[Kannan_Marg]

I still use a close to 9 year old Fiat Siena (72000 Kms) which does a decent commuting job for me albit with a fuel efficiency of 10 KMPL in city and 13-14 KMPL on High way with Aircon ON. Offcourse I had fitted this one with Conical Performance Filter, Twin spark Irudium plug etc., I just can't think of changing this beauty with a new one until 2011 atleast.

[gpa]

Originally Posted by Kannan_Marg

I still use a close to 9 year old Fiat Siena (72000 Kms). I just can't think of changing this beauty with a new one until 2011 atleast.

Thats quite some kms that you have covered! Congrats on keeping her in winning form!

[shankar.balan]

I think it is pretty sensible to hang on to a car for more than 5 years.

Trouble is that in these days of "instant gratification" people get bored with the old and want new things all the time.

Coupled with relatively easy credit, it has become more of a norm to keep changing even if it is not strictly necessary.

Its more about "want" than "need".- most of the cars these days are well engineered enough to take atleast 100-150000 km on the clock.

Most people in today's world who are "hand-cuffed" to their computers and office cabins/workstations, drive on average around 1000 km per month, mostly in horrendous city traffic.

In these circumstances one can keep ones car peacefully for 100 months - 8 odd years!

Add to this the costs of loans, constant battling with EMI's etc etc etc and it may be worth hanging on to a car for more than 5 years.

But it is difficult to argue with the heart once it starts egging one on, to buy that shiny new car (if of course one is blessed with either the necessary bank balance OR the future earning potential).

[Furious55]

Originally Posted by Kannan_Marg

I still use a close to 9 year old Fiat Siena (72000 Kms) which does a decent commuting job for me albit with a fuel efficiency of 10 KMPL in city and 13-14 KMPL on