rondocap

So I have a problem - I have really bad ADD with cars. I drive a lot, sometimes 3500 miles a month - so I tend to get pretty bored of cars.

I also drive in a pretty rough environment - NYC, Long Island, and New Jersey bumper to bumper traffic and terrible roads.

I've gone through pretty much everything, BMW 335i, 2 Porsche Boxsters, Toyota Prius, Mercedes S55 AMG, and 2 Volkswagen GTI's.

As you can see, a few performance cars. Generally I can't seem to want to keep any for longer than 1-2 years.

I got the Lexus ES350 for its comfort and ride, and for that it does a remarkable job. In 4 months I have put already almost 15,000 miles on it, and it's a relaxing drive.

Only issue is that it definitely does not excite me at all - it's too clinical.

Am I being unreasonable? I miss something with better handling and an edgy motor - but it's hard to find the perfect combo of comfortable, and sporty. Closest I found was the BMW 335i.

Do you keep your car a long time? How many miles a year/month do you drive?

LexBob2

I'm in the 3-4 year range for keeping cars. I always swear that I'm going to start keeping them longer but after a while I get the itch again. As I've gotten older it isn't quite so bad, but is still there.

Nelexus88

I keep my cars for a long time if I like them. The Honda Accord prior to my current '14ES was owned for 10 years and driven 120k miles. Before that was another Accord owned for 17 years and driven 140k. My personal record tho is my 71 240Z which I have owned for 38 years but only gets driven on warm sunny days.

ThumperPup

I average around 3000 to 3500 miles a month also
since Feb of 2013 I have put almost 50000 miles on my ES and i didn't drive it for 3 months of the time i owned it or it would have had another 9k at-least on it

Usually i keep a plan of keeping cars about 4 years i take out 5 or 6 year loans just to keep myself with a catch net incase i need a lower payment one month but i also try to always pay 100 more on each payment than what my payment is.

But i average 2 to 4 years per car
2 years if i wreck it and insurance has paid out that has happened a few times and always at the 2 year mark.

and 4 years if i just drive it until the wheels fall off
I usually have driven Cadillac and Lincolns and other GM models SUV's
and put about 100k to 125k on them before it's time to trade them in or sell.

I already have a plan for my next vehicle
I plan on getting a ES300 hybrid sometime in 2 or 3 years from now and it will be a 2013 or 2014 model

GrnIdKjun

I typically keep one 3-4 years but am hoping to keep this one longer.

I do still have my 2002 Ford explorer. It's paid for, good utility vehicle, especially for the big dog and minor running around town.. It keeps those daily minor miles off the car.

Rogarven

I guess I am the exception around here. We keep cars at 10 years. Last car we sold was a 03 Accord EX V6 with about 86K. The main reason I wanted to get rid of it is that the transmission on those are know to fail . I have kept most cars closer to 12-13 years. We don't drive that much. Right now , we have the ES350 2009 which we just got ( first car I have bought used ) that has 20K . Plan to keep that for a long time. Other car is 05 deVille with 53K and unless the Northstar goes south, I plan to keep it for a few years. I don't like payments and purchase with cash. Maybe that explains my attitude.

rondocap

I think it really comes down to your mentality - some people just aren't really into cars. An Accord ends up more or less being the same as a Camry, es350, etc, save a little more comfort.

I personally love to "experience" new cars, drive an Inline 6, then a V8, then a turbo 4 - all to experience the vast difference in cars, mostly performance cars.

Some handle better, some worse - but it's an interesting experience to try various cars.

Maybe that adventurous mentality vs a more conservation/disconnected one is the reasoning.

jkeller

Maybe the wrong the forum, but how about a couple of pics of your 240z

titicaca89

The issue here is the itch. You want something different and new. I keep my cars 10 years and I put about 220K miles on them. When I get the itch I simply rent a car for a week. That way I get the itch out and keep the car and don't have to eat the depreciation. I hope this helps.
Scott

jagtoes

I keep my street cars for around 10 years and my pick up trucks for around 5 years. I also keep my fun cars for about 15 years . Because I use 3 different vehicles mileage is not an issue and because I have a fun car I usually don't get bored with any of them. Now my wife keeps her cars for about 25 years and my job is to keep them running. She has 345,000 miles on her Volvo now and she bought it new in 89. Next goal is 500,000.

EAS

I had two volvos. They run forever!

CQRT

Typically 2-3 years before I get bored . . . sometimes a little longer with the sports cars like Corvettes or SLs . . .but this ES350 has been an enigma. This one's an 07 with 75k miles and I can't bring myself to part with it! Still looks, runs great and paid for.

Go figure . . .

SW17LS

I would recommend you move up one segment from the ES and look at the GS, 5 Series, A6, etc. My GS retains all of the comfort and ride of my ES while being clearly upmarket inside, feeling more solid, and being more interesting to drive. The 2013+ GS is a huge departure from the previous GS, so if you look at one, look at a 2013+. If you want better handling and a sportier feel, look at an F Sport.

The ES with its FWD layout and family sedan roots is just never going to be a rewarding car to drive in a spirited manner. Its great when it comes to comfortably getting around, but I'm really impressed with my GS' ability to deliver on both counts.