[supremeBaleno]

Car : Suzuki M800, May 1985
Sold : in 2004 after 19 years & 52000kms (yes, ran just ~200kms per month).
Sold it: because I screwed the reliability/drivability of a good car by putting an LPG kit in (a good case of "penny wise, pound foolish") and reliability is paramount to me in a car/bike.
If not for the LPG kit mistake, I would have still been using it today. Sometimes think of buying it back, but dont have the time for another car.

Rule for replacing cars : Keep cars/bikes atleast for the Govt defined life of 15 years, if not more.

Of the other current cars that we have in service (listed in signature), the 1999 M800-DX (80000kms) is slowly approaching 15 years.
Plan to get it refurbished and re-registered for another 5 years.

@diffsoft, I would suggest you ask the Mods to add a poll to the thread to get a better idea of the interval at which folks change cars.
You could make the poll multiple choice and could give a long list of options (1yr, 2,.........15yrs, > than 15 years).
A poll also makes it easier to see data at a glance instead of going through pages of typed information.

[superlux]

Same here. M800 model Euro I 2001 June sold this year in July after 65000 km. An LPG kit did me in. Created so many problems that I had to take it to the FNG every fortnight. Took a K10 and since then, have peace of mind but a lighter wallet!

[rajcs]

1. What was your car make & model and month & year of purchase? M-800 DX, Apr 1997

2. How long did you keep it - in years and in mileage? 14 years, 135,000 km

3. Top 3 reasons why you sold it.
- Car was stolen from Delhi in Mar 2011.
- Age was beginning to take a toll on the body although engine and drive train were
in good shape
- Got another car (Fabia) in Feb 2011.

[sourabhzen]

1. What was your car make & model and month & year of purchase?
Maruti Alto Lx, December 2005

2. How long did you keep it - in years and in mileage?
5 years, Approx 65000 kms

3. Top 3 reasons why you sold it.
1. Lack of Power Steering; 2. Brakes had inherent issues; 3. Underpowered.
Replaced with Alto k10 vxi.

[CANPUSH]

Car 1
Premier 118 NE (P) May 1996
7 Years, 44000 km
Servicing and getting parts was getting difficult
Wanted to go for more modern car
Everything was in good shape but was just getting bored

Car 2
Fiat Palio D ELX - April 2003
7 years, 65000 km
Servicing not so easily available
Got bit bored and small issues were cropping up like Fuel pump calibration going wrong, EGR setting going wrong, etc.
After selling thought it was wrong decision car is still performing very well (Purchased by my friend)

Car 3
VW Polo Highline (P) - July 2010
Still with me @ 17000 km covered.

[GTO]

*Public Poll Added*

Why multiple choice? Because your answers could vary for different cars you've owned previously.

For those of you thinking of selling a car too soon, click here

[46TheDoctor]

My car log:
Car1: maruti zen lxi - sep 2002, 82000km, sold in 2007, 5 yrs
Car2: swift zxi - jan 2006, 66000km, sold in march 2012, 6 yrs
Car3: palio stile 1.6 - oct 2008, 45000km, still have it. Will sell nxt yr.
Car4: skoda octavia vrs- sep2009, 45000km, still have it, will sell nxt yr.
Car5: tata safari gx 4x4 - aug 2010, 28000km, sold in march 2012, 20 months
Car6: fiat punto emotion mjd- march 2012, 18000km, still have it and will keep it for 5 yrs.

I would like to use the cars for longer periods say 5+ yrs, but they start rattling within 5 yrs because of our roads, so i sell them even if everything else is fine. Safari is the only car i sold within 20 months because of pathetic a.s.s. and niggles.

[ACM]

Originally Posted by Santoshbhat

You mean 2007, right?

Skoda started its India operations in 2001.

Yep mean 2007, thanks.

