I fear I might end up like that but I am not sure I would be happy driving a 100k scruffy £250 Corsa which is all my car would be by then. I used to have an old banger and I just wasn't happy with it but maybe that was because I didn't know the history of it.
However if my car works perfectly then no matter how bored I am I just cannot justify changing it. I do like cars so much though as much as I hate buying them!
One thing I do have in mind is to give my Corsa to my dad in a years time, as his Fiesta will be 13 years old by then and will have over 90k on it.
I wish I could justify a weekend car but I can't afford it :).
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I wish I could justify a weekend car but I can't afford it :).
Despite my careful approach above I also have a Westfield buried in the garage which I built myself years ago. If only I could find the time to resurrect it.
Please don't tell Humph, he'll only go all nostalgic!
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I have, since 1997, owned in excess of 60 different cars. Most of them I regret ( Volvo 460, Reliant Rialto, Suzuki Carry and Daewoo Matiz aside as they were all brilliant ). Ive wasted thousands of pounds and have little to show for it, so when I traded in my Carry van for my Charade, I swore I would try and stick to a car for a long time.
So far so good - 15 months and 18000 miles and counting. I still dont feel that itch to change it either. The misses thinks its partly lack of funds and partly because I have other things to spend my money on, such as our up and coming house purchase.
It is also quite frankly, the most useful car ive ever owned and to replace it would be pretty much a step down with the balance of running costs, practicality and reliability -ts only worth £1800 aswell.
Im quite chuffed with myself really and my dad is most suprised.
As to why one changes their car, thats easy - a combination of man-maths and boredom, both of which have emptied many a sensible mans wallet. Plus a true petrolhead simply has to try things they see - I think we transfer the notion of sleeping with many women to buying many cars instead - thats what the misses reckons anyway!
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Too right re the Westie OC !
On the "normal" stuff though I confess to not really having a strategy. Nature of what I do is that some years I'm quite well orf don't y'know and others I'm totally borasic.
Resultantly my view of values and sense of financial responsibility changes accordingly !
On balance though, probably averagely avery 2-3 years. Having said that, I've kept some cars as little as 6 months and others for 5 years.
My back was injured quite badly in a riding accident about 15 years ago and since then I've found it to be very sensitive to the ergonomics of cars. Some which feel OK when trialled become agony when used for real. When I find a model which suits my ravaged old frame I tend to stick with it longer than I probably should. Like a favourite pair of shoes I suppose.
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I normally keep my cars until they become uneconomic to repair. I ran Nissans for years and was very happy with them. In 2006 it coincided with a mid-life crisis where I suddenly became desperate to have at least one "quality" car in my life. (Now well into my fifties, BTW)
So I emptied the piggy bank and searched behind the seats on the sofa and bought a new 3 series BMW, in which I've now done 51 thousand miles. I am hyper critical of it, but in reality it is a good car. However it doesn't fit the bill, because it isn't "me". I dream of a luxury cruiser that practically drives itself, instead of one which demands driver involvement. It also needs to look good. (Off-roaders and estate cars need not apply.)
So I am anxious to have another try at getting a car that I really feel good about, and am saving as hard as I can for a decent low-mileage example. However, what with the credit crunch, and the fact that I am not rich, I may have a long wait.
To put this into perspective, though, there are people in the world really, really suffering. My "problems" are as nothing compared to theirs.
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My "problems" are as nothing compared to theirs.
Good of you to spare a thought for the poor old MP's having to repay some of their ill gotten LDO..;)
Will you stay with BMW by the way, but maybe a larger auto for example?
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Will you stay with BMW by the way but maybe a larger auto for example?
Excellent question! You've really made me think.
BMW say that they'll definitely be building a 3-series hatchback (a smaller brother of the new 5 GT). I'd be interested in this, especially if the 8-speed auto box is better than the disappointing 6-speeder in my car.
I have extreme respect for BMW, and my local BMW dealer has been wonderful. OTOH I *LOVE* Audi and Mercedes-Benz - though I've never been able to afford either!
I am also intrigued by the new Audi A5 Liftback. The prospect of a handsome coupe which is also practical and comfortable is irresistible.
So, on-topic, here is my answer to the OP. I'll just waiting for the model that I want to come on the market, then I'll get a low mileage used one.
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The prospect of a handsomecoupe which is also practical and comfortable is irresistible.
I'm surprised you haven't got your eye on the 2007 on 3 series coupe then, if i was changing tomorrow i'd be having one of those, such a beautiful car so sleek and capable.
I'd like a 335i....maybe a 335d but i'm unconvinced about the long term ownership of ultra modern Diesels, however the torque of that Diesel could prove irresistable to me.
Luckily (or not) we have 2 more years before the house is ours so nothing will happen till then.
As to the OP, we change when we find a vehicle that fits our main criteria of something that doesn't bore us to tears and our present vehicle is no longer fulfilling the role it was bought for.
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I'm surprised you haven't got your eye on the 2007 on 3 series coupe then if i was changing tomorrow i'd be having one of those such a beautiful car so sleek and capable.
GB - you are so right about the looks. Some people think that the 3 coupe is too understated. Personally, I love its looks.
Please don't laugh, but the only thing that stops me wanting one is the fact that it only has a boot. I'm limited by the fact that I need more practicality. That's why the Audi Liftback is so intriguing. It will probably not be as good as the BMW, but at least it may tick ALL the boxes.
(And you can get it in quattro form, with a DSG gearbox)
But I really, really, really wish that the 335d Coupe had a hatch!
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We are lucky to live in an affluent country, our bangernomics would be considered luxury in some parts of the world. I have been in taxis where the drivers heels have worn through the floor, and where cars are repaired or bodged, not "component replaced". They replace their cars when they are beyond any repair, not economical repair. When do I change my car? After about 6 years or 100K miles, still almost new.
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My car changing habits have altered with age - and the money which goes with age. I started driving in the mid 70s when there were still credit restrictions - try explaining them to the kids today (but also try explaining them to bankers and we might not be in quite so much of a financial mess)
For the benefit of those who weren't car-buying in the 1970s, if you wanted a loan for a car, regardless of the price of it, you had to have 33% deposit and pay off the balance in 24 months. eg If the car was £1500, you had to have £500 (cash or p-ex) and then you had to pay the remaining £1000 over two years. So in those days I used to take the biggest loan I could afford, and then immediately start the countdown until my two year loan was paid off so I could change my car and start another two year loan, and then look forward to when I'd paid that one off in two years so I could change my car again and start another loan etc etc.
So I used to change cars religiously every two years, purely because of the finance regulations of the time. I would've like to change more often, but I couldn't afford it in those days
Now I can afford to change more often if I wanted to, I just can't be bothered. I keep them for three, four, five years until I feel like a change of scenery.
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i got given my current car, mk 2 Mondeo saloon 2L petrol. had minor accident damage and the guy just wasn't interested. i found the required bits cheap, patched it up and used it ever since. over 155K miles now and going up. it does what it says on the (rusty) tin. when the time comes to get rid i'll stick it on ebay, someone will buy it.
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Soon and because they are both 15 years old and wearing out!
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