced in the near future though.
 
I seem to keep my cars until they die.
Longest - 1.2 Astra - 10 years
Current - MGF - 7.5 years

As with most things I buy to keep. I'm doing so few miles that I question the value of buying anything 'nicer'.
 
snowdog said:
But you're stuck to the same car for so long, don't you get bored of your power? I upgrade because I want a faster or more comfy car every time.
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I don't get 'bored' of power because I don't confuse familiarity with boredom. I'm used to the performance my car provides but that doesn't mean I'm bored of it.

Dr House said:
Do you not just feel like a change from time to time?

I do get the benefits of sticking to one car but its nice to have change even if its just to a different colour of the same car, a little like being married :D
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Nope.

When I buy a car, I like to first perform exhaustive amounts of research, test drives etc. This means when I do buy, I'm buying what is without a doubt the absolute best car for me at the pricepoint I have available. Usually there is nothing better available unless I spend significantly more money. Therefore unless there is a major change in financial circumstances it will likely be several years before something I prefer more or would like to move to is in range anyway.

I like long term car ownership. I like to really get to know the car. I like the challenge of keeping it immaculate, I like going through multiple sets of tyres and feeling like any money I spent on it is money invested in my future with the car not money wasted on the next owner.

Plus the longer you keep a car the less the average depreciation per year is, and sometimes, the more you can justify spending. I'd never be able to spend £20k+ on a car every single year, but if I can do it twice a decade its rather different.

I've had my car since 2006 and intend to replace it this year. I'm planning on buying a car that will suit any of my potential circumstances over the next 5 years - so I'll replace again in 2016.

I appreciate this isn't how everyone wants to buy cars nor do I advocate it as the only way to buy cars.

But it's how I like to buy them and its how I derive my enjoyment from owning cars.

I just couldnt do the chop and change thing.
 
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