How old is your car?

[niallmac]

Poll question: How old is your car?

My 1991 Isuzu Trooper is getting along just fine. It needs some body work that's for sure but
aside from that our car seems to get us around town ok.
Is your car less than five years old and is that because the old one wore out or do you
just feel like you deserve a new car every now and then?
I understand that some may purchase new for new safety features or better mileage but
how often is that the reason to buy new? My gut feeling is that we often buy new
for reasons other than practicality.
Why the poll? I was just looking at all the new cars on the road and
realized: I don't get it.

[BuelahWitch]

1. 1993 Ford Tempo with 98600 miles

I've been car payment free for over 6 years! :hi:

[Milspec]

14. haven't had a car for over 3 years

I go to work every day on mass transit. In Los Angeles. And I'm a professorial making over 70K a year. I have less stress, read more and have a lot more money now than I've had in the last 20 years.
Now my Apt is located in a very convenient spot in the valley with the market at the corner on Ventura Blvd. (anyone knowing the valley will know how convenient that location is)
I know not everyone can do this but it works for me (on dates I use a towncar service, I can afford it LOL)

[BuelahWitch]

27. I never drove till I was 24 years old

Hated having to get rides from people and taking the bus (and all the men who used to stop and try to get me to get into their vehicles with them while I waited for it). I like the convenience my car gives me. It's not pretty, but it's reliable.

[xmas74]

119. If my '93 Tracer ever dies

you can have it for parts. They would be interchangable on quite a few things.

I bought mine used a few years ago. It's at almost 250,000 miles.

[mhr]

2. Eight Years And Running Strong

eom

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. 1995 Saturn. Just hums along...

[Yollam]

4. I just finished driving my 1995 Ford Escort into the ground.

It had 158K miles on it. I like used cars because they are economical, even taking the added repairs into account.

The only thing I feel bad about is that a lot of the newer case are better on fuel economy and emissions - I'd love to have a Prius.

But that's not my budget, so I'm buying a 1994 Mitsubishi with 50K miles on it. I don't drive that much and am not big on making impressions, so it's fine with me.

[Cobalt Violet]

5. 11 years old.

I will drive it to the end. I will only make minor repairs if need be.

[Marr]

6. Cars are a waste of money. I just bought my first car that's

younger than me just two years ago- a '93 Celica. Before that, I drove a '69 VW Bug, and before that, a '64 Rambler. I make good money, but I can't understand why my friends buy new cars. It's like throwing your money into the furnace. They depreciate the moment you drive them off the lot.

[Milspec]

28. The owner of the company I work for

Drives a 70 something car. He owns a 60 million a year company (and has for the last 50 years!) yet hates the "disposable economy" thinking I would not describe him as a Lib but he is very community minded and earth friendly. He once stuck his head into a engineering meeting I was in and asked if any of us new how to rewire a transformer. When we asked "Why"? he said he had a old black & white portable TV in the kitchen that parts are no longer made for and he wanted to fix it!

[Marr]

70. Haha!

That's great. Sounds like an interesting- or at least frugal- guy. :D

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

7. Once It Hits The 4-5 Year Mark I Guess.

My wife's hyundai sonata is a 2003, and by next year we'll probably be getting something new. Not sure yet what. My Chevy Blazer is a 2002 but I bought it used only a year and a half ago. Probably would hold onto that one for at least another year.

[Solon]

16. Woah, every five years, how can you afford that?

I'm lucky to get a five year loan for a car that's affordable, but then again, my car is an 89' Celica, bought used about 5 years ago, but wasn't taken good care of before I got it. Now the rod's broke and it needs a new engine, the thing is that its a Convertable, and had REALLY good performance and sipped gas, so I estimated the cost for replaceing the engine, 800 bucks, for a NEW engine, not to mention the car is owned, free and clear, I had REALLY cheap insurance for it, and its a 5 speed. I figure I'll pay the 800 plus labor, and its still cheaper than its actual value, over 2 grand(its in good condition otherwise). Now, at best, I could get an outright lemon, used, for about 800 to 1500 dollars, or pay that same amount for a decent car I got now, with a convertable top that works, and the engine will be new, taken care of, and work for at least another 15 years, if not more. Actually, if I keep the engine in REALLY good condition, this car will probably run into the next century, hell, I'm even looking at alternatives now, I have options, one is converting it to hybrid, another would be to try to convert totally to electic, or fuel cell, or diesel running lard on it, who knows, I haven't decided yet, and I'm still saving up money for it.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

49. Easily.

5 year loan. At the end of the five years, if you just get a new one for around the same differential cost as you got the original one, your payments are the same for the next five years as they had been for the past five years.

