Age of your vehicle hits record in USA

[Cheeks]

Avg age 11.8 years.  People hanging on to cars a lot longer.


My truck is 13 years old
Wife's car is 10
We have a car for the kids to use to get to their jobs... 8

All 100,000+ miles easily, all running well.



https://apnews.com/bc5bc21edffb422290c9ca66345e0748

[MU82]

Yep, it sounds a little crazy but car companies are doing too good a job of building their products!

Cars no longer rust, and if well maintained most go for years.

I have an 8 1/2 year old Hyundai Santa Fe that all I have done is oil changes, filter changes, one set of new tires and one replacement lamp. I've spent less than $1000 on this car in more than 8 years. And there are still 1 1/2 years to go on the factory powertrain warranty!

Stoopid Hyundai. Years back, they used to make cruddy cars that broke down after a year or two.

[StillAWarrior]

Just two days ago my wife and I got rid of our minivan with 200k+ miles.  It was the end of an era for us...our kids have grown up and we don't need a minivan any longer.  My car currently has almost 150k and it's still going strong (knock on wood).  Our newest car is five years old.

[jficke13]

I had an Altima for about 6 years and 150k miles until the transmission failed. Didn't feel like pouring $4k into that major repair. Hoping to keep the new car for a much longer time.

[#UnleashSean]

I have a fusion energi 2014 with 70,000 and a k2500 Chevy diesel 1997 with 152k. Im on both ends of the spectrum for gas milage.

[Spotcheck Billy]

We just traded the wife's 2001 RAV4 in for a used 2019 Hyundai Kona.

We usually kept our vehicles long term but with all of the sensors, electronic features I doubt that will be the case going forward. Too many things that can fail.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Yep, it sounds a little crazy but car companies are doing too good a job of building their products!

Cars no longer rust, and if well maintained most go for years.

I have an 8 1/2 year old Hyundai Santa Fe that all I have done is oil changes, filter changes, one set of new tires and one replacement lamp. I've spent less than $1000 on this car in more than 8 years. And there are still 1 1/2 years to go on the factory powertrain warranty!

Stoopid Hyundai. Years back, they used to make cruddy cars that broke down after a year or two.

Driving under 10k miles per year benefits car owners greatly.  If you drove 15k miles/year and were out of any warranty after 7 years, you might consider trading in before buying your 3rd set of tires.

As a side note:  I took in an '04 Santa Fe on Wednesday night.  143k miles and it definitely has rust.  ACV (actual cash value) was $500.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

2006 Ford Explorer with 220,000  miles is still running fine.
2014 Chevy & 2018 GMC we should hopefully own for quite awhile.

[MU82]

Driving under 10k miles per year benefits car owners greatly.  If you drove 15k miles/year and were out of any warranty after 7 years, you might consider trading in before buying your 3rd set of tires.

As a side note:  I took in an '04 Santa Fe on Wednesday night.  143k miles and it definitely has rust.  ACV (actual cash value) was $500.

I don't see many rusty cars, but I'm not in the biz and I obviously believe you.

In 8 1/2 years, my Santa Fe has 77,000 miles, so yes, we are low-mileage drivers.

2006 Ford Explorer with 220,000  miles is still running fine.
2014 Chevy & 2018 GMC we should hopefully own for quite awhile.

Yowsa! That's many tons of vehicular fun!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Does this include data for those who lease? I feel like the number of people leasing cars has grown dramatically. If that's not factored in it could artificially inflate the numbers because those who used to buy a new car every few years have likely been taken out of the pool.

I'm on year 6 of my 2014 Mazada six. Still under 40K miles. Imma be riding that thing another 14 years.

[MUWarrior2007]

I don't see many rusty cars, but I'm not in the biz and I obviously believe you.

In 8 1/2 years, my Santa Fe has 77,000 miles, so yes, we are low-mileage drivers.

Yowsa! That's many tons of vehicular fun!

That's because you live in the south where they don't need to salt the roads all winter long.  There are plenty of rusty cars north of the Mason Dixon.

[StillAWarrior]

That's because you live in the south where they don't need to salt the roads all winter long.  There are plenty of rusty cars north of the Mason Dixon.

While this is undoubtedly true, my personal observations is that they've gotten much, much better on this.  It wasn't too long ago that even within the first 5-6 years we'd have real issues with rust on cars around here.  There was a reason that dealerships were always really pushing rust-proofing as an add-on.  And there were constant rust-proofing advertisements.  These days, I see far fewer rusted out cars (and the ones I do see are usually really old), I don't recall dealers really pushing rust-proofing and I don't see the ads any longer. I don't know what the manufacturers are doing, but it's working pretty well.

I wish I was a low mileage driver.  I tend to be 18k+ with my car.  My wife isn't quite as bad, but still high.

[jsglow]

Let's see. 

'01: a collector about to be sold to my buddy for full restoration.

'07: 'brand new' Miata.  17,000 miles.  Absolutely cherry.

'03: V8 Explorer.  She's my tow vehicle and only has 80k. I was unbelievably blessed to find her last year replacing our '02 that gave up the ghost at 200k.  Back from the days before they ruined 'em.  Didn't even have to change any of my hitch setups.

'12: our daily driver Mazda6. About 55,000 miles on her.

We're not going to need a car for years. 

[Jay Bee]

Just threw in another $1.7k in repairs & maint on the whip, but the 2011 Benz is still rolling type nice joe

[jsglow]

That's one thing.  Those of us with older cars to need trusted mechanics.  Things break and the good ones know what to fix and what to leave alone.

