Top 15 vehicles owned for 15+ years

[Chuckanut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Whenever I see comments like this I have to smile, remembering that my dad, who lived to age 90, bought his "last car" three times.

Maybe the trick is to not take long life and health for granted?

[eytonxav]

Quote:

Originally Posted by omni550 Not surprisingly, all are Japanese makes. Here are the top 15 vehicles and the percentage of original owners who keep the vehicle for 15+ years.... https://clark.com/cars/reliable-cars...4005d-72329885 omni

IMHO, I would not put much credence in this particular website.

[omni550]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFW_M5 IMHO, I would not put much credence in this particular website.

I'm wondering why you are making this statement.

Perhaps you'd be willing to explain what the issue might be with the information from here? https://www.iseecars.com/cars-people-keep-longest-study

omni

[Andre1969]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Whenever I see comments like this I have to smile, remembering that my dad, who lived to age 90, bought his "last car" three times.

That made me think a bit of my Granddad. He had the habit of trading every 3-4 years. While that does sound pretty wasteful, he could afford it. Anyway, the last car he bought was a 1994 Taurus, in late 1993, when he was 79. His driving really slowed down a lot around that time, so when the usual 3-4 year timeframe was up again, he decided to hold off.

But then, in early 2000, he started getting the new car itch again. In his mind, I guess, he was thinking that he really SHOULD have traded 3-4 years ago, and now, that cycle was coming around again. I took him out to look at the new Tauruses. I always thought the '96-99 style was too over-styled and weird, but thought the way they toned it down for 2000 was nice. Anyway, Granddad took one look at the 2000, and said he didn't like it. Refused to even sit in it. The salesman actually had to BEG him to sit in it. So he did, said "Okay, that's enough, now let's go."

And after that, he resigned to just hang onto the '94. I do remember, at one point, changing the battery for him. The old one was still holding a charge, but it was getting up there in age. He said that was the first time in his life, he ever remembered having a battery changed in a car...he'd usually trade them in before it came to that! In 2004, he decided he was going to give up driving when he turned 90, rather than renew his license. He offered to give me the Taurus, which only had about 40,000 miles on it. But, I didn't need it, so one of my cousins got it. He and his wife were kind of rough on it, so it was pretty shot by around 80,000 miles or so, and I think they got rid of it around 2012 or 13.

[brett]

We keep the mtce up to date. Most especially the fluids. I actually read and follow the recommended service intervals that come with the vehicle.

Some people I know who have had trouble with vehicles are people who seldom check or replace the engine oil, transmission, brake, power steering fluids or the radiator fluid. Or bother with the tires. So, it is no wonder that the do not get the benefit of a projected useful life out of a vehicle-domestic or imported. Not to mention things like the timing belts.

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brett We keep the mtce up to date. Most especially the fluids. I actually read and follow the recommended service intervals that come with the vehicle. Some people I know who have had trouble with vehicles are people who seldom check or replace the engine oil, transmission, brake, power steering fluids or the radiator fluid. Or bother with the tires. So, it is no wonder that the do not get the benefit of a projected useful life out of a vehicle-domestic or imported. Not to mention things like the timing belts.

We have never gotten rid of a car because it wore out. All 3 we moved on from were because they did not fit our needs any more. We have all the maintenance done and are willing to do non-catastrophic repairs. I think modern cars are made well enough that as long as you do the maintenance and repairs they by and large keep chugging.

[rk911]

rather than use it as a trade-in my buddy and his wife gave their daughter a 3 or 4-yr old sedan when they bought new so she could reliably get back and forth from her apt. to work. less than a year later the engine seized on it. seems she never checked or had the oil checked or changed.

[ExFlyBoy5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut I recently heard the consumer show host Clark Howard tell a story about a guy who owned a chain of independent Toyota repair shops. He was not making much money. So, he switched to repairing German cars. He is now making a ton of money.

A buddy of mine owns an independent VW/Audi shop. He stays very, VERY busy. I asked why he didn't include Toyo/Honda/Etc. and he said that they wouldn't bring in nearly as much business as the VW does.

[jollystomper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut Having owned Ford, GM, Chrysler and Toyota products, I can say that my totally unscientific conclusions from my experience indicate Toyota is best for me.

