Saying Goodbye... (and saying hello)

[Tave]

Purely in terms of depreciation, try graphing some values using KBB. My hunch is that the first three years is where it's the steepest, and flattens out relatively quick after that.

Then it doesn't make much sense to sell it shortly after you've taken the biggest hit.

Depending on how well the car runs, you might not be saving just a "buck," but thousands or even tens of thousands if you keep a car for ten years compared to if you buy two cars in that same time frame. Now obviously, it isn't worth it to pour a bunch of money into some heap that always breaks down, or to have a car that you can't depend on, but I think in most cases a 5 year old car isn't anywhere near that point.

I mean, hell, a lot of people only drive 10,000 miles a year. Would you really be that worried about a car breaking down @ 50K? It's just getting started.

[AltinD]

You went from a VW to another VW?  

[AltinD]

Congrats on the new car, and who better then me could understand your feelings. I recently split from my Goldie after almost 6.5 years of relationship. I loved the car and still do ... yeah the new one is great, powerfull, technologically advanced and so on, but it lacks the finesse, charm and class of the old one.

BTW are your tails LED or with regular bulbs? All the Jetta-s sold here have LED taillights.

[Raza]

Congrats on the new car, and who better then me could understand your feelings. I recently split from my Goldie after almost 6.5 years of relationship. I loved the car and still do ... yeah the new one is great, powerfull, technologically advanced and so on, but it lacks the finesse, charm and class of the old one.

BTW are your tails LED or with regular bulbs? All the Jetta-s sold here have LED taillights.

I believe they are regular bulbs.  LEDs are available, but I don't know if they are available for my model. 

The Wolfsburg is sort of a quiet edition.  It's not even on the VW website.

[sparkplug]

Drive safely, wear a condom.

[Raza]

Drive safely,

At all times.

wear a condom.

At all times.

[68_427]

congrats, i dig that gen Passat

[CALL_911]

congrats, i dig that gen Passat

He got rid of the Passat, and bought the Jetta.

[68_427]

Yes i know, i was being lazy as usual and left out a couple things.

[SJ_GTI]

I believe they are regular bulbs.  LEDs are available, but I don't know if they are available for my model. 

The Wolfsburg is sort of a quiet edition.  It's not even on the VW website.

In the US all Jetta's get regular bulbs, but Passats get the LED tail lights.

However from my time on the MKV forums on VWVortex a lot of folks buy the LED tails for the Jetta and put them in. I have to say the LED tails do look nice. However the smoked ones also look pretty good so I doubt I would change it if it were me.

[Raza]

In the US all Jetta's get regular bulbs, but Passats get the LED tail lights.

However from my time on the MKV forums on VWVortex a lot of folks buy the LED tails for the Jetta and put them in. I have to say the LED tails do look nice. However the smoked ones also look pretty good so I doubt I would change it if it were me.

Yeah, I'm not going to change them.  I've been behind cars with LED lamps and they are pretty obnoxious.  I want to be seen when braking, I don't want to blind the people behind me. 

[850CSi]

Congrats!


I miss my car... mainly because I haven't driven it in a month+. But at least it's getting some good garage time.


Question... how do you typically keep your black cars clean in the winter? Probably the thing I hate most about my car is that it looks absolutely filthy for 4 months out of the year.

[Tave]

White cars don't keep clean in the winter. In fact, I don't think any color looks attractive with heaps of snow, slush, and dirt smeared on it.

[r0tor]

didn't see this until now for some reason... congrats on the new car

[ifcar]

White cars don't keep clean in the winter. In fact, I don't think any color looks attractive with heaps of snow, slush, and dirt smeared on it.

Beige and silver come out all right.

[Tave]

Beige and silver come out all right.

Eh--not so much in the winter. In the summer, yes I agree with you. But dirty snow melt and gritty ice make all cars look equally wretched.

