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 ...
I believe my 2004 Honda Pilot to be one of the bet cars ever built. I will keep it as long as I can
Great visibility! I consider visibility the best safety feature-ever. Looks like nobody in Tokyo,Berlin or Detroit agrees with that anymore.
That was my guess! People are buying new cars, and since they have so much money, they can afford to keep their old cars, too.
I really hate those German cars, they are fun to drive but always in the shop and the parts sent on a slow boat
In high school I worked at a car wash and we nicknamed the really weird cars, that one we called the "moon liner".
Interesting that the prevailing context of the story is that normal is a new car. Just like houses are supposed to be the American Dream.
Perhaps we are finally shaking those Santa Claus-like fantasies, and refusing to give banksters our hard-earned dollars.
Those Festivas look like they’re great on gas.
For some repairs you can find the part yourself, bring it to the mechanic, and simply pay his labor to put it in. That keeps the price down...
‘It’s just cheaper to keep her.’
Are we still talking about cars or is it wives?
Bingo.
That's part of the reason, but it doesn't explain the spike in the age of the average car, from 9 years to 11, since 2007, the last year of Bush's term in office.
It's another symptom of the Obamalypse.
Good idea but I’m too lazy or busy to do that!
Mrs. Principled wanted a new car but I wouldn’t bite... got her a 5 yr old toyota and it purrs like a swedish bikini model.
It sits lower than most modern cars (it’s a 1984 300D turbo diesel) but it does have above average visibility all the way around. No airbags, very little of what we would call electronics, as it is based on 1960s and 70s technology, just slightly updated. I’ve had people wanting to buy it just for the engine and others because it’s the easiest to convert to bio-diesel or running on French fry oil. Guy hit me from behind about a month ago with a full size pickup going at least 30mph. All he did was break some plastic in my one tail light. No other damage whatsoever. It’s like a panzer.
Hey! That’s the TRUTH!!
I am a firm believer in Marvel mystery oil, especially in older American and British motors that aren’t overhead cam.
Ya may get a little smoke on start up in an older motor, but you KNOW the valve guides and the cylinder walls are lubricated. No dry starts!
But on the point of the article overall, we keep cars/vehicles ALWAYS over 150,000 miles, and over 10 years. They’re paid for, well-maintained, familiar and pretty low operating cost compared to the CAPEX and depreciation of a new car.
I have long ago passed the age where a vehicle was an extension of my ‘ego’.
;-)
I would rather put my money into repairs as needed instead of endless payments, higher property taxes and insurance. Our vehicles are eight and eleven years old and are well maintained.
My F-350 has just over 100k miles and the TrailBlazer SS has about 110k. The truck needs only an oil change now and clean the K&N filter. The SS is in the shop for a wheel bearing and transfer case seals. While gas mileage is not good (8-12 and 14 mpg), I’d rather pay at the pump and keep my known quantities. We like the power too: 400 hp is just plain fun.
Average age of my two cars = 51 tears old.
You are correct. Most of the world disagrees with you
Nothing compares with the classic, smooth, clean lines of the AMC Pacer.
LOL.
Please excuse my use of an internet meme. You *did* make me smile.
Hmm... is Mrs. Principled aware of your familiarity with the behavior of Swedish bikini models?
Just wondering...
no black box in the older cars ?
Duh. if you have an older car, it's certain that you've kept it longer than a newer car.
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