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I have but a few years before I hit the magic three score and ten - but I don't think I will want to give up driving unless forced upon me by events. However driving is no longer an enjoyable experience - just a way of getting from where I am now to somewhere else as painlessly as possible. Age or traffic volumes - I'm not quite sure.
But like you I have no particular desire to change car unless necessary. I no longer feel the urge to treat every journey as a competitive event, don't really care what others think of my conveyance, and save a chunk of money in the process.
Although retired, finance is not an issue but a couple of thousand a year not spent on depreciation means I feel that more relaxed about spending money on other luxuries - holidays, meals out, hobbies etc.
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When I retired I bought myself an SLK 250 which I've had for 5 years now. I'm of the same mind as Terry W in that you mostly lose when you change a car and mainly use the car to get to my pastimes at a leisurely rate.
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I decided to buy my Jazz in 2012 as the last ic car I would ever buy...
Even then it was clear that diesel was a dead end...
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I decided to buy my Jazz in 2012 as the last ic car I would ever buy...
Even then it was clear that diesel was a dead end...
I disagree - diesels fuelled by biofuels is the power source of the future.
They grow rape seed for biofuels all around us here in the French countryside.
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I decided to buy my Jazz in 2012 as the last ic car I would ever buy...
Even then it was clear that diesel was a dead end...
I disagree - diesels fuelled by biofuels is the power source of the future.
They grow rape seed for biofuels all around us here in the French countryside.
Joke of the week.. you surely are not serious?
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I decided to buy my Jazz in 2012 as the last ic car I would ever buy...
Even then it was clear that diesel was a dead end...
I disagree - diesels fuelled by biofuels is the power source of the future.
They grow rape seed for biofuels all around us here in the French countryside.
And how many fields would you need to grown enough to replace all diesel cars? Don't see that happening.
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And how many fields would you need to grown enough to replace all diesel cars? Don't see that happening.
Exactly. Biofuels might have a place, particularly if they can be produced as a by product.
Aside from space constraint mentioned above there must be a serious question over using fields for fuel when we cannot feed the population.
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<< there must be a serious question over using fields for fuel when we cannot feed the population. >>
The Brazilians grow large quantities of sugar-cane to make ethanol for fuel. Just as daft, but I guess it saves their balance of payments. Won't do the rain forest any favours though.
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<< there must be a serious question over using fields for fuel when we cannot feed the population. >>
The Brazilians grow large quantities of sugar-cane to make ethanol for fuel. Just as daft, but I guess it saves their balance of payments. Won't do the rain forest any favours though.
And to grow rape we HAVE to use large quantities of pesticides or the rapeseed beetle eats the crop..
ANd then luvvies tell us we should be eating avocadoes and drink almond milk - the latter produced in areas made lifeless by pesticides..
I despair...The holier than thou preachiung by people whose prerred lifesttyle is worse than meat eaters when using pesticides and destroying the planet shows their diet either rots their brains or destroys their ability to think critically...
Rant over.
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All sorts of crops and biomass can be used to produce fuels, both aromatic and diesel.
The diesel engine in various forms will be with us for a long time yet.
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Not retired yet, due next year but i actually enjoy my job and the company are most reluctant to lose reliable people, i will defer pension whilst still working (no point in paying tax on every penny earned), may for some reason not pass the HGV medical, annual once 65, which will make my decision for me, though there's enough work around the place to keep me going.
As for cars, the Landcruiser is now 15 years old, the Forester 12, both are in superb condition, if i stay on at work we'll keep both for the forseeable, both enjoy slow depreciation and have proved completely reliable, if and when i retire fully then one will have to go i suppose, that is going to be difficult decision.
As above have no intention of replacing either, there's almost nothing sold in Britain officially i would want even if free, if the govt of the day tax our old cars off the road i absolutely refuse to be forced by some appratchik into a scalextric car, and we'll do without, the LC in its condition will always sell easily for export to more sensible countries, the Forester probably won't be worth enough to worry about but the engine will always be in demand so an easy breaker.