[Solon]

88. I hate being in debt to begin with...

but that's just me, the only person on the planet that refuses to get a credit card, and pays off things early if possible, like my car, a five year loan, only 180 bucks a month, paid off in 3 years, give or take a month. Its the SECOND car I paid off, but I "traded" payments with my sister, she couldn't drive a stick to begin with, and the Celica was her car, I had a 95 Corsica and had her take over payments on that, and I took the payments for the Celica. The weird thing was that the Celica's payments were 30 bucks more a month than the Corsica's, though a four door sedan isn't worth as much as a 2 door convertable, still the Celica was 6 years older.

[TNDemo]

8. Our newest is a 1987. I kept my Nova for 22 years.

We have old Jaguars because my husband loves them. People keep telling how rich I am to drive one and I keep thinking "mine cost $4,500 and yours cost $25,000...hmmm - who's rich?"

[Nomad559]

9. 1987 Ford E150 Van

258 thousand miles on It, and It still runs strong.

My Van
?click

:)

[-..__...]

39. Just sent my 1984 E150 to the bone yard about a week ago.

Cali style surfer van with porthole windows, sun roof, roof racks, carpeted interior, bed in the back dry bar, etc (manual "4 on the floor" stick shift). 170,000+ miles.

The engine and tranny was still running pretty solid (burnt/leaked a bit of oil, but not much... maybe a quart per month).

What killed it was the New England winters. Floor boards replaced twice. Door panels and side body had
malignant cancer. Brake lines were paper thin and brittle as potato chips (replaced once).

It got to the point where I finally had to put the old girl down. ;(

[madrchsod]

10. lets see

93 honda accord-230,000
87 honda crx-168,000
97 dodge interpid-240,000

i have 0 money to buy another car so i hope they keep on keep`n on...

[niallmac]

11. Holy C**p! DUers drive em 'til they drop!

I am like really surprised by this. Nice to hear I am not alone though.

[Solon]

19. Even beyond that, my car dropped, but is simply worth too much to abandon.

Its an 89 Celica GT, the engine is blown, recently, the previous owners have LOTS to answer for, plus its a convertable, replacing the Engine is cheaper than getting a new car, much less another convertable, then it will run for another 2 decades, easily.

[RamboLiberal]

12. I have to keep my going for 6 years - that's how long the payments

are. I'm driving a Pontiac Vibe - since most of the mechanical components are Toyota I'm hoping it will last that long. Next month I will have had it 3 years and I already have near 57,000 miles on it.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

13. 1992 Ford

And, like my last car, the 1976 Maverick, I'll drive it until it goes up in flames.

[kevinbgoode]

15. Still running mine as well. . .

1997 Mirage - 114,000 miles

[Warpy]

17. 1990 Ranger

I just sold it, though, and bought a little Korean econobox with almost as much cargo space.

It was time, it was nickel and diming me to death. It had been a great truck for 15 years, though and only cost me a fuel pump on a round trip between NM and Florida. The mileage was lousy in town, but over 30 on the highway, not bad for such an old truck.

The longest I ever kept a car on the road was 23 years. By the time it was retired, there was more Bondo than sheet metal on it.

[Thtwudbeme]

18. '98 Subaru Outback

100,000 miles on it, and I don't get rid of cars til they turn over at least 200,000.

[hlthe2b]

69. ditto, Thtwudbeme....98 Subie Outback

Lower mileage though--69K. I drive to work and back, basically--walk for all my errands. I'd bike to work, if there was direct way to go the 14 miles each way. Unfortunately, there is not, so it would be more like 20 miles each way and there is no shower at work or close by...

(I've been fighting my own little war against big petroleum--ironically, I don't know how to cut back any further, now that gas is going up and up and up!)

[midnight armadillo]

85. selling my '98 subaru legacy

116k miles, we bought a minivan so i will take over the 2001 saab wagon which I will keep til 300k miles.

[catmandu57]

124. Can I join the Subaru club

Mine is a 1984 GLC wagon with almost 300k, I don't drive it too much though.

[LiberalVoice]

20. 1995 Honda Civic

I'm a poor college student. If my car goes im screwed :P

[many a good man]

24. 95 Odyssey

As long one year's repair costs are less than one year's worth of car payments I figure I come out ahead.

[riderinthestorm]

21. Honda CRV, '99, 167k miles

I'll give it to my college age daughter this summer and get another used vehicle for me. I'm going to wait until the technology catches up and get one of those 100 mpg Toyota Prius' when I next buy a new car!

