My car is ugly.
It’s rusty, it has plenty of scratches and a few dents, and it’s 17 years old. It’s not pretty or shiny. The heat/AC is out half the time and it’s usually making some sort of bizarre noise.
It’s what most people would consider embarrassing. Some people think I’m crazy for continuing to drive this vehicle, but here are seven reasons why I do it.
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It’s Cheap
The main reason I drive a 17 year old car is because it’s cheap. The tabs are less than $50, my car insurance is $50/month, and the parts (for repairs) are inexpensive as well.
If I bought a newer vehicle, it isn’t just the car payment I’d have to worry about. My monthly insurance and annual tabs would also increase quite a bit.
It Runs
I’m not a car person. To me, the only purpose of a car is to get me from point A to point B, which my car does just fine (for the most part). Maybe someday when I’m 100% debt-free, I’ll drive something shiny and pretty (paid for in cash), but for now, my only requirement for a car is that it runs.
Cars are Not an Investment
Cars are not investments. A new car loses a huge portion of its value the second it’s driven off the lot. It doesn’t make sense to take out a loan for a depreciating asset.
It’s Less Stressful
Okay, in some ways it IS stressful to drive an old car. It occasionally needs expensive repairs, and that’s not fun. BUT it’s way less stressful in other ways.
I don’t worry that someone is going to steal my car when I let my car warm up during the winter. If another car is parked too close to me, I really couldn’t care less if they door ding me.
When my hubby’s out covering his smart car with yoga mats (yes, he really does that) to prepare for a possible hail storm, I don’t even bother trying to cover my car. Truthfully, I don’t care if my car gets dirty or a little damaged. I don’t need to keep it looking spiffy…because it looks kind of terrible already.
Keeps Me Humble
My rusty, dented, and scratched car keeps me humble and reminds me of our goal. I don’t want to “keep up with the Joneses” anymore. I don’t care what other people think.
My car might be “embarrassing” to some, but this old car is part of the reason why we’ll be debt-free someday. Financial freedom is more important than a shiny car.
I Ain’t Got a Car Note
This is the most important reason why I drive a 17 year old car…to quote rapper Dee-Young, “I ain’t got a car note!” I love not having to make a car payment every month. Driving an old car has its drawbacks, but it is well worth it.
Repairs are Cheaper
Due to its age, my car occasionally needs expensive repairs. Some people have tried to use this as a reason to convince me to buy a new car (with a loan). This logic doesn’t make sense.
Yes, having to drop $500 on repairs here and there isn’t ideal, but that’s a lot better than spending $200+ EVERY month on a car payment! My car insurance and tabs would also drastically increase if I purchased a newer vehicle.
(*Side note: Occasionally, repairs can get CRAZY expensive, and then it may make sense to ditch that car and buy a used one…with cash. My hubby and I did this when we bought his smart car.)
Live like no one else now, so you can live like no one else later.
As Dave Ramsey says “live like no one else now so you can live like no one else later.” A 17 year old vehicle may be ugly and “embarrassing”, but avoiding car loans is an important part of our journey to debt freedom.
When you find yourself in a hole, the first step to getting out is to stop digging. My hubby and I are avoiding debt as much as possible while we pay off our student loans. Someday, we’ll have a paid-off mortgage and we’ll be 100% debt-free.
We won’t be chained down by payments. We’ll be able to travel, splurge on things we love, give generously, and/or retire early. We’ll be able to buy fancy cars (with cash) if we want to (I probably won’t, but the hubby might).
Achieving financial peace is more important than impressing others or “keeping up with the Joneses.”
Who cares what the Joneses think anyway?
Do you drive an older car?
Other stuff you might like:
My Personal Finance “Aha” Moment
How to Start a Blog in 5 Easy Steps
Why I’m Grateful for My Student Loan Debt
The Appeal of Minimalism
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Personal Finance Resources:
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
YOLO: The Roadmap to Financial Wellness and a Purposeful Life by Jason Vitug
Smart Women Finish Rich by David Bach
It’s Only Money and It Does Grow on Trees by Cara MacMillan
Blogging Resources:
How to Blog for Profit Without Selling Your Soul by Ruth Soukup
365 Blog Topic Ideas for the Lifestyle Blogger Who Has Nothing to Write About by Dana Fox
Secrets to Blogging Your Way to a Six Figure Income by ProBlogger
its depressing having to know that you have to struggle to pay off the shiny SUV object, which no longer makes you happy after the first month when the thrill of paying off the financial lender’s car goes…better off putting money aside and buying the new car when it turns 4…it will look and feel like a new car anyway.
Agreed!
I drive a 2001 Holden Astra I bought it nearly 4 years ago and it’s never cost me more than basic maintenance tuneup and tires .And its still going strong in 2020 and so cheap on petrol and didn’t cost me an arm and leg I paid cash for it no bank fees and interest on loans .so I drive a 17 year old car because it’s been reliable cheap to buy and run and does what I need it too do get me from A to B why else do we get cars?
Awesome!
My daily ride car is 21 years old Suzuki (1000 cc) hatchback. I bought it five years ago from another person who was using it as a second car. The car is working fine with hardly any serious maintenance issues. The expenses I have incurred so far are minor engine overhaul (not all parts changed, only replaced some parts), changing of tires once, changing battery once and minor wheel maintenance. It takes me everywhere I want to go. It is hybrid (Petrol + CNG) and gives good mileage on CNG. It has small dents at a few places. This car gives me comfort. I am not bothered about its theft. This also gives me a low profile and does not attract unwanted attention. Despite being old, it is reasonably fast in speed. My second car is another hatch back (Suzuki 800 cc) that is 11 years old. As it is a spare car and used occasionally as an alternative, it is in good shape. I do not care what people think of my old cars as I am happy that my old cars give me independence to go everywhere without any botheration. I live in Pakistan where middle class people are in rat race of keeping up with the Joneses.
