On Oct 25, 5:08 pm, Jim Behning
<jimbehn...@doesthisblockpork.mindspring.com> wrote:

Hmmmm... average 6.19 years per VW, 11.5 years per Toyota.

Apart from all that, I define Euro Cars (and we have three of them:
Volvo, Saab, VW) as not being "user-friendly" in terms of maintenance.
They are fussy and sensitive to neglect, require scrupulous attention,
care and feeding - but if so-pampered have a nearly indefinite service-
life.

It is a funny thing - even a piece of Detroit or Korean Iron will do
pretty much the same thing with pretty much the same sort of care. But
that sort of care is antithetical to our "modern" throw-away society
and more-so with individuals who over-buy cars (and everything else)
so that their monthly payments wipe out their ability to maintain
properly. And car manufacturers understand this and so give "Free" (it
isn't) maintenance packages, increase intervals between oil-changes
and so forth.

Things are slowly changing for the better (in all opinions except car
makers) this way as the probably permanently revised world economy
will have people keeping their cars past the end of the payment book.
Accordingly more attention *will* be paid to care-and-feeding in pure
self-defense.

Keep in mind that a car that is paid-for and averages 20mpg is
massively cheaper than a new $25,000 car that gets 40mpg.

At typical rates, that car will cost ~$535/month for five (5) years.
Assume that it wil require NO owner-paid maintenance for that entire
five years. Assume the median price of gasoline at $4/gallon for those
five years. Assume 40mpg overall and assume 15,000 driven miles per
year. Assume a five (5) year loan at industry standard interest
rates.

Cost for that vehicle (Gas & Payment ONLY) will be $7920/year. At the
end of five years, you will have a five year old car with 75,000 miles
on it and nothing in your pocket.

For the existing vehicle: Assume $2000 annually for maintenance.
Assume 20mpg overall and 15,000 driven miles per year.

Cost for that vehicle (Gas and Maintenance) will be $5,000 per year.
Note that even if the maintenance doubles, the existing car is a
better investment - as at the end of the payment book the new car is
pretty much worthless in trade but still perfectly serviceable, as is
the used car - which cannot get any less valuable after a certain
point.

Invest the $2,970 savings/year at-interest (say.... 2.5%) for those
same five years. You will have $15,800.37 at the end of that five
years. And you will still have a car with no car payment. Even if that
car has 150,000 miles on it.

And we are not even addressing the higher cost of insurance for a new
car (and required collision insurance if one chooses to live on the
edge).

It is this sort of math that gives car makers and dealers fits.

Now, I would not drive around the block in a vehicle not equipped with
air-bags, anti-lock brakes and other very basic safety items and
devices, nor would I let anyone in the family do so. My job requires
that I have an AWD vehicle with decent ground-clearance and minimal
(but frequent) off-road/very rough road capacity. But after those
sorts of basic requirements a 4 year old car is as good as a 7 year
old car is as good as a 9 year old car. And as they are all paid-for
and all operate in the mid-20s+ average mpg overall, I am not "Hot for
a Hybrid" at this time.

And this sort of attitude that increases the frequency of those fits.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA