How long do people keep their car?

Seeking Help
21

@izael
I’m a mechanic, and I drive a beat-up Jeep to work and a 2017 Camry for trips and weekends.

22

Kenneth said:
@izael
I’m a mechanic, and I drive a beat-up Jeep to work and a 2017 Camry for trips and weekends.

Toyeta carmy lol

23

@izael
Same here. I’ve got an SUV for daily driving and a fun car for the weekends.

24

Christopher said:
We had our MDX for 12 years before it got T-boned. It only had 127k miles, and we would’ve kept it for at least 3 more years. Don’t get caught up in the upgrade game—it’s a money pit.

I see so many people in my area constantly upgrading their cars, but you’re right—it’s a financial pit. Used car prices are still high, so fixing your current car is usually the cheaper option.

25

Christopher said:
We had our MDX for 12 years before it got T-boned. It only had 127k miles, and we would’ve kept it for at least 3 more years. Don’t get caught up in the upgrade game—it’s a money pit.

Smart move. I’ve got an 18 Jetta, and while I’d love an SUV, my Jetta does everything I need for now. Better to save money for other things.

26

I usually buy 3-year-old cars coming off lease and keep them for 7 years, so they’re 10 years old by the time I sell them. I buy them outright, so I never have a car payment.

27

Maria said:
I usually buy 3-year-old cars coming off lease and keep them for 7 years, so they’re 10 years old by the time I sell them. I buy them outright, so I never have a car payment.

Is there an easy way to tell if a car is just coming off a lease?

28

Maria said:
I usually buy 3-year-old cars coming off lease and keep them for 7 years, so they’re 10 years old by the time I sell them. I buy them outright, so I never have a car payment.

I might go with this strategy, thanks!

29

Maria said:
I usually buy 3-year-old cars coming off lease and keep them for 7 years, so they’re 10 years old by the time I sell them. I buy them outright, so I never have a car payment.

I bought a new SUV 3 years ago for $42k, and now it’s worth $28k. Buying new is such a waste of money. I’m planning to pay off the rest and drive it until the wheels fall off.