Why do we replace cars these days?

[HariK]

When I first bought my Camry in 84, the average US car would last barely 5 yrs 50k miles and Japanese and European had a reputation of costing perhaps 20% more but lasting 50% longer. My sister's oldsmobile Omega 82 lasted 6yrs 60k miles. It was 10k on the road and they junked it. My camry lasted 14 years 114k miles. It was 13.5k on the road and I got 1.8k for it. These days most cars last so long that we replace cars either because we are tired of the same old and we can afford them or the maintenance is less or the old car is not as safe compared to others now on the road. So, we really cannot go wrong with any car. It is just a matter of preference and affordability and one size never fits all. Our needs and wants are different. Just a different perspective.

 

[OCDC]

Nuisance repairs, like AC controls stop functioning reliably (wiring problems), or seat rail springs start breaking, or upholstery starts to fall apart. Things that would cost too much or require more effort than the car was worth. The shortest lived of them was an Escort, which I got 9 years and 150k out of. Really, up until my Volvo, I'd drive my cars into dust before replacing them.

 

[abbas2099]

If you are looking at your car a something to get you from point A to B comfortably then I agree with you , you have keep your car for a long as possible. For me, I like my cars to be under warranty usually. I also like the newer designs or speedier ones as well so needless to say, I do get tired of my car after so many years and either for a new model or entirely different car.

 

[HariK]

I used to keep my cars till they die but now I have 2 perfectly reliable 2005 Sienna 122k miles and a 2006 Lexus LS 430 92k miles. Sienna has ACC but not this particular Lexus. I upgraded the Entertainment unit in the Lexus with an Android Auto/ Car Play Pioneer and backup camera. Sienna has original nav and camera. Both cars have ultrasonic parking sensors. That is it. No radar, Lidar, 360 view camera, blind spot monitor, land departure warning, braking to avoid collision. At age 66, I know that I will need the safety features to prevent an accident and it will get worse with time. Someone will be very happy with these cars. I will keep the Sienna just for hauling and to take dogs on local trips or hikes. I drive Lucid mostly by myself. Wife wants a taller vehicle and so I ordered Fisker Ocean to replace her Lexus. Why EVs? Because we do not drive that much and we have solar and can charge at home. Less maintenance and obviously we are fortunate to be able to afford to replace the cars. Who knows how long we will live and drive?

 

[abbas2099]

I guess I kill my cars in a lot less time than you.. My first Model S had 86k miles in 3.5 years and my second Tesla Model S had 123k miles in 5 years.

 

[DeaneG]

I like the safety/ADAS and convenience features in newer cars. Anything to keep me from accidentally hitting something. Or being able to ask the car for the rating of a new restaurant I just drove by.

 

[CraZ8]

Boredom and familiarity. You drive a car too long and it becomes the equivalent of a comfortable pair of blue jeans. Entirely predictable and unremarkable.

 

[HariK]

All the above are good reasons to replace. I actually bought a used car in 93 just for 1 yr to wait for air bag on 94 mercury villager with 4 wheel antilock brakes. The camry was not so safe on highway also due stopping distance 60 to 0 was 175ft vs 130 ft for the newer cars. If I maintained more distance for my safety, cars kept cutting in lol.

 

[blueice89]

My idea to replace car that I have held on recently for ev cars is replace when the factory warranty runs out. Just not super worthwhile to me to keep a car if I don’t have a service warranty behind it. That’s usually 4 year mark for me.

 

[ashwin705]

I used to keep my cars till they die but now I have 2 perfectly reliable 2005 Sienna 122k miles and a 2006 Lexus LS 430 92k miles. Sienna has ACC but not this particular Lexus. I upgraded the Entertainment unit in the Lexus with an Android Auto/ Car Play Pioneer and backup camera. Sienna has original nav and camera. Both cars have ultrasonic parking sensors. That is it. No radar, Lidar, 360 view camera, blind spot monitor, land departure warning, braking to avoid collision. At age 66, I know that I will need the safety features to prevent an accident and it will get worse with time. Someone will be very happy with these cars. I will keep the Sienna just for hauling and to take dogs on local trips or hikes. I drive Lucid mostly by myself. Wife wants a taller vehicle and so I ordered Fisker Ocean to replace her Lexus. Why EVs? Because we do not drive that much and we have solar and can charge at home. Less maintenance and obviously we are fortunate to be able to afford to replace the cars. Who knows how long we will live and drive?

I'm jealous of your 06 lexus running well at 92k. This upcoming Lucid is replacing my 06 GS300 at 235k miles that I'm driving into the ground, and eventually will become my backup/emergency car.

 

[HariK]

I'm jealous of your 06 lexus running well at 92k. This upcoming Lucid is replacing my 06 GS300 at 235k miles that I'm driving into the ground, and eventually will become my backup/emergency car.

You did fantastic at 235k miles in 17 years.

 

[Tesla2.0]

I have been Honda loyalist as my family commute cars for 3 decades. Accord, CRX, Civic and Odyssey, I either drove them to ground (125k, 180k) or replace them bc flood or wreck. If Honda makes EV, I may still get them bc their past reliability. I got 2nd hand German cars last 2 decades mostly for leisure, and they were costly and frequent at shop. Now I’m financially better off, Lucid AGT is my first true spoil and I have became EV convert after it. I intend to keep this AGT as long as possible assuming the software will keep up its promise of improvement to aim to keep up with competitors. I also got R1S as interim ICE family people loader. We miss our Odyssey, Wrangler just doesn’t have enough seats. I know I will have dilemma when Gravity comes out. If SUV is intended for long road tripping, ideally it should have 400 miles+ range and space. But mean time, my family really loves this R1S.

 

[Cosmo Cruz]

I know that I will need the safety features to prevent an accident and it will get worse with time. Who knows how long we will live and drive?

Love the topic Hari. Wife's first car was ES250 (used). We put 160k miles on it over 13 years and never had a problem with it. The only reason we sold it (Mazda 6) was the newer headlights are so much better, and the new safety features. I rationalized spending so much on the Lucid because it has everything: I've been telling everyone: "this is my last car" . I'm about ready for that Coupe de Ville in the sky.