Posted on 01/17/2012 1:39:47 PM PST by Responsibility2nd
Relax Ricky Ricardo, we’re not turning into Cuba. Cars are better. They last longer. So they retain their value better. So people buy less new ones. Supply and demand my friend.....
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.
I’ve got a 1994 Chevy Geo Tracker that hasn’t given me a lick of trouble since I bought it 2 years ago (it had sat in his driveway for about 6 years).
It’s saving grace? The engine is made by Suzuki!
Clunkers huh?
96 Roadmaster wagon, 95 Caprice Classic wagon, 89 & 91 Reatta
No use for new cars...That’s the large and small of it.
Generally Fords do very well against the imports, since the mid-90s. They really improved their electrical systems when they began their partnership with mazda.
THeir truck/SUV lines in particular.
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?
“I have a American made clunker. She’s 11 years old and still kicking butt”
My primary transportation is a 2003 Chevy Avalanche. It now has about 140,000 miles on it and we tow a 4000lb Airstream with it. To date, I’ve spent $500 in actual repairs ( 4WD electronics repair). But then, this is actually a “foreign car” since in was built in Monterrey, Mexico. My wife’s 1999BMW ( with less than half the miles) has been an expensive proposition. The plastic radiator blew a couple of summers ago. The tow truck operator said that on most hot days he sees a number of German luxury cars at the side of the road with this failure (seems they all get their plastic radiators from the same supplier). The shop told me that I should “routinely” replace this car’s radiator every 70,000 miles so as to avoid a $4000 repair when the cylinder head cracks when the radiator fails ( luckily I missed on that one). As it was, the bill to fix this problem was $1,000 and now the water pump has failed once again. So much for “German Quality.” My next car, whenever that is, will be an American vehicle, whatever that means now.
I have had more “clunkers” than on can imagine! They “get er done” and I have never purchased a new car IN MY LIFE!
I’m still bitterly clinging to my Ford Escort clunker. 16 years old and 243k on it.
A minor miracle for a MN car that sees daily use summer and winter.
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.
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?
EXACTLY!! I have an ‘04 Hyundai Sonata, only 30,000 miles and running fine, knocking on wood, paid off...husband has an ‘05 Toyota Tacoma, 150K+ running fine, needs tires...can’t get those tires though, husband laid off for 3 years from union tile setting job. Work dried up because of ZerO, i.e. 140 hours worked in 2010 out of a possible 1500, and a whopping 320 hours in 2011..ALL PRAISE OBAMA! mmm mmm mmmmmm
My ‘98 Honda Civic has 300,000+ miles on it and still runs great.
The trick is not is having the car you want, but wanting the car you have.
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.
My 98 Camry runs great. Why spend $23,000 for a new one?
(My 1948 Harley isn’t too bad either)
I have an 89 and a 91 F150.
In fact I’ve decided that I’m turning into a ford pickup. I run great but my hinges, joints, and springs are all going to hell.
“My next car, whenever that is, will be an American vehicle, whatever that means now.”
It means a Toyota Camray. Saw a piece on tv awhile back listing the top ten cars with most domestic content and it was this one. About German quality, an urban myth for sure; I own two VW Beetles (why? I have twin daughters who think they’re, the cars, are cute)and I spend so much time a our local VW dealership that everybody knows me by my first name and I in turn know them, know all about their kids. Btw, these German VW Beetles are built in Mexico,for whatever that’s worth, lol, :)
My husband had a 2000 Ford Ranger stepside extended cab that started the usual Ford rusting of the body, got rid of it before it was untradeable. I liked how it drove though...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.