I've owned Hondas for my last couple cars. I've had great luck with Saabs as well - I inherited my first one. We purchased the second one and then we couldn't afford a third one which compelled the switch to a Honda.

My husband and I use Chevy trucks on the farm, and for hauling livestock. I have never had one crash before 160k miles either. We use them until they drop. And they are HARD working, towing, crunching over bad roads, truck beds filled with literally thousands of pounds at any given time of gravel/hay/mulch/equipment/whatevah miles....

I know some of you like those OTHER truck brands but for us, nothing beats a Chevy on a farm.

[marbuc]

22. Bought a 2002 CR-V last year

after driving a 1990 Chevy Beretta into the ground.

[SmokingJacket]

23. My new car is freakishly NEW.

1994 -- Whoah! It has computers and shit in it.

My first car, which I got in 1993, was a 1979 Datsun. What a beaut! How I miss it! I gave it to a junkyard because it was just totally dead, but then was wracked with guilt when I saw some dude driving it around a few weeks later!

[LuckyLib]

25. I've had VWs and Toyota Camrys. Drive 'em til they drop or rust

out from the floorboards up. 11 years, most of the time. I know, we're frugal. I shake my head at folks who lease a new car every two years. What a waste! Particularly telling are those folks who lease because it's all deducted, or rather subsidized by fellow taxpayers.

[ChiciB1]

Have A 1991 Toyota Celica... Yeah I Know.. Foreign

but bought it in 2003 and it only had 24,000 miles on it!! The lady who owned it had it sitting in her garage like FOREVER!

What a deal I got, $4,200.00 and I've never regretted it! My grandson really wants it... says it looks HOT, loves the spoiler and rims! Can't get better than that!

[Igel]

26. '92 Taurus with

38k miles on it, '05 Cavalier with 15k or so.

The Taurus went from Baltimore to Phoenix to Atlanta to New York to Houston, from various moves. The Cavalier's done a Houston-Phoenix-Houston trip.

We make sure we live near work. :-)

[CrispyQ]

29. '93 Toyota truck

92,000 miles

Still looks nice & drives great!

[MercutioATC]

30. '96 Honda Accord 163k mi. - '83 Porsche 911 106k mi.

Both still run great.

[Divernan]

31. Drove my last Saab to 203,000 mi.; gave it to my daughter.

My current Saab has 154,000 miles on it. Should be good for another 8 years.
Oh, and I get 34 mpg.

[GrumpyGreg]

32. Bought a 2006 Corolla in September and dumped a 10 year old Sable.

[mopinko]

33. lefties are poor, or maybe we are lefties because we are poor.

probably gonna buy our first new car just to get something green.
looking to replace my 93 suburban, 275,000 miles, with a diesel, if i can. at least then i can run biodiesel. i really do need the space. i bought it with most of those miles on it, and don't drive it that much. a used one would be fine, my mechanic is looking for me.
but i do think we are gonna buy a prius or something soon. the 86 saab is on its last legs. only been driving that for a year.
new will be nice for once in my life.

[Marie26]

34. '95 Mercury Tracer

that I'm driving till it drops. I'm getting worried now cause the AC & clutch are both starting to go. And I don't get all the new cars either - why would anyone would take over huge car payments unless they had to? It seems to be mostly a status symbol for many people.

[CelticWinter]

35. 97 mercury cougar that just rolled over

100 thousand last week and a 99 ranger with about the same miles........i run them until they drop

[norml]

36. 1988 Olds Cutlass Ciera, that I got from some Milford meth heads.

It was a mess, but I needed something for work that night, so I threw them $500, and drove away.

It's still a mess, but it runs well enough to deliver the pizzas.

[MikeDuffy]

37. 1968 VW

Beetle

[riderinthestorm]

42. My husband's 68 Beetle is waiting for rehab

He's been swearing it's gonna get back on the road someday. A "new" engine has been sitting on the floor of the barn in front of the Beetle for 2 decades. I swear to god, someday it's gonna be a shitstorm when we come to real butting of heads over that car!

At least I got him to sell the 63 VW van when we got married or there would be TWO ancient VW's in the barn dammit!

[maveric]

38. 2006. First "new" car I've ever bought.

And I was 49 when I bought it.

[spacelady]

40. My car is a 1968 Buick Riveria. I posit that I have kept it in working

condition since I inherited it in 1975, therefore I am vindicated in driving a muscle car that guzzles gas because I have not used any resources in buying new cars over the years. No, this is not a restored car, it is a work car. Am I absolved from gas guzzling derision?

