Average age of vehicles in US hits 11.8 years

Mattstrike

Random Crazy Custom Car guy
Feb 13, 2014
542
1,139
My average is 30 years old :rofl:.

'67 Lesabre (157k) lt. Dan status
'84 K2500 (312k)
'84 Sabre (29k)
'84 Interceptor (27k)
'87 Lesabre (168k) lt. Dan status
'92 Bonneville (307k)
'92 Trofeo (160k)
'93 Bonneville (323k)
'97 LeSabre (170k)
'97 Camaro (165k)
'05 STS4 (215k)

We should whine about mileage next.
 

Lead Pipe

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Nov 4, 2010
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I don't understand how people can keep a car longer than 5-7 years. I have a 2015, my wife just got a 2019. Add in my shitbox 2000 1:1 die-cast and we're at 8.6. I wish I could keep a car long term (like 10+ years) but I haven't had my truck 4 years and it has over 90k miles. I bought it brand new with 6...
 

FirstWorldProblems

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Sep 6, 2006
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Crown point, IN
I don't understand how people can keep a car longer than 5-7 years. I have a 2015, my wife just got a 2019. Add in my shitbox 2000 1:1 die-cast and we're at 8.6. I wish I could keep a car long term (like 10+ years) but I haven't had my truck 4 years and it has over 90k miles. I bought it brand new with 6...

I'm with you here. I know it amounts to a good amount of wasted $$ over your lifetime, so i'm getting better, but i'm just never going to be the guy that drives an 8-12 year old shitbox daily. I used my FIL's 2009 mazda 6 for two weeks this spring, and wanted to drive in to a pole every time I got in it. And it's a loaded car that was perfectly maintained for all 10 years it's been on the road. Not a bad car, just stooopid boring and made it very clear how far vehicles have come in the last decade. The road noise was absurd compared to what i'm used to.

Kept my taurus 4 years, which was a personal record. I'd like to keep the truck 6 years
 

Pressure Ratio

....
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Nov 11, 2005
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Glen Ellyn
I don't understand how people can keep a car longer than 5-7 years. I have a 2015, my wife just got a 2019. Add in my shitbox 2000 1:1 die-cast and we're at 8.6. I wish I could keep a car long term (like 10+ years) but I haven't had my truck 4 years and it has over 90k miles. I bought it brand new with 6...

I don't think they mean people are buying new cars and driving them for an average of 11+ years. Plenty of people buy used cars.
 

Pressure Ratio

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Nov 11, 2005
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Glen Ellyn
but i'm just never going to be the guy that drives an 8-12 year old shitbox daily.


Not all 8-12 year old cars are shitboxes. My 335i was 8 years old when I purchased it. The car is in great condition and was a nice car to start with.

The biggest issue with an older car is repairs. You may have the car in the shop a number of days a year. Some shops have free loaners. Some extended warranties have a provision for rental cars during repairs. So it isn't always that bad depending on how you want to go about owning an older used car.
 

Lead Pipe

TCG Sub-par Member
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Nov 4, 2010
17,625
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I'm with you here. I know it amounts to a good amount of wasted $$ over your lifetime, so i'm getting better, but i'm just never going to be the guy that drives an 8-12 year old shitbox daily. I used my FIL's 2009 mazda 6 for two weeks this spring, and wanted to drive in to a pole every time I got in it. And it's a loaded car that was perfectly maintained for all 10 years it's been on the road. Not a bad car, just stooopid boring and made it very clear how far vehicles have come in the last decade. The road noise was absurd compared to what i'm used to.

Kept my taurus 4 years, which was a personal record. I'd like to keep the truck 6 years

I just drive too much. At 150-200k a car can still be running well but it starts to nickel and dime you. My old car had like 230k and it was running fine but the heat started to suck and it started need small, annoying parts changed every 6 months. I ran the risk of a $100 leaving me stranded every time I drove it.

I don't think they mean people are buying new cars and driving them for an average of 11+ years. Plenty of people buy used cars.
I get that but lets say I buy a 5 year old car with 50k miles (which is below average annual mileage). There is still no way that car makes another 10 years for me.
 
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