For reference, I don't get to wash my car for a good five-six months once winter sets in. I'm guessing Chi town is pretty similar.

[ifcar]

Eh--not so much in the winter. In the summer, yes I agree with you. But dirty snow melt and gritty ice make all cars look equally wretched.

For reference, I don't get to wash my car for a good five-six months once winter sets in. I'm guessing Chi town is pretty similar.

Salt is much more visible on darker colors though.

[850CSi]

White cars don't keep clean in the winter. In fact, I don't think any color looks attractive with heaps of snow, slush, and dirt smeared on it.

Agreed, but it's far worse on black than anything else.

[Tave]

Salt is much more visible on darker colors though.

I agree, but after months of build-up it starts to even out.

[NomisR]

My cars stays clean in the winter.. move south.

[Raza]

My cars stays clean in the winter.. move south.

I would, if it weren't for the southerners.  And the weather. 

[Raza]

didn't see this until now for some reason... congrats on the new car

Thanks!  It's really a lot of fun.

I can't wait until I finish these tires.

[MX793]

White cars don't keep clean in the winter. In fact, I don't think any color looks attractive with heaps of snow, slush, and dirt smeared on it.

Nissan's old "Sandstone beige" hid snow/salt pretty well.  I had people ask me if I washed my car on a daily basis during the winter because it never looked dirty.

[GoCougs]

Then it doesn't make much sense to sell it shortly after you've taken the biggest hit.

Depending on how well the car runs, you might not be saving just a "buck," but thousands or even tens of thousands if you keep a car for ten years compared to if you buy two cars in that same time frame. Now obviously, it isn't worth it to pour a bunch of money into some heap that always breaks down, or to have a car that you can't depend on, but I think in most cases a 5 year old car isn't anywhere near that point.

I mean, hell, a lot of people only drive 10,000 miles a year. Would you really be that worried about a car breaking down @ 50K? It's just getting started.

Depends on what sense is. If you've got $2MM in cash sitting in a brokerage account getting in and out of $25-30k cars every two years ain't a big deal.

If said car ran perfectly and never broke down even after 10 years one is missing out on much safer, much better performing vehicles that are now on the market. That's definitely a cost.

My 4-5 year horizon is not borne of reliability concerns but that just happens to be about the average generation lifespan, plus in that time I'll put on about 100,000 miles - proverbial aligning of the automotive stars if you will.

[JYODER240]

Sometimes buying a new car isn't about saving as much as possible. Some people just enjoy getting a new car every couple of years.

[850CSi]

If you can keep it for eight years, you'll definitely get your money's worth out of it.

How long do people usually keep new cars?  That's an odd question, but my brother, for instance, bought his Saturn new in 2000 and has kept it ever since and plans to drive it until it no longer will run.

I think I'll likely keep my car for 6+ at a minimum; potentially much longer.

[Tave]

Sometimes buying a new car isn't about saving as much as possible. Some people just enjoy getting a new car every couple of years.

I understand that (and if I had the cash I'd be one of those people). I was answering Teuton's question based on what I considered to be an "optimum" life cycle of a car (which I equated with value), not the desires of the driver.

Depends on what sense is. If you've got $2MM in cash sitting in a brokerage account getting in and out of $25-30k cars every two years ain't a big deal.

No Way! You mean to tell me that the wealthy (who probably represent 1% of all buyers), can buy cars whenever they want? Goll-ee, I never knew that there fact Mr. Cougs.

[Raza]

I passes 600 miles yesterday.  Official break in is over.  I'll still take it somewhat easy until I reach 1000, but now I won't mind going a little deeper into the rev range now and then...

[Tave]

Has your mileage improved yet?

[Raza]

I filled up after just half a tank this time, since I was in for an unpredictable trip.  That half tank was only 15.3mpg. 

But all in all, that's not much different from the Passat in all suburban driving.  I don't take it easy, and 15mpg was about what I got in that car.  So far on this tank I'm averaging higher though.