Where are they now? - Page 2

*clyde* · 01-04-2019, 03:55 PM

And yet the average age of operating cars on the road keeps increasing. It's now 10.1-11.6 years (not sure how I'm reading this" https://www.bts.gov/content/average-...-united-states)

The cars and SUVs in your yuppie neighborhoods make their way downmarket. If you're not seeing them, it's willful ignorance. I see plenty of older vehicles every day. More in certain parts of town than others. Outside of metro areas, it's pretty stark. Check out the ages of vehicles in rural Walmarts, Waffle Houses and bars sometime. Travel through the country off-Interstate and note the cars and trucks in driveways and yards.

Don't believe your bubble.

ZBB · 01-04-2019, 08:45 PM

I remember when I worked in Japan that used cars had almost no market. Most JDM vehicles get exported once they are 4-5+ Years old. I worked there during the summer of 2000 and rarely saw cars more than 5 years old on the road.

But you do see used JDM cars in places like Australia and Canada. The island my in-laws live on in Canada has a bunch of RHD JDM vehicles on it. mostly small minivans and delivery trucks, but a few interesting things like a Nissan S-Cargo...

Terri Kennedy · 01-05-2019, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC

I know I live in a wealthy part of the country, but since I moved to the US, I've always been fascinated by how quickly the population of cars turns over.

Of course, some cars get totalled in accidents and floods. Others become prohibitively expensive to keep running - but can't can happen to a car that is only a handful of years old except for the relatively small percentage of people who rack up 25k+ miles a year. Is that it? Is it as simple as they get crashed and old?

It is too bad there isn't something like the UK's How many left? for the US. But of course, given the "51 kingdoms" nature of the DMV here, it isn't practical.

equ · 01-05-2019, 03:07 AM

Good point, FC. I've noted a similar tendency... I do think some of the lease fleet (0 to 3years) moves away from the NYC hubbub after 4+. And then some more again at 6+ when past CPO, I see those cars more often in PA e.g.

Another aspect might be your sample... People commute in and put most miles on their newest cars.

rumatt · 01-05-2019, 08:27 AM

I was thinking about something similar the other day.

1. The consumer has encouraged manufacturing of vehicles to go in a direction where they are a) insanely expensive, b) depreciate quickly, c) are extremely expensive to repair. This is a terrible combination. People buy and sell beautiful, complex pieces of engineering and sell them for a huge financial loss because of the fear that they might break down. It's pretty crazy that this feels so normal.

2. It's only going to get worse now that cars are computers. It's like buying a new $600 smart phone every year because you don't feel like changing (or cannot change) the battery. I can't believe it's happening now for $60k vehicles.

As a society we have committed to pouring significantly more money (an order of magnitude more ?) into vehicles than was necessary. Was this the right choice? Is this really where we as a society should be pouring money?

FC · 01-05-2019, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumatt

I was thinking about something similar the other day.

1. The consumer has encouraged manufacturing of vehicles to go in a direction where they are a) insanely expensive, b) depreciate quickly, c) are extremely expensive to repair. This is a terrible combination. People buy and sell beautiful, complex pieces of engineering and sell them for a huge financial loss because of the fear that they might break down. It's pretty crazy that this feels so normal.

2. It's only going to get worse now that cars are computers. It's like buying a new $600 smart phone every year because you don't feel like changing (or cannot change) the battery. I can't believe it's happening now for $60k vehicles.

As a society we have committed to pouring significantly more money (an order of magnitude more ?) into vehicles than was necessary. Was this the right choice? Is this really where we as a society should be pouring money?

I'm having that dilemma with TV's. Old CRT's used to hang around forever.

New TV's are large and "cheap," but what do I do with my 2007 Sony 42" that has a border/frame 1.5" wide and I hardly use? In our bedrom we have a TV 2009 Sony 46" is far too small for my room (used to be in the FR in my old house). What to do with that? They both work perfectly well. I fear even as donations they will just get thrown away.

kognito · 01-05-2019, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC

I'm having that dilemma with TV's. Old CRT's used to hang around forever.

New TV's are large and "cheap," but what do I do with my 2007 Sony 42" that has a border/frame 1.5" wide and I hardly use? In our bedrom we have a TV 2009 Sony 46" is far too small for my room (used to be in the FR in my old house). What to do with that? They both work perfectly well. I fear even as donations they will just get thrown away.

What size TV is in your garage?

