Quote:
Originally Posted by SwampYankee
The prevailing mindset of many Americans is that cars are disposable and you just replace them every 3-5 years. Which is part of the reason leases are so popular (and why new cars are only designed with that first 5-10 years in mind). Plus DIYers are few and far between.
That's fine with me, I'm perfectly willing to buy a 3-5 year old car after that first initial chunk of depreciation.
Although I do have to admit that I've sold a few cars prematurely when faced with a good sized repair bill. I tend to get bored with whatever I'm driving after a while, but I do usually put a 100K+ on one before I move onto the next one.
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I agree with all points.
However, I truly believe that the W124 is probably the last DIY car I'll ever own. I suspect when the W208 gets long on the tooth, I'll have to dump it as well. Far too complicated to work on without some serious diagnostic tools.
I leased the W164 simply because I needed something reliable and fresh for long trips. The technology on these new models is something I would rather not EVER venture into in the comfort of my garage. So before it has a chance to burp (and require a $3500 repair), I'm getting out from underneath it.
I would like to enjoy no car payments at all, but the reality is, I don't have time to continuously spend time in the garage tweaking this and that. My daughter's massively bloated schedule allows little time for that. And I'm not a Walton or Gates, so the prospect of plunking down cash for a new offering is out of the question.