New car, nearly

[Old TexMex]

I took my Subaru Crosstrek in for its 20,000 mile service (2016),
and I got to talking with the salesman...
Nothing wrong with the one I had, but I almost succumbed to temptation. Same vehicle, white (instead of black) just brand new.
Good news is that as soon as they thought I was going to trade, while I was test driving the 2019 (I had to kill some time for the service) they did a full detail and wax job, all gratis.
Who trades for the same car with only 19,500 miles on the one they already have? All I was getting was $10,000 worth of new car smell, right?

 

[yaktamer]

I took my Subaru Crosstrek in for its 20,000 mile service (2016),
and I got to talking with the salesman...
Nothing wrong with the one I had, but I almost succumbed to temptation. Same vehicle, white (instead of black) just brand new.
Good news is that as soon as they thought I was going to trade, while I was test driving the 2019 (I had to kill some time for the service) they did a full detail and wax job, all gratis.
Who trades for the same car with only 19,500 miles on the one they already have?

I'm more curious about who manages to only put 20k miles on a car in three years.

 

[Old TexMex]

I'm more curious about who manages to only put 20k miles on a car in three years.

If I go much of anywhere, I fly. Crazy thing is, I have a pickup and another car besides that, and they get driven even less.

 

[Targets Guy]

I trade my Subaru Forester Touring every two years on average. My current one is a 2018 Touring. I bought it in Sep of 2018 and just went over 4,200 miles. Will probably trade it for a 2020 next year.

 

[rubiranch]

If I go much of anywhere, I fly. Crazy thing is, I have a pickup and another car besides that, and they get driven even less.

I average close to 30,000 miles a year on my pickup.

 

[H Richard]

If I don't believe in a car going 100,000 miles with minimal repair costs I wouldn't buy it. Since I retired I put a lot less miles on my car than before, but still about 7,500 to 10,000 miles a year. Now my wife just passed 31,000 miles and it is 9 years old. There are no plans to replace in the foreseeable future.

 

[Ozark Marine]

I bought a brand new 2018 Ford Escape SE AWD cause my 2002 Mustang GT had reached 72,000 miles on it that I bought new off the dealer lot.
The Mustang now sits in the garage and only driven a couple times a week to have a few beers with the guys at the Legion and get it's oil changed.
The Escape now has 3,000 miles on it, mostly from visiting family & friends in Chicago and getting groceries.
I'm getting a little too old to repair a car on the side of the road.
I like having a warranty with roadside assistance for that.

 

[delcrossv]

I don't believe in replacing a depreciating asset with another depreciating asset.

E.g.
New Suburban: $80,000 and it's only a half ton
1999 3/4 ton Suburban that's really nice: under $10,000

Sorry, I need more than new car smell to justify a $70,000 delta.

YMMV

 

[Old TexMex]

I trade my Subaru Forester Touring every two years on average. My current one is a 2018 Touring. I bought it in Sep of 2018 and just went over 4,200 miles. Will probably trade it for a 2020 next year.

What’s your incentive to choose that plan? I was considering it only because I felt like the trade or resale value would go down, and the new purchase price would go up, so increasing my out of pocket expense, since I pay cash rather than buy on credit.
However, Subaru Crosstrek depreciates less than any car, according to Kelly.
Subaru Outback Depreciation

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...I had an aunt and uncle who traded their Studebaker in for the new model every year...

 

[Targets Guy]

What’s your incentive to choose that plan? I was considering it only because I felt like the trade or resale value would go down, and the new purchase price would go up, so increasing my out of pocket expense, since I pay cash rather than buy on credit.
However, Subaru Crosstrek depreciates less than any car, according to Kelly.

The Foresters (and all Subaru's) have a bumper to bumper 36,000 protection. I don't have to worry about paying for anything that goes wrong, replacing tires, etc. It costs me about $5,000 to $7,000 every two years to get the new car. I am now 73 so after one or two more new cars I will plan on sticking with that one for the reminder of my driving life.

My wife, on the other hand, loves her 2012 Forester and plans to keep it forever. She has about 55,000 miles on hers and pays about $800 to $1,500 every three or four years for a major check up. She has put two sets of tires on it for about a grand a pop. Hers still looks like new. The last set of tires we put on were Michelin's and the car is quieter now than it ever has been.

 

[LVSteve]

I'm more curious about who manages to only put 20k miles on a car in three years.

My 2005 SUV just passed 62.5k after 14 years. That's under 4500/year on average. I'm either renting a car, flying or using something more GT like to do long trips.

One other factor. Even after 22 years I still have a British attitude to fuel use. Therefore I don't do a lot of "nipping in and out" in my vehicles. I consolidate trips as much as possible. It saves miles, gas and starts on the vehicles.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...my 2003 Subaru Baja is sitting out in the driveway waiting for me to put a new clutch in her...

...changed the clutch once before at 133,000 miles...

...she is at 242,000 now...

 

[yaktamer]

...I had an aunt and uncle who traded their Studebaker in for the new model every year...

I had an uncle who would do that with his Oldsmobile. But he was single and lived with his mother for his whole life, too, so ....

 

[yaktamer]

Right now I'm averaging about 38,000 miles per year.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...My Dad had an aunt who's late model Cadillac wouldn't start one morning...

...she called the dealership and told them to bring her a new one...

...they offered to bring a new battery...

...she said no...bring a new Cadillac...and take this one back...

 

[Old TexMex]

The Foresters (and all Subaru's) have a bumper to bumper 36,000 protection. I don't have to worry about paying for anything that goes wrong, replacing tires, etc. It costs me about $5,000 to $7,000 every two years to get the new car. I am now 73 so after one or two more new cars I will plan on sticking with that one for the reminder of my driving life.

My wife, on the other hand, loves her 2012 Forester and plans to keep it forever. She has about 55,000 miles on hers and pays about $800 to $1,500 every three or four years for a major check up. She has put two sets of tires on it for about a grand a pop. Hers still looks like new. The last set of tires we put on were Michelin's and the car is quieter now than it ever has been.

Good tip on the Michelins, I noticed the test drive car was quieter than my 2016. They put a new battery in mine for zero$.
I think I could keep mine for a year linger, but here on the Gulf coast, rust tends to show up sooner than later.
They had one with the six cylinder, a touring, but it was 38k vs. 26k. and I already have an ex police Malibu.

 

[LVSteve]

Right now I'm averaging about 38,000 miles per year.

Do you know why? Serious question.

 

[Old TexMex]

They’re reading my mail! They just called and offered to deliver it to me
(35miles). Uuhhhh, temptation.

 

[yaktamer]

Do you know why? Serious question.

Yes, because it's the distance I drive.