Just changed the power steering fluid on the pair of them, got to keep that cost effective maintenance up.:-)
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Came the same conclusion last week - my Toyota Verso will be 5 years old in a fortnight's time and the 5yr warranty expires. I've never had need to call on the warranty but most of my driving now is 1,500 - 2,000 mile journeys on holidays to France with family. Not keen on breaking down anytime soon in rural France with no nearby agents, so was semi-seriously thinking of looking for another nearly new MPV.
However, the Verso has been reliable, suits our needs for an occasional 7-seater, VED is only £30 per year & French emission rating 2 so no problems there ...
Decision made up when I got quote from Toyota to extend my manufacturers warranty for another 2 years - total price under £500 for 2 years extended warranty, including 2 years MOTs, and 2 years European travel insurance. I reckon the MOT & insurance would cost over £100 per year, so the cost of the warranty comes down to under £150 per year ... no brainer!
Edited by Theophilus on 20/01/2020 at 14:04
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As an afterthought - I wonder whether the responses from those of us in their 60s-70s represent a fair proportion of those who dwell in the Back Room - and explain why the intrusive adverts are so ineffective in persuading us to part with our cash, and thus the present financial plight of the HJ.com site :-(
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I've been a bit penny wise pound foolish most of my time. Cars have always been a temptation but now when I get the change the car urge I sit back 'til it goes away.
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My car is one of a small fleet of company cars which come under my supervision and budget.
I, and the other users, do a fairly high annual mileage so the sweet spot seems to be keeping any given car for 200,000 miles or five years, whichever comes first.
Provided they are serviced on time this seems to work well. Only disappointments have been a couple of failed DSG gearboxes on VWs. One of those ( a Golf ) at a painfully low mileage of 16,000, and the other ( a Passat ) at a slightly more tolerable 120,000. Contrary to reputation, Powershift boxes on several Fords ( Mondeos ) have been no trouble at all.
The Mercs ( E Class ) we've had seem to be nigh on indestructible things. Expensive to buy and service but 100% reliable, and keep a very sensible residual value even with big miles.
My wife's car is now 12 years old ( petrol manual Qashqai ) we keep muttering about changing it, but we've never had a problem with it. Never had so much as an advisory at MOT time and with "only" 80,000 on it, it seems possible that it will keep going for a good while yet unless she just gets bored with it.
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For me, at least there is no more "pleasure" in driving, only a means to get from A to B where public transport is either not an option or silly money.
At the weekend it was a last minute dental appointment where Swmbo could be fitted in for a crown to be fitted, otherwise wait a week.
Shortly off to SPA, belgium for some treatment for SWMBO and some nice warm water and cold beer for me.
Options..
Can't fly to Liege from Stanstill. (no dogs allowed, no flights anyway.
Can't train.(eurostar) ditto no dogs..
Boat Harwich to Hook of Holland, silly money, overnight on boat, kennel for dog.
drive, sadly!!!!
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We (The Missus and I) have just faced the same dilemma..do we or don't we renew her car.
Having had her Yaris for 4 years (it's now 6 years old and her third Yaris) with only 40k miles and in super duper condition...should we hang on to it..or change up.?
SO..we visited out local Toyota dealer...ostensibly to view/consider a newer Yaris....BUT they had a great deal on a brand new (pre-reg) Y20 Yaris...so we decided we should take the deal and bought it.!!...this is going to be her car for many, many years.!!!!
In my case I shall be hanging on to my trusty 2003 V6 Toyota Estima which I've had a for 4 years now..utterly reliable and has cost nothing but the usual consumables...luxury on wheels and is used as a MPV/Dayvan/Campervan.
I don't do that many miles (4-5k p.a.) now so I still enjoy the miles I drive...but I can largely choose the where and when..but I agree that the enjoyment is getting harder to find these days.
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It is a little bit of a strange thing though isn't it ? ( and hey I'm just as "guilty" as the next person in this! )
But, when you buy a washing machine, a fridge, a watch, a pair of shoes or even a hat, by and large you'll just keep it until it no longer functions, or is uneconomical to repair.
