Do you have an “enforced” keeper?
Discussion
As discussed on other threads, the price of most cars has gone up significantly over the last 3 years as a result of various factors combined with an increased cost of living (utility bills/food/mortgage etc.), and I was just wondering how many people have decided to keep their existing car for a longer period than originally envisaged?
Back in early 2020 I sold a new shape Suzuki Jimny and decided to buy something a bit more sensible, which ended up being a Skoda Scala. I wouldn’t normally buy a newish car (Jimny excepted) but at the time they were relatively new and it was the only small/mid range Skoda with lumbar support, which was crucial for me; it was the cheapest in the country (and the week before lockdown) and the dealer had given up the Skoda franchise for Ford and was keen to move it on so it was well priced. It’s turned out to be a fantastic car for what we use it for, and whilst I would never normally keep a car this long (we’ve done 40k in it) the cost of replacing it means it’s just not a priority for us at the moment so we intend to keep it till it dies. I do all the servicing on it, and whilst it’s bland and mundane (I have a motorbike for fun) I take quite a bit of pride in keeping it in A1 condition.
What is your “enforced” keeper?
Back in early 2020 I sold a new shape Suzuki Jimny and decided to buy something a bit more sensible, which ended up being a Skoda Scala. I wouldn’t normally buy a newish car (Jimny excepted) but at the time they were relatively new and it was the only small/mid range Skoda with lumbar support, which was crucial for me; it was the cheapest in the country (and the week before lockdown) and the dealer had given up the Skoda franchise for Ford and was keen to move it on so it was well priced. It’s turned out to be a fantastic car for what we use it for, and whilst I would never normally keep a car this long (we’ve done 40k in it) the cost of replacing it means it’s just not a priority for us at the moment so we intend to keep it till it dies. I do all the servicing on it, and whilst it’s bland and mundane (I have a motorbike for fun) I take quite a bit of pride in keeping it in A1 condition.
What is your “enforced” keeper?
Not really enforced but we used to PCP my wife's car so she got a new one on the tick every 3 years, I travelled a lot for work so it was good to keep her in something new and in warranty.
We bought our current Mercedes B class in 2017, it's a really comfortable, big inside small outside, economical car which gets polished and waxed a couple of times a year to keep it looking new. When its 3 years were up my wife decided she wanted to keep it, I nearly fell off my chair as it's the first car we've had that she's wanted to keep. We still have it nearly 7 years and it's running just as well as it did when new and we haven't spent a penny on it other than the annual service, tyres and MOT.
She has seen the new Volvo EX30 which she likes so we might not have it much longer but its been super reliable and still looks like it's new.
We bought our current Mercedes B class in 2017, it's a really comfortable, big inside small outside, economical car which gets polished and waxed a couple of times a year to keep it looking new. When its 3 years were up my wife decided she wanted to keep it, I nearly fell off my chair as it's the first car we've had that she's wanted to keep. We still have it nearly 7 years and it's running just as well as it did when new and we haven't spent a penny on it other than the annual service, tyres and MOT.
She has seen the new Volvo EX30 which she likes so we might not have it much longer but its been super reliable and still looks like it's new.
Our F-Type was meant to be a taste of what it's like having a less practical, fun car rather than having two do-it-all vehicles.
Mrs has loved it, I floated the idea of us upgrading now that we've shown we enjoy the combination and was leaning to a current shape Vantage. Mrs tore apart my man maths and has effectively said the Jag isn't going anywhere whilst prices are so volatile - Movement on a £30-35k car isn't as scary as that on something over double that.
She's right, unfortunately.
Mrs has loved it, I floated the idea of us upgrading now that we've shown we enjoy the combination and was leaning to a current shape Vantage. Mrs tore apart my man maths and has effectively said the Jag isn't going anywhere whilst prices are so volatile - Movement on a £30-35k car isn't as scary as that on something over double that.
She's right, unfortunately.
We own a '19 Civic sedan 1.5 turbo and a '19 Civic Type R. The second was bought from new as a weekend car and anyway I meant to keep it forever. Given that such enthusiast cars are on extinction.
However the sedan is used as a daily. Was bought cpo 1 yr old, 12k miles, very good cobdition, well cared for, paying 60% of the catalog price. Given this economic climate - inflation, price hikes on everything I plan to keep it at least 10 years from now. Sorry car industry, governments, but my revenue is far from keeping pace with the costs increases. You priced yourself out of this market. Of middle class incomes.
To extrapolate I'm cutting the budget for the optional stuff. No more flights(awful services post pandemic btw), purchasing minimum amount of services, DIY. Cutting down on vacation trips. Plenty of ways to rest and spend quality time.
However the sedan is used as a daily. Was bought cpo 1 yr old, 12k miles, very good cobdition, well cared for, paying 60% of the catalog price. Given this economic climate - inflation, price hikes on everything I plan to keep it at least 10 years from now. Sorry car industry, governments, but my revenue is far from keeping pace with the costs increases. You priced yourself out of this market. Of middle class incomes.
