Community Forums

astrocamper · 03-10-2020, 02:19 PM

Our 3rd car is a 2002 Toyota Highlander that we have own since new. Very cheap car for our live in disabled adult son. Cheap to insure and register and only needs oil changes to keep it going. We also drive a 2013 Highlander and a 2017 GMC 2500HD to tow our trailer.

We like to have at least one newer vintage car for out of town travel. The oldest car is mostly just local city driving.

George Schweikle · 03-10-2020, 03:21 PM

As others have said, paying for maintenance on a paid for older car is far less than new car payments and new car insurance. Some will say that paying to maintain a very old car is throwing good money after bad but we think it's worth it to keep the car in good shape. We just paid $500 for the VW dealer to replace the starter on our 200,000 mile Jetta and this was less than two months payment on our 2018 VW.

We have mostly old stuff:
1976 Alfa Romeo Spider
1991 Alfa Romeo Spider
1999 Safari Trek
2000 VW Jetta
2003 Featherlite car trailer
2018 VW Golf GTI

I work on the Alfas & motorhome but leave the VW's to the dealer

JSM180 · 03-10-2020, 03:41 PM

We just retired my wife's 2006 Corolla with 360,000 miles, bought new in '05. Replaced it with a 2017 RX 350 Lexus. If you are capable of doing the maintenance it's the economical way to go. If you have to rely on a shop, it can get expensive quick. I do all my own maintenance.

A32Deuce · 03-10-2020, 04:00 PM

Let's see, a 1932 with over 200000 miles I put on driving around the country, a 1962 Falcon with about 80000 miles, a 2001 F150 with 66000, a 2004 Escape with 138000 miles and our 2012 Class C with 95000 miles. Other then the electronics, mechanically, anything can be fixed/repaired or modified! Way cheaper then new.

hoakken · 03-10-2020, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A32Deuce

If you can do your own maintenance and some repairs, keep it. Took DWs Escape in for an oil change. 2004 with 136000 miles. They said it needed $6000 in repairs for oil leaks. I looked up the gaskets and at Rockauto under $100. I understand shop costs but I can fix for a lot less then $175 an hour.

I keep mine for at least several hundred thousand miles.I have the advantage of spending my entire career as both a tech and an automotive instructor. I just want to point out the hourly rate goes many places in the building than the tech.Cost of the property, property maintenance, insurance, tech vacation, support personnel, as well as pay for all employees are just part of the cost of operating a shop. Technician pay is not a large percentage of this cost despite his or her investment in tens of thousands of dollars for tools and equipment.

Bahamaniac · 03-10-2020, 04:57 PM

With the cost of new cars these days people are keeping them longer. I used to put 35K miles per year, nowadays its more like 5K a year. We are actually shopping now for what will be our last car.

rgvtexan · 03-10-2020, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoakken

I keep mine for at least several hundred thousand miles.I have the advantage of spending my entire career as both a tech and an automotive instructor. I just want to point out the hourly rate goes many places in the building than the tech.Cost of the property, property maintenance, insurance, tech vacation, support personnel, as well as pay for all employees are just part of the cost of operating a shop. Technician pay is not a large percentage of this cost despite his or her investment in tens of thousands of dollars for tools and equipment.

A big one you forgot, Flooring Costs. Here in the RGV they're literally 10s of thousands of vehicles sitting on lots. New and old. Someone is paying interest on them.

It also goes for the RV dealers in TX. and elsewhere. I sometimes think the $150+ an hour repair cost is to pay the flooring costs, the Techs aren't getting it. After all some of them have only been working all day!

Wrktfsh · 03-10-2020, 05:08 PM

2009 pilot
2013 F150

Both paid off. Both mechanically sound. Both over 100k miles. While we’d like new vehicles we also recognize there is no good reason to jump into 2 car payments again. We are just going to hang with what we have until repair costs jump.

bluepill · 03-10-2020, 05:15 PM

Based on my experience as a mechanic for 45 years as well as personal experience:

With vehicles built since 1990, I recommend flipping them at 15 years or so for the more basic models, and 10 years for the higher-end vehicles that are equipped with complex systems. You can certainly keep them longer, but reliability starts suffering and repairs can cost more due to rust, corrosion, etc. making repairs take longer.

I am currently searching for a replacement for my trusty 2006 CRV that has been super reliable, but has needed 2 repairs in the past year. I have the tools and the skills to fix anything automotive, but my body has become a real limiting factor with advanced age.

The new safety features are also attractive to us, since 75 year old reflexes are a bit slower than in previous decades.

pduggs · 03-10-2020, 05:39 PM

I gave my 2006 Audi A6 to my son last year. I really regret that. He put new tires and brakes on it and it rides fantastically now. 180k miles and still looks great.

A32Deuce · 03-10-2020, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoakken

I keep mine for at least several hundred thousand miles.I have the advantage of spending my entire career as both a tech and an automotive instructor. I just want to point out the hourly rate goes many places in the building than the tech.Cost of the property, property maintenance, insurance, tech vacation, support personnel, as well as pay for all employees are just part of the cost of operating a shop. Technician pay is not a large percentage of this cost despite his or her investment in tens of thousands of dollars for tools and equipment.

I know that. Also worked in the trade a while. All the overhead and profit and nothing for the mechanic.
But, $3000 for a power take off that can be had new for $600 is a bit much!

HopsBrewster · 03-10-2020, 08:20 PM

I drove my '99 Dodge Dakota to over 225,000 miles on it. I sold it to a young man NV to buy my current truck, which I intend to be the last new vehicle I ever own, and drive it until I can't drive any more.
P.S. the Dakota is still commuting up to the mine on a daily basis and has over 250,000 miles.

FatChance · 03-10-2020, 08:23 PM

I knew this situation would happen so I bought, brand new, a 2007 Tacoma Sport, 4x4, V6/auto, 4 door/long bed pickup when I knew I would be retiring in 2009. Paid off long ago, less than 110k miles now, it will last many, many more years. The only problem I ever have had with it is needing to fill the gas tank every 3-4 weeks.

laj · 03-11-2020, 03:23 AM

I don’t care where the money goes. The only thing i care about is its gone outa my pocket. No more new rigs for me, period.

Just one example is 720 an hr. to change fuel filter on my duramax. No thanks, do my own work.

I also find my older rigs are easier to work on with far less issues and recalls. My ‘97 ford never did have one.