Yup! I bought a 2000 civic new and it's given me VERY few problems (no break downs, all preventative like that 2nd new timing belt after I crossed 200k miles ) that I haven't considered getting a new car for a while. Hell in what 3 years I can get it registered as a "classic car" so I don't have to do emissions.
As far as I'm concerned I have the Holy Grail of cars...
Cheap to buy, almost nothing in maintenance, cost next to nothing to insure, never left me stranded and gets almost 40 mpg on the highway. So yeah... why WOULD I get a new car ?
Blame? for having well built, well maintained, reliable cars on the road, rather than the public acting like sheep and buying new cars every few years. What's wrong with that? (Unless you are one of the people who has made a living from selling overpriced, poorly made shiny lumps of metal).
When you want to start on the road of becoming a millionaire, buy a used car and drive till the engine blows up. I bought a used Ford Focus (built in MI) with 34k miles for 4k. 7 years and a 100k miles later I'm driving the same car and spent 1.5k on tires, batteries, breaks and a starter. By not buying a new every 3 years I save almost 5k a year w/ insurance, registration, and payments. In 30 years I'll save more than 150k.
I never buy new cars, for the same price as a new low-end car (about $20k), I can buy a very nice 3-5 year old car with plenty of life left in it. Also, I will never borrow money to buy a car; if I can't pay cash, I can't afford it.
maybe if cars weren't 15,000 DOLLARS now, plus insurance (which is more expensive for newer cars for some f**king reason) and the fact that you tend to spend a lot more money keeping it looking good than an older car. i will stick with my bicycle.
What data are you basing this 7 year outer limit on? Do you have intimate knowledge of the design specifications used by auto manufacturers, or are you just guessing?
The age of a car is pretty immaterial, when considering metal fatigue. The mileage on the car is a more useful number to consider - how hard the car was driven is much more critical but very difficult to quantify. I'm pretty sure the design life of a car isn't years, but some normalize miles/harshness number.
200k miles on a well-built modern car isn't that big a challenge with reasonable proactive maintenance. Metal fatigue? Not much an issue with modern materials and designs. Sure, things will break, but the salvage value of a car is pretty low, and the replacement cost is high. I guess if you're getting 200k miles into a car in 5 years, replacing it might not be a bad call, though if it was freeway miles and it's a Toyota Diesel mini-pickup (HiLux/Tacoma) or a Honda Civic, it's just getting broken in.
Well, for one Mitsubishi has a link on their website that allows you to custom build one of their cars, post what you have for a trade in and such, set up your financing options and pay online. Then they drop the car off at your home, pick up your trade in and take it with them.
I ordered a Lancer about 5 years ago doing this. The base model Lancer at the dealership was $17,900. My final price for a fully loaded Lancer from the site was $12,900. My trade in was a Dodge van that go valued at around 6k, my final price for a NEW car dropping to just under $7k. I decided then that if I didn't have to go to a dealership ever again, I wouldn't.
Got a 98 Mustang GT that I've had since it was new, and a '97 F-150 that I bought early last year. Both still run great. I have no use for an overpriced new car. I'd rather take the practical approach rather than acting like the typical consumer sheep that buys a new model every few years.
trdrstvJan 19, 2012Buried
Yup! I bought a 2000 civic new and it's given me VERY few problems (no break downs, all preventative like that 2nd new timing belt after I crossed 200k miles ) that I haven't considered getting a new car for a while. Hell in what 3 years I can get it registered as a "classic car" so I don't have to do emissions.
As far as I'm concerned I have the Holy Grail of cars...
