Old And Reliable: Average US Vehicle Is Now 11.5 Years Old, According To New Report

[Purveyor]

By DEE-ANN DURBIN, AP Auto Writer

DETROIT (AP) — In the age of Apple's CarPlay, a lot of cars on the road still have tape decks.

The average vehicle in the U.S. is now a record 11.5 years old, according to consulting firm IHS Automotive, a sign of the increased reliability of today's vehicles and the lingering impact of the sharp drop in new car sales during the recession.

Drivers behind the wheel of older cars aren't enjoying some of the latest advanced safety features or infotainment systems that effectively turn cars into cellphones on wheels. Then again, they don't have to worry about hackers finding their way in to the car's computer network through the cassette or CD player.

IHS said U.S. registrations grew to a record 257.9 million cars and trucks, up 2 percent from a year earlier.

The average age of vehicles has been climbing steadily since IHS began tracking the number in 2002. As quality and reliability have improved, people have been holding on to their cars and trucks for longer. The average length of ownership for a new vehicle is now almost 6.5 years, IHS said. For a used vehicle, it's five years.

MORE...

http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2015/07/29/average-us-vehicle-age-hits-record-115-years

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. My truck turned 20 this year.

Not because of 'reliability', but simply because of 'no cash to upgrade'. The AC stopped working several weeks ago, and today's heat index was apparently 99F while I had to be out in it.

[dixiegrrrrl]

29. Considering all the recalls, I am perfectly happy with my 22 year old Toyota.

I did have to replace AC in '05, cost 900.00 and was the most expensive of the rare repairs I have had to make.

I cannot afford to buy a new car.
I don't WANT a hackable car. so any replacement would have be.....2006 model, I think.

The Gov. did us no favors by that "Clunker" program.
Surprised they have not extended it to houses just to keep the market moving, like Cameron did.

[madokie]

2. We have a '98 f150

a '98 ford Ranger and a 2014 ford Focus.

I like driving my little ranger the best even though its the weak ass four cylinder with a 5 speed over drive standard transmission, the other two are Automatics. I really like the ranger

and a most fun '86 lifted Club Car golf cart. My mushroom hunting buggy, town driving and hill climbing machine.

[cherokeeprogressive]

9. I can see you in a golf cart, holdin' up traffic LOL. n/t

[madokie]

12. Our little town passed an ordinance that we can legally drive them on our streets.

I've got 23 inch tires on mine and it goes 20 mph. not bad for a golf cart

[cherokeeprogressive]

18. Wow 20 mph. I wish carts on the course went that fast...

It might speed up the pace of play!

Is it gas or electric?

[madokie]

45. Gas

factory Kawasaki engine

[Politicalboi]

3. My Ford Ranger is 15

Still runs well, the air conditioning stopped working years ago, no big deal to me. I'm planning on keeping it for a long time. I don't trust the new computers in cars, and they probably charge up the ass to fix things like that. And of course, the hack factor is frightening to boot. Cops will probably be able to control your cars in the next 5 years. They can keep their new crap, I don't want it.

[pipoman]

27. have you tried one of the do-it-yourself a/c chargers?

It has worked for me on 2 different cars.

[petronius]

4. Our twenty year old is helping to pull that average up

The entertainment system is a bit newer, however - no tape deck!

[LostOne4Ever]

5. I got my car in 2001

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]Has over 110,000 miles on it.

I probably need to start looking for a new one...but i like my car!!![/font]

[lpbk2713]

6. 2007 Ford Escape

Bought it almost new. I don't drive it much, so it's still in pretty good shape.

[Skinner]

46. 2002 Ford Escape here.

[NightWatcher]

7. We've a 2000 F150 and a 03 Sequoia

We'll probably be upgrading to a CRV or similar this year.

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. 1972 Chevy Blazer here, and it is the envy of most of my friends.

I honestly believe it will be with me until I die.

[X_Digger]

22. I gave my lifted '86 to my dad.

Many a sand dune in Port Aransas state park has it's tire tracks.

[lumberjack_jeff]

25. 70 chevelle here, although at 45 years old, it's not my daily driver.

Kids. They say "good cars" like it's a new thing.

[cherokeeprogressive]

34. Mine is a daily driver, but I only live a mile and a quarter from where I work.

Anywhere else we go, we go in my Wife's Tahoe... so I've only got 1600 miles on a 350 HO crate motor with Holley Terminator fuel injection.

[lumberjack_jeff]

36. How do you like the holley?

Thinking of going edelbrock EFI, wondering if it's that much better than a carb.

[cherokeeprogressive]

37. I have some kind of vacuum issue. Most times it runs perfect, but...

Once in a while if I stand on the loud pedal from a standing start it hesitates and then falls on its face so bad I have to pull over and feather the gas pedal a few times. It's kind of like the HEI distributor doesn't advance and I don't know why. I'm almost of a mind that it's the distributor and not the Holley but someone from Holley told me on the phone the electric fuel pump is actually capable of sucking old gas lines flat so the motor starves for gas until it catches up.

The Holley is programmable on the fly with a handheld device that's connected to the controller. I've adjusted it for gas mileage, mid-range performance, and high performance and can actually feel the difference and see it in the gas guage. All in all I think it was a good buy.

