Comments on: Why I Keep My SUV

By: Ronny Howard

Ronny Howard — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:02:29 +0000

I have a 2000 Ford Explorer with 130k miles on which needs new tires and possibly a new transmission soon. I have debated on what to do and I still think it makes much more sense to put new tires on and get a rebuilt or new transmission as the engine could last for 250k+ miles.

By: gaelicwench

gaelicwench — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:24:05 +0000

This is why we bought a 2003 Honda CR-V with 22k on it last March. It ran beautifully and was in pristine condition. With that low mileage and reputation Honda is known for, we knew we would have it around for a very long time. We drive our vehicles until they can’t run anymore. Plus, the CR-V meets our needs regarding our lifestyle. We don’t travel long distance much but once a year, and we make sure to consolidate all our errands twice a week. This keeps our insurance cost low as well.

We were extremely lucky to have found this vehicle.

By: David G. Mitchell

David G. Mitchell — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:47:49 +0000

Sordo ~ I have done a cost analysis and it would take a long time for me to break even. I drive my vehicle about 6,000 miles per year. My wife drives her’s about the same. Both cars are paid off and my wife gets free routine maintenance (which we pre-paid for $250 when we bought her SUV in 2003). We just do not drive enough to make the price of gas a consideration (other than when we are filling up at $50 per tank every few weeks).

Also, I am over 6’3″. I have never found a small vehicle that had suffient leg room to allow me to drive comfortably. Even in both of our SUVs I have to stoop to see through the windshield.

Lastly, my wife has researched crash safety and believes that SUVs are safer (as long as they are not at risk of rolling over) than cars.

By: Annie Jones

Annie Jones — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:04:55 +0000

In response to the last comment, you bring up some points to consider.

But consider this also: when my husband and I were thinking of trading in our then 2-1/2 year old minivan for a smaller, more fuel efficient car, we DID do a cost analysis, and despite the fuel savings we would have seen with the small car, it would have taken us more than 5 years just to break even!

We don’t know enough about David’s lifestyle, finances, etc., to know for sure that it would be more financially responsible for him to trade one or both of his SUVs for something new and smaller. I seriously doubt it would, though. From his previous posts, it sounds to me like his family really does need at least one large vehicle with the ability to haul both people and things.

I don’t think he says for sure, but I suspect his SUV is also paid in full.
I’ve read time and again that if your vehicle is in good mechanical condition and is paid off, then it always makes better sense to keep it for as long as you can.

By: tyrone

tyrone — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:53:01 +0000

Cars are considered as “Doodads” by Robert Kiyosaki.

It’s a liability and not an asset. You have to pay for the gasoline, repairs, maintenance, etc.

Plus its value devaluates over time.

Think about it.

By: Sordo

Sordo — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:10:53 +0000

Not once did you do a cost-analysis on this question. Too much emotion went into your reasons, and frankly, most of your reasons are very lame. Why two SUV’s in the family? Do you really thing gas prices are going to trend down? Your pridicament smacks of “typtical American” and shows the behaviors that got many Americans in trouble financially during this terrible Great Recession. Questions of finance should be devoid of emotion and be made with a practical, dispassionate mind frame.

I would suggest you look into getting rid of all your SUV’s and replacing them with new or used small cars…this would be a far more responsible strategy in my mind.

By: DW

DW — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:05:20 +0000

We’ve got a similar, but very different situation, maybe your advice would be helfpul. DH has a wicked old Lexus (hand-me-down from the early days before his lawyer Dad realized that his type of law doesn’t pay well enough for such things). Its got way too many issues, some of which make it too unsafe to drive, some actually make it illegal to drive here. I’m the wife saying, PLEASE get a used car and remove the wicked old lexus. Of course, the problems with the lexus go way beyond some mere physical unsightliness – no brakes, bad battery, oil leak into the engine, etc. I say you are fine with your car, let your wife have her pretty car, and ask her politely to let you keep your not-so-pretty car. As long as you’re in no danger of having the brakes fail, don’t emit a huge cloud of black smoke from the hood and tailpipe, and aren’t calling her up asking her to jump your car in a walmart parking lot every few days, I say you’re all good.

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:45:03 +0000

LOL You and your wife do know that there are places where they will TOTALLY clean the interior and can use waxes and cleaners to bring the finish back to life for a couple of hundred dollars, right? Why does she think those used cars look so good? LOL

I agree with you. I buy my cars to last and tend to use them until they’re on their last legs, one way or another. When I got the vehicle before this one, my mechanic heaved a sigh of relief. He as afraid that, with the way the undercarriage was rusting, I’d put a foot through the floorboards one day!

I’m in total agreement with you!

By: t

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:27:20 +0000

My car cost more than my BS and MS degrees combined. I bought it new in 2001 and plan on keeping it at least till 2017 or I hit 200k miles (currently I’m at ~135k). I try my best not to live/eat out of my car. Once a year, I usually pay anywhere from $50-150 to get my car cleaned and detailed (glazed, waxed and shampooed). I agree with the above comment that “cars are expenses, transportation, and utility only.”

By: George

George — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:04:12 +0000

Get a clay bar kit and some cleaner wax from mcguires and it’ll look fine. Have the interior professionally shampooed/cleaned. You could even have the clay bar / buff done professionally.

Few hundred and it’ll look new. Have the engine compartment cleaned too!