How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model?

Dog · 05-04-2007, 07:05 PM

DH and I are having a discussion about LBYM - he thinks we may scrimp too much....I think we still fritter away more than we should. Just casual discussion. Anyway, somehow we started talking about how often people trade in their cars for a newer model. He thinks the average is three years. What do you think?

LOL! · 05-04-2007, 07:09 PM

We have had 5 cars total over that last 28 years. We will still drive 2 of those for another 10 years each, so that's about 76 person-years for 5 cars or about 15-person-years per car.

I don't think we scrimp since we've always had very nice cars. The Lexus will easily go the next 10 years and the other car is brand new.

Some folks calculate average trade-in time from the average car-loan term. I'd guess 4 years, but I know folks with multiple cars, so the 3 years may be right.

dmpi · 05-04-2007, 07:11 PM

We drive our cars about 11 or 12 years and then we give them away to relatives and get a new cars.
Also we don't drive much. Maybe about 6,000 miles/year per car.

Mwsinron · 05-04-2007, 07:12 PM

Last car we had went 15 years. Till some kids stole it for joy riding

We dont take long trips so we try to run our cars into the ground.

sgeeeee · 05-04-2007, 07:15 PM

Post a poll if you want to find out about averages. It might make a difference depending on whether people buy new or used cars too.

We tend to keep a car until it becomes unreliable transportation or rattles so much we can't listen to a book-on-tape as we go down the highway. Today I'm driving a 2003 Saturn VUE with ~97,000 miles on it and a 1995 Dodge RAM with about 170,000 miles on it. I'm not thinking of trading either. I've traded cars in the past with as little as 100,000 miles on them. Until this RAM, I don't think I ever kept a car past 140,000.

**Want2retire** · 05-04-2007, 07:20 PM

In the past, trade-in time for me has been when the repairs start getting frequent and expensive. But right now, I have a 2000 Toyota Camry Solara with 33,000 miles on it.

Assuming it is still running without many repairs in 2010 when it is 10 years old (and I don't see why it wouldn't be), I will trade it in then. That's because I plan to retire around then, and would prefer not to worry about having to replace my car for my first crucial ten years of retirement.

I really don't give a flip how long other people drive their cars before trading them in. They aren't living my life, and I'm not living theirs. They have their own reasons for making their decisions, and I have mine. I guess my attitude reverts to the introvert/extrovert thread that we had going a few weeks ago.

cute fuzzy bunny · 05-04-2007, 07:22 PM

Seems like its every 7 years for us, unless its a car bought on a lark rather than by plan, then it seems to last about 2-3 years and its gone.

The bmw convertible I bought on my sabbatical because I thought it'd be fun and the infiniti q45 I got because they seemed cheap and gosh, I had a big SUV and a small convertible and nothing in the middle...well, those fell into the latter category.

**Rich_in_Tampa** · 05-04-2007, 07:26 PM

8-11 years overall. Notable exception: 4 y.o. Lexus IS250 traded in for a Prius, my current ride.

Cars just don't thrill me. Ever.

Of course my several motorcycles might have met that need

. Now they're gone too, replaced by a small diesel motorhome.

cute fuzzy bunny · 05-04-2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa

Of course my several motorcycles might have met that need

. Now they're gone too, replaced by a small diesel motorhome.

Do you sit on top of the motorhome, just to get "the feel" or have you copped out and started driving it from the inside?

RE2Boys · 05-04-2007, 07:29 PM

Let's see, I buy them when they are one year old used, keep them until they are 10 years old. So about 9 years. Replace the oldest with a used vehicle about every 4-5 years. Worst case is having a 5 year old vehicle and a 10 year old vehicle (typically).

RE2Boys

Khan · 05-04-2007, 07:35 PM

I have had my vehicle for 18 years (Feb 1). It's starting to make strange noises.

REWahoo · 05-04-2007, 07:39 PM

Back when we were both working and putting 30,000+ miles annually on each car, it was 3-5 years depending on whether we bought used or new. Now we have a 2001 (bought used) and a 2004 (bought new). No immediate plans to replace either.

Oh yeah, and I have a 98 pickup. This is Texas after all...

Behan · 05-04-2007, 07:46 PM

We buy a car (used) about every 7 years. We also always have a pickup around and generally keep it until it completely falls apart.

Dog · 05-04-2007, 07:50 PM

I'm not surprised that most folks here hold on to their vehicles. I drive a 98 Honda (my daughter bought my 88 Honda and it is still running). DH traded in his 92 Explorer for the 2002 Explorer he drives today. We typically buy a new car, although I'm not opposed to buying a newer used car if I knew it had been treated well. I have to admit - I was planning to trade the 98 Honda in on a BMW 3 Series (my dream car), but I decided I would rather retire in 2008 instead.

Meadbh · 05-04-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want2retire

I really don't give a flip how long other people drive their cars before trading them in. They aren't living my life, and I'm not living theirs. They have their own reasons for making their decisions, and I have mine.

