More support for keeping my aging car.

[CCK1]

It’s almost always a better financial decision to repair an existing car as opposed to buying another car.
I was trying to get 500,000 miles out of my last Volvo S70, but transmission trouble requiring parts that are no longer made stopped me at 425,000.

 

[Frisco 57]

First off, I love older vehicles!
I got a tip on how to repair an intermittent wiper issue. As I was removing the wiper controller board, I leaned on the upper radiator hose and it broke completely off! That fitting on the radiator is plastic! So, $400 and some "wrench time" my truck is again functional. Oh and the intermittent wipers are working correctly too!

 

[imwjl]

You didn't mention it's a Subaru in the first post,.. so heck ya, drive it. I planned on driving my '13 Legacy 10 years and just about made it, a few months shy. Wife wanted to use it as a trade in on her new Outback, happy wife (etc).

So we did. I got her "old" '17 green Outback Limited (still less than 100k). First time in my life I didn't choose my next car, but hey,..

Gotta say the new '23 OBTouring ain't a bad ride.

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They have matured nicely in this generation but the 2013 has EyeSight, the premium stereo and is still very fine in many ways. It was hard to consider a spend several times the cost of repairs. That leaves us with really good for kids graduating college cars and waiting for some next gen products.

We also bought the Outback with extremely low mileage from my mother in law's estate for a small fleet. 33 years ago the woman I live with said no cars, no marriage, no home ownership, no kids. I'm careful to not rub it in too much but now there's a fleet, 3 kids and two homes if the cabin counts.

 

[Toto'sDad]

They have matured nicely in this generation but the 2013 has EyeSight, the premium stereo and is still very fine in many ways. It was hard to consider a spend several times the cost of repairs. That leaves us with really good for kids graduating college cars and waiting for some next gen products.

We also bought the Outback with extremely low mileage from my mother in law's estate for a small fleet. 33 years ago the woman I live with said no cars, no marriage, no home ownership, no kids. I'm careful to not rub it in too much but now there's a fleet, 3 kids and two homes if the cabin counts.

My younger son bought his wife a new Subaru Crosstrek last year. I think they had to wait quite a while for it to be delivered. She had driven a Honda Odyssey for many years. The kids are grown now, so she wanted something easier to get around in. She's sporting around like nobody's business in the new Crosstrek, and absolutely loves driving it.

 

[Blue Bill]

Count me in. My 2004 Tacoma just clicked over the 260000 mile mark. My 2009 Sonata is going strong too.

 

[imwjl]

My younger son bought his wife a new Subaru Crosstrek last year. I think they had to wait quite a while for it to be delivered. She had driven a Honda Odyssey for many years. The kids are grown now, so she wanted something easier to get around in. She's sporting around like nobody's business in the new Crosstrek, and absolutely loves driving it.

I've had them as a loaner, and a friend has one. It was really easy to understand the popularity. Ours is not a Honda but I smile having taken over the van when my wife was done. Actually, except for trips, I am usually happy to drive what the rest of the family doesn't.

 

[Zoso420]

Can I get into classic car clubs with my 1996 Toyota Camry?

 

[richiek65]

We drove older cars for years but we had some HUGE repair bills about 5-6 years back, with long extended periods off the road awaiting parts which meant time off work, having to rent or borrow cars, so these days salary packaging a near new car/s makes the most sense. It's the cost of trouble free motoring and a much easier life.
YMMV.

 

[stephent2]

They have matured nicely in this generation but the 2013 has EyeSight, the premium stereo and is still very fine in many ways. It was hard to consider a spend several times the cost of repairs. That leaves us with really good for kids graduating college cars and waiting for some next gen products.

We also bought the Outback with extremely low mileage from my mother in law's estate for a small fleet. 33 years ago the woman I live with said no cars, no marriage, no home ownership, no kids. I'm careful to not rub it in too much but now there's a fleet, 3 kids and two homes if the cabin counts.

The '17 OB has Eyesight which is one reason I didn't mind the hand me down (the '13 Legacy didn't) and I don't mind a bit of driving assistance.

The '23 Touring has the most advanced Eyesight, wide angle cameras, driver alert system (if your eyes move off the road or shut there's an alert). That's the major reason decided to do the upgrade to the '23, we travel between GA and MN couple times a year and are on the road 8-9 hrs a day.

 

[haggardfan1]

I've had many trouble free years out of my 2007 Silverado Classic. It's the only new vehicle I've ever bought.

Since January of 2022, I've replaced the water pump, a window regulator, the alternator (first time for that) and had some miscellaneous repairs to the HVAC so that it's now working like new. All of that, divided by the number of months spanned...equals $148. Include a 2" front suspension leveling kit, which I consider elective surgery but money well spent-- and that figure climbs to $208/month. Nowhere close to a new or used car payment.

By the end of this weekend, the truck will have 222,000 miles on it. About two years ago, it developed an infrequent lifter tick, which is now almost constant and needs attention, probably involving replacing or rebuilding both cylinder heads, and a new camshaft, which will cost between two and three thousand dollars.

If I'm going to invest that kind of money, I will probably go all in with a Jasper remanufactured engine, or whatever brand my (trusted) mechanic installs. There won't be much more downtime required, and I'll have the peace of mind knowing that I didn't partially repair an engine that still has sixteen years of wear and heat on the bottom end parts, seals, and gaskets.

The truck is immaculate inside and pretty clean outside, except for some parking lot scars, and I just have no desire for a newer one.

This picture was taken last time I detailed it, about two months ago.