Len Penzo has a contributing author on his website from time to time named RD Blakeslee. He mentioned one time in a blog post that he has bought 29 cars in his lifetime. Of course he is in his eighties and that number does include cars he bought for his children.
It got me to thinking, I'm in my fifth decade of life and I've owned four cars in my lifetime.
1984 Chevy Cavalier
1990 Chevrolet Cavalier
1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass/Chevy Malibu
2014 Chevrolet Impala
The 1984 Cavalier I had was a car my Dad bought new, although I paid off the loan. I drove it until 1993 at which time I replaced it with the 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier. I drove that car until it was no longer reliable.
I bought the 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass/Chevy Malibu in 2000 and drove it for the next twenty years. I bought the 2014 Chevrolet Impala in 2016 and still drive it today.
My theory with cars is to drive them as long as possible. Maintain them well, keep the oil changed, keep good tires on them, and this will save you the most money.
How about you? How many cars have you owned in your lifetime?
Belinda
~ Living within our Means ~
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Our first three cars cost a total of $500, $500, and $800. Mind you, this was a few decades ago but still...! We paid cash and drove those 3 cars for 16 years. My husband has always done all our maintenance and most repairs. Our present cars are a 2007 Toyota Corolla and a 2004 small Toyota truck, both of which we bought new. They are getting up there in age, but each vehicle only has about 80,000 miles, so we will keep chugging along. In between we have had a family van and a few more used and new cars. Some of these were passed down to our four children. We are more of the mindset does it get me from A to B and don't mind older cars at all. We do, however, keep them maintained and clean. One of the best things we ever did was to buy our small truck. It has been so handy! Think picking up building supplies and craigslist finds. Isabella
ReplyDeleteIsabella thank you for your comment, which has so much wisdom in it. I am of the same mindset as you, if it gets me from point A to point B then I am good to go. Thank you for sharing your experience.
DeleteHArd to say, but easier to look at the number for just me, not with kids or husband-whihc we sometimes go back and forth, hi driving the older or vice versa. My first car I owned was a '77 Toyota corolla-bought from a friend for $900 in 1985-pror used a shared car of my parents. I think I am on my ninth car, then throw in another 7 as a family probably-s might be excessive, but with a husband in the business, makes sense for us.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely makes sense, Sam. we all have to do what is best for us and I don't think nine is excessive at all.
DeleteWe've had all four of those cars too..ladted forever and we loved them!
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Vickie. I love that they last so long.
DeleteI totally agree with your theory and tell my kids the same all the time, but they keep trading and spending unnecessarily. I've had 8 cars total but 4 of those were when I was very young and doing the same things my kids do now. I've been driving my little Hyundai Accent since 2008. It's the best car I've ever owned.
ReplyDeleteThat is great, Martha. And who of us hasn't learned a lesson or two from our youth?
DeleteOh I had a cavalier in the 90's too. Ended up giving it to my folks since it was hard getting kids in/out car seats. I think I have had 8 cars, but we bought used and drove them for many years. My husband's trucks aren't counted in that total since I didn't like driving them. :)
ReplyDeleteI could see how getting children in and out of car seats would be tough in a Cavalier, Kathy. We had trouble getting the rear facing seat in ours when Bailey was born.
DeleteAnd wouldn't count your dh's trucks either.
Well, we were a 1 car family for about 10 years, until we bought a truck, so I'm a bit of an oddity. We've had Toyotas, Mistusbishi, Infiniti, Cadillacs, and a Ford Explorer which wanted us dead. Our last 3 family vehicles have been Toyota mini-vans, second car a Toyota Tacoma, and now, since we have 3 driving kids, we have a 3rd car, a Honda CRV. We keep our vans about 5 years, then trade them in. I think with this one, however, we are not trading it in on another van, but getting a smaller SUV for me. I'm tired of vans.
ReplyDeleteI can see that Meg, especially once the kids are growing and you don't need as much room as a van offers. The Toyota Tacoma's are good trucks from what I have read.
DeleteI'm on my 7th car in 44 years of driving. All were older used vehicles until #6. I drove #6 for 16 years. #7 is already working on year 6 and this may well be my last car even if I hit 90y of age. I drove less than 4k last year!
ReplyDeleteElle, that is amazing! Sounds like you can teach us all a thing or two about keeping cars for the long haul.
Delete3,Ford feasta,mercury traced got reaended,Ford escort died after 17 years. Now share a car chevy Malibu which sucks in the snow
ReplyDelete17 years for your Ford Escort is great, Debbie. I hope the Chevy Malibu last for many years and you don't get much snow in that time.
DeleteI drive cars until they are completely used and you would get about as much money by driving them off a cliff as you would on a trade in. I did break down and buy a brand new car (something I never do) and now I am thrilled I did. Ask me in another 11 years how I feel because I seem to keep cars for at least that long.
ReplyDeleteWe are kindred spirits, Anne. Keeping our cars until well after they have served us well.
DeleteI stopped counting, but I think 12 for me. That’s not including anything hubby drives. We were car crazy when we were younger. Now we tend to keep them a long time.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad is car crazy and there is no telling how many cars he has bought in his lifetime. Right now he owns about three and even a tractor or two. LOL
DeleteWe drive our cars until they are unreliable. Our truck cannot pull a trailer which we will need, so that will be gone. But we did keep one of our trucks 27 years.
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing, Kim.
DeleteZero. I have never owned a car. I don't drive. :) DH does drive. All our cars have been used and drove to the ground also. Most of our cars were under $2,000 or given to us. I think we are now on car seven. Three were given to us though, we were truly grateful. The truck we currently own was also given to us by my DH's boss.
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing, Safyne. Sounds like you all have done really well with cars, keeping them as long as possible and obtaining them inexpensively.
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