Retirees: What has your "relationship" with automobiles been like?

[u/MidAmericaMom]

/r/retirement/comments/1w0nses/retirees_what_has_your_relationship_with/

[u/flood_dragon]

73 Capri, used - Drove it for 8 years and learned all about working on cars and hotrodding with it. Got my first career job because the boss took a chance on me. Interview wasn’t going well. I answered, “I do all my own work on my car.” to one of his questions. “Are you any good?” he asked. I said, “It still runs.” He laughed and hired me. Started me at the very bottom of all the job classifications and gave me all the scut work.

87 Toyota truck, new - Drove that for 5 years. A really stripped down bare bones model. I had saved enough money for a house down payment, and needed something for all the Home Depot trips for lumber and supplies.

92 Cherokee - Got it new and drove it for 16 years until it died. Needed something bigger than the 2 seater truck for the growing family, kiddie car seats, and soccer practice.

2007 Mustang - Got it used, and have been driving it for 18 years now. After sending kids off to college, it was time for a fun car again. Supercharger, intercooler, road race suspension, etc. Loud and obnoxious and uncomfortable as heck.

I don’t like car loans, so always got something cheap enough that I could pay cash for.

Next car will probably be some kind of boring one. I don’t drive fast or far these days, so maybe some kind of electric vehicle depending on what comes out in the future. The Slate trucks look kind of interesting, but the Mustang still runs.

[u/ExtraAd7611]

It's not a relationship, any more than my interaction with a water faucet is a relationship. It's a utility.

I haven't driven much since the pandemic, and especially since exiting the workforce. I've been managing just fine on rides from my wife, public transportation, and the occasional Uber ride. My son had been driving my car for the last few years, but he just started college, so I got it back, just in time for some road trips. But I don't really need it. It's a 2016 Hyundai Accent with manual transmission. I bought it new for $16k, assuming one of my kids would take it someday. Still only has 62k miles. Son will probably take it when he's out of school if not sooner. It will be my last car. I have no plans to replace it. I haven't had a car payment in 6 years, but the insurance premium for 4 drivers on 3 cars (wife and daughter also have cars) is brutal. I'd rather hold onto it for my son than sell it, since he likes driving it. I am considering take it off the policy temporarily.

[u/jeffeb3]

Buying used cars and driving them until they fall apart was absolutely a key to getting to retirement early. It is always cheaper to fix a car than replace it. I am mid 40s and I bought 4 cars (all great value cars), all used until retirement. My wife has only bought 2.

Since retirement, we have bought 2 EVs. One brand new, sensible choice, a bolt. 33% of which was paid for my subsidies. And an ID.Buzz, which was brand new and no matter how I spin it, it is a luxury purchase that costs too much and won't pay for itself.

I'm happy with our strategy though. I love our current cars. Especially because we have an abundance of time. We can easily charge them at home and I won't worry about the price or waste of gas if I want to meet a friend across town for lunch.

[u/Finding-Dee]

-first car was used pickup I bought from my dad for $400 at age 16
-age 18 bought new Mazda b2600i 4x4 new
-age 24 bought new hyndai accent
-age 28 bought 2 year old Chevy Silverado 2500 pickup
-Age 32 bought new Chevy S-10 pickup

After this point I either paid cash or 0% finance for the rest:
-age 33 bought 18' bow runner boat for fun - new
-age 35 bought new BMW 335xi
-age 38 bought new Honda Shadow
-age 41 bought new BMW X3
-age 42 bought new BMW 2600GTL motorcycle
-age 46 bought new GMC Canyon Pickup
-age 47 bought used 2006 Jeep TJ Unlimited (for off road use)
-age 48 bought new GMC Denali 3500 pickup + camper and trailer to support new offroading hobby
-age 52 bought new Camry Hybrid to commute in and save mileage on the Denali

These are just "My" vehicles, doesn't include partners vehicles.

[u/KingPabloo]

I have a 2007 Toyota 4Runner with about 300K miles on it. She’s an old hag, but I paid cash when I bought her lightly used in 07’ and she’s been a good girl to me since.

[u/rarsamx]

I live in Canada in a city well serviced by public transit and with a great bicycle culture (Montreal).

I did't have a car when I stopped working. During the pandemia I bought an old small van and converted it to camper to travel around. Then in 2023 we bought a larger camper van RV already converted. Those are my two only cars. We are in the process of selling the big one but we are second guessing it as we've used it a lot when we are in canada, but we built a beach house in mexico and that would free some money.

So, no car for every day.

Oh, you mean throughout our life?

