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Why you should keep your clunker
Americans are holding on to their old cars, both because of financial pressures and because 150,000 miles is a reasonable expectation. Want another factor? Automakers aren't changing styling every year.
Wed, Aug 01 2012 at 3:50 PM
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Get used to that old car, because it will be around for a while. (Graphic: AutoMD.com)
I have vivid memories of '50s and '60s dads who bought a new car every year. And I remember groups of them standing around at the neighborhood barbecue, wearing hats and jingling the change in their pockets, as they talked about being diehard Ford, Chevy or Chrysler men. “I wouldn’t drive a Ford if you gave me one,” the GM guy would say.
“Oh yeah?” the Ford guy would reply, “I wouldn’t use my Ford to drive your Chevy to the dump.” And for good measure, he’d shoot back this joke: “How is a golf ball different from a Chevy? You can drive a golf ball 200 yards.” (And oh yes, the Chevy guy’s response is, “How do you double the value of a Ford? You put gas in it.”) And both of these guys would have brand-new cars out front.
Times have changed, and it’s affecting new car sales. For one thing, automakers don’t automatically update their styling every year, as they did back in the day. The ’59 Chevy was radically different from the ’60. And if the neighbors can’t tell you have a new car, what’s the point?
A new survey by AutoMD.com finds other reasons — cars are better built and last longer today (whatever happened to rust?) and people are finding it cheaper to repair and maintain the old clunker than buying new. Eight of 10 car owners are keeping their cars at least a decade. Look at that loyal GM man at right. He's happy, why does he need a new car? A whopping 44 percent in the site’s survey said they’re going to keep driving their bomb, and put up with more regular repairs and parts buying, “until the undertaker delivers a tombstone.” And 47 percent said they would just rather not buy a new car now. That’s the recession talking.
The parts business is booming. According to eBay Motors’ mobile app, somebody buys a wheel or tire on an app every 14 seconds, and an engine or component every 25. Ironically, parts aren’t much of an issue with electric cars, whose motors are practically sealed for life. EVs are still a tiny part of the market, though, so nobody’s really worried yet.
A Black Book survey finds that most people want to see 125,000 to 150,000 on their odometers before they consider a trade-in, and that makes sense because modern cars can easily go that distance without major repairs.
Perhaps Detroit would be doing better if it had hung on to planned obsolescence. But despite the economy the auto industry isn’t exactly dying at the moment. If current trends continue, 14 million cars and trucks will be sold to Americans in 2012, which is 13 percent growth from 2011. According to Edmunds.com Chief Economist Dr. Lacey Plache, “The bottom line is that pent-up demand for autos is still strong and can be expected to continue to contribute sales, given the aging fleet and the current expansion of credit.”
Ah yes, the “aging fleet.” A lot of people own really old cars now, and that’s sending them — reluctantly — into the auto markets. And because people are having a better quality experience with American cars, they’re more likely to buy domestic this time around. See, quality pays off, and it all works out in the end.
So if you do intend to keep that old rattletrap forever, you'll need a good maintenance schedule — check out these useful tips. Cars with 100,000-plus miles need special care. Here's some sage advice for venerable vehicles:
Related green car story on MNN: Meet the king of million-mile cars
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After 33 years of use, including hauling construction materials and tools for 15 years, my Chevy Silverado 2WD transmission is starting to slip. I'll ask if it's under warranty next time I take it in for service, which is never.
Love my 1968 Mustang...runs great and people notice ..
I have owned a toyota avalon and my wife wanted a lexus, both developed similar problems... Stay away from toyotas.... Like my ford and acura...
2000 kia spectra 125000.....awesome car no huge repairs
2005 GMC Sierra 1500 with 225K and still running strong!
I have a 97 Olds Regence and a 96 Ford Taurus. Both under 75,000 miles and get 30+ mpg on the highway. Problem is finding electronic parts for the Ford. Local Ford dealorship says not longer available - go to a junk yard. Balooney - Working with my mechanic and a electicle repair shop. Have been told the best option is to junk it,
2000 buick Le Sabre Custom with Yamaha 3.8 Liter V6 is at 249,856 miles and still getting 27mpg highway. I expect it'll go 300K without too much trouble. Only non-routine repair was replacing a bad IC in a cylinder. Other than that, normal wear n tear maintenance. Still rides like I'm sitting in a couch in my living room.
I drive a car until it literally Blues Brothers on me. Unfortunately for me, as a Land Rover driver, that's more often than i wish. Most of the time, I drive around town with the 3-Amigos flashing on the dash. You landrove owners know what that means.
I have a 1970 Ford F100 pickup with 388,982 miles, most reliable vehicle on the face of the planet. Haven't had a wrench on it in five years. Just runs and runs. Using Mobil 1 everywhere.
1970 Camaro w/ about 351k miles. I'm the original owner. Everybody in my city of 15,000 knows the "Green Bean". Been all the way to Central America and from coast to coast in it. Also have '85 GMC Sub w 251k miles. Both well cared for and look great.
I'm driving a 94 Ford van with 222,000 miles on it 351 V8... does not use oil, Is strong but only gets 12 mpg at best. I'm a senior
and see no possibility of ever upgrading. Think good thoughts !!
We have a 2002 Nissan Xterra with 160,000 miles on it. Owned it since it was brand new. (bought the car 2 weeks after 9/11. Not too many people buying cars then so we got a pretty good deal.) Anyway, great car and still looks new. (make sure to have the timing belt changed at or around 100K) Also have a 2005 Altima which is a good car as well...not as good as the xterra though
I currently own a 99 Honda accord with 190k on her and just spent 787.00 on repairs. My transmission slips and not sure if I want to put that kind of money in a car with that much mileage. Plus the paint just hasn't lasted
I'm still driving my 92 Dodge Dakota with 450 thousand miles..nearly 1/2 a million miles on it. Even the AC still works. I just do regular maintenance and change the oil every 3000 miles or sooner. I had another Dakota that bit the dust at 167000, but it was the V8, my current one is the V6.
Still driving my 2000 Toyota Solara (140,000 miles). No major problems, and very few minor ones. I'll probably trade it in soon, since I'm past Medicare age, and really need the new safety features like blind-spot alert and backup camera.
96 Ford Ranger, 368,000 + (plus because I havent repairedOD cable for a year. I would purchase anouther one in a heartbeat...very few repairs only on 2nd clutch, and yes it has its problems su=ince I have nearly driven the wheels off it....LOL
I still have my 65 Mustang, a good buy then and still runs fine.
I'm envious, that's a beautiful car.
i have 2 ford falcons 1 is a 77 gxl 351 4 sp man done 200,000 klm =123,000mls and a 95 6 cyl falcon done 1mill 3 hundred thousand klm =803,000 mls had 2 heads 3 trans and last week had new rings, crank grind and bearings. (ok it was a ex cab) but that's why we don't have commodores for cabs GM just is incapable of handling the workload.
My daily driver is a 98 honda. My maintenance consists of putting the license plate tags on in July.
150,000 miles on my Acura, and it's had 3 transmissions, 4 rear mains, an alternator, rotors, and both headlights replaced.
Acura is by no means "quality".
244000 miles on my Honda civic and I just took it for a track day
at Thunder hill raceway where it spent the day at between 5000
and 6000 rpm for over 100 miles. Yea it's also my daily driver.
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