We have one TV on a DVR/cable box. Every other TV in our house is using Roku type of connection to the internet

*clyde* · 01-05-2019, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC

I'm having that dilemma with TV's. Old CRT's used to hang around forever.

New TV's are large and "cheap," but what do I do with my 2007 Sony 42" that has a border/frame 1.5" wide and I hardly use? In our bedrom we have a TV 2009 Sony 46" is far too small for my room (used to be in the FR in my old house). What to do with that? They both work perfectly well. I fear even as donations they will just get thrown away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kognito

What size TV is in your garage?

We have one TV on a DVR/cable box. Every other TV in our house is using Roku type of connection to the internet

With Doug here. Garage. Or keep them ready for wherever the kids watch TV/hang out as supplemental TVs for the gaming console, so they can game or stream something from a device while having the "tv" on. I see this in a lot of neighbors' houses and it works nicely.

Alan · 01-05-2019, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC

I'm having that dilemma with TV's. Old CRT's used to hang around forever.

New TV's are large and "cheap," but what do I do with my 2007 Sony 42" that has a border/frame 1.5" wide and I hardly use? In our bedrom we have a TV 2009 Sony 46" is far too small for my room (used to be in the FR in my old house). What to do with that? They both work perfectly well. I fear even as donations they will just get thrown away.

Give them away at the office or give them away to relatives or friends .... that’s what I do ... I feel too guilty to throw them out and not everyone can afford new tv’s and are generally happy to get them.

equ · 01-05-2019, 01:34 PM

I "sold" my good-for-2009 (still pretty good) Sony 46" Bravia for $100 to a bike mechanic friend.

01-04-2019, 03:55 PM	#1
clyde Chief title editor Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 26,599	And yet the average age of operating cars on the road keeps increasing. It's now 10.1-11.6 years (not sure how I'm reading this" https://www.bts.gov/content/average-...-united-states) The cars and SUVs in your yuppie neighborhoods make their way downmarket. If you're not seeing them, it's willful ignorance. I see plenty of older vehicles every day. More in certain parts of town than others. Outside of metro areas, it's pretty stark. Check out the ages of vehicles in rural Walmarts, Waffle Houses and bars sometime. Travel through the country off-Interstate and note the cars and trucks in driveways and yards. Don't believe your bubble. __________________ OH NOES!!!!!1 MY CAR HAS T3H UND3R5T33R5555!!!!!!1oneone!!!!11 Team WTF?! What are you gonna do?

01-04-2019, 08:45 PM	#2
ZBB Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: A very fast golf cart Location: The Valley of the Sun Posts: 12,822	I remember when I worked in Japan that used cars had almost no market. Most JDM vehicles get exported once they are 4-5+ Years old. I worked there during the summer of 2000 and rarely saw cars more than 5 years old on the road. But you do see used JDM cars in places like Australia and Canada. The island my in-laws live on in Canada has a bunch of RHD JDM vehicles on it. mostly small minivans and delivery trucks, but a few interesting things like a Nissan S-Cargo... __________________ ZBB

01-05-2019, 08:27 AM	#5
rumatt Mugwump Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3 Location: NY Posts: 17,475	I was thinking about something similar the other day. 1. The consumer has encouraged manufacturing of vehicles to go in a direction where they are a) insanely expensive, b) depreciate quickly, c) are extremely expensive to repair. This is a terrible combination. People buy and sell beautiful, complex pieces of engineering and sell them for a huge financial loss because of the fear that they might break down. It's pretty crazy that this feels so normal. 2. It's only going to get worse now that cars are computers. It's like buying a new $600 smart phone every year because you don't feel like changing (or cannot change) the battery. I can't believe it's happening now for $60k vehicles. As a society we have committed to pouring significantly more money (an order of magnitude more ?) into vehicles than was necessary. Was this the right choice? Is this really where we as a society should be pouring money? Last edited by rumatt; 01-05-2019 at 08:43 AM.

01-05-2019, 03:07 AM	#4
equ Alphanumeric Join Date: Aug 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i Posts: 9,591	Good point, FC. I've noted a similar tendency... I do think some of the lease fleet (0 to 3years) moves away from the NYC hubbub after 4+. And then some more again at 6+ when past CPO, I see those cars more often in PA e.g. Another aspect might be your sample... People commute in and put most miles on their newest cars.

01-05-2019, 01:34 PM	#10
equ Alphanumeric Join Date: Aug 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i Posts: 9,591	I "sold" my good-for-2009 (still pretty good) Sony 46" Bravia for $100 to a bike mechanic friend.