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!!

My car will be 21 in 4 months time. I adopted her at 4 and she’s brilliant. Recently the alternator went, but fixed it for £200. She passes her MOT first time every year. Almost free motoring! I hate spending money on cars.

DH's car is an 06 plate, mine's a 65 plate. We are thinking of getting a new car on a pch basis as we both get deals through work.

If we do, we'll scrap his, he'll have mine and I'll have the new one. We will keep the 65 plate car until it starts costing silly money to repair, but its a great car, well looked after and will last us another 10 years at least.

I used to buy every three years to avoid hassle of MOT and the car needing work.
Have since found a good, (legit) mechanic, plus have a large, hairy dog... so won’t get a new car until he’s popped his clogs. My current car is now 8 years old.

I always buy second hands, usually cars that have been leased for 3 years.

I haven’t had the best luck with cars, though, 2 stolen. 1 written off. One that was only 4 years old but it just kept breaking (cheap hatchback thing)

I have a fairly decent car now, mid value family car, 4 wheel drive it’s been sat in my drive for months and now has started to grow moss (I take it out from time to time to keep it running). It’s 5 years old, and has really low mileage. We also have a car on lease, when that expires we won’t be replacing. (Both now wfh long term, even after covid).

I will prob keep my car until things start majorly going wrong..

I'm 47 and still have my first car (admittedly I got it when I was 37!) I have no intention of changing it until I really have to.

I’m on year 14 with my car, the first I bought new. My previous cars were all very used when purchased and didn’t last long, I’ll keep my car until it starts needing more than occasional repairs. I had always thought the best approach was buying a slightly used car, but it was cheaper to buy new because I got much better financing and it has turned out to be an excellent approach. I’ll be doing the same with my next car.

I keep it until it costs more to repair than its sale value.
Current car bought 2008 still looks great, works great.

@Twospaniels

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

Have you not thought about leasing? Buying in cash and then getting rid is surely losing you money?

My previous car was 21 years old! Bought it when it was a year old, ex showroom model. Was still going strong but I was getting twitchy about driving longer distances, particularly on the more horrible bits of the M25, in case it died on me.

New (for me) car is 2 years old, only 5k miles on the clock.
It’ll very likely see me out. 😄

I had the car before the previous one for over 14 years.

We bought older cars for around 5k and kept them for 3-4 yrs when pricy repairs were due. Except for the sports car we had for only a year before I found out I was pregnant.
We now lease new cars for 2 yrs for around £200pm. It's more expensive but we only have the one car now and it stops worrying about the car falling apart at any time.

These days I lease cars for 3 years so I can hand them back for a new one. It's a big relief after years of unreliable old cars.

Mine is 4 yrs old, had it from new and intend to keep it for at least another 5 years because it's perfect for me, I love it, and there's nothing I've seen that I would want instead.

DH bought a new car not long after me, it was pre-registered and a very good deal, bought outright and not on tick (getting no interest on savings so no point paying interest on finance). He got rid of it after 2 years because it was boring, too small and not comfortable for his dodgy back.

I had been changing every three years as I worked in an NHS community role and had a lease car. I stopped work to become a foster parent so we needed to buy a car (fairly new). In retrospect it is too small, we were originally registered for one child 0-18 and a respite placement but we were soon approached to consider taking two babies so the car is not really fit for purpose any more as we struggle to get a double buggy and the shopping in it. If DP successfully kicks cancer we will be upsizing.

I keep mine until it starts costing too much money when things go wrong. I'm not bothered about having a flashy all singing and dancing car, my father is in the motor repair trade and always says the more buttons the more that can go wrong. I also won't buy a brand new car, I'd rather have an extra holiday every year than be tied to car payments for the next 3 years and then never actually own it. It depends on your views and priorities and as long as it gets me from A to B I'm happy but other people enjoy the luxury of a new car and that's their choice, everyone is different.

I paid £800 just over 6 years ago for my then 14 year old car (bog standard British built hatchback). In that time I reckon I've spent about the same amount again getting it through MOTs and a new set of tyres.

