Audi TT: 8.8 years

The Audi TT is the first of four sporty coupes on the list of vehicles that owners keep the longest. iSeeCars.comCEO Phong Ly opines that these vehicles may not change hands very often because they "all have a timeless look that makes them instantly recognizable on the road." He adds that the current TT doesn't "look outdated."

Toyota 4Runner: 8.8 years

You'll see three Toyota SUVs on this list of vehicles that owners tend to keep the longest. The 4Runner is known for reliability, which is one solid reason why its original owner might want to hold on to it so much longer than average.

Toyota Avalon: 8.8 years

The Toyota Avalon is the only sedan on this list of vehicles owners keep the longest. “We suspect that many buyers who purchased these sedans a few years ago have been trading them in for the sexier crossovers now that gas prices are significantly lower, thus driving down the average years they are owned,” said Ly.

Chevy Corvette: 8.8 years

The second sportscar on this list is the Chevy Corvette. Like the Audi TT, owners keep the 'Vette around 8.8 years. Says Ly, "The Corvette, which is in its seventh generation, has a modernized version of the classic lines it first sported in 1953, making it easy to spot by even a novice car enthusiast."

Toyota Sequoia: 8.9 years

The Toyota Sequoia is one of two seven-passenger SUVs on this list of vehicles that owners keep the longest. “These vehicles tend to log high miles and take a beating. Parents who keep these cars longer probably aren’t ready to replace them until their kids get older and they know their new car won’t get destroyed,” Ly said.

Ford Explorer: 8.9 years

The Ford Explorer is on of the most popular sport utility vehicles in America, and owners tend to hold on to them for a long time. In fact, the Explorer is the only vehicle on this list that can also be found on the list of the top 20 best-selling vehicles in America.

Mercedes-Benz SLK: 9.0 years

The Mercedes-Benz SLK is the third sportscar on this list, and, like the Audi TT and Chevy Corvette, Ly thinks it's likely that owners keep the SLK for a long time because it never really looks dated. Mercedes renamed its entry-level roadster the SLC for the 2017 model year.

Ford Expedition: 9.0 years

Another big, hulking SUV. It's not surprising to see that owners tend to keep their Ford Expeditions a long time. The 'ute is based on a truck chassis, and there aren't that many options out there with a similar set of capabilities. Families can load the Expedition up with kids, cargo, or anything else, and can tow pretty much any reasonably sized trailer for sale in America.

Porsche Boxster: 9.9 years

Falling into second place on the list of vehicles that owners keep the longest is the Porsche Boxster. Of all sportscars, the Boxster is the one that its buyers want to keep. It helps that the Boxster is instantly recognizable as a Porsche, and the cost of entry is pretty reasonable when compared to the likes of the iconic 911.

Toyota Land Cruiser: 10.6 years

And now we come to the vehicle that owners keep longer than any other. We're not surprised. The Toyota Land Cruiser has earned a legendary reputation for long-serving durability. Check your local listings and you're not likely to see many Land Cruisers for sale with fewer than 200,000 miles on the clock.

Source

 

What this list doesn't take onto account, though, is that time doesn't aways equal mileage....or vice-versa. I'd bet there are a lot of 20-year-old Lincoln Town Cars and Cadillac DeVilles/DTS's out there that are driven to church on Sunday, a couple of times during the week for groceries (or to Bingo games LOL), to an occasional funeral....and that's about it.

 

so sports cars and utes. who knew?

 

but they didn't even make the list showing the original owners didn't keep them anywhere near 20 years, so not sure why that's relevant.

 

That's my point.....I'd bet that a lot of them (or at least a fair number of them) WERE the original owners.

And if you think that is being stubborn, I've met some people who liked the pre-1998 Town Car so much (with its conservative, squared-off styling) that they held onto them rather than even trade them in for the newer, Jaguar-styled post-1998 ones. Some are still driving them today...I see them at the fitness center where I swim.

 

Anyhow, back to the original post, no arguments with the Toyota 4Runner. They are as durable as iron.....some owners in my church still have them with upwards of 250K and 300K miles on them, dating from the 90s.

