How long on average do you keep your cars ?

[TW]Fox · 21 May 2011 at 18:20

Selling BMW's would be a liability because when, not if, they break you end up liable for the costs

Flibster · 21 May 2011 at 18:22

Until I'm bored, or receive a good offer for it.

Currently on close to 2 years with the '8

Conanius · 21 May 2011 at 18:24

1993 'K' Ford Fiesta 'Azura' 1.1i - April 2002-June 2003 - 1 Year 2 Months
1997 'R' Peugeot 306 D Turbo - June 2003 - November 2003 - 5 Months
2003 '03' Ford Focus Zetec TDCi 115 - November 2003-June 2006 - 2 Years 7 Months
2002 '52' Ford Puma 1.7 VCT - June 2006 - November 2007 - 1 Year 5 Months
2000 'W' Honda S2000 - November 2007 - October 2010 - 2 Years 11 Months
2001 '51' Ford Focus Zetec 1.8i - October 2010 - Now - 8 Months

4T5 · 21 May 2011 at 18:24

I would have thought your knowledge would make the cars you buy good enough to avoid the big'uns & you could partner a decent warranty company, Shame though I think you'd be more than good at it as it has to be said if I was thinking of buying a used Beema it would be you & 1 other person I'd seek out for advice.

Sin_Chase · 22 May 2011 at 03:20

How often do I change my cars? Not often.

Ford Orion - 6 months
Ford Focus - 5 Years
Honda S2000 - Still owned.

Bear · 22 May 2011 at 10:00

I've had my 200 for eight years now. I think about getting another car but the cars I am looking at as a good upgrade performance wise cost a lot of money. While I can afford to buy and maintain, I keep asking the question do I want to afford it?

atpbx · 22 May 2011 at 10:02

Till something breaks that I decide is not worth fixing.

[TW]Fox · 22 May 2011 at 10:06

Bear said:
While I can afford to buy and maintain, I keep asking the question do I want to afford it?

Strange this isn't it. When you first get into cars, aged what, 17 or so, what car you have is dictated purely by what you can afford - you get the best you can afford. Almost all your cash might end up going on a car. You dream of the way when you earn enough money to be able to afford all sorts of exotic cool stuff.

Then when finally you can afford it you realise that, well, do you *want* to afford it? Just because you could spend 700 quid each month running a car do you really want to?

Saytan · 22 May 2011 at 10:22

i dont know what i'd replace this car with. Until i do, i'm keeping it. I dont think there's anything that's worth-the-change better without spending a LOT more.

edit: if it got written off tomorrow, i'd probably buy another.

Jez · 22 May 2011 at 10:29

[TW]Fox;19194417 said:
Strange this isn't it.

I don't think it is strange. I think the day you realised you have grown up is the day you realise that you don't want toys like an unnecessarily good car to be a noticeable financial burden. Priorities change, and for most people as they age a car should and usually will slip down the list until it is of no consequence. Certainly for me its slipped so far down the list now that i will never spend appreciable money (subjectively on a personal level) on a car again. Some people are late or never reach this stage as illustrated by the number of extremely expensive cars you see outside very mediocre properties, but the vast majority will realise this state of mind eventually.

Bear · 22 May 2011 at 11:07

[TW]Fox;19194417 said:
Strange this isn't it. When you first get into cars, aged what, 17 or so, what car you have is dictated purely by what you can afford - you get the best you can afford. Almost all your cash might end up going on a car. You dream of the way when you earn enough money to be able to afford all sorts of exotic cool stuff.

Then when finally you can afford it you realise that, well, do you *want* to afford it? Just because you could spend 700 quid each month running a car do you really want to?

That is the crux of it. At 40 my priorities have changed, as interest rates are so low we've plowed loads of money paying off the mortgage. At christmas we went to Australia and in April we went to the Maldives. For me it is more about using the money to do things that gives us better experiences in life. That's not to say I wouldn't love to own a GT3 and an M5 etc and I could just about sway myself to part with the purchase price but the cost doesn't stop there and that is the bit I can't justify to myself

-Ad- · 22 May 2011 at 15:35

Nissan Sunny SR - 7 years - yearly running cost of 3 hobnobs plus insurance.

Integra type-r dc2 - 1.5 years - 5k plus insurance so far.

Integra is looking like it might become a daily within the next month pending interview on Thursday. At least it I move, I'll be within a stones throw if amazing roads. It will be kept until it life expires or I turn it into a pure track car.

Priorities change when you pass your mid-twentys though, although I'd like to spend as little on it as possible now and start saving for the next few years and just get every ounce of enjoyment out of it that I can!