When is 'too old'?

[slimfandango]

When do most cars reach the crossover point when they start becoming rolling-money-sponges and it's better to trade them in? I drive quite a nice but expensive to service german number, and it's just getting stupid now. But I know that I know the car and figure if I bought someone else's now I won't know what might be wrong with it. When is it time to let go?

[FastBarry]

I know what you mean slimfandango,  I have just got rid of my old Escort, it cost me �700 in repairs  to keep it on the road last year, I just sold it for �350. So I would say that once it starts costing more to keep than its value then get rid. Got a nice shiny new Honda now.

[Cockney_si]

I think lots of people become emotionally attached to some cars, I've had many diferent makes and models and found my Honda was probably the best one too, held its value well to....

[FastBarry]

I have to agree with you there cockney_si, they do become like old friends but in the end you have to be cruel to be kind and put them out of their misery. The only exception maybe is if it's an old classic of some sort and worth hanging on to.

[jake-the-peg]

Rather depends on the car - I drive a 1964 MGB as my every day car - probably costs me about �600 a year in repairs and maintenance but it's worth the same today as it was when I bought it 7 years ago. My wife has a Landrover Defender with 100K on the clock does about 8K a year and the biggest service cost is a set of brake pads a year again the depreciation is really low.

Of course I think a lot of people like these new-fangled heaters in their cars 

[delboy3]

Unless it's kept in mint condition, garaged overnight, rarely driven and regularly maintained by someone who knows what they're doing, I'd say your average car needs putting to sleep when it reaches 10 years old. I know this from bitter experience...

[slimfandango]

In Singapore it's the law! lol

I forgot about the 'old friend' angle...I think I'm just attached to her. We've gone through so much together! Hedges...

[tali122]

probably not so much as old the car is but remembering you can get a great car for well under a grand- ive never had any serious relability probs at all just normal servicing- although i only do 5000miles a year.the newer the car the more the depreciation so factor that in
if your paranoid about relaibility buy japanese

[andrewlee]

I suppose it depends on lots of factors, such as the cost of repairs (some cars are much easier therefore cheaper to fix), and the cost of replacement.   My ex wife and I had a number of new and nearly new cars, and I have had new company cars in the past which have been nothing but trouble.   I drive a 1989 Honda CRX with over 150 k miles, and with the exception of normal service items, it just keeps on going!   It owes me nothing, but I intend to run it for as long as I can, as I love it!

But remember that the biggest motoring cost is depreciation, and we don't notice that as we don't have to physically hand over our hard-won cash!  

[andrewlee]

Should've asked, slimfandango, do you get it serviced at the main dealer?   The small independents are much cheaper (and IMHO better too)