This has been my experience as well. Before we had Toyotas it seemed like at least one of our cars ended up in the shop every month, had a road breakdown once a quarter, and every regular maintenance visit always turned up some additional issue.

Since getting Toyotas, none of that has occurred. The only major issue outside of regular maintenance was self-inflicted (DW scraping against a guard rail), which fortunately was just a "cosmetic" repair. Our annual car maintenance bill has dropped by close to 2/3.

[travelover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Whenever I see comments like this I have to smile, remembering that my dad, who lived to age 90, bought his "last car" three times.

I knew a guy like that - unfortunately he was senile and all three purchases were made within a year or so. Shame on the car dealership.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelover I knew a guy like that - unfortunately he was senile and all three purchases were made within a year or so. Shame on the car dealership.

+1

Fortunately dad spread these purchases over a period of more than 20 years.

[brett]

I got a new Ford product every year as a company vehicle. I had Tauruses, Escapes, through to a Lincoln.

Each one of then required more warranty time in the shop than did my spouses 10 year old Camry. Everything from sub standard pre delivery through to transmissions and engine modules. Bad luck I guess.

[rk911]

prior to switching to Jeep (we flat tow them behind our motorhome...plus they’re cool!) we pretty much stuck with new Fords...Maverick, Pinto, Mustang, Capri...all, with one exception due to a wreck, ran at least 150,000-mi before we sold or traded them and none, including the one that was ultimately wrecked, required major repairs. routine maintenance is key. for several years i was driving 50-mi one-way to work and changing oil about every 6-7 weeks. the only car we’ve ever had that had a faint lemony scent was a 78 Cutlass that threw a rod at 15,000-mi. the auto shop instructor at the local high school fixed that as a class project and then we traded it on an ‘82 Capri.

[eytonxav]

Quote:

Originally Posted by omni550 I'm wondering why you are making this statement. Perhaps you'd be willing to explain what the issue might be with the information from here? https://www.iseecars.com/cars-people-keep-longest-study omni

They supposedly use a proprietary computer algorithm for their research and therefore am not confident their data should be relied on.

[Extra Medium]

We’re still enjoying the reliability of our 2005 Camry, though it’s starting to look awful.

Last year got rid of the 2000 Camry and bought a Tesla Model 3. Very few moving parts to wear down, we’re hoping it’s going to last long (if the MN road salt doesn’t rust it prematurely).


https://qz.com/1737145/the-economics...ion-miles/amp/


https://www.wired.com/story/tesla-ma...lion-miles/amp

[ls99]

My longest owned wheels:


79 K20 Chevy pickup, 18 years.
99 GMC 2500 suburban, still own it.
74 Mercedes 450 SE, 20 years.

[LRDave]

Tacomas of various vintages power armies in the Middle East and Asia. I understand it is particularly easy to get parts and if need be, fabricate parts for Tacomas.

I plan on owning my 2010 Tacoma for the rest of my life (or at least as long as we live in our current rural location).

[Palmtree]

In 1998 I was in my late 30's. I held my nose and bought minivan. Not a cool one but a Plymouth Grand Voyager. It was a basic model with crank windows and a cassette player. I needed it to haul gear in for my photography business and I never thought I would have it for more that five years. Fast forward almost 22 years. I'm now close to 60 and retired but I still have the van. Only 167,000 miles but with the original transmission. (A known problem. I'm lucky) It's got all the routine maintenance but the engine is very tired. Just last week it needed a new harmonic balancer and a cooling system flush/fill. Still, she just did a 500 mile trip with no problem. We have the funds for a new one but she's a member of the family and the book value on her is so low, it's hard to give her up. Thinking we might donate her to a local charity and buy a off lease 2017 Pacifica as a replacement. Only time will tell.

Our other daily driver is a 2007 Accord with only 67,000 miles. Not even broken in yet.

[aaronc879]

Good to see the Forester on the list. Mine is 16 years old and going strong. My Aunt inherited my Grandfathers Camry and it is still going after 28 years. Those things never die.

[Masquernom]

You'd probably be surprised how many Lexus and luxury types are leased instead of bought. One reason they probably aren't on the list.