How long do you keep a car before changing it?

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

We're going to be needing a new (used) car as soon as we can next year, as the existing 17yo one has recently started to have many things go wrong, having already had a lot spent on it, so it's time to cut our losses.

I've been doing some online research and we've decided on the model that will best suit our requirements (well, either one of two almost identical models from manufacturers in the same group), but one thing I've always wondered is what makes owners decide to change a car after only two or three years or so, as there seem to be quite a few cars that have had multiple owners in not too many years.

Obviously, there will be people needing to upsize with new babies on the way, downsize now the adult kids have left home, get an adapted/motability car, have to/decide to give up driving, emigrate to Australia etc.

However, from reading user reviews, it appears that a lot of people will swap a car after three years or less for a slightly newer one that's broadly similar. Is this a red flag? I'm more used to the other end of the market, where (as now), the car practically dies of old age or becomes an unreliable money pit; but I'm keen to know what makes people suddenly decide to swap a perfectly good car that suits their needs for another of the same.

Is it because they like the prestige of new/nearly new cars, perceive anything over Xyo to automatically become a death trap, can't be faffed with MoTs after three years - or is it just to do with finance deals, like with phones where you're encouraged to keep 'upgrading' every two years whether you really wanted to or not? Even so, that makes sense if cars are bought new and then automatically sold after the end of the purchasing contract - and fleet/company cars of course - but does that still work with privately-owned 6, 7, 8yo cars? I'm kind of hoping that it isn't the custom to cut and run as soon as your friendly mechanic gives you the nod that the wheels (or other parts) are expected to come off, and that there are still plenty of decently functional cars out there under 8-10yo to be had

Any thoughts, experiences and tips as to what to look out for greatly appreciated so that we (hopefully) don't become the fools on the other end of their wise decision to quickly offload a white elephant!!

I would think people who swap every 3 years are on leases/finance deals where they can either pay a lump sum at the end and buy the car or part exchange the car and use that amount at the deposit on a new one (so they just end up paying a monthly amount all the time). It works out better financially for some and they always have a fairly new car.

I got with the banganomics theory - I drive my car until it goes bang then buy another 2nd hand one!

I usually buy a fairly decent but 4-5yr old used car, then drive it into the ground!

I keep mine for 4 years. Initially we were buying cars about 18 months - 2 years old and realised after we had had them for about 4 years the mileage was getting high, servicing was getting expensive and value was dropping massively. We never want really old cars as it is so once we realised this we worked out it cost about the same to lease a car for 4 years and replace them.

If you like a newish car then this works well, if you are happy to drive a car into the ground and keeps it until it dies then it doesn’t make sense. Personally I wouldn’t want to drive a 17 year old car through choice so try and get the best value for my money which meets my requirements and I’m also not bothered if I own a car outright or not, it’s a depreciating asset

I’m 42 and have owned three cars in my life, I buy one and keep it until it goes bang!

I think people who swap them regularly buy on finance deals etc where you get a deal to swap but still pay each month, that’s not something I’ve ever been interested in doing, I’m not that bothered about a car as long as it works

Current car from 4 years old and had it over a decade. If you pick well buying and running until the repairs get costly will always be the cheapest way of doing things.

I’m also not bothered if I own a car outright or not, it’s a depreciating asset

I will never understand this argument. How is spending money on a deprecating asset any worse than spending money on something you dont even own?

Really it is the financing deals that drive this there is unlikely to be much wrong with a 3 year old car, especially if you go for a reliable brand/model. We buy outright rather than financing. My VW is now 13 years old (owned it 10). Absolutely no reason to part with it, but the fact it was three years old when I bought meant it was a good £7k cheaper than new.

I get motability so change every 3 years. I think quite a few of those come on the market every year and are usually in really good nick.

It's because they're on finance.
I buy my cars (sometimes with the help of an interest free balance transfer) and keep for about 5 years. The recent car will last longer as I've been slowly moving up to 'newer' models as I've been able to afford it (nowhere near new though 😂).
People get trapped into financing deals and get used to having very new cars as a result. They don't want to take a 'back step' to buy a car they could actually afford.

I’m 33 and am on my fourth car, I also operate on ‘bangonomics’ but I can only ever afford around a grand on a car, so end up having them for 4/5 years only!

Until it becomes unreliable.

Have bought new before but more usually a used 0-3 years.

Currently drive an 18 plate (400 miles on clock 5k saving on new) and an 11 plate (bought at 18 months old and saved 6k on new) . Might try and look after and keep the 18 until its a classic. Although, I suspect all the computer gadgetry will not make that easy now.

We’ve had our current car since 2005. Still going strong and very reliable so no need to change.

Usually buy one a couple of years old and keep for about 6-8 years

Finance deals and 'impress the neighbours' mentality. Nobody needs a brand new car every 3/4 years. It's all about status.

I get cars to a hire-to-purchase contract so at the end of 2-3 years when the contract's due to expire I just swap it for a new one. I like knowing that the car will have the latest safety features and having a manufacturer's warranty if anything goes wrong.

Some dealerships contact you when your car is 2-3 years old and tell you they'll offer a great deal if you trade in now! At least that's what happened with DHs last car. The reality was that the deal was crap but I guess some people fall for it!

We operate on Bangenomics with cars. When the DC were small I bought a 3 year old car which was brilliant but eventually died at 13 years and 200k miles. I then bought a car that was 3 years old, ex motability and in very good condition. I'd probably still be driving it now except some idiot drove into me and wrote it off when I'd only had it 3 years.

I currently have an 07 car, as does DH. When we eventually have to replace them we will probably go for ones that are 3 years old with relatively low mileage. And keep them for 15 years.

My mother (aged 78) bought a new car last year which she expects to outlast her. It came with a 7 year warranty. Cars these days are built to last.

The one problem with older cars is the audio technology. My car has a broken CD player which isn't worth repairing. It would cost a fortune to upgrade the radio to bluetooth.

Usually buy one that is 18 months old and then keep it for around 10 years!

I keep a car until it becomes unreliable. We replaced our last car when we'd had it for 9 years. Our other car is coming up to 7 years old.

We have had our current one coming up for 5 years and the last one we had it 10 years. We owned both outright, bought ex demo (so nearly new but usually higher mileage) and have never financed or leased any cars.

We only buy cars with seven year warrenties, and buy surplace imports or ex showroom models so we get six month old ones with all the extras for several thousand under the basic model new price with under 100 km on the clock usually.

We keep them til they start going wrong.

Cars with 3 year warrenties start going wrong after 3.5 years, cars with 5 year warrenties start going wrong after 5.5 years, cars with 7 year warrenties start going wrong after 7.5 years... IME

I've had my driving licence 8 years, in that time I have probably had 6 bangers. My current car is 29 years old and the best car I have ever owned- mechanic says it has another 250k in it and it cost a grand 🤷‍♀️

We live rurally and both do high milage so our cars do get well used!

I usually buy a fairly decent but 4-5yr old used car, then drive it into the ground
Same here. But I'm not a car person. I couldn't care less if I drive a new car or an old banger. My current motor is 13 years old, we bought it when it was 5 years old.
Given we only do 5K miles a year it doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money on it.

Usually buy 6mth to 1 yr old car then change it when it’s 3yrs old. Don’t like to keep them once the warranty runs out. Pay cash.

Also, easily bored and like a change