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Can you guess why Americans keep older cars longer?
The Los Angeles Daily News / The Associated Press ^ | August 6, 2013 | Tom Krisher

Posted on 08/07/2013 3:50:29 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Americans are keeping their cars and trucks longer than ever, and even with new car sales increasing, the average age will continue to rise, an industry research firm says.

The average age of the 247 million cars and trucks on U.S. roads hit a record of 11.4 years in January, the latest figures available from state registration data gathered by the Polk research firm.

That's up from 11.2 years in 2012, and nearly two full years older than in 2007, before the start of the Great Recession, Polk said Tuesday....

(Excerpt) Read more at dailynews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: automakers; automobiles; automotive; autosales; bhoeconomy; economy; recession; trends
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Let me guess....
1 posted on 08/07/2013 3:50:29 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m guessing record income and spending power.


2 posted on 08/07/2013 3:51:59 AM PDT by Artie (We are surrounded by MORONS)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Because they can’t afford the grotesquely overpriced newer models and its just cheaper to have older cars and trucks repaired?


3 posted on 08/07/2013 3:57:22 AM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Because the increase in value? /sarc


4 posted on 08/07/2013 3:57:50 AM PDT by Cowboy Bob (Democrats: Robbing Peter to buy Paul's vote.)
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To: Artie

Because of Marvel Mystery Oil.


5 posted on 08/07/2013 3:58:18 AM PDT by duckworth (Perhaps instant karma's going to get you. Perhaps not.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

DEPRESSION... AND ONE DAY THE TRUTH WILL BE TOLD.


6 posted on 08/07/2013 3:59:21 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (FROM MY COLD, DEAD HANDS!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Gee, our old LaSalle ran great
Those were the days.

My 2001 Corolla is a nearly ideal commuter car.


7 posted on 08/07/2013 3:59:34 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Doing the same thing and expecting different results is called software engineering.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Well, its also that the more late model cars seem to last longer. Back in the eighties, my Chevy Cavalier’s body literally fell apart after 8 years. However, I’m still driving my current car after 10 years with ‘nary a problem. I guess I’m an optimist because I just bought a new set of 70K mile tires for it.


8 posted on 08/07/2013 4:01:29 AM PDT by rbg81
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

11 years old? Crikey, none of mine are that new.
one is 20, one is 35 and one is 72.


9 posted on 08/07/2013 4:01:34 AM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I have a used truck. Great truck, paid $29,000 for it. A new one is $40K.

My wife has an older Buick. No so good. But a new vehicle of that type is $35K.

So we keep driving hoping that they both keep going. Don’t have the money for a new car, and few people do.


10 posted on 08/07/2013 4:01:49 AM PDT by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: duckworth

MMO rocks. Visit BITOG for threads........

We have 2 vehicles with over 190,000 miles and they run great. Why waste money?


11 posted on 08/07/2013 4:03:37 AM PDT by LiveFreeOrDie2001 (Elections have consequences - NOW LOOK what we have to deal with...)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

It is just a fact that we get more car per dollar today then we ever did before, even including inflation. New technology built on old technology gives us more efficient engines and systems, including longer lasting systems. Detroit made many cars in the past but also cars that did not last as long. The foreign cars capitalized on the this weakness of market. Otherwise its the Obama depression.


12 posted on 08/07/2013 4:03:43 AM PDT by VRW Conspirator (The Lefties can drink Kool-Aid; I will drink Tea.)
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To: Timber Rattler

The touch display on a Prius is seven grand from what I heard...

No thanks, I’ll stick with my faster European classics...


13 posted on 08/07/2013 4:03:43 AM PDT by Sir Francis Dashwood ("Arjuna, why have you have dropped your bow???")
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To: Timber Rattler

Mandated safety equipment is adding thousands to the cost of new cars every year and leading to a nation of people who can’t drive without it.


14 posted on 08/07/2013 4:03:44 AM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Mine’s 19! Almost out of it’s teenage years, I can’t wait.


15 posted on 08/07/2013 4:04:00 AM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
cause MILLIONS of cars were destroyed a couple years ago because of 0bammy that would have been bought as used cars???
16 posted on 08/07/2013 4:04:37 AM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Because people avoid new large expenses and new debt for as long as they can when they may be laid off at any time and know they won't be able to find a new job anytime soon.
The Prez may have his rose-colored glasses on, we in the trenches don't.

17 posted on 08/07/2013 4:04:42 AM PDT by BitWielder1 (Corporate Profits are better than Government Waste)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Hell .. it's a whole slew of reasons;

We like the one we got,
We've learned there is pleasure in keeping a good thing going
We KNOW the damned thing and can repair it relatively quickly and/or inexpensively
The mileage is acceptable
The ride is relatively comfortable
Less bells and whistles to go wrong.
The insurance is cheaper.

18 posted on 08/07/2013 4:04:44 AM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
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To: Timber Rattler

I have a 94 Nissan Sentra that still gets 26 mpg, put new rear struts in it, total cost partwise about 175.

Have an 84 Chev Blazer, pretty much redid the whole front end last spring, new brakes, half axles, ball joints, brake lines, shocks, probably about 2K of work, except I did it myself. Parts cost maybe 550.

If you don’t know anything about cars, trade it in and buy a new one when the “check engine” light comes on.

If you know about them or want to learn, the best deal is to drive that sucker till the wheels fall off!


19 posted on 08/07/2013 4:05:22 AM PDT by djf (Rich widows: My Bitcoin address is... 1ETDmR4GDjwmc9rUEQnfB1gAnk6WLmd3n6)
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To: LibLieSlayer

April 2011 in Havana. Pretty soon America (outside of Washington DC) will look like Havana. Those inside the Beltway will be driving their Beemers, Lexī, Priī and Mercs for decades more before the exhausted peasants can no longer support them.

20 posted on 08/07/2013 4:05:50 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Doing the same thing and expecting different results is called software engineering.)
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