Cheap to buy, almost nothing in maintenance, cost next to nothing to insure, never left me stranded and gets almost 40 mpg on the highway. So yeah... why WOULD I get a new car ?
toxicwaffleJan 19, 2012Buried
My car is 26 years old, and still going strong.
welshieJan 19, 2012Buried
Blame? for having well built, well maintained, reliable cars on the road, rather than the public acting like sheep and buying new cars every few years. What's wrong with that? (Unless you are one of the people who has made a living from selling overpriced, poorly made shiny lumps of metal).
oncelerJan 19, 2012Buried
... and shout.
brucealmightyJan 19, 2012Buried
You are dreaming if you think you can get a decent new car for only $15k these days...
davidg11Jan 19, 2012Buried
I would buy that car.
nickymouseJan 19, 2012Buried
When you want to start on the road of becoming a millionaire, buy a used car and drive till the engine blows up. I bought a used Ford Focus (built in MI) with 34k miles for 4k. 7 years and a 100k miles later I'm driving the same car and spent 1.5k on tires, batteries, breaks and a starter. By not buying a new every 3 years I save almost 5k a year w/ insurance, registration, and payments. In 30 years I'll save more than 150k.
craig1958Jan 19, 2012Buried
I never buy new cars, for the same price as a new low-end car (about $20k), I can buy a very nice 3-5 year old car with plenty of life left in it. Also, I will never borrow money to buy a car; if I can't pay cash, I can't afford it.
PickledsoulJan 19, 2012Buried
maybe if cars weren't 15,000 DOLLARS now, plus insurance (which is more expensive for newer cars for some f**king reason) and the fact that you tend to spend a lot more money keeping it looking good than an older car. i will stick with my bicycle.
whatever01Jan 19, 2012Buried
What data are you basing this 7 year outer limit on? Do you have intimate knowledge of the design specifications used by auto manufacturers, or are you just guessing?
The age of a car is pretty immaterial, when considering metal fatigue. The mileage on the car is a more useful number to consider - how hard the car was driven is much more critical but very difficult to quantify. I'm pretty sure the design life of a car isn't years, but some normalize miles/harshness number.
200k miles on a well-built modern car isn't that big a challenge with reasonable proactive maintenance. Metal fatigue? Not much an issue with modern materials and designs. Sure, things will break, but the salvage value of a car is pretty low, and the replacement cost is high. I guess if you're getting 200k miles into a car in 5 years, replacing it might not be a bad call, though if it was freeway miles and it's a Toyota Diesel mini-pickup (HiLux/Tacoma) or a Honda Civic, it's just getting broken in.
hopefuldavJan 19, 2012Buried
My girlfriend still drives her 97 civic everyday, and we take long trips a couple times a year.
countess666Jan 19, 2012Buried
[citation needed]
meribianJan 19, 2012Buried
What else do you expect out of your car? A blowjob?
seroevoJan 19, 2012Buried
I had a 2001 Civic that I lost 8 months ago when I got t-boned.
10 years 3 months, with 290,000 km on her (180,000 miles). I was getting excited to hit 300k. I loved that car.
dauntless1Jan 19, 2012Buried
Well, for one Mitsubishi has a link on their website that allows you to custom build one of their cars, post what you have for a trade in and such, set up your financing options and pay online. Then they drop the car off at your home, pick up your trade in and take it with them.
I ordered a Lancer about 5 years ago doing this. The base model Lancer at the dealership was $17,900. My final price for a fully loaded Lancer from the site was $12,900. My trade in was a Dodge van that go valued at around 6k, my final price for a NEW car dropping to just under $7k. I decided then that if I didn't have to go to a dealership ever again, I wouldn't.
Meh. I found one link where you can do this today:
http://www.mitsubishicars.com/MMNA/jsp/build.do
I'm looking for the site I used back then. It had an all black background with carbon fiber trim, if you stumble across it while searching.
JLF2035Jan 19, 2012Buried
Got a 98 Mustang GT that I've had since it was new, and a '97 F-150 that I bought early last year. Both still run great. I have no use for an overpriced new car. I'd rather take the practical approach rather than acting like the typical consumer sheep that buys a new model every few years.
bestenemyJan 19, 2012Buried
Driving 20 year old Chrysler that I bought 10 years ago for 5k. Same story.
dollar0dot02Jan 19, 2012Buried
Yeah, their damn quality control and continuous improvements.
symphonyinmyheadJan 19, 2012Buried
You can do that? Do tell... :)
bostic30Jan 19, 2012Buried
12 years old for me. All it does it get me from A to B.