What old cars are you frugal people nursing through life?

[u/Brokecracker84]

I remember the older generations would buy a car and drive it for two or three decades. Today it is pretty popular to replace a vehicle regularly. What are some old vehicles you all are still driving. I’m stuck in the early 2000s, because they are new enough to have some features, yet, mostly simple to service.

[u/dar512]

When I was young, I read in Consumer Reports that the most frugal approach to owning a car was to buy a car brand new car and drive it until it died. Bonus points if you saved ahead and bought with cash.

That’s what I’ve done since then and have no reason to doubt the advice.

[u/Checkmate1win → u/dar512]

A more frugal approach would probably be to buy a ~3 year old car and drive it until it dies. That way the most aggressive depreciation has occurred before your purchase.

[u/YouDontTellMe → u/Checkmate1win]

Definitely this. Buying a car with 25K miles on it, still under warranty. Save big monies.

[u/theberg512 → u/Checkmate1win]

My Honda was 4 years old with 50k when I bought it in 2009 (for only $10k, it was a simpler time).

It's still my daily, though now I let it rest during the worst of winter. It never let me down, but I don't trust some other jackass to not slide into me.

[u/PmedicProfessor → u/Checkmate1win]

This is wrong advice and I wish people would stop giving it. This hasn't been true for quite some years.

In 2019, I bought a brand new crew cab 4x4 xlt f150 for 26,000 although the MSRP was 44,000. The kbb on it still today between 26,000 and 30,000 (and it just rolled over 50,000 miles last week). Before that I bought a brand new 2016 crew cab 4x4 f250 xl for 30,100 and traded it in 3 years later for 30,000 with 36,000 miles on it (with an original MSRP of 39,000). If you buy a new vehicle with decent resale and take care of it along with paying below MSRP you will come out far ahead. Especially since people like you keep buying vehicles like my truck for "10,000 under new" when by shopping around I got the same deal brand new. I've had 5 more years of warranty and know every little detail along with every well maintained mile driven on my truck while someone like you could be buying 5 years of unknowns such as exceeded towing capacity or little to no oil changes. You don't get the same benefit buying used and pay almost the same price.

[u/AspiringDataNerd → u/Checkmate1win]

Except now for an additional $2-3k you can buy brand new and not have to hope the previous owner took care of it properly. Used cars are still ridiculously expensive unfortunately

[u/KobiLou → u/Checkmate1win]

I think this used to be the case but since COVID and the chip shortage this is less true unfortunately.

[u/jules083 → u/dar512]

My dad has done this since buying his first new vehicle, a 1978 F-250. He has consistently bought a new truck about every 11-15 years. Currently driving a 2016 F-150 that'll be his last truck unless he totals it or something

[u/WaterbabyUrchin → u/dar512]

I read that too. And live by it. I love my car buying story. Can I share it!

I bought all my cars new except two. There was the red convertible Karmann Ghia bought in 1972. Sold her 5 years later - moved back to the Mainland, from Hawaii. For more than I paid for her. I miss her💔

The very first car in 1964, was a '56 robin's egg blue and white Buick convertible. A hand me down from a rich uncle when I was 16.

The New list is fun 😆 1969 red T-top GT6+ Triumph Totaled when a young driver rammed me. I moved to Hawaii and rode The Bus to work. 1976 T-top Mustang Second favorite - or maybe first! 1982 Subaru station wagon... Had a newborn baby to transport 1994 Chrysler Town & Country Became a Soccer Mom Worst vehicle I ever owned: Lost her electricity and timing belt as I was going down a steep mountain AND eventually her steering froze, would only make left turns, so I drove directly to a dealership and traded her in for a new Honda. 3 days after the trade-in, I got a 2 AM call, from the state police saying, come get your car; it's abandoned on the side of the road, in the next county from me. I always submit my own title transfers so I
I told them, it's not mine! 2000 Honda CRV Third best vehicle ever! Over 200,000k 2013 Audi A5 Cabriolet Still have her. Favorite car!
Or was it my Mustang! Still drove my Honda till 2017 over 200,000k The Princess (Audi) has around 50k right now. I'm 78 and slowing down -- a little.