how many years do you keep a car? - Page 8

Accumulator · 03-15-08, 01:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by thump_rrr

..I still have my 1990 Honda CRX-Si ...

Ooh...I wish I'd kept mine! Those are great little cars

jsatek · 03-15-08, 01:53

As few as possible.

thump_rrr · 03-15-08, 02:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Ooh...I wish I'd kept mine! Those are great little cars

Accumulator · 03-16-08, 08:58

thump_rrr- Thanks for the pic. My last CRX (an Si) was the pre-facelift model (an '86 IIRC) with a kinda funny black metallic, it had gold flakes for the metallic element.

Yours looks a bit bigger than the earlier model, but I can't tell if it's *really* longer or just looks that way with the different rear hatch and qtr glass

And to think I hauled big dogs around in one of those!

azenthusiast · 03-17-08, 11:34

My Jeep is a 2002 and is also my first vehicle. it just broke 100K miles and is aging extremely well. Although with gas prices, I am driving less, I expect to keep it for quite some time.

aabablusaan · 03-17-08, 01:05

I keep cars literally until the wheels fall off:

1st Car - 1987 Nissan Sentra Coupe (November 8, 1994):

I bought it in 1994 used from my aunt for $2000, as it only had 16,000 miles on it (city slicker). I drove it until it was totaled in 1999, 86,000 miles later. Damn I loved that car. Single stage red paint, 68hp, but I was rolling...enough said.

2nd car - 1997 Honda Passport (May 4, 1997)

My dad bought this SUV for me as a freshman year dean's list present in college on May 4, 1997. Almost 200,000 miles later, I'm still rolling in it! Matter of fact, I drove it to work today! Although I've spent some money on it (new transmission, alternator, idle control sensors, etc.), I will always love this automobile, as it was my first new car.

3rd car - 2002 Honda Accord (December 4, 2001)

When the transmission blew in my truck, I did not have the cash to spend $3400 for the dealer-installed repair. However, there was a San Merino Red V6 coupe on the lot that was just delivered off the truck. After skillfully negotiating, I got the sale price down to $23,000 and went on to buy my first new car with no money down on December 7, 2001. Nevertheless, Honda's quality has gone WAY DOWN as of late, as my transmission failed last Wednesday. After 130,000 miles, I don't know whether to fix it, or buy a brand new car.

Therefore, I keep my cars, sans accident, for an average of 8.5 years. The Passport will turn 11 this year, while the Accord turned 6 last DecemberI will turn 30 later this year.

I make about 4 times as much as I did back in 2001, so I think I can now buy a toy car (Mustang Shelby GT, Infiniti G37), trade the Accord, and drive the Passport in inclement weather. However, if I go the Dave Ramsey way, I'll just fix the transmission in the Accord, and keep it moving from there.

Decisions, decisions.

jimmie jam · 03-17-08, 01:16

the shortest time was about 2 months

. the longest was 27 years

mhadden · 03-17-08, 01:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by aabablusaan

I...Nevertheless, Honda's quality has gone WAY DOWN as of late, as my transmission failed last Wednesday...

I've heard this as well, but my 08 Civic (with 16k in 2 months) and the wifes CR-V (new, 1k) and my parents 05 Accord (45k) are still running fine...I guess more time will tell, but I thought the Passprot was labeled a big POS over anything else it ever produced?

aabablusaan · 03-17-08, 02:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhadden

I've heard this as well, but my 08 Civic (with 16k in 2 months) and the wifes CR-V (new, 1k) and my parents 05 Accord (45k) are still running fine...I guess more time will tell, but I thought the Passprot was labeled a big POS over anything else it ever produced?

The Passport DID receive a bad rep, but as an owner, it wasn't as bad as the reviews have indicated. I'm at the 200,000 mile mark now, and I may have spent a total of $4k in repairs over 11 years, including a used transmission ($800), oil, idle control valve, major 105K mile service, tires, etc. I don't think that $4K is bad over that time period! However, since the truck was assembled by Isuzu with GM parts and a Honda badge, it got a bad, yet unfair rep. I admittedly may be biased by emotion, but honestly, it's been a good truck overall.

My Accord has been a different story. The dealer-installed fog lights broke every 20K miles due to thin plastic; my leather seats, which were cleaned and conditioned with Lexol religiously, still cracked and split on the side bolster after 50,000 miles; the motor mounts wore at 80,000; and the sunroof began a rattle at 50,000 miles. However, the transmission and the general runaround that I've received from the dealer has me pissed at Honda. Honda KNEW there was a transmission problem with the 1998-2002 automatic Accords, and did nothing but extend the warranty to 105,000 after being threatened with a class-action lawsuit. Since mine failed at 130,000, I'm both ineligible for the warranty, AND ineligible for the 50-50 split on the price of a new transmission. You can do a Google search on Honda's automatic transmissions to read these nightmares.

My girlfriend's 2006 Acura TL A-Spec's transmission died after 38,000 miles, and it's an '06! She drives like an old lady, doesn't use the manu-matic mode at all, services the car regularly, and it still failed. Honda used to be synonymous with quality, but these days, they are synonymous with transmission failures and unscrupulous dealers.

I bought my Accord primarily due to my father's experience. He purchased a brand new 1985 Accord that finally died after 242,000 miles. He also bought a 1992 Accord for my mother that he now drives to work that has an amazing 385,000 miles on the same engine and transmission. I was expecting to drive the Accord for the next 5 years at least without major repair, and on a car currently worth around $6000, I'm not spending over $3000 just to get it back on the road.

I'm not too familiar with the Civic platform, so your mileage may vary, as both your Civic and your wife's CR-V share the same platform. But hopefully, you will be able to have a better time at it than I have!!! Meanwhile, I contemplate the purchase of a new G37 coupe, or a Ford Mustang Shelby GT...

dmcphee07SI · 03-20-08, 11:32

lots of problems with the 6 speed transmissions from honda, my 07 Si is started to act up and its very common, everyone on the honda forum i go to has the same issue and they all have been getting the run around for over the past year by the dealerships, tho some are starting to get fixed, still no recall,

VTechFan02 · 03-20-08, 12:04

I try to keep mine for about 3 years and I never buy a car that is less then 2 years old. I like to get most of the depreciation out before I buy it. And when I sell/trade it there is still good value left.

I've had my '02 Civic EX for about 15 months and have had no problems yet.

-Frank

aabablusaan · 03-20-08, 02:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmcphee07SI

lots of problems with the 6 speed transmissions from honda, my 07 Si is started to act up and its very common, everyone on the honda forum i go to has the same issue and they all have been getting the run around for over the past year by the dealerships, tho some are starting to get fixed, still no recall,

My 02 Accord 4sp auto blew at 130,000 miles, my girlfriend's 06 TL's 5sp auto blew at 38,000 miles, and even the folks with Honda's manual trannys are having issues.

Incredible.

I decided to just get a rebuilt one for about $1200 because I don't want/need a car payment as I try to save for a house and pay off student loans.