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Old 01-04-2019, 02:21 PM   #1
FC
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Where are they now?

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?

Does supply and demand move cars to other areas of the country? That can't be a big contributor.

But if we pick a car we are all familiar with, like say an E90 3er, where are all those now?

I still see plenty, but nowhere near the number 5 years ago. Where are they now?
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Old 01-04-2019, 02:47 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by FC View Post
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?

Does supply and demand move cars to other areas of the country? That can't be a big contributor.

But if we pick a car we are all familiar with, like say an E90 3er, where are all those now?

I still see plenty, but nowhere near the number 5 years ago. Where are they now?
Here's one that may bring back memories.

http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?i...orm_display=51
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Old 01-04-2019, 02:55 PM   #3
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Here's one that may bring back memories.

http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?i...orm_display=51
That's ridiculously close to my car except for the wheels.
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Old 01-04-2019, 03:38 PM   #4
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Labor is extremely expensive. Keeping an older car on the road costs a lot and people just aren’t inclined to do it. Likewise, insurance companies are aggressive about totaling (see high labor costs), so it’s very easy for minor damage to take a car off the road.

On top of that, the 2007 to 2010 or so cohort of cars didn’t exactly sell well compared to what they should have due to the recession.
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Old 01-04-2019, 03:58 PM   #5
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Labor is extremely expensive. Keeping an older car on the road costs a lot and people just aren’t inclined to do it. Likewise, insurance companies are aggressive about totaling (see high labor costs), so it’s very easy for minor damage to take a car off the road.

On top of that, the 2007 to 2010 or so cohort of cars didn’t exactly sell well compared to what they should have due to the recession.
But those totaled cars aren't crushed. They're resold, fixed, and put back in service.

I'm often amazed at how many moderately aged BMWs and MBs I see in pretty ratty shape driving around.
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Old 01-04-2019, 04:02 PM   #6
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But those totaled cars aren't crushed. They're resold, fixed, and put back in service.

I'm often amazed at how many moderately aged BMWs and MBs I see in pretty ratty shape driving around.
Also true.

I think that the big factor is that in areas where people buy new cars, they lease them. Whereas they might have held on to a car before, today, they turn it in.
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Old 01-04-2019, 04:12 PM   #7
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Also true.

I think that the big factor is that in areas where people buy new cars, they lease them. Whereas they might have held on to a car before, today, they turn it in.
Where do they go after that? (Which I think was FC's question.)

Something I forgot, but some (a lot?) may be going overseas. I know it happens adn has been growing, but don't know what numbers are like.
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Old 01-04-2019, 04:33 PM   #8
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Where do they go after that? (Which I think was FC's question.)

Something I forgot, but some (a lot?) may be going overseas. I know it happens adn has been growing, but don't know what numbers are like.
I think quite a few make it down to Mexico, at least in my area. And as you mentioned, "downmarket" so FC just needs to get out of his bubble
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Old 01-04-2019, 09:15 PM   #9
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But those totaled cars aren't crushed. They're resold, fixed, and put back in service.



I'm often amazed at how many moderately aged BMWs and MBs I see in pretty ratty shape driving around.


Easy, Clyde. I drive a 2009 5er wagon around with well over 100,000 miles. It’s far from perfect.

Okay. I guess it’s getting ratty.
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Old 01-04-2019, 10:43 PM   #10
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Easy, Clyde. I drive a 2009 5er wagon around with well over 100,000 miles. It’s far from perfect.

Okay. I guess it’s getting ratty.
Never seen your '09 wagon, but I seriously doubt it makes my wife's twice wrecked and twice washed not-a-square-inch-too-small-for-its-own-scratch-or-ding-often-a-few-of-each 125k mile 2013 Outback look nice. The ones I'm talking about do.
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