Can you guess why Americans keep older cars longer?

The Los Angeles Daily News / The Associated Press ^ | August 6, 2013 | Tom Krisher

[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....

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

unleashed an “environmental nightmare” through shredding, not recycling, many of the 690,000 cars people traded in for an up to $4,500 car credit.

Thanks for the info. Wasn't aware of that. Just another government boondoggle. Nothing to see here. Move along.

[zencycler]

Correct. I insure my home and my life. Aside from that, anything costing less than 10k is effectively self-insured (I’ll just buy a new one if it breaks). That includes everything from my 98 Explorer (still works great) down to my kitchen appliances.

[zencycler]

I’ve heard that in parts of Europe it’s the opposite - mandated monthly costs for older cars since they want them off the road.

[Principled]

Well sure she is... she is one ;)

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

My Chevy Silverado just hit 14 years old. It is my daily driver. Runs like a top.

[Betty Jane]

I’m replacing my 28 year old car with a 14 year old one. GOing from a Buick to a Caddy. The Buick needs too much mechanical work for me but, dang, the body still makes head turns.

[Black Agnes]

Grotesquely overpriced and dangerously SMALL newer cars! No WAY I’m putting my kids in one of these little death traps.

[central_va]

The heard mentality is amazing, if one car company goes low roof line then THEY ALL GO THAT WAY.

[MSF BU]

That is part of it.

[Georgia Girl 2]

My 2006 Honda CRV is still like new. I’m going to drive it til it drops.

[steve86]

I’m like most of the people on this thread; mostly drive an older vehicle (’86 Nissan Hardbody, 91,000 miles, paid $5250 new, could have got a little batter deal). The neighborhood is flooded with newer vehicles, however; even the illegals have a 2009. They all assume I am going to be buried in the pickup which may be true.

[Osage Orange]

I’ve a 61 VW Two door Truck....

[Veto!]

Your list describes my life with a ‘93 Altima that I purchased new 123,000 miles ago. I had a $2500 repair after driving from WA to FL and back. Other than that, just maintenance. I’ve been fortunate to find good service guys who don’t take advantage of my total ignorance of things mechanical.

I actually like this car, I talk to her, I occasionally give her dashboard a little pat and say thanks.

Crazy? Not. Many years ago, I had a really old clunker that I drove to work over a mountain pass day after day. Named her Zoe. “Come on, Zoe, you can do it,” I’d say aloud.

Then one evening I took a very neurotic relative out for dinner. She flipped out in the passenger seat, screamed at me for having such a terrible, dangerous car. Made quite a scene. The very next day, Zoe blew her engine on the pass. My friend, a physicist at Hughes Research, agreed that the bad vibes created by the crazy lady probably caused Zoe to die.

[RJS1950]

I use the 99 Escort primarily for work so it only has 68000 actual. Getting my money’s worth out of it and it’s too old for the state to tax me for more than the $25 licensing fee.

[USCG SimTech]

The choice is do I spent $1000 on a major repair and the car is like new or do I spent $1000 for just 2 months of a car payment?

[nascarnation]

I’m guessing record income and spending power.

Well done! Obviously you don't work for the MSM, LOL

[geologist]

I have a white 1998 Mark 8 Lincoln that has 40,325 actual miles on it. What happens with time is car parts become hard to find. The older, the greater, the likely hood ... any parts will have to come from a salvage yard. And age not mileage becomes the cause of many needed parts. Window seals, trim, etc. my car has been garaged 95% of the time or more. It cost me over a $1,300.00 to replace a headlight!!!! This is the second one. The first only only cost $400.00 . When the second side burned out, it was no longer possible to get it from the manufacturer, it had become a whole new "set of headlights," all joined together in one piece.. Very frustrating.

Otherwise I really do like the Mark. And there is no intention to replace it ... until, it is a 'must situation'. Someone will get a car that has been gently driven.

[Old Yeller]

I do because personal property tax in Kansas is so damn high. I suppose I could do like about 25% of Kansas residents do, which is to tag in another state (usually Texas).

[presently no screen name]

I won’t let my JEEP go anywhere w/o me so it’s doesn’t get ‘mixed up’ with those older. ;)

[cyclotic]

Wife’s minivan-105K, my Vibe 230K (I drive 65-90 miles a day) Daughter’s Volvo 250K, Daughter’s Vibe 125K (just bought it this week. Her Sable has 190K on it. We might keep it.