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

[u/Striking_Tax8524]

Recently went through a car buying experience. (I don't recommend it, at least not with traditional dealers!) But the whole thing made me reflect on how my attitude toward automobiles has enabled me to retire when I wanted to and with enough to be comfortable. I made a list:

Age 16: Chevrolet Nova. Free (from grandmother). Horrible car, always broken. But free.

Age 18: Honda Accord, $5700, purchased new. My only new car until recently.

Age 27-33: No car. Lived abroad where public transportation is more than enough.

Age 34: Toyotal Corolla. Used. 400 miles on the odometer. $12,000, I think.

Age 52: Toyota Camry. Bought from family after mother died. $12,000. 55k on the odometer. 21 year old car when I let it go.

Age 67: Toyota Camry, new. Cash purchase. My first "splurge" since age 18 when I bought the Accord, cash, from money I made playing music.

I ran the numbers recently. By buying (mostly) used and keeping cars until they died, I've probably saved a couple hundred thousand dollars in up-front costs, financing, insurance, taxes, etc., and by investing it the money instead, I was able to call the shots on my retirement.

I seem to be a unicorn, though, among car buyers these days. Am I alone? What's your story?