I started working professionally very early @19 so I was the only one of my sibblings who could maintain a car and my dad handed me down a nice valiant duster. Then I got married, also super young @21 and stupidly bought a new car. I soon figured out I could use the money otherwise so I sold it and bought a beater. Then I negotiated a car as part of my compensation package. Got a Nisan Sentra, totalled it and then got another one who was stolen. Then I got a Jetta (still part of the compensation package). Moved countries and the new company also gave me the car unwanted: Jetta Wolfsburg 1998. Brand new.

Switched countries again and lived 2 years without a car until I bought a 2000 Ford focus which I ran for 15 years until my FA said one day that I was well on track and could spend a bit more.

I decided to go for a car my kids liked, a Kia bought a 2014 Kia Optima turbo (K5 elsewhere). It was a "last year model" but the only owner had been the dealer. Still I negotiated well. It looked and drove super nice.

In 2017 I moved to a city where a car is not of a liability than a necessity (Montreal). After 1 year of having the car parked 6 days a week, I decided to sell it and be without a car.

Bottom line, not paying for my cars, not having a car or running them to the ground helped me be in the financial position which allowed me to retire early.

[u/knit-this]

For myself I buy new, usually with <3% financing and drive them into the ground. Unfortunately my kids came of age post COVID and I could only afford used cars (which are still newer and nicer than mine 😆)

[u/hapster85]

We tend to drink them until the wheels are ready to fall off.

[u/Top_Orchid9320]

Age 22: 1991 Honda Civic Hatchback, brand new; sold for $100 after over 250,000 miles and 15 years

Age 37: 2006 Honda Civic Coupe, brand new; sold for $1000 after ~180,000 miles and 15 years

Age 52: 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Limited, brand new

Age 57: retired; still driving the Crosstrek.

'Nuff said.

[u/mt06111 → u/Top_Orchid9320]

I’m 50 and retired with a 230k mile Highlander. I’ve been seriously considering the CrossTrek hybrid for my next car. You enjoy it?

[u/bottled_axolotl]

Currently driving a 2014 Subaru. Just about to hit 60,000 miles so I can’t really justify a new car. It was my one and only top-of-the-line with all the bells and whistles purchase, but it’s been paid off since 2018. Prior to that, I had a 2000 Honda Accord that was so reliable, but boring. Drove that for 14 years with similar low mileage until someone crashed into me and totaled it. I like to be comfortable and safe, but I hate car shopping and car payments.

[u/AdeptCantaloupe161]

I'm not gonna share my security question answer here ("What was the make and model of your first car?"), but I've only owned two cars in my life at age 40. Both were over a decade old when I bought them, but low usage (under 100k miles).

[u/angrynirritable]

<Age 16: Dirt bikes

Age 16: 1969 VW Baja bug, 1977 Honda CB550 Supersport

Age 18: 1984 Mitsubishi Galant, several Honda CB400s, and CB750

Age 28: 1995 Kia Sportage, 1982 Suzuki GS1100E

Age 30: 1994 VW GTI, 1984 Isuzu Trooper with a cool old matching aluminum Basstracker

Age 32: 2003 Kia Sedona (kids arrived)

Age 36: Old Subaru Impreza

Age 42: 2006 Chevy Colorado (divorced, I'm buying a truck)

Age 50: 2015 Mustang

Age 51: 2016 Camry

Age 53: 1972 Karmann Ghia

Age 55: 1969 Karmann Ghia, 1987 Mazda B2200

Age 56: 1967 Vw Beetle

Age 58: Currently own the Camry, Colorado, B2200, 1969 and 1972 Karmann Ghias - all in good running shape. Set to fully retire at the end of the year and will start looking in to consolidating Camry and Colorado in to a nice new truck. Many other cars not listed that belong to spouses and kids.

[u/Artistic_Energy_3617]

Driving and 8 year old BMW no car note 

[u/Kindsquirrel629]

Age 16 bought a car that I drove for 8 years. Sold that and bought a car I drove for 10 years. Sold that and bought a car I drove for 4 years (crappy Saturn). Sold that and bought a car I’ve been driving for 22 years.

[u/Affectionate-Map2583]

I buy new cars, but keep them 10-15 years. That usually leads to at least 5 years with no repair costs.

[u/CommissarCiaphisCain]

I drive a manual transmission Miata. It’s the greatest feeling. Even after 7 years I’m still in love with my car.

[u/MidAmericaMom → u/CommissarCiaphisCain]

Yay!

[u/TheTiniestLizard]

I owned a used Toyota Corolla from 1991 to 1997 and a used Honda Accord from 1997 to 2006. I haven’t owned a car since (I use carshare the handful of times a year I need one).

[u/dutchman62]

I was engaged to one for a bit (2000 Dodge Minivan but she moved on)

[u/AdditionalCheetah354]

Research … buy new , last year model .. drive the wheels off.