With cars though, I'll bet we've all changed them when they had years of life left in them just because we could, or simply wanted to. Convincing ourselves that it was the right thing to do despite the inevitable and considerable costs involved.
Odd critters aren't we?
;-)
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Odd critters aren't we?
;-)
None more so than me!
The tiring bit is also related to having to "visit" dealers and all the hassle of dealing with liars and (sometimes) thieves..
We''ll see how it goes...
Says he with an MGZS that just decided it wanted to behave like skippy this morning... Maybe a gallon of petrol and a box of matches will cure it, but if it goes, it aint getting replaced.
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Part of life's pattern I suppose. My earliest cars were purchased purely on the basis of being functional but affordable, but then in time, it was possible to get ones I wanted but really didn't need, then the complexities of life take over, and it was back to ones I needed but didn't particularly want.
Now, I'm at the stage where I can ( if only temporarily ) have the sort of cars I both want and need, and eventually I'll end up, no doubt, with something I don't really want, but can see the need.
If you see what I mean?
;-)
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It works best when you buy quality. 'Buy the best, make it last' is an axiom I try to follow; from the mundane (our Mk1 auto Focus, nearly 20yrs old) to the flagship (Audi A8 sport quattro, 14yrs old.). Not forgetting the durable TR7 - 40 in May, so no VED or MoT required. Yippee! (The engine management system consists of two wires - one for the accelerator, one for the choke).
I wonder how long a 'bargain' Chinese MG will last without major attention?
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<< The tiring bit is ... having to "visit" dealers and all the hassle of dealing with liars and (sometimes) thieves. >>
The only visit I have made to a dealership in the last 10 years was a couple of years back when SWMBO had just had a shoulder replacement and was thinking of switching to an auto in case of difficulty. She quite liked an auto i10, but after things had settled down she felt so much better that no change was made.
Otherwise I have made private sales and purchases now and then, of elderly Peugeots which I improve and enjoy for a few years before repeating the process. I don't expect to do that many more times though .... :-(
I've never made a dealer's eye light up - never bought brand-new, and only once spent over £10K.
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This thread chimed in with many of my own thoughts. I'm in my seventies now and although I aim to keep driving for as long as it's safe to do so, who knows how long that will be?
I always keep cars for a long time and have only once changed sooner than I really had to. I have never bought a new car, on the basis that the huge depreciation at the beginning of a car's life was something I wasn't going to finance.
Since I started driving at the age of 17 I've had these cars:
1. Messerschmitt three-wheeler – unreliable/engine seized
2. Vauxhall Viva with Brabham conversion (oh yes!) - rusted out
3. Vauxhall Firenza - unreliable
4. Vauxhall Chevette - floor rotted through
5. Vauxhall Astra #1 - written off in a rear-end collision
6. Vauxhall Astra #2 - wife kept it when we split up
7. Peugeot 205 - paint got really tatty
8. Fiat Punto 75 - got bored with it
9. Peugeot 306 - last MOT record (Sep 2016) shows 155,619 miles
10. Ford Focus Mk2 - currently 120k-plus
11. Mazda CX-5 - best car I’ve had. Maybe my last car?
So in 58 or so years of driving, eleven cars, some kept for longer than others and most racking up over 100k miles. (The Ford, now owned by my stepson, has done over 120k, all on the original clutch and exhaust, with minimal repairs.)
Edited by FP on 21/01/2020 at 18:36
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ir.
With cars though, I'll bet we've all changed them when they had years of life left in them just because we could, or simply wanted to. Convincing ourselves that it was the right thing to do despite the inevitable and considerable costs involved.
Odd critters aren't we?
;-)
Nope.
Only ever changed (read scrapped) a car when forced to by circumstance (usually an inconveniently timed MOT failure), and usually felt guilty about it, since I'm pretty sure they were all savable.
(Perhaps apart from an 1800 Marina with a rotted spring hanger, which oddly IIRC is the only car I've ever sold, with the fault declared)..
This is probably because I've only ever bought old (pre- 90's) tech bangers.
I'd think newer cars would have to be thought of as more disposable.
I probably am an "odd critter" though.
Edited by edlithgow on 22/01/2020 at 16:27
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