 

Mileage is irrelevant, this is about length of ownership. Based on the following:

 

Yes, I'm surprised the Miata is not on the list. Many of their owners tend to have a cult-following. So, to an extent, the Subaru Outback...once you have driven one in snow and experienced its almost undefeatable traction, it can become addicting.

 

Are you trying to say that these cars are kept longer than the cars on the list? I could possibly see that as they never made and replacements for the last generations of these models. However, to be honest, I rarely ever see Lincoln Town Cars and I almost never, ever see DTS or Devilles. So I would think that older owners have moved on. I do see a lot of older seniors in Lexus ES models and Toyota Avalon's. I think most seniors have moved on to semi-premium cross-overs.

 

I’m surprised the Lexus ES isn’t on that list.
It’s reliability and silky smooth ride makes it beloved among its owners.

 

For someone who is pretty adamant that the "old man's car" stigma of Buick and other makes is an unwarranted stereotype, I'm surprised to see this comment.

I would have definitely expected to see the F-150 on that list.

 

It's an average. If they average ownership length was 20 years, you'd need someone to keep their car 30 years for every person that kept it 10.

 

In some cases, yes, but what often happens is that the cars themselves outlast the owners, who either get weak and feeble to do much driving, move into nursing homes, have to give up the keys for some other reason, or simply pass away, and the cars either are handed down to others in the family, or sold off/donated/traded-in....whatever the case.


IMO the current Lacrosse, Lincoln MKZ/Continental, Lexus ES350, Kia Cadenza, and (to a lesser extent) Toyota Avalon are decent replacements...I never thought much of the Cadillac XTS/CT6 or Lincoln MKS. But, no, you're right....those who liked the old RWD V8 luxury cars, and the way they rode/drove/handled, are pretty much **** out of luck today if they want a new American-brand replacement. Those cars are history, and are probably not coming back. The current FWD Lacrosse, though, especially, is a nice enough replacement (and, I had a couple of those old dinosaurs myself, don't forget)....that I'm certainly not complaining LOL.

Those cars just may not be as popular on the streets of Toronto as they are in my area (Washington, D.C. suburbs). From what I understand, the pump-price of gas averages about 50% higher in Canada (mainly due to taxes) than it does here, so that also might put a damper on the ownership of large heavy, V8 cars.

 

Perhaps I wasn't clear. I've said (with a fair amount of truth) that Buick is not necessarily an old person's stereotype any more, especially since the average age of a Buick buyer has dropped from 72 to 57 in the latest survey-figures....admittedly still rather high by industry standards. But, if you have also followed my posts over time (I assume you have, since you are commenting on them)....I've also said, more than once, that the DeVille/DTS is definitely an old person's car (that is not just a stereotype, but true). Unlike with Buicks, I rarely see anyone behind the wheel of a DeVille/DTS that does not have blue hair, fake hair (or NO hair LOL). It's the closest thing in the industry today (though the Town Car also isn't far off) to being a true Geezer's car.

I drove a 1967 DeVille, a few times, that my mom's uncle bought brand-new, many years ago....once on a trip out to the Virginia mountains, and once with a girl friend of mine in high school to go get our pictures taken for our class's high-school yearbook (or was it for the class rings?.....can't remember) My Grand Uncle, by then, was a old man (he passed away a few years later), and trusted me enough (I was an excellent, careful driver by teen-age standards) that he had no problems giving me the keys if he was around and didn't feel like driving. But, except for myself and my (at the time) GF, I can't remember the las time I saw someone under about 50 or 55 in a DeVille or DTS.


Good point on the F-150. Can't say I disagree.....the American full-sized pick-up market is one of the most loyal group of owners /buyers in the industry, though that also translates into repeat-ownership as much as it does the average length of ownership. I other words, "I love my truck" can mean a new one of the same make as much as keeping the one I got for 20 or 30 years.

 

can we please leave ancient cars out of this thread? as they have nothing to do with the ranking posted.

also as pointed out the ranking is averages and since a ton of f150's are company owned work trucks, they are often just rotated out oer policy after 3 or 4 years. sure we all know one or more people who have kept an old american truck 'forever' but that won't move the average.