How long do you tend to keep your autos before turning them over . It seems that between 40-60,000 miles, a gene kicks in and I get the urge to get a new car . Like right now , I have 45,000 on my 2008 135i and I am getting the urge... even though my car is really nice... Also, being retired and on a fixed income , it might be wise to keep...

 

I'm not a keeper. I don't like surprise repair bills, and I like new shiny things, so once the warranty and the included maintenance is done, it's time to say goodbye. We might spring for the extended maintenance on the Roadster and/or the Clubman though, but we don't need to decide that for a little while.

 

I don't think I've ever owned a car more than 3 years, and I've owned quite a few cars. (Lost count actually.) Two reasons -- 1st, like Spiney, I like new and shiny and hate surprises and 2nd, I've always had a very generous car allowance which has given me a certain luxury when it comes to obtaining new cars.

Because of the fortunate (truth be told, just dumb luck) timing of some real estate transactions I'm able to buy anything I really want within reason.

 

We (hubs & I) drive them til they are dead, finding that the repairs along the way haven't approached the cost of a new car (even with a trade in). On a couple of occasions, we sold our used cars to our nieces for $1. They needed a second hand car; we definitely got our use out of them; and they knew they were well cared for. Having a reliable mechanic who wasn't a total rip-off artist helped.

 

Not getting rid of my 06. 90K and still running strong.

 

I'll be getting rid of my 05S as soon as they come out with another R53!

 

LOL, I know the feeling!

 

Either when it makes sense economically (Still very good resale value with owing little or nothing or seeing large maintenance costs just around the corner) or when reliability becomes an issue. I kept my first car for 13 years. It was still in great shape but I was concerned about reliability and to be honest I wanted a new shine convertible!

 

Following various car/truck purchases, I would walk out of the dealership thinking "this one I'll keep for a long time". That has not happened yet. 4 years is the longest I have held on the a vehicle and that's because I refused to trade it in for the MINI.

 

I have automotive A.D.D., I go through them like candy. Don't have a reason why, I just like cars. Many of them have been cheap beaters, sub-$3000 cars, but I don't keep them long. I've lost count myself, but I'm somewhere around 50-60 over the past 20 years.

 

I usually keep cars for 8 years and end up with about 120,00 to 150,000 miles. I do my own maintenance so repairs are cheap.

 

First car I picked out and purchased was an 04 grand prix demo purchased w/ just under 5k miles in '05
225000 and I'm still driving it
Roadster was purchased for commuting.
Grand prix still in use for times when I need to transport both my sons.
I get emotional attached to vehicles .

 

Still have the 06 PW Cooper with 74,000 miles on it. It's my other half that I bought for her new in 06 and she will keep it until it falls apart.

Just got an 05 CR Cooper with 72,000 miles on it. Will keep it for a couple years then it's my son's when he goes off into the world.

Have a '12 CMS All-4 with 3,000 miles on it. We'll have it for a decade or more.

When I get my JCW Coupe, I intend to be buried in it.

 

I have room to store vehicles so I have som that I've owned for a long time 10+ years. But when I was younger I used to get bored with vehicles and changed them every 6 months or so. They were always cheap trashers so I didn't care.

 

When I settle on something I tend to keep it. I still have my CRX, and I still drive it, a lot. I am in year 5 of the MINI and I've not even gotten it the way I want it. (still need a basket for the top and fatmat for the sound and would like to add two more lights on the front).