[muwarrior69]

I have a 2013 Chevy AWD Equinox (49000) and 2014 Odyssey (34000). I'm probably one of the few here who bought brand new, both for cash and no financing. Since I'm not very handy when it comes to fixing cars so I purchased a 10 and 8 year extended warranty respectively. I'm glad I did. I was quite surprised that it paid for new rotors, struts, shocks and wheel alignment, but not the brakes on my Equinox. I still have another 4 years on the warranty. So far between the two cars my extended warranties have saved me about 5k in repair and maintenance expenses. I have only shelled out about 2k out of pocket, mostly for new tires on both vehicles.

[RJax55]

I have a 2013 Chevy AWD Equinox (49000) and 2014 Odyssey (34000). I'm probably one of the few here who bought brand new, both for cash and no financing. Since I'm not very handy when it comes to fixing cars so I purchased a 10 and 8 year extended warranty respectively. I'm glad I did. I was quite surprised that it paid for new rotors, struts, shocks and wheel alignment, but not the brakes on my Equinox. I still have another 4 years on the warranty. So far between the two cars my extended warranties have saved me about 5k in repair and maintenance expenses. I have only shelled out about 2k out of pocket, mostly for new tires on both vehicles.

The minute that warranty is up on that Equinox, dump it.

[jficke13]

Let's see. 

'01: a collector about to be sold to my buddy for full restoration.

'07: 'brand new' Miata.  17,000 miles.  Absolutely cherry.

'03: V8 Explorer.  She's my tow vehicle and only has 80k. I was unbelievably blessed to find her last year replacing our '02 that gave up the ghost at 200k.  Back from the days before they ruined 'em.  Didn't even have to change any of my hitch setups.

'12: our daily driver Mazda6. About 55,000 miles on her.

We're not going to need a car for years. 

This is more of a "things I don't get" but I've never understood the internet's obsession with Miatas. I mean, cool little cars and all, but go on Jalopnik and other similar sites and it's like you're carrying around a piece of the True Cross.

[tower912]

5 year old Mazda 6 that will go to my 12 year old in 3.5 years.  2 year old Outback.  I generally biy myself a new car every 10 years.

[warriorchick]

This is more of a "things I don't get" but I've never understood the internet's obsession with Miatas. I mean, cool little cars and all, but go on Jalopnik and other similar sites and it's like you're carrying around a piece of the True Cross.

It's got the highest coolness/price ratio of any car I know.

The valets at the Las Vegas casinos have parked right in front with the Bentleys and the Ferraris.

[Billy Hoyle]

The minute that warranty is up on that Equinox, dump it.

thinking of doing the same with my X1. I've had no problems and only put on 47K in 5 years, BUT BMW's are expensive for repairs.

[CTWarrior]

Avg age 11.8 years.  People hanging on to cars a lot longer.


My truck is 13 years old
Wife's car is 10
We have a car for the kids to use to get to their jobs... 8

All 100,000+ miles easily, all running well.



https://apnews.com/bc5bc21edffb422290c9ca66345e0748

Read the article and not sure it is clear to me.  This article is saying that the average new car bought in the US is on the road for 11.8 years, not that the average car currently on the road is 11.8 years old, correct?

[MU82]

I have a 2013 Chevy AWD Equinox (49000) and 2014 Odyssey (34000). I'm probably one of the few here who bought brand new, both for cash and no financing. Since I'm not very handy when it comes to fixing cars so I purchased a 10 and 8 year extended warranty respectively. I'm glad I did. I was quite surprised that it paid for new rotors, struts, shocks and wheel alignment, but not the brakes on my Equinox. I still have another 4 years on the warranty. So far between the two cars my extended warranties have saved me about 5k in repair and maintenance expenses. I have only shelled out about 2k out of pocket, mostly for new tires on both vehicles.

One of the things that drew me to Hyundai was its 5-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and its 10-year warranty on the drivetrain (where all the real expensive stuff is).

I have been very impressed with the quality of my 2011 Santa Fe and by not needing any costly repairs -- warranty repairs or otherwise. So when it came time to get a new car for my wife 3 years ago, she got a 2016 Sonata Hybrid. It is a GREAT car that we also plan to drive for 10 years. Hyundai has come a long way as a brand; its cars are regularly near the top of Consumer Reports rankings.

FWIW, we paid cash for both. I hate financing cars ... or pretty much anything else, especially stuff that depreciates.

[Coleman]

2010 Toyota Corolla with 160,000 miles (my primary driver) - will probably replace with something bigger when Coleman Jr. comes along in the next year or so. Looking at used Subaru Outbacks

2015 Subaru Forester with 83,000 miles (Mrs. Coleman's primary driver) - we will keep forever

Both are paid for.

[Coleman]

One of the things that drew me to Hyundai was its 5-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and its 10-year warranty on the drivetrain (where all the real expensive stuff is).

I have been very impressed with the quality of my 2011 Santa Fe and by not needing any costly repairs -- warranty repairs or otherwise. So when it came time to get a new car for my wife 3 years ago, she got a 2016 Sonata Hybrid. It is a GREAT car that we also plan to drive for 10 years. Hyundai has come a long way as a brand; its cars are regularly near the top of Consumer Reports rankings.

FWIW, we paid cash for both. I hate financing cars ... or pretty much anything else, especially stuff that depreciates.

That's encouraging to hear, I have heard over and over that Hyundai is crap. But maybe I'll give them another look.

I mostly love the Japanese brands....Toyota, Honda, Subaru.....but Mitsubishi and Nissan are not so great