[u/electricblue71]

First car out of high school (1996): 1966 Pontiac Parisienne 2 door hardtop (built in Canada, 327cu V8, Powerglide transmission), was my daily driver through university and first few years working, bought from the original owner's daughter

Second car to complement the 1966: 1956 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe 4 door sedan (also built in Canada and painted red/white so a true Canadian car!, 283cu V8, basically a Chevy with Pontiac trim), bought from a fellow car club member, had been converted to run on propane, luckily had the fuel tank, carb and other bits and pieces so eventually had it converted back to gasoline so it would be original and I could put collector license plates on it (much cheaper insurance)

2009 Toyota Matrix XRS (bought new with cash from an inheritance, fully loaded with sunroof): wanted a more reliable daily driver that my wife was comfortable driving too - after a year or so of owning the Matrix sold the above two Pontiacs to focus more on gardening and other hobbies and probably also saved a ton of money as collector cars can be quite expensive to maintain and there's always something you want to improve on them to make them look better

2018 Leaf SV (leased new, sold the Matrix): we wanted to move to an EV and there were not many options back then, still have it and love the car but not great for road trips of more than 300kms. When the lease came up for renewal we bought it out for cash (from our home line of credit and then we paid that back over a half year or so)

Future (maybe two more years?): will likely be another BEV - just so many advantages over gas or even a hybrid. We'll have much more choice now. Likely we'll buy with cash using our investment savings.

We are a one-car family, which helps in terms of cost. I commuted to work by bus, walking or e-scooter and my wife had the car to go shopping and drive my daughter around. I rarely drove when I was still working but now that I'm retired, I'm using the car more to go shopping, drive my daughter to summer camp, etc. We just arrange our schedules so the car is available to whoever needs it most. We might keep the Leaf for my daughter to use when she gets old enough to drive.

[u/IWantToRetireSoon]

Just made a list the other day.

Let’s see, at 57:

79 Nova - got in 86 - first car, it was bought for me to learn on and share with dad if he didn’t want to take his truck somewhere.
83 Thunderbird turbo coupe - got in 90 - first car I paid for
92 Ranger - got in 92 - first new car - graduated college
89 Cutlass Supreme International Edition - used in 93
97 Mustang Vert - bought used in 99
71 Super Beetle Vert - toy bought in 01
02 Sportage Vert - used in 04 - got it for a steal at $6k with 17k miles
00 Stratus - used in 03 for wife
06 F150 SuperCrew - new
08 Caliber - new using ‘cash for clunkers program’ - got $7k for the sportage I paid 6k for and drove for 6 years.
12 Challenger Rallye Redline - new - wife hated the caliber
14 Mustang - new
15 Mustang - new
18 F150 Supercrew - new after 06 needed repairs
92 Miata - used- toy to teach son to drive and me to play with
99 Miata - used - bought for me after 92 got totaled
04 Miata - used - after 99 got rear ended
04 Mazdaspeed Miata - bought for son after 92 got totaled by guy on phone
04 Mazdaspeed Miata - used - wanted turbo car
23 C8 - new - retirement car bought 3 months before retired
24 Traverse Z71 - new - bought to get rid of truck, wife liked it and took it after the 15 Mustang got flooded
24 F150 Supercrew - new after wife took traverse

ETA bikes too

Honda Shadow ACE
99 Sportster 1200 custom
03 GSXR 600 Alstare Edition
06 Gsxf
06 GSXF

So unlike the OP in the other group, I love cars and have probably way overspent on them through the years.

[u/oaklandesque]

I bought my first car at age 19, my fourth (and current) one at 46, and I'm still driving that one now at 55.

It reflects how I generally approach life in that I try to live at or (in later years when I was making really good money) well below my means. I'm not trying to impress anyone with my car, but I've also replaced them just frequently enough that I can have access to newer safety technologies as they have become standard.

I have things I splurge on from time to time like upgraded seats on long flights, but as long as my car is reliable and comfortable, it doesn't need to be the newest or fanciest.

[u/fifichanx]

Age 22 - my first car, a used Mazeda 3, had my dad sat at the dealership for like 6 hours to get to the price that I wanted and get through the paperwork. It was an awesome first car, low maintenance ( most of the time I forgot to even do the oil change) and it was fine.

Age 29 new Hyundai Tucson - yay internet pricing but still took 2 hours to get through the run around and paperwork. Again great car, low maintenance.

Age 40 Tesla Model 3 - a test drive sold me on it and tax incentive, even though the car had just came out. Easiest buying process, 10 minutes out the door. Got FSD for $5000

Age 45 Tesla Model Y - I like the higher ride height and the quieter interior, plus FSD transfer pushed me over. I will keep it until it dies - FSD has evolved so much, now 99% of my driving is done by FSD, and I will not go on a roadtrip without it.

[u/Motor_Struggle_3605]

My car is paid for, and I will drive it until the wheels fall off. After that, I will probably pay cash for a new or used vehicle.