April

How many miles you put on a car ? how long you plan to keep it ? do you see your vehicle needs changing in the next 3 to 5 years ? which might be a better tax write-off ( if any applies ) ? and your financial situation ( are you taking the money you save in leasing over buying, and investing in something that appreciates instead of depreciates ? ).

You are talking to someone who has driven an average of 16,000 miles a year for the last 10 years. Some years exceeded that average by a large sum and others ( more recently ) much less. I also take my car to the track once or twice a year.

Finman

after 100,000--similar only to the day you bought it and turned the key for the first time.
Additionally, many banks will not loan money on a car with more than 100-110,000 miles as they consider the car to be near value-less.
Unless you plan to really drive a car into the ground where it truly is valueless--get rid of it while it still is worth something. 60,000 is a great time because the buyer thinks it still has 100,000 left in it and he's getting a great price on a car that still feels good. Keeping it below the magic 100,000 mark is another big milestone. Perceptions of longevity go down significantly when all the digits in the odometer are > 0.

Finman

The wife has had years in excess of 35k/year which really brings the 100,000 mile mark up pretty quick and kills any hope of getting a decent return on a trade or private sale of a 3-4 year old car.
Can't lease when going for 20k/year which I always do at least, even though I only live 7 miles from work. Love to drive too much. Need the wife to get a new car just so I can have a second awesome car to cut down on the mileage on this one. Fortunately, she's an environmental freak and has taken to bicycling to work--leaving me with all the extra miles to use on "her" car, when she finally gets it.

Finman

Pretty nice "throw away" car there Mike

bk3104

Cole...I average about 35,000 miles a year, most of which finds it way on my 4.2. Other than buying a reliable car, which hopefully ours will be over the long haul, and hanging on to it for a long time, I can't see any way around it.

sandman

Probably true for most but I sold my 92 Acura Legend that retailed for 33k for $9000.00 with 160,000 miles and 8 years old.

Booser 2.7

I have been putting +30k per year on cars for years. I have started keeping my cars, until the next repair need exceeds the value. I normally get around 225k to 250 out of a car. Most vehicles driven this much in such a short period of time will last this long. I have had Escorts and 4 cylinder Mustangs as well as a Subaru all last well past 200k. Just keeping up on all maintenance. I know a lot of people (some on this board and some friends) think putting so many miles on a car like this is crazy and a huge waist of money. I can't argue...too much :-P but I look at it this way. I use to buy new or almost new drive it 2 years and trade/sell. Always lost money. Always had payments. So I tried buying used 50-80k mile cars, in 2 years I was tired of the car and would have problems with what Joe-Blow owner before me didn't take care of.
I now am in a position where I could finally afford what I wanted, something I can drive for 7-8 years and still enjoy getting behind the wheel. Pay off in 4 more years and I will be enjoying for the first time a fun to drive well-seasoned car with (drum roll please) no monthly payments!!!!
Maybe it's just my dream world; ask me again in 5-6 years. I'll let you know how it all works out!

Jeff Booser 2.7
Ming / Vanilla

Finman

Outstanding price really, was in mint condition inside and out, perfect, but was no effort, that's how I keep my cars. But the bank, of the young guy buying it, wouldn't lend him the money because it had more than 110,000 miles. He (and I) were dying. He couldn't believe he could afford such a sweet car and I really wanted the cash to pay off the $10k credit card payment I put down on the 4.2. They came back a week later and offered to lend him the money.

That's an excellent price on a 160,000 mile car...hmmm, I wonder what I can get for my 16 year old, 165,000 mile CRX???

petrie

his decision on cars and apartment. Fresh out of UCLA Bus. School, single, working for a NY Investment bank, he buys a new 320i and rents a run down apartment in Manhattan Beach with 2 other guys. When I ask him why the hot new car and the "lean-to" apartment he says, "You can always sleep in your car, but you can't drive your apartment." Struck me as the classic single, L.A. yuppie view of life! ;-))

GB27t

One is a Ford pickup with 145K miles and the other the A6. I have been doing this for 15 years with a combination of a workhorse/commuting car (bought cheaply, new or used) and then the nice car. Keeps the milage reasonable on both. I used to drive 100 miles a day to/from work and this was the most reasonable solution for me.