How Old Is “Too Old” When It Comes To Your Car?

I've driven some nice cars, some beater cars, some inbetween in my years. And it didn't matter what it was, I was grateful to have it.  But I can't say I've ever gotten rid of a car because it was "too old".  Maybe too many miles, but not because it was "too old".  But what makes it "too old" anyway?

According to a new survey by Quaker State, the average American says a car isn't "old" until it hits 147,000 miles.  And most people say your car should last for at least 200,000 miles before you retire it.  Not surprisingly, more than two-thirds of people say a car's mileage is a better way to measure how old it is than the year it was made.

Take our cars.  Husbando drives a 2015 Prius V.  He's had it since new, and it's been through the mill.  He hit a deer, he scratched the roof, and the windshield has a crack.  It has almost 200,000 miles on it.  But will we trade it in?! NO.  It's paid for, dang it.  And frankly at this point, it's probably too far gone to get anything out of it.

Now mine. Mine is a 2015 Corolla. It doesn't even have 30,000 miles on it.  I get calls on the regular from the dealership to buy it.  But it's not going anywhere any time soon.  I bet when I DO trade it in, it'll be maybe more than a decade from now with the way I drive.

So what do you think makes a vehicle "too old"?  To me, I really think it's too old when it doesn't run anymore, especially if it's paid for, ha! Or maybe if it's too expensive to maintain or repair? That might be it.  But I'm all about not having a car payment, ya'll.

Oldly yours,

Behka