[Merlot]

41. 1990 with over 200K and still rides great

What I want next is a Honda Insite. It's their two seater hybred. So cute to zip around town in.

Does anyone know if hybreds need special maintenance? Do they have to be worked on at a Honda dealership or can any mechanic work on them?

[haydukelives]

43. 99 Ford Escort Wagon

150,000 miles. Bought it new, I'm go for 250,000.
We need a major advance in fuel mileage before I buy new again.

[GreenPoet64]

44. 97 Toyota Celica n/t

[uppityperson]

45. Newest is 91 subaru, wow, didn't realize it was that new

doing pretty good to have the newest be 15 yrs old.

[Blue_Tires]

46. i'll admit, i'm 'other'

kept my first (used) car from HS for 7 years; on my current (used) car for the 4th year with no major issues....

since college, all i have EVER thought about other than women and seeing the world is getting a new (very fast) car

[sellitman]

47. I have 2 used cars

Both from 1998

A Volvo V-70 Wagon
A Plymouth Voyager

The Voyager was a company car I purchased from my company after driving it for 80k on them, and the Volvo matches my Birkenstocks.

[BlueAwards]

48. But wait! What about buying hybrids?

I have a number of friends who traded in their older low mileage cars to get newer hybrid cars with 2-3 times the mileage. You can't really get used ones around here because everyone who buys them KEEPS them. I can't sneer at that!

BTW - I have no car. I take the bus, ride my bike or walk.

[Hobarticus]

50. '95 Mazda 626, 220k miles, and it purrs like a kitten...

This is my second Mazda, and my first had 245k miles before I sold it for this one.

She could use new rims, but the paint's held up well, and her interior's sound and still looks pretty good. Not a spot of rust on her, at all.

I have utter faith in this car, I'd drive it cross-country in a heartbeat.

[Matariki]

51. I want a hybrid. A civic or a prius.

but i don't want the car loan. *sigh*

[catabryna]

52. 1999 Honda CRV here... 114K

Planning on driving it until it drives no more... Decent gas mileage and dependable; I love this car!

[TheCowsCameHome]

53. 147,000 on first, 168,000 on second, 267,000 on third. They won't die.

1995 Chrysler van, 1988 S-10 Blazer, 1985 Buick Lesabre.

Too much good used iron out there to want to go for the big bucks................

[Rowdyboy]

54. 1995 Toyota Tercel, 172,000 miles, good condition.....

I don't plan to be looking for a new car anytime soon. I bought her new and she's spent exactly ONE day in the shop in 11 years since. I couldn't be happier.

[bullwinkle428]

2002 Honda Accord - it was just paid off, and I intend to keep it for

at least a couple of more years. The next car will have to get at least 40 mpg...I just don't see gas prices ever dropping from this point on.

[northofdenali]

55. '02 and '04 Jeep Liberties -

2001 Yamaha Roadstar, 1979 Yamaha XS1100SF, and if my previous luck with these brands is any indication, I'll drive 'em till they fall apart.

My last Jeep had over 300K on it.

[spag68]

61. The jeeps

might fall apart someday,but the Yamamas will probably last forever. 2003 Kaw 1500fi is mine, now if I could only move to Fla.and ride year round.

[northofdenali]

71. Man, the Yammerhammers are good to go forever -

I'm about ready to dig 'em both out (it's above 30, and there's only a LITTLE ice left on the street).

Took the '79 model from Fairbanks to South Florida when it was only 25.......... then back.

[Thirtieschild]

56. 1990 Honda, 2002 Subaru

We drove our Ford Country Sedan 21 years and will keep the Honda and Subaru as long as they're willing.

[seg4527]

57. what car?

i take the bus and/or walk.

[Gabi Hayes]

58. had an 87 Accord for fifteen years, then bought a used Camry

in Jan of last year, when gas went from 1.75 to 2.05 in three weeks, or so, I decided this was it, and figured it was time to get a car that would get really good mileage, had proven technology, and would last a long time

in June I got a new diesel Jetta

now diesel is 2.79, and that's the cheapest in the Chicago area. I paid 2.85 for it last week. you can be sure it's not going to get any cheaper in the long run.

engine on this car is supposed to last 250K miles, on average

it better

[spag68]

66. Don't complain

here on Long Island even reg. is within pennys of 3.00 and when May 30 gets here 3.50 to 4.00 is going to happen.

