[BeeEmmDubleYuu]

How long do you guys keep your car after purchasing it?

I usually buy when a new car is around 6 mths old and then sell few months before the warranty runs out (approx 2 years and ?? months).

I feel theres a lot of money being spent on a car every 2 years so not sure if the value depreciates the same whether its 2 years or 5 years or whether its wise to spend money every two years or so in order to stop the value depreciating drastically?

Just wondering what everyone here does?

[Digitalize]

Well my car is already 7 years old, had it 6 months, plan to keep it for around 3 years total, once newer models become affordable.

[bungleaio]

The shortest I've had a car is 10 weeks, the longest is over 6 years and counting.

If I'm happy with a car then I'll keep it, if not it doesn't stay for too long. I've had my E93 since march and it does everything I want perfectly so I can see it staying with me for quite a while.

[Phil325i]

When I bought my E92 325i MT, it was as a keeper. This car is the end of an era - the last normally aspirated six-cylinder BMW. With more and more cars available only in auto and with increasing amounts of (in my view) unnecessary electronic 'driver aids' diluting the driving experience, I'm hoping (with Mike Miller maintenance) to see 200,000+ miles in my ownership.

Just my view...

[achu]

around 4 years lol, then my tastes and needs change... i can't be driving around in a matte blue convertible when i'm 25+ :\ probably get an m5 next

[BeeEmmDubleYuu]

Ok so i guess most ppl are keeping the car for sentimental reasons etc. Those changing are changing their car due to their personal circumstances etc.

So no one is really bothered with the value of the car dropping etc?

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by bungleaio

The shortest I've had a car is 10 weeks, the longest is over 6 years and counting.

If I'm happy with a car then I'll keep it, if not it doesn't stay for too long. I've had my E93 since march and it does everything I want perfectly so I can see it staying with me for quite a while.

I'm like bungleaio, if I like a car I keep it & if not it goes. The last 2 cars I had for about 6 years each & I've had my e90 for just over 2 years, so it looks like it'll be around for at least another 4 years!

[Alex.J]

This is the longest I have had a car for!

8months, seem to change every 6 months! But this will stay over a year with me!

[Wazza26]

I've had 5 in the past 5 years

[Not a Diesel!!!]

I look at depreciation since its the single biggest cost.

I look for a car that hopefully will loose £2k per year. Which is £160 per month.

Less than that & I smile. Have had a couple that have lost less than £1k and one that made me £1k. And one that lost £3k in 6 months which was more than my Mortgage at the time.

So new is out for me.

[Not a Diesel!!!]

I find the best are rare cars with reasonable running costs but were well received by the motoring press when new.

My RS Clio's were all pretty good. Cheap new depreciated well in the first couple of years so bargain could be had at 2 years old. Still in warranty then offload before cambelt service @ 5 years. Good MPG, Fast Car, Cheap Services & Tyres. Picking best spec & rarest colour for resale.

I bought my 330i at just under 3 years old at which point it had lost £26k which was £9k a year. I could not afford to loose that kind of money. I figure its now at the £2-3k per year loss rate.

[makkan00]

If you are worried about depreciation then you are buying wrong cars.
You should buy 10+ years old rusty KA really cheap (£500). Drive it for 1-2 years and probably spend another £500-1000 on it treating the rust and all other issues. It will still sell for £400 after 1 year.

However if everybody does that, the market for the new / slightly used cars will collapse.

And nobody wants to be in such cars!

On the other hand you buy fairly new cars and drive them while they are under the warranty. That is your convenience and you pay the depreciation of the car for your convenience which is no hassle of being stuck on the motorway or paying the repair bills.


Fair balance b.w these two is buying a used 3-4 year old car and drive it for 1-2 years. When they become 5 year old, get rid of them.

[zltm089]

Maybe Andrew can comment?

[D_Boi]

Had my e92 for 2 years and NY e93 for 3 months but plan to keep it until the Mrs pops another kid or it dies....

[AlanQS]

Mine is 6 years old on Sunday and I've had it, err, 6 years on Sunday. Main reason it's not gone is lack of spare dosh to change it due to changed circumstances. Had those changes not happened I would have probably changed it about 3 years ago for a Five series or a Jaguar XF.

But the car hasn't done a very high mileage and I still love it so I'm glad I still have it. If I had changed it three years ago, my total spend over the period would have been a hell of a lot more and I would have benefited by not that much.

[Durham4416]

I'm picking my 32nd car in 9 years up on Sunday just sold my disco 3 after owning since October.

[Jase 320d]

For me its usually every 6 months but im sick of spunking money up a tree so i bought a boring diesel 2.0l

[SO8]

The longest I have had a car is 3 years. I am at 2 years 10 months for my 330d but have recently replaced the alloy wheels & tyres + had it remapped in attempt to beat my record. There is nothing wrong with the car and I have no money left so it stays

[gangzoom]

I change cars when I have saved up enough to 'upgrade' to a better model. I always aim to get a better car than the one before, this was quite easy to do when i first started driving and I was in £500 bangers but now it's getting much harder to move up the ladder.

Had my previous car (350Z) for over 4 years, owned my current car (335i) now for nearly 3 years. Next car will be something like a M5/XJ etc but other things like having a baby, bigger house means realistically the 335i is going to be staying with me for at least another 3-5 years if not longer, house/family takes financial priority over the car.....cannot really complain though, it's not exactly a hardship having to drive a 335

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by BeeEmmDubleYuu

Ok so i guess most ppl are keeping the car for sentimental reasons etc. Those changing are changing their car due to their personal circumstances etc.

So no one is really bothered with the value of the car dropping etc?

I think every one cares about depreciation but in reality there is little you can do, buy new or used your loss money.

As mentioned already if you really want to save money forget about buying a new car every 2 years. Instead get a £500 banger with a valid 12month MOT and change it every 12 months. Your save a fortune....but where's the fun in that

[GP87]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

When I bought my E92 325i MT, it was as a keeper. This car is the end of an era - the last normally aspirated six-cylinder BMW. With more and more cars available only in auto and with increasing amounts of (in my view) unnecessary electronic 'driver aids' diluting the driving experience, I'm hoping (with Mike Miller maintenance) to see 200,000+ miles in my ownership.

Just my view...

I'm in total agreement with this.

I don't think i'll ever sell my E92 330i (N52K MT) for the same reasons, and subject it to the MM maintenance schedule.

Also really keen to get an E92 M3. The last of a kind.

[AnthonyR]

I normally change once a year, but all depends on the and what else is out there which might take my fancy.