I agree with Want2retire. Who cares what everybody else thinks?

I have owned three cars in 27 years and my 12 year old Honda is running well. The rattle I mentioned last week turned out to be a loose garage door opener attached to the front windshield. I have bought all my cars new.

runchman · 05-04-2007, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dog

I have to admit - I was planning to trade the 98 Honda in on a BMW 3 Series (my dream car), but I decided I would rather retire in 2008 instead.

That's funny, because I bought a new 3 series in 2004 (325xi) and now I find myself eyeing prius's and civic hybrids on edmunds, and calculating how I'd come out if I sold mine and bought the hybrid.

Love my 325, it's fun, 0 problems, but it's still just a car after a couple years.

Just goes to show, the grass is always greener on the other side !

- John

clifp · 05-04-2007, 08:36 PM

Put me down in the seven year group. I've owned 7 in my 31 years of driving, that last was purchased 3 years ago I expect to keep it 4-6 more years.

I have bought the last 3 new but that is because I do like new cars. My sister and husband seem to buy a new or newer car every three years (to be fair he has a 80 mile/day commute so that is hard on the cars.) but they have spent a fortune on cars over the years.

brewer12345 · 05-04-2007, 09:01 PM

Lessee, had the 1987 toyota pickup until I totalled it on the highway one night. Had the 1995 escort for 10 years. Finally gave it to my sister (too small for our needs), and it is still running, one accident later. The subaru is 4 years old now, but has 92k on it and rising fast. I imagine I will keep it until it starts dumping me on the side of the road (many miles in the future). Since we only put 8k a year on the minivan, I suspect we will have it for at least another decade.

Translation: we keep them until they pretty much lay down and die by the side of the road.

Bikerdude · 05-04-2007, 09:08 PM

Since I've retired (04/2000) I've purchased 1 new car that GM was giving away in 2006 and a 2001 motorcycle. I have 2 other motorcycles (1980 & 1991) and a pickup (1993) with 75K on the clock.

The car I replaced had 175K and was a 1993 that I bought used in 1995. I now put about 5K on the car, 3K on the truck and 7K on the MC's per year.

When I was working I put 15K on a car per year just commuting.

Surfdaddy · 05-04-2007, 10:01 PM

We usually go by miles rather than time. We've only gotten rid of one car at under 100K miles (86K).

Our current 1994 Villager has 221K miles and is still running great.
We have a 2005 Acura TL with 45K on it.

I've also had a 92 Honda Accord (120K), an 85 Jetta (143K), and a 66VW Bug (235K).

You get the idea.

05-04-2007, 07:05 PM	#1
Dog Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 219	How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? DH and I are having a discussion about LBYM - he thinks we may scrimp too much....I think we still fritter away more than we should. Just casual discussion. Anyway, somehow we started talking about how often people trade in their cars for a newer model. He thinks the average is three years. What do you think?

05-04-2007, 07:09 PM	#2
LOL! Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,190	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? We have had 5 cars total over that last 28 years. We will still drive 2 of those for another 10 years each, so that's about 76 person-years for 5 cars or about 15-person-years per car. I don't think we scrimp since we've always had very nice cars. The Lexus will easily go the next 10 years and the other car is brand new. Some folks calculate average trade-in time from the average car-loan term. I'd guess 4 years, but I know folks with multiple cars, so the 3 years may be right.

05-04-2007, 07:11 PM	#3
dmpi Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 359	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? We drive our cars about 11 or 12 years and then we give them away to relatives and get a new cars. Also we don't drive much. Maybe about 6,000 miles/year per car.

05-04-2007, 07:12 PM	#4
Mwsinron Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 718	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? Last car we had went 15 years. Till some kids stole it for joy riding We dont take long trips so we try to run our cars into the ground.

05-04-2007, 07:15 PM	#5
sgeeeee Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Mesa Posts: 3,588	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? Post a poll if you want to find out about averages. It might make a difference depending on whether people buy new or used cars too. We tend to keep a car until it becomes unreliable transportation or rattles so much we can't listen to a book-on-tape as we go down the highway. Today I'm driving a 2003 Saturn VUE with ~97,000 miles on it and a 1995 Dodge RAM with about 170,000 miles on it. I'm not thinking of trading either. I've traded cars in the past with as little as 100,000 miles on them. Until this RAM, I don't think I ever kept a car past 140,000.

05-04-2007, 07:20 PM	#6
Want2retire Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Orleans Posts: 5,554	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? In the past, trade-in time for me has been when the repairs start getting frequent and expensive. But right now, I have a 2000 Toyota Camry Solara with 33,000 miles on it. Assuming it is still running without many repairs in 2010 when it is 10 years old (and I don't see why it wouldn't be), I will trade it in then. That's because I plan to retire around then, and would prefer not to worry about having to replace my car for my first crucial ten years of retirement. I really don't give a flip how long other people drive their cars before trading them in. They aren't living my life, and I'm not living theirs. They have their own reasons for making their decisions, and I have mine. I guess my attitude reverts to the introvert/extrovert thread that we had going a few weeks ago. __________________ Dreaming of retirement....