[Gabi Hayes]

68. not complaining, except for the fact that this latest rise has nothing

to do with stockpiled oil/gas

I heard a report within the last week that that supplies are as high as they've been in quite some time. speculators are driving up the price because of the saber rattling over Iran

here's chicago area prices as of today

http://www.chicagogasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=A

lots of places over 3.00

[Gabi Hayes]

82. see?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=922412&mesg_id=922412

[ThomWV]

59. '99 Ford SuperDuty and a 2003 Audi A4 - Drive 'em 'till they drop.

Just under 180,000 on the truck, but its a Diesel. Good milage for wht it is, an 8,000 pound truck. The Audi, which is really nice to drive, only has about 50k on the clock but because of its gas milage (upper 20's to low 30's) I'll be driving it more.

[jus_the_facts]

60. 1989 Chevrolet Corsica...< 70K miles. eom

[KeepItReal]

62. One '95 M3 plus one honest mechanic...

I could drive it forever!

[mike_c]

63. 1997 Jeep Cherokee, 160,000 miles....

eom

[ellenfl]

64. my camry is 11 years old and was a

hand-me-down from my mother (we traded my car to upgrade her). in the 36 years that i have owned cars, i have only bought one brand new. i have never had the 'keeping up with the jones' ethic.

i drive them until i HAVE to get another. of course, my camry only has 50m miles on it so it's still in great shape. out of 9 cars, i have only had 3 cars purchased on time. i hate car payments.

that said, i have bad luck with cars and watches. they don't seem to last as long as they should. i have never had a car last to 100m miles and i only buy name brand watches because off brand die quickly on me.

ellen fl

[Clark2008]

65. Um - I don't fit any of those categories.

My car is 12 years old (1995 Ford Mustang - 12 years old because the new models come out the fall prior) and is showing no signs of "dropping," but, it's obviously older than 10 years old.

I'm looking at getting a newer model at the end of this year or the beginning of next, but I probably will keep this one as a back-up (to drive when the other one is being serviced or whatever) because the '95 still won't be on it's last legs... erm... axles by then.

Oh - and my car was made in America - when the old Atlanta Ford plant used to make Mustangs - and it's a damn fine car, so I prefer not to hear bitching about "shoddy" American workmanship.

[Warren DeMontague]

67. Late 90s Toyota Corolla, still going strong.

I have no problem with "drive it 'til it drops", however, in my experience "dropping" is proceeded by a increasing level of diminishing returns vis a vis repairs- which is the point at which I generally cut things off.

[derby378]

74. Yeah, I understand - I used to have the same thing

Emerald green 1997 Toyota Corolla DX. It was my "Great Green Wonder." Then some teenage girl in her dad's Mercedes ran the intersection, totalled our car, and put my wife in the hospital.

We used the settlement money as a down payment on a 2001 Camry LE. I would have gotten a Prius instead, but they were still a bit out of my range at the time. And my wife is super-comfy in the Camry, which makes it great for road trips to Crawford, Austin, etc.

[tammywammy]

72. I have a 2006 Beetle TDI

I traded in an 01 Chevy Cavilier that had 93K miles on it. I was worried that it was about to explode at 100K and need a lot more maintenance work.

I got the Beetle TDI (diesel) last October for the mileage and the fact that it's a very sturdy engine that can easily last 200K miles. I plan to keep this one for at least 8 years.

[kcass1954]

73. I just bought a new Camry, to replace my 91 Skylark. I've been driving on

borrowed time - my mechanic told me 7 months ago not to put any more money into it. I plan to have the Camry for at least 12-15 years, or until it takes a crap. My husband drives a '97 F150 and an '80 Harley - no plans to replace either of those vehicles.

[Fountain79]

75. My car has 273,000 miles on it

It's a Ford Explorer(don't hate me!) but it was a hand me down. I am looking for a honda civic as soon as I can afford it.

[lutefisk]

94. three vehicles- each one over 100,000 miles

83 Toyota Tercel 4WD Wagon, 30+ mpg
95 Infiniti- bought it new and it's the most reliable car I've ever owned, 30+ mpg
95 Toyota Land Cruiser- hey, it's only a 6 cylinder- not a V8... and my "fleet mpg" is pretty good!

[BlueStateBlue]

76. 2005 Honda Accord. I think this one will be the keeper

I haven't fallen in love with a car in YEARS. Sold my 2001 Accord to my 80 year old mom last year. (She told me she had dibs the day I picked that one up.)