My car is actually older than my current intern . My mechanic says that everything that would normally need replaced on a car has now been done so I'd be mad not to keep it as long as possible.

I know people who bought brand new cars that need more spent to get through the first MOT than mine has cost in total.

We change ours every 3 years, as we both run leases through our business.

I can't be arsed with MOTs, services, maintenance etc. We go for the full maintenance options by paying monthly and the car goes to the garage for tyres/maintenance and it's collected/delivered. It suits us both. And I get bored with cars very quickly

We lean more your way but not as extreme. Current Toyota is about 10 years old with just over 100k on the clock. A few bits falling off it but nothing serious. It's our only car, so we'll replace it when it rusts to pieces on our drive now that dh is no longer commuting to work 🤣

I bought mine 3.5 years ago when it was 2 years old. It was in pristine condition and had barely any miles on the clock - a great deal! I pay for the car each month but there’s no lump sum at the end and I owned it from day 1 but just been paying in instalments. It’s just as cheap as my last car (an absolute old banger that cost me a flying every other week in repairs). It’s totally interest free and best of all, if I decided I wanted to trade it in right now for an upgrade, I can - I’d just pay the difference in value. In six months time I will have paid it off and can choose to either just stick with it or trade it in for a newer one again on the same deal. When I got it, I was pregnant with my first and just didn’t want to be driving a banger anymore or risk breaking down with a baby in tow. It’s a spacious, practical car so no need to upgrade as such but we may choose to anyway. Why? Because we enjoy having a nice car and wouldn’t choose to drive an older one when we can very comfortably afford to have a nicer newer one.

@Mochudubh

I paid £800 just over 6 years ago for my then 14 year old car (bog standard British built hatchback). In that time I reckon I've spent about the same amount again getting it through MOTs and a new set of tyres.

My car is actually older than my current intern . My mechanic says that everything that would normally need replaced on a car has now been done so I'd be mad not to keep it as long as possible.

I know people who bought brand new cars that need more spent to get through the first MOT than mine has cost in total.

You buy the cars we get rid of!

@PickAChew

Your loss is my gain! . You don't live in Northants, do you? If so, it could well be yours.

yes - finance packages and thinking that a flashy shiny chunkmobile makes you look good. Also the idea that older cars are inherently less reliable.

I used to buy company cars from reps (something that isn't available any more) and keep until they were too rusty to pass an MoT. Latest car was a wildly extravagant 3k for a 10 year old, lots of research, minimal gadgets and will hopefully last five years. Buy on finance and you piss that much money up the wall every year.

older designs are so much better, too - new ones are full of useless wasteful gadgets, have terrible sightlines and worse aerodynamics.

I swap my car every 2-3 years and I don't lease. I just buy a car that's up to 6 months old each time.

Just like to have a new ish car and less likelihood of issues with it

I hate buying new cards. I’ve had three in my lifetime, my most recent one I’ve had nearly 4 years (it’s 2015 plate) & I’m gutted to have to sell it next year as we need a 7 seater.
Trying to think of ways we can squeeze us all in when baby grows out of the infant seat but it’s just not going to happen! Love my car

Can’t understand people who get new cars willy nilly but each to their own! The next one I have I want to keep for a longgggg time, it’s too stressful

My car is 8 years old I've had it for four, the only things wrong with it is that there's a leak I just cannot identify, the boots wet and the back seats are soaked!
Luckily I don't use the car with anyone other than me and dd in it.
It's done almost 140k miles so while I'm reluctant to pay a fortune to fix the leak there's nothing else wrong with it, plus I can't afford another right now, if I could I'd be at the dealers months ago.

[quote Mochudubh]@PickAChew

Your loss is my gain! . You don't live in Northants, do you? If so, it could well be yours.[/quote]
We've tracked past cars and they've ended up all over the country. Neither stayed registered very long and the Mazda that we ditched at 70k and under 7 years old because it was a heap of shit failed an Mot on numerous counts, including things that hadn't even gone wrong yet when we part exed it.