[kpzen]

Car 1 : Maruti 800 Bought June 1994 Sold Aug 2000 Total 19400 kms
Car 2 : Maruti Zen Bought Aug 2000 Sold June 2008 Total 57800 kms
Car 3 : Maruti Baleno Bought May 2006 To be sold ASAP Total 20300 kms
Car 4 : Hyundai Getz Bought June 2008 Still going good Total 119000 kms

[askicode]

1. What was your car make & model and month & year of purchase?
Tata India DLE (Diesel), Aug 2000

2. How long did you keep it - in years and in mileage?
10 years, Approx 85000 kms

3. Top 3 reasons why you sold it.
1. Guzzle engine oil( 1lts would remain after a month of running from oil change); 2. Problems with engine cylinder head resulting in excessive loss of coolant and over heating; 3. High Maintenance cost and poor unreliable engine .
Replaced with SX4 VVT (Petrol) - 2010 - Till Date.

[SaneOp]

From earliest to latest that I have driven in family. Before these we had Ambassadors Mark 1 to IV. Sold last amby we owned in late 80s

Car 1: Premier Padmini S1, 1995-2005, 125K kms, sold as engine conked off and fixing it was ruled out as I wanted something reliable and comfortable for my daily drive.

Car 2: Honda City NHC: 2005 - till date, 125K kms, still doing great - I plan to keep it till 200K kms. Need to spend some $$ for major suspension overhaul. It is a fantastic piece of machinery - reliable and efficient.

Car 3: Wagon R, 2005 - 2007 ( 20 months) 40K Kms, sold out as I was moving out of country for a year or so and decided it will be better to sell it off and save on EMI, moreover got good offer.

Car 4: Wagon R 2006 - till date, Yes another Wagon R ( this time for sis). 50K+kms, still going strong plan to keep till at least 100K kms.

Note I am not a big fan of Wagon R though but is fairly practical machine with decent reliability.

[aditya@pune]

Car 1: Santro- Owned for 10 months and had to sell as i was going out of India for a year and no one was here to take care.
Car 2: Ford Fiesta: 4 Years - 56K kms. Sold it because of high petrol prices.
Car 3: Optra - Magnum: 18 Months: 24K kms: Met with an accident and repair cost was too high, so have to sold.
Car 4- Safari : 2 months old. Wish to keep the car atleast for 5 Years.

[shashank.nk]

My entry might be one of the oldest car here:

1988 Maruti 800-24 years, 1.13 lakh kms.Still going strong so no plans to sell it.
2007 Octavia- 77k at present,Will keep for another 2-3 years atleast.
2012 Polo- 8k at present.If the car remains trouble free will sell it in 2-3 years, else whenever the next breakdown happens

[Shreyas Aterkar]

Cars bought by dad:

1. Fiat - premier padmini
Bought in 1990
Sold in 2007
Reason: Had got too old and very troublesome, got a new Wagon R

2. Wagon R Vxi
Bought in 2007 - still going strong

Cars bought by me:
1. Maruti Esteem Vxi
Bought in 2004 - not yet sold, but 8 years and 50.5k kms, I was too eager to get a new and more powerful machine so looking at the mouthwatering and irresistable offers bought a new Skoda Laura 1.8 TSI Ambiente

2. Skoda Laura 1.8 TSI Ambiente
Bought 5 days back
Intend to keep this for long, keeping my fingers crossed that I am not one of those unlucky ones to have experienced the dark side of skoda

[karpusv]

1. Maruti Omni - 1990
Sold in 1998 (8 yrs) at 35000km (Dad's usage)
Totalled in accident. Had to be done with.

2. Maruti 800 DX - Sep 1997 (bought 2nd hand in 1999)
Sold in May 2012 (12 Yrs 8 Months) at 57000km (Mainly Dad's usage)
Started showing ageing. Lacking in pickup & AC effectiveness

3. Renault Logan 1.5 Dlx - Nov 2007
Still have - 75500kms
Will be a keeper. Not planning to sell.

4. Tata nano LX - May 2012 (replacement of M800)
Still have - 900kms (Mainly Dad's usage)
Plan to keep another 5 yrs.