I think a lot of people assume that older cars will require tons of expensive repairs, but that’s not always true. They can be reliable and affordable cars!
My car is 17 years old with 295k trouble-free miles. Every month that I drive it is another month that I can take the money that I would be spending on a car payment and spend it on something important, like food, clothing, or shelter. I scratch my head when I see people driving brand new cars. In the first year of ownership, the depreciation of the vehicle is the biggest expense.
I scratch my head too! That’s awesome that your car is still going!
Lots of encouragement here with different perspectives about whether to keep an older vehicle.
Thanks for reading!
I drove my last car for over 10 years… people made so much fun of it. My parents bought it for me as a graduation gift. It was paid off (less than 10k) and it got 38 mpg…. why would you make fun of that. It turned out to be a great family car once I had my son. My car finally died. I lived without ac in the desert for three years! Once my defroster gave out, I finally got a new car. We also only spent 11k on this new one. It’s a newer toyota yaris. No car payments, and I spend less than $100 a month on gas. And I drive a lot!
It’s awesome to not have a car payment!
I have an 16 year old mini van, and I love it! I can take my dogs with me and not have to worry about the interior. Although, I still maintain her inside and out, and thanks to you tube I am able to fix so many things. The back end is still low to the ground, making it easy for my old dog to hop in. I have tried to find one lower, however, Most new cars and Vans are higher off the ground. My old girl won’t go up a ramp or on doggy stairs.
I agree with everyone else, no one wants to steal it, and with the crime in my area, it’s a blessing.
I can haul almost anything home I find at a yard sale, another great way to save.
It took my husband and I years to get out of debt. Aside from our mortgage we are free, and it is everything to us. You can do it, and the journey is worth it.
Awesome! Good for you! That is a perk for me too. My car is so old that I don’t mind when my pug gets dog hair all over it.
My notion is one wants the mechanically simplest vehicle that does the job. OHV engine with 2 valves per cylinder preferably with a carburetor and no computer, and a robust manual transmission. Anything else is unnecessary luxury. To me all vehicle has to do is get me from point A to point B reliably. I dont need to be entertained or pampered or have some car brain trying to outguess me as to what I want.
Then drive as few unnecessary miles as possible and it will last very long time with just basic simple repairs. There are exceptions, some of older Japanese and Swedish rear drive vehicles with SOHC four cylinders were quite easy to work on. Parts for them can sometimes be problematic though. Parts for old American stuff with exception of some pollution addons usually easiest to find. Pollution stuff changed so fast and furious over the years, after 20 to 30 years goes by, something used for only couple years long ago is pretty rare.
With older cars, you need to be meticulous with maintenance if you want reliability. Always keeping an eye out for things that look to fail in not too distant future. Torn or dryrotted dust boots, that sort thing. Replacing dust boot annoying but lot less annoying than replacing entire part down the road. Towing has gotten expensive too… especially with the police impound lot scams for car broken down, so dont want to break down.
Saying this, older vehicles are really only for those that can do their own mechanic work, even major mechanic work, and have a place to do it. Mechanics can charge fortune for stuff that isnt all that complex. they also dont shop around for best prices on parts and they have markup on parts so dont want you furnishing them.
Live in an apartment in the city and you are pretty well doomed to newer vehicles and mechanic repair shops where its hard to get your car back home for less than $1000, even for minor problems. My suggestion in that case, find cheapest newer low mile Japanese vehicle with 4cyl and manual transmission. Something like base model Nissan Frontier or Toyota Tacoma. Still few base models like that, though hard to find. People willing to part with kind money new cars sell for anymore tend to be the kind that want lot bells and whistles. Also more profitable for dealers so they just dont stock basic models, special order only. Meaning they are rare in used market anymore.
My wife and I drive older used cars, like Honda or Toyotas.
My 1997 Civic manual transmission has 376,000 miles on it, gets 42 MPG. All maintenance is done by Honda at the required times with OEM parts – no after-market parts.
No car payments, no high insurance costs, no worries about someone stealing it, everything works except for the passenger window and gets us where we want to go.
We built out house by ourselves – no mortgage, when we ran out of money we stopped building until we earned some more. Finally done – took a few years, but all of the interest we would have paid to the bank, guess what; it is in our pocket not theirs. Oh and yes we lived in the house while we were building.
Guess we are good at delayed gratification.
Regards,
K
That’s incredible! It’s funny how so many people want to get rid of their cars once they hit 100,000 miles or even earlier when they just want something newer. I feel like my car has a lot of miles, but I’ve talked to many people who have cars with 200,000-400,000 miles on them. That’s impressive!
My late husband and I bought our SUV new in 2001. I’m still driving it. Actually, it doesn’t look all that bad. The color is still good. I try to keep it serviced and washed and waxed. Would I like a newer car? Yes. I just can’t afford it. I’d say I’ll drive until the wheels fall off but that has already happened. It was a $700 repair job and I’m good to go.
That’s awesome! I’d like a newer car too, but I’d rather be debt-free!
I completely agree with the financial benefits of driving an older car. My car is a 2000! I’m a little iffy about not worrying about the car’s exterior being an advantage though. Protecting the outside of my car from door dings and hail damage has kept it looking nice and makes me happier to be driving it, despite its age.
That’s awesome!
Driving an old car may seem like a pain for other people, but they just don’t realize how much savings could be involved! So glad to see that it’s working so well for you. Thanks for sharing!
It can lead to huge savings!