To extrapolate I'm cutting the budget for the optional stuff. No more flights(awful services post pandemic btw), purchasing minimum amount of services, DIY. Cutting down on vacation trips. Plenty of ways to rest and spend quality time.
Edited by alex_2015 on Wednesday 7th February 20:49
J1990 said:
Our F-Type was meant to be a taste of what it's like having a less practical, fun car rather than having two do-it-all vehicles.
Mrs has loved it, I floated the idea of us upgrading now that we've shown we enjoy the combination and was leaning to a current shape Vantage. Mrs tore apart my man maths and has effectively said the Jag isn't going anywhere whilst prices are so volatile - Movement on a £30-35k car isn't as scary as that on something over double that.
She's right, unfortunately.
She is. So annoying when that happens.Mrs has loved it, I floated the idea of us upgrading now that we've shown we enjoy the combination and was leaning to a current shape Vantage. Mrs tore apart my man maths and has effectively said the Jag isn't going anywhere whilst prices are so volatile - Movement on a £30-35k car isn't as scary as that on something over double that.
She's right, unfortunately.
Nice to have a wife who insists you keep an F Type though!
MK I Mazda 3 MPS.
17 years old this year and just ticked over 71,000 miles and just refreshed all the brakes this week.
I don't do many miles but it's perfect for my needs. Doesn't owe me anything and is very cheap to run for my circumstances.
I do plan on changing to a G30 540i at some point but I think a new kitchen will likely slow my move in to that.
The day the Mazda goes will be a sad day.
17 years old this year and just ticked over 71,000 miles and just refreshed all the brakes this week.
I don't do many miles but it's perfect for my needs. Doesn't owe me anything and is very cheap to run for my circumstances.
I do plan on changing to a G30 540i at some point but I think a new kitchen will likely slow my move in to that.
The day the Mazda goes will be a sad day.
tim0409 said:
...What is your “enforced” keeper?
My bought my current Lexus IS250 in August 2016 as a cheap stopgap when my previous lease car went back.My plan was to run it for a couple of years for what I would spend on a 2yr lease, and any value left in the car would be a 'win'.
In that 2 year period I changed office so started commuting by train, and then Covid came along which added more working-from-home into the mix, so the car only gets used at weekends and the odd local errand.
I bought the car when it was 9 years old for £5750 - a similar aged IS300h is still more than twice that these days even with prices softening.
The car, of course, has needed very little spending on it in the 6+ years I've owned it. It makes a nice noise which is also something very few newer cars can offer as they are all 4 cylinder turbos (been there, done that, with years of SAAB ownership two decades ago).
Whenever I think of changing cars I can't think of anything 'better' to replace it with (perhaps not ready to make the jump to a two seater sportscar as my only car yet) the nearest thing is an early Tesla that are starting to get 'cheap' and are at least fast and I'm at an age where no-noise is better than 4-cylinder drone or diesel.
It's an interesting question.
I usually change cars every 3 years and typically budget around £10k or basically my old car plus £5k. I never really had any issue getting what felt like an upgrade and it was nice to have a change.
I'm almost at 4 years now with my Fiesta ST and have been looking at various options over the last year. The trouble is that my car plus £5k is nowhere near enough to buy anything I feel is worth having. Most cars I like are £20k and I could afford to pay that. But then I give myself a slap and think, what's the point?
Price rises over the last couple of years have destroyed my interest in changing cars. Its lucky that I still enjoy the one I have.
I usually change cars every 3 years and typically budget around £10k or basically my old car plus £5k. I never really had any issue getting what felt like an upgrade and it was nice to have a change.
I'm almost at 4 years now with my Fiesta ST and have been looking at various options over the last year. The trouble is that my car plus £5k is nowhere near enough to buy anything I feel is worth having. Most cars I like are £20k and I could afford to pay that. But then I give myself a slap and think, what's the point?
Price rises over the last couple of years have destroyed my interest in changing cars. Its lucky that I still enjoy the one I have.
PositronicRay said:
I purchased a new Hyundai i20 10 yrs ago. The paint's decided to flake off so now worth less than it should. As it's proving a useful runabout, whilst reliable we'll keep until the wheels fall off too.
I imagine at 20yrs old I'll be at the bottom of its depreciation curve.
I'm in a similar situation - bought a Cayenne 11 years ago (it's now just over 20 years old). I don't use it much, and don't really need it anymore - but it's still probably worth more to me than I'd get if I sold it (the bonnet has really faded for some reason).I imagine at 20yrs old I'll be at the bottom of its depreciation curve.
Problem is - the running costs are beginning to annoy me. By a genius bit of planning, the road tax on all 3 of my cars expires end of Feb - and a letter from DLVA arrived this morning with 3 renewals totalling £1,500........
I may decide it's just not worth the tax + insurance this year and put it up for sale, even though I think I'll miss it.
My Chimaera.
It doesn't get used now the kids have come along and life is busy but values haven't moved in the 5 years I've owned it so with inflation its worth considerably less than I paid therfore it can sit in the garage until either I die or muster the inclination to pull it out and get it back on the road.