05-04-2007, 07:22 PM	#7
cute fuzzy bunny Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ... Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Losing my whump Posts: 22,540	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? Seems like its every 7 years for us, unless its a car bought on a lark rather than by plan, then it seems to last about 2-3 years and its gone. The bmw convertible I bought on my sabbatical because I thought it'd be fun and the infiniti q45 I got because they seemed cheap and gosh, I had a big SUV and a small convertible and nothing in the middle...well, those fell into the latter category. __________________ Many an optimist has become rich by buying out a pessimist

05-04-2007, 07:26 PM	#8
Rich_in_Tampa Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Tampa Posts: 5,611	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? 8-11 years overall. Notable exception: 4 y.o. Lexus IS250 traded in for a Prius, my current ride. Cars just don't thrill me. Ever. Of course my several motorcycles might have met that need . Now they're gone too, replaced by a small diesel motorhome. __________________ Rich Tampa, FL (10% retired) As if you didn't know..If the above message happens to contain medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any medical purpose whatsoever. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.

05-04-2007, 07:29 PM	#10
RE2Boys Dryer sheet aficionado Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 49	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? Let's see, I buy them when they are one year old used, keep them until they are 10 years old. So about 9 years. Replace the oldest with a used vehicle about every 4-5 years. Worst case is having a 5 year old vehicle and a 10 year old vehicle (typically). RE2Boys

05-04-2007, 07:35 PM	#11
Khan Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Greater Dayton area Posts: 2,841	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? I have had my vehicle for 18 years (Feb 1). It's starting to make strange noises. __________________ "There's no such thing as 'should have' ."

05-04-2007, 07:39 PM	#12
REWahoo Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 11,044	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? Back when we were both working and putting 30,000+ miles annually on each car, it was 3-5 years depending on whether we bought used or new. Now we have a 2001 (bought used) and a 2004 (bought new). No immediate plans to replace either. Oh yeah, and I have a 98 pickup. This is Texas after all... __________________ Spewing self-serving drivel since 2002.

05-04-2007, 07:46 PM	#13
Behan Dryer sheet wannabe Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 11	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? We buy a car (used) about every 7 years. We also always have a pickup around and generally keep it until it completely falls apart.

05-04-2007, 07:50 PM	#14
Dog Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 219	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? I'm not surprised that most folks here hold on to their vehicles. I drive a 98 Honda (my daughter bought my 88 Honda and it is still running). DH traded in his 92 Explorer for the 2002 Explorer he drives today. We typically buy a new car, although I'm not opposed to buying a newer used car if I knew it had been treated well. I have to admit - I was planning to trade the 98 Honda in on a BMW 3 Series (my dream car), but I decided I would rather retire in 2008 instead.

05-04-2007, 08:36 PM	#17
clifp Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,000	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? Put me down in the seven year group. I've owned 7 in my 31 years of driving, that last was purchased 3 years ago I expect to keep it 4-6 more years. I have bought the last 3 new but that is because I do like new cars. My sister and husband seem to buy a new or newer car every three years (to be fair he has a 80 mile/day commute so that is hard on the cars.) but they have spent a fortune on cars over the years.

05-04-2007, 09:01 PM	#18
brewer12345 Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ... Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 9,157	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? Lessee, had the 1987 toyota pickup until I totalled it on the highway one night. Had the 1995 escort for 10 years. Finally gave it to my sister (too small for our needs), and it is still running, one accident later. The subaru is 4 years old now, but has 92k on it and rising fast. I imagine I will keep it until it starts dumping me on the side of the road (many miles in the future). Since we only put 8k a year on the minivan, I suspect we will have it for at least another decade. Translation: we keep them until they pretty much lay down and die by the side of the road. __________________ "When caught between two evils I generally pick the one I haven't tried before." - Mae West "If dogs weren't meant to eat dental floss out of the garbage, why do they make it mint-flavored?"

05-04-2007, 09:08 PM	#19
Bikerdude Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 462	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? Since I've retired (04/2000) I've purchased 1 new car that GM was giving away in 2006 and a 2001 motorcycle. I have 2 other motorcycles (1980 & 1991) and a pickup (1993) with 75K on the clock. The car I replaced had 175K and was a 1993 that I bought used in 1995. I now put about 5K on the car, 3K on the truck and 7K on the MC's per year. When I was working I put 15K on a car per year just commuting. __________________ “I guess I should warn you, if I turn out to be particularly clear, you've probably misunderstood what I've said” Alan Greenspan

05-04-2007, 10:01 PM	#20
Surfdaddy Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 97	Re: How Often Do People Trade In Their Cars For a Newer Model? We usually go by miles rather than time. We've only gotten rid of one car at under 100K miles (86K). Our current 1994 Villager has 221K miles and is still running great. We have a 2005 Acura TL with 45K on it. I've also had a 92 Honda Accord (120K), an 85 Jetta (143K), and a 66VW Bug (235K). You get the idea.