Mark Bole <m...@p...net> wrote:
> Douglas Johnson wrote:
>
> > Notice that, in your example, the value of the car only shows up
> > as reducing the net cost of buying the new one. It really has no
> > effect on the fix or replace question.
>
> Well, what does then? The older the car, the harder parts are to
> get, and the less likely you are to find a mechanic intimately
> familiar with the model and year. Some cars are so old (yet less
> than twenty years) that even when operating to manufacturer specs,
> they don't pass modern smog laws in some states.

The first item on your list is the only viable one, and only for
vehicles that are unusual. Honda Civics, even 10-15 year old ones, are
quite common. (Almost 40% of the cars in service in the USA are over 10
years old.) It is generally easier to find a mechanic familiar with an
older car, after all most of them learn their trade on older vehicles!
As for the smog laws, older cars get grandfathered in so the laws don't
apply to them anyway.

> ... it makes sense to buy a newer used car, say in the five-year
> old range, and plan to then keep it for another ten years or so.
> Others have suggested keeping it for another five years, never
> selling it, and at least one other suggestion to trade in a for a
> newER (not brand new) vehicle.

In other words, the suggestions on this group have been all over the
map. :-)

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