It doesn't get used now the kids have come along and life is busy but values haven't moved in the 5 years I've owned it so with inflation its worth considerably less than I paid therfore it can sit in the garage until either I die or muster the inclination to pull it out and get it back on the road.
Our 2015 LCI M135i which has almost every option. Bought at 60k miles/3 years old.
It's now at 130k miles, it's still fun to drive, it's still practical as a multi-purpose car (baby/dump runs) but it does like a drink!
While we've looked at selling it before the hassle factor - dealing with innit's, it's cosmetic condition (parked on street for a few years) and questions on what I'd swap it with for the same £££ (£10k?) makes it a keeper.
It's now at 130k miles, it's still fun to drive, it's still practical as a multi-purpose car (baby/dump runs) but it does like a drink!
While we've looked at selling it before the hassle factor - dealing with innit's, it's cosmetic condition (parked on street for a few years) and questions on what I'd swap it with for the same £££ (£10k?) makes it a keeper.
Edited by kiethton on Thursday 8th February 17:10
davek_964 said:
PositronicRay said:
I purchased a new Hyundai i20 10 yrs ago. The paint's decided to flake off so now worth less than it should. As it's proving a useful runabout, whilst reliable we'll keep until the wheels fall off too.
I imagine at 20yrs old I'll be at the bottom of its depreciation curve.
I'm in a similar situation - bought a Cayenne 11 years ago (it's now just over 20 years old). I don't use it much, and don't really need it anymore - but it's still probably worth more to me than I'd get if I sold it (the bonnet has really faded for some reason).I imagine at 20yrs old I'll be at the bottom of its depreciation curve.
Problem is - the running costs are beginning to annoy me. By a genius bit of planning, the road tax on all 3 of my cars expires end of Feb - and a letter from DLVA arrived this morning with 3 renewals totalling £1,500........
I may decide it's just not worth the tax + insurance this year and put it up for sale, even though I think I'll miss it.
CLK comes in @ £695, if it stops being used it'd be harder to justify.
My 2010 A6 Avant. I only paid £4700 for it back in March 2019 and it has been super reliable and cost buttons to run, so when my 3 year lease of a Leon Cupra ST ended last Feb, coupled with car prices going through the roof, I decided to hang on to it for a bit longer. MOT time next month so hopefully another year of very cheap motoring lies ahead.
LeeM135i said:
Not really enforced but we used to PCP my wife's car so she got a new one on the tick every 3 years
I travelled a lot for work so it was good to keep her in something new and in warranty.
We bought our current Mercedes B class in 2017, it's a really comfortable, big inside small outside, economical car which gets polished and waxed a couple of times a year to keep it looking new. When its 3 years were up my wife decided she wanted to keep it, I nearly fell off my chair as it's the first car we've had that she's wanted to keep. We still have it nearly 7 years and it's running just as well as it did when new and we haven't spent a penny on it other than the annual service, tyres and MOT.
That is the normal ownership experience of most cars - they are reliable and you can buy breakdown coverI travelled a lot for work so it was good to keep her in something new and in warranty.
We bought our current Mercedes B class in 2017, it's a really comfortable, big inside small outside, economical car which gets polished and waxed a couple of times a year to keep it looking new. When its 3 years were up my wife decided she wanted to keep it, I nearly fell off my chair as it's the first car we've had that she's wanted to keep. We still have it nearly 7 years and it's running just as well as it did when new and we haven't spent a penny on it other than the annual service, tyres and MOT.
As you have demonstrated there is no need to buy a new car - I generally run cars that are 15+ years old circa 100k and I haven't broken down in 20+ years
In the last 3 years it's needed a £3 exhaust gasket, £80 shocks £50 egr and is still worth more than I paid for it
Herbs said:
My i3.
I change cars every 12-18 months without fail and had this for 6 years. Finally sold it last weekend.
Simply put, nothing else could come close financially for running costs and the convenience features were brilliant.
This I understand. The i3 is an amazing car. Just bought our second (i3s) after buying the first 3 years ago as white goods for work, then fell in love. So not enforced. Sorry…I change cars every 12-18 months without fail and had this for 6 years. Finally sold it last weekend.
Simply put, nothing else could come close financially for running costs and the convenience features were brilliant.
I live right in a city centre in Canada. In 2004 I bought a Smart Fortwo. In 2024 it it still here with 19,000 miles on it. There is no substitute- typical downtown journeys are less than ten miles, traffic is congested, so performance is irrlevant. The diesel works fine and it costs peanuts to fill up.
A half parking space can always be found.
It has NOT been cheap to maintain with a new turbo , brakes and lots fo stuff as it lives outside in the Canadian winters and is parked for weeks at. time. When EVs get small enough or it has a catastrophic failure it will have to go but do not see any small enough substitutes right now..
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A half parking space can always be found.
It has NOT been cheap to maintain with a new turbo , brakes and lots fo stuff as it lives outside in the Canadian winters and is parked for weeks at. time. When EVs get small enough or it has a catastrophic failure it will have to go but do not see any small enough substitutes right now..
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