Basically, I can't afford to buy a house (northern NJ) so I pacified myself with a car. I could see myself driving this one for many, many years. And, once I do bite the bullet and become a homeowner, I'll have to :-0

[moc]

77. 2005 Honda Odyssey but previous car was 1990 Subaru Legacy nm

[veganred]

78. 93' Mitz Eclipse at 122,000 miles! Work great

Only problems:
Replaced clutch recently
Replaced brakes recently

Aside from the basics (batteries, tires, etc)

I moved to DC 6 years ago from Texas and I don't have to drive my car often :) It has expanded my car's lifespan.

[King_Crimson]

79. '95 Ford Escort LX here..

New tires a year ago, new struts, new serpentine belt, new tie rod ends, new brakes, tranny fluid changed last fall, engine flushed and oil changed just a week ago, about to turn 100,000 miles and purrs like a kitten. Exam of A/C shows NO defects, AM stereo casstte works fine, 26mpg on highway. Makes me happy! :headbang:

[Fox Mulder]

80. My car is a 1992 Buick Skylark.

It has 115,000 or so miles on it.

I'm keeping it until it dies.

[yorkiemommie1]

81. 11, 6, and 3 days

we're loaning the oldest our daughter, we have the others.

the newest is the Saturn SKY which my husb. ( retired ) has been pining for.

no auto loans here.

[libnnc]

83. 1993 Eagle Summit Wagon

over 167,000 miles. No major repairs except some transmission work 4 years ago (appx $1200).

[jeffrey_X]

84. we HAD a 95 ford contour 2 years ago...now we don't own a car.

...

[kineneb]

86. driving 2nd Hyundai

drove my 1992 Hyundai Excel until it was getting doubtful for long trips (176,000 mi.!) Mom helped me buy the 2000 Hundyai Elantra wagon, which now has 120K miles. I drive my little cars into the ground.

Yes, I live in CA, and do a lot of driving. That's life when you are a musician. Now I have to drive Hubby to dialysis 3x/week (~50 mi. round trip).

[Lady Effingbroke]

87. '93 Toyota truck.

I do not want to ever buy another vehicle after this one - I'm just gonna...drive it till it drops!

[Swamp Rat]

89. My car was flooded during Katrina, but I made it run again.

It may be junky, but makes about 35 mpg. :)

[alfredo]

90. Have an 88 Dodge Colt. It still has a Clinton/Gore sticker

I also have a 1997 Hyndai Elantra I bought second.

[Virginian]

91. 1991 - It still gets me where I need to go.

I will replace it when it needs the next expensive repair.

[OnionPatch]

92. Thirteen years, 187,000 miles

on my Jeep Cherokee. It's still in great shape as far as looks and cosmetic stuff and hasn't caused me too many problems mechanically. I hope it holds out for another year or two and that I can afford a hybrid by then.

[soothsayer]

93. 1995 acura integra with 138,000 miles on it. Runs like a champ!

Knock on wood....

[The Traveler]

95. 1991 Chevy Camaro RS named Christine

She has a few, uh, modifications.

Christine will be down for an overhaul shortly. She still gets well over 20 mpg and handles like a dream. She's missing her front spoiler, there are several dings in her flanks, and her paint is fading. But when I tell her to go, she growls and howels and my head snaps back against the rest. She grabs the curves like a lionness with freshly sharpened claws.

When I have finished rebuilding her trans, her exhaust and her engine she'll get a new paint job.

My sons claim they will do the Viking burial thing ... but instead of a burning ship bearing my body they will burn the car. They lie. They want the car. I'll probably be cremated in a row boat or something. Kids.

[REP]

96. Drove an '86 6000LE Until 2004

1997 Grand Am 2004-2006

Now we have a 1998 Grand Prix and a 2006 FX35.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

97. 1992 Pick up truck

Toyota, 2 door with a campershell.

That got vandalized last week, one smashed window, some damage to campershell.

:mad:

[radfringe]

98. mine is a '98

in '04 I was considering trading it in and getting a new one. But after a review of my budget - found I couldn't really afford the payments.

I'll have to wait until the economy "trickles down" to me.. right now I'm just getting "tinkled-on"

[B Calm]

99. 1990 Buick Lesabre, 1996 Chevy pickup, and 2000 Buick Century

[laruemtt]

100. mine's a 1991 mazda 323 with

76,000 miles - i try not to drive much! dh's is a 1991 mazda protege with about 170,000! he drives throughout the state for work and takes really good care of it.

[Raine]

101. 1956 Ford Thunderbird

and a 1965 Mustang, I love the classics! :loveya:

[hyphenate]

102. A 1995 Ford Windstar

Has had both engine replaced and transmission rebuilt. Just over 100,000 miles on it right now. Brand new tires (November, 2005).

