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I own a lot of cars all the way back to a 1905 and my daily driver is a 25 year old pickup...
I have serious reservations today's cars will end up as survivors... I could be wrong.
What do you consider to be the service life for a vehicle? Because I see lots of recent modern cars (within the past 10-15 years) running around with 200K+ miles out there. My neighbor has an ex rental rocket Impala, hardly a harbinger of quality, with 209K on it and she doesn't do much to it.
As an aside, you mentioned working at a Hospital. If I were a doctor or nurse and absolutely had to make it in to work no matter what, I might not own a car out of warranty.
Completely serious. It's a given that an old supercar will have lost some of its horsepower over the years, but I too expected they would brake and steer their way around a track. Turns out a modern family hatchback with stability control, disc brakes etc. - and, admittedly, in the hands of a very competent driver - could hold its own.
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I have never watched TopGear.
It is quite entertaining, if one likes understated British arguments, the occasional nice car, and watching people make fools of themselves.
Most cars of your cars' era are long gone, too. Hot rodding has kept a number of them alive, though it's said that there are more '32 Fords driving around now than there were in '32, due to how many new bodies both in steel and fiberglass have been made... lol!
It's no secret that on average, modern cars have longer useful lives as far as mileage is concerned. And a 10-15 year old car is no longer considered a "jalopy" only suitable for the scrapyard like it was in the '50s and '60s.
That's a point that's being ignored. The cars you see from the 50s and 60s, or even the 70s, are the survivors. The rest have been scrapped long ago.
How long will "today's" cars last? I don't know. No one really does.
But in the NBP extended fleet are two 95 Taurus wagons. One will be going away soon because, at 250K, it's just plain worn out. As is the 02 wagon with 225K.
The 03 F150 just turned over 200K while the 01 Frontier has 175K, the 05 Sable is at 110K and the 10 Forester is at 120K (my 14 F150 just turned over 20K). The 03 Focus had 180K when it got totaled by a deer. The 98 Taurus was at 125K when it was totaled 11 years ago.
I scrapped a 91 Lumina a year or so ago. Not because it wouldn't run at 100K but because it got totaled in a wreck.
What do you consider to be the service life for a vehicle? Because I see lots of recent modern cars (within the past 10-15 years) running around with 200K+ miles out there. My neighbor has an ex rental rocket Impala, hardly a harbinger of quality, with 209K on it and she doesn't do much to it.
As an aside, you mentioned working at a Hospital. If I were a doctor or nurse and absolutely had to make it in to work no matter what, I might not own a car out of warranty.
Good question... in California it seems to be smog issues that lead to demise.
Plenty of 100% rust free cars that can't pass smog and some of the higher end stuff with California only emissions can be hell to locate California only emission parts for a car from the 90's and older.
We must smog just about everything 1976 and newer so when your mint 2002 BMW won't pass smog... get ready to spend a lot of time on it or money and hope to get it passed.
I have parked a BMW 2002 and a Triumph Spitfire... both 1976 models and both will not pass smog... run great. Neither have Catalytic Converters because they were not California Spec.
Doctors, Nurses, Business Offices, Med Techs and Receptionists all drive cars they bought new... some do lease.
I still have the car I bought in High School for $800 and drove off to college and then drove it another 20 years... same engine and trans... only left me stranded once... timing chain went... less than $50 for parts and a Saturday afternoon and my 72 Plymouth Valiant was back on the road...
Only briefly dealt with smog testing in Ohio before they scrapped it. But I do remember when they had it if you did not pass all you had to do was put in $250 worth of repairs and if that didn't solve the issue you got an exemption. Nothing like that in CA I guess?
Only bought one new car... it was a factory order in 2002 and has 66,000 miles... I do my own work and in almost 15 years, spent less than $100 in parts for repairs... not including normal maintenance items...
My Voltage Regulator went out... Dealer said a week and about $1100 to repair... part cost $40 and I had it replaced in 2 hours...
Also had a right and left rear window regulators go out... $30 each and the Dealer want $600 parts and labor...
Only briefly dealt with smog testing in Ohio before they scrapped it. But I do remember when they had it if you did not pass all you had to do was put in $250 worth of repairs and if that didn't solve the issue you got an exemption. Nothing like that in CA I guess?
No... if you are low income there is a problem to assist or buy your car...
There is also a provision where you can get a one time exemption from a State Referee after spending $650 and meeting several other requirements...
Only bought one new car... it was a factory order in 2002 and has 66,000 miles... I do my own work and in almost 15 years, spent less than $100 in parts for repairs... not including normal maintenance items...
My Voltage Regulator went out... Dealer said a week and about $1100 to repair... part cost $40 and I had it replaced in 2 hours...
Also had a right and left rear window regulators go out... $30 each and the Dealer want $600 parts and labor...
You work on your own cars, hobby, avocation, whatever, but most people can't/don't.
If I would get an older car (mid-70s or before) I likely would start to again, even without a garage. I could likely manipulate oldest son into letting me use his (I'd probably have to promise to let him drive whatever it would be. Wouldn't happen but he's a hopeful and optimistic sort).
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