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What's the longest you keep a daily driver?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Former Member 68813, Apr 16, 2017.

  1. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    I've been driving Prius for almost 7 years and I'm getting bored by it and itching for a change. It just occurred to me, I kept my previous DD for 8 years before I got tired of it. Another one was also 8 years. Looks like 8 years is my limit, is it universal? What's yours?
     
  2. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    Counting hand me downs from the family 35 years (though I still have the 47 year old car)
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    my first two prius were 4 years each. i thought the pip would be similar with prime coming out. but with that disappointment, i'm at 5 years and 50,000 miles now and still very happy with her. not sure when my next move will be.
     
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  4. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    Lots see,
    2012 PiP
    2006 Civic
    1998 Corolla

    Looks like I'm at 8 and 6. 8 is my max thus far. The plan is to replace the PiP in 2019 at 150,000 after the HOV decals expired. That would be 7.
     
  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Twelve years was the longest for me. Three others wrapped at eleven, eight, and eight, two by collision and one by theft.

    -Chap
     
  6. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    1962 Ford Falcon wagon until 1976
    1989 Toyota Corrola Alltrac wagon until 2009
     
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  7. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    We have had the wife's 98 4Runner since 2001 when it had 40 k miles on it. Still going strong with 260 k miles now. She drives it about 150 miles a week.

    The steering wheel is starting to degrade and the leather drivers seat is torn and threadbare. I've tried to convince her to get a steering wheel cover and seat cover, but I am told to mind my own business as I don't drive it everyday:rolleyes:.

    It's due for a smog check in December, and if it passes (just changed the car out last year so no reason it shouldn't), it'll keep going down the road :)!
     
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  8. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    thank you all for replying. i'm not counting totaled cars or cars i got rid because they were in bad shape. my wife seems more tolerant as hers daily driver is almost 11 years old, granted, she drives little (5000/year) and drove next to none (under 3000/year) for a few years when she was in grad school.
     
  9. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    When I bought the 1989 Toyota Corolla Alltrac wagon I told my 5 year old daughter that it was hers when she got a license. So in 2000, it became hers, as I got a 2001 Subaru Forester, she drove it until 2009, when I got a Prius, and she got the Forester. We gave it to a young woman with no husband and 2 children under 4. When the husband came back with her car, she gave mine to her brother who was just driving age. It did not survive him learning to drive. It was certainly old enough to vote, I think it was old enough to drink. It never got old enough to run for Congress. (my daughter is still driving the Forester which is coming up on voting age)

    [​IMG]
    Back when it was newly teen aged.
     
    #9 JimboPalmer, Apr 16, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2017
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  10. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Spouse's DD is a 1989 Integra that I bought for her new, before she was even my spouse. That is now 28+ years.

    I kept my 1986 Accord for almost 23 years, until getting my first Prius. But it was never my only vehicle. Some youngster six blocks away is still driving it, as part of his collection of older cars.
     
  11. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    My previous Corolla DX Wagon. Purchased new in 1993, traded in with 292,000 miles on odometer after failing state inspection for 2009 Gen II with 88,000 miles (just run in, a mere baby as far as Toyotas go)
     
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  12. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Sign that I am playing too much World of Warships. I thought you said your wife had a destroyer.
     
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  13. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    We tend to keep cars until the cost of a repair/maintenance item exceeds the value of the car. Our 1997 Subaru was just retired at almost 300k miles. My 2004 Prius was retired at 288k miles last year. I expect that our two shiny new red cars (2016 Prius and Subaru Crosstrek) will both be in the family a long time.

    JeffD
     
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  14. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    That is exactly why my 1997 Subaru was retired three years ago, unfortunately it was not quite to 200k.

    My 1986 Accord was still passing under that rule, but I invoked a 'too ancient safety standards' rule, i.e. no airbags or ABS or meaningful side impact protection. On that side impact issue, my spouse is alive only because I left skidmarks in the middle of the nearest traffic lighted intersection to avoid a red-light-running SUV that ended up fishtailing across my nose. Half of that Accord's side impact protection was the floorpan, and the offender was a non-passenger-car-compliant (of that era) model that completely overrides said floorpan.

    I want to get rid of the 1989 Integra for the same safety reasons, but she isn't yet ready.
     
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  15. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    Jeff, what needed repairs did you face in your Prius?
     
    #15 Former Member 68813, Apr 23, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2017
  16. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    My wife got a 2016 RAV4 (non-hybrid) last summer after 13 years with a Ford Explorer that started to nickel and dime us. Her job is 10 minutes away, so she rarely puts more than 5K on a car.
    I've had my Prius since July 2009 and put around 13K a year on it. No major issues except recalls - currently at 109,000 miles. I plan on keeping it at least until I retire in another 4-5 years, then we'll go down to one car - the RAV4.

    P.S. - I would like to get a Prime when I retire, and I'm trying hard to be able to justify it. I've convinced myself, but you know how that goes...
     
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  17. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    During my 12 years and 288k miles with my 2004 Prius there were three actual repairs.
    1. The stereo had a poorly manufactured CD player which failed early and then the replacement failed the same way so I installed a Pioneer unit to correct the problem (~ $300 in total).
    2. The steering column started to "clunk" so I had a new one installed by the dealer. Toyota later issued two recalls on the steering column and repaid me most of the $900 that I had spent (after submitting significant paperwork to get an approval from Toyota).
    3. The HV battery failed at 195k miles and for $2000 I had my dealer install a "ReInVolt" built by Taylor Automotive (now Dorman) that was still performing well when I traded it in for my new 2016 Prius last year.
    Other than those there was normal maintenance.
    • Oil changes at 5k mile intervals - DIY ~ $25
    • ATF changes every 60k miles - Dealer ~$100
    • Struts at 150k miles - Local Mechanic ~ $1500
    • Plugs and PCV valve every 100k miles - Dealer ~ $200
    • Coolant (two loops) at 100k miles and every 50k miles thereafter. - Dealer ~ $250
    • Water Pumps and serpentine belt at 150k miles - Dealer ~ $600
    • New tires every 50-60k miles. - Local tire shop ~ $ 500 for Michelin or Nokians
    The original brake pads were still on the car when I traded it in saving me ~$2k over its life and it averaged 46 MPG over its 288k miles saving me ~$15k in fuel over its 12 year life. It was a great car.

    JeffD
     
    #17 jdenenberg, Apr 24, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2017