[csziggy]

10. We've got a 1999 GMC Suburban and a 2006 Toyota Prius

Both purchased used and both will be ours until they are worn out. We figure we can get at least another 100,000 miles out of each of them - which means the Prius will need replacing in about five years and the Suburban may last me the rest of my life. We don't need a truck very often these days so it can sit for a month without being started,

We have a policy of only buying used and paying cash for our vehicles. We don't have to worry about new car depreciation and usually by the time we get them any manufacturer defects or recalls are done.

[n2doc]

11. 32 thousand dollars

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/03/16/why-the-average-american-can-no-longer-afford-a-ne.aspx

The average price of a new vehicle in the U.S. is $32,086.

That's the reason.

[pipoman]

31. yep and minimum wage is $7.25

[awoke_in_2003]

40. Yep...

that is why I still have my 04 F150. I have a 2010 Mini Cooper, but that is only because I made the mistake of co-signing for my stepdaughter. She ran up thousands of dollars in tolls and fines, and got it repo'ed, too. That is when I got it back (my name is on registration, too, so I am responsible for everything).

[Buns_of_Fire]

13. My car is 21. My RV is 15. In car years, they're both probably older than I am.

And, like me, they'll have to keep going until the tires fall off. Or my tires fall off, whichever comes first. (Probably mine.)

[Siwsan]

14. I drive a 2002 Saturn

Best car I ever owned.

[mnhtnbb]

15. My husband drives a 2002 Mazda Miata (bought new)

and my car is a 2007 BMW station wagon (bought when it was 2 years old).

[Throd]

16. Heck, mine is 56 years old.

[pscot]

17. 1999 was a very good year

[RebelOne]

20. Yes it was. I have a '99 Ford Taurus and it is the most dependable car I have ever owned.

[HFRN]

38. 96-99 taurus - outstanding car nt

[pscot]

41. I have a crv

and a Camry Solara. Both should be good for another 15 years.

[shanti]

19. guess my van is right in there

it's 11 years old and only has 32,000 miles on it because i rarely drive. i'd love to have a small car, prius maybe, so i can actually use my garage to park in, but that's not happening for awhile.

[X_Digger]

21. Who the fuck wants to pay the equivalent of a 1/4 of a decent house-- for a car?

(Granted the math may not work out for everyone in every market, but still..)

My 2006 chevy truck (that I paid $14,500 for) is going strong. Why would I want to put $25,000 into a new one? For a backup camera? I can go 'beep beep beep' as I back up. Fuck that noise.

[Go Vols]

24. A few of my friends

are buying these new $60k+ Ford F-150 Platinum trucks,I just shake my head and ask why.

[AwakeAtLast]

23. My 2000 Toyota Avalon

Was found on the used lot in 2010 with 56,000 miles on it. You read that right. Best car I have ever driven! It now has 115,000 on it and I fully expect to get at least 100,000 more. Super car!

[unapatriciated]

35. I got you beat see post 33

Found mine on a lot the day after it was traded in. It still runs great.

[PasadenaTrudy]

26. 2011 Mazda3 hatchback

I bought it new and I have 34K miles on it. It should last me a loooong time!

[zappaman]

28. 2003 toyota 4runner!

Banged up, but still runs great after 116,000 miles!

[KG]

30. just dumped my 99 ranger, i put 170k of the 207k. still ran like a champ, but other stuff was

crapping out. got a 2010 ranger, hope to drive it for 10 years.

[daleanime]

32. Reliability my butt....

driving a '99 Chrysler until it falls apart. Who can afford to replace a working vehicle?

[unapatriciated]

33. 1996 Toyota Rav 4 74,000 miles

When I bought it in 2004 it only had 14,000 miles. It was literally owned by a little old lady. It still runs great and at 63, I'm the little old lady who drives it.

[IDemo]

39. '93 Toyota 4x4 with 73k miles

Why would I trade it in when it's barely broke-in?

[ThoughtCriminal]

42. '95 Nissan Pickup - 154k miles - mostly Arizona desert.

Routine maintenance and very little trouble over the years, but some parts are definitely feeling the age. Replaced clutch, radiator and water pump in past two years. A/C compressor finally gave out this summer.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

43. My wife's car is a 1991 Toyota Tercel. Still runs great.

Last year we sold our '93 Toyota pick up and bought a new Rav4. It will certainly outlive us both.

[aikoaiko]

44. I bought a 5 year old Volvo 5 years ago, and its generally running well.

Each year I can count on 500 - 800 worth of maintenance.

First year was the 100,000 timing belt/water pump change. $800

New set of good tires another year. $900

Replaced a set of ignition coils $750.

And then the usual oil changes and rotations.

Not bad for a 10 year old station wagon that I drive with a lead foot.

[Aerows]

47. Buying a new car

Is like saying "Oh yes, please screw me with higher than needed interest rates, while telling you how awful your credit is.

Go your Credit Union, could get the cost as a private loan at 3%, so you pay exactly what the you specified.

It makes car dealers have sad face because the back end (finance department's cut on bird-dog financing) is cut out of the deal.

Let's recap. Get a loan before you go in there if you want to buy a new car, do not disclose that you already have financing, and force them to negotiate as though you would be open to their finance managers changes. They want you to take it home tonight, starry eyes.

After you have negotiated the slimmest profit margin deal on interest, and price of the car. Boom. Pull out the financing at 3.5% you already have.

You've just bypassed Financiers that are assuring you that your credit rating is terrible ... "so apply with us!".

[snooper2]

48. another online phenomenon, people love talking about their evil petrol cars

Got Gas

oh, and if you are around DFW and want a 03' Dakota with 150K cheap, PM me