It brought me from California to Massachusetts and worked fine. It has a few minor problems, two of them computer sensor related, but nothing unsafe.

I couldn't live without a van anymore. I hate to admit it, but it's sort of like an extra storage place for me. Since I have no strength a lot of the time, I have to leave big stuff in it until I can get the time and energy to get the stuff out of it. So right now, it's kind of full. I can't imagine that with a car--I'd never have been able to fit as much into it!

It is doing pretty well for me. I've had it now for a little over three years, since January, 2003.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

103. I have a 96 Integra that I purchased used 2 years ago. It's the first car

that I bought that had under 100,000 miles in years. The gas mileage is great and has enough zip to get out of its own way.

[Lorax]

104. We don't believe in the disposable economy either

Our friends and family are always asking when we are going to buy new cars. As if that is the only way to "prove" that you've made it. We could afford to but we think it's stupid. Our only debt is the mortgage and student loans (then again our student loans are probably more than some people's mortgages). We happen to think that's the only worthwhile debt there is to have.

My 95 Saab is the newest car we ever owned. It's got about 150K miles and running strong. I get about 35 mpg and I only fill it up maybe twice a month. I drove from Boston to Baltimore in that car on exactly one tank of gas. It was awesome. We have had very good luck with Saabs in the past.

DH just bought an 83 diesel Mercedes. He intends to run biodiesel in it. I'm so jealous, I wish I could do the same but all of my driving is short local trips and that's not so good for a diesel car.

[bunkerbuster1]

105. I expect to go 100K/10 years with a car

After that, I start thinking seriously about replacing it. Not before.

[supernova]

106. 1992 Chevy conversion van

While the milage isn't the best, it always starts and it's paid for.

They engine is still running well.

[LWolf]

107. My '94 Toyota truck

has 215,000 miles and is doing well. I passed it on to my son 2 years ago, for an '04 model of the same.

I've got another decade before I have to worry about buying another vehicle. I hope they've got something with good fuel efficiency for rural drivers/ranch work by then.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

108. '94 bottom of the line 4wd Toyota pickup and '91 Toyota Tercel.

Both are bottom of the line. No air conditioning, no radio, no cd players, no nothing. But, they've cost us almost nothing in repairs and continue to run just like the day we bought them.

[newportdadde]

109. 99 Mustang with 74k, 2001 Buick LeSabre with 43k. I have the new car itch

Both cars paid for but I have the new car bug. The Mustang is my daily comuter which I bought new back in April of 99. The Buick we got October of 04 before we new about the twins and paid cash(got a really good deal on this car). I'd love a new car something with four doors and more economy like a Civic maybe.

The problem is if anyone is this family needs a new car its my wife with a 2 year old and 2 8 week old twins. The back of the Buick can hold 3 car seats, but barely and she has to do gymnastics to get the little one out of the middle car seat, she could really use a mini-van.

Again though its really hard to justify a car payment when you don't have any checks to write and everything works fairly well especially if you have little ones and just one income.

Damn you new car bug!

[scarlet_owl]

110. 1994 Pontiac Sunbird.

It looks like a piece of shit, but it runs just fine.

[miss_american_pie]

111. Hubby kept his last car until 200,000 miles

Mine's a 96 Cavalier, but it's rusting.

[ProfessorGAC]

112. '95 Lebaron Convertible 199,100 Miles

I buy used ragtops. Pay cash. Drive 'em 'til the wheels fall off. Then get another one. Been doing that for more than 20 years.
The Professor

[bigwillq]

113. I just bought a 2006 Nissan Altima

It's two months old! :bounce:

[AirmensMom]

117. My daughter has a 1993 one that she bought in 1997.

She LOVES it! It just keeps going and going. It must have over 200,000 miles on it. :bounce:

[AirmensMom]

114. I'm currently on my third car since 1973.

It's a 1997 Mustang GT convertible ... might have been my midlife crisis car, but it's not red.

[peekaloo]

115. I drove my '91 Sunbird for fifteen years.

finally gave it up after 173,000 miles. it still runs well so i gave it to a neighbor rather than have a dealer give me a BS amount on the trade-in.

bought a 2006 CR-V.

[gollygee]

116. What might make a difference for some people

is that at some point if you can't fix things yourself you might end up spending more on repairs than a car payment for a new (or more likely newer used) car would be.

My husband can fix cars so I drive them till they drop.

[xmas74]

118. 1993 Mercury Tracer.

It still runs well, I like the green color on it and I can't afford another car. It's at 250,000 miles now.

Interior is still in decent shape, doesn't need any bodywork but could use a new paintjob, needs a new stereo and work on the A/C. Otherwise, it's fine.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

120. Public transportation slave here.

:evilfrown:

[no name no slogan]

121. 1997 Mercury Sable

station wagon with a V6 engine and 108k miles on it. Bought it for $4000 three years ago. The only major work I've had done are brakes and tires. Otherwise it's the most reliable car I've ever owned. Who would've thought Ford could do that?

[Left Is Write]

122. Mine is a 2003 and my husband's is a 2000.

We bought mine new and his used.

We were unhappy with my previous minivan (a 2000 Windstar we had bought used), which is why we bought my Sienna.

The first brand new car I ever bought was a 1989 Chevy Cavalier; I drove it until it gave up the ghost.

[eyesroll]

123. 2002 Saturn, bought in July '01.

Before that, a 1995 Neon, bought in 1994.

I get a new car when it costs more to maintain than it would to just get a new one with a warranty. When I traded in the Neon, it had 85,000 miles on it, and something new blew every month (every seal and gasket, and the fuel pump, battery, alternator, a/c, radio, lock cylinder, and a few other things went kaput in the last year). It was costing me way more than the $300/month a new one would cost. (Thankfully, when the transmission decided to blow up in an oil-change bay, I still had 1,200 miles left on the warranty.)

My next new one will likely come after I graduate from law school and get a job, in 2009, assuming the Saturn (which has been pretty trouble-free -- a transmission leak and a prematurely dead battery have been the only non-routine-maintenance things) lasts. I may not get something quite as frugal as a Saturn or a Neon, especially if I'm making good $, but I won't go terribly upscale either. Maybe a hybrid or diesel (or maybe by then...hybrid diesel?) vehicle for better mileage.

[Cos]

125. 5-10 years & 'til it drops are the same answer!

I couldn't pick, but I decided 'til it drops would be more in the spirit of the answer.

My first car I bought new was a 1997 Saturn SL2 I bought that summer. In November 2004 I had 240,000 miles on it, and my mechanic told me the way I took care of it it'd last past 300,000 for sure. Later that week, some dolt rear-ended it and it was totalled.

Now I have a used 2001 Saturn SL2 but apparently Saturn's quality dropped precipitously after 1998, and this car clearly is not as solid as my previous car, even though I got it with only 95,000 miles. When I have money again I plan to sell it and get a car I like. Hopefully by then I'll be able to afford a hybrid, but it seems unlikely. Either way, hopefully that car will go past 300,000 miles. But I'm sure that'll still be less than ten years.

[BrownOak]

126. 2006 Hummer, and not that wimpy Hummer H3 either...

un-uh. I'm talkin' about the big boy, the 2006 Hummer Alpha with the Duramax 6.6L turbo-charged diesel, just like Arnold drives baby. It's a man's man's vehicle with two diesel tanks holding a total of 52 gallons meaning I can drive for 43 miles on the interstate between fuel stops where it's important to be sure to shut the beast down otherwise it's a zero-sum game when you're trying to refuel. I'm not too worried about that though because I'm looking into getting a fuel truck that I can have trail me for in-drive refueling.

My baby can seat most of a rugby team if I wanted but for the most part it's usually just me in there unless you count the blowup doll I use when I'm crusing in the HOV lanes. It has a payload of one ton and I'm not sure how many baby seals that equates to but one day I'll find out. I can tow a small house with it if I want or one of those power boats I've been eyeing up over the last few days.

On the downside it can be a little tough to park at the mall but that's only if I limit myself to a single parking space which, c'mon, really shouldn't be even thought about for a guy who drives one of these bad boys.

I love my Hummer "this will compensate for my tiny penis" Alpha almost as much as I love my handgun collection. And I'm not one of those posers who went halfway when decking this baby out. I've replaced the leather seats with seats upholstered with the hides of Snow Leopards.

I even bought the really expensive AC upgrade. You gotta have that because summers around here just keep getting hotter and hotter for some reason.

[JVS]

127. .

:popcorn:

[Coes]

128. 2005 Skoda Superb

I'll drive it till it drops.

[LynzM]

129. I drive a '99 van...

Been thinking about trading in recently for something smaller that gets better mileage, but otherwise it's fine. I don't love it, but it runs ok and gets me there!

[Rhiannon12866]

130. I have a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am, the youngest car I've ever owned.

My previous cars were a 1971 Plymouth Duster and a 1977 Dodge Diplomat, inherited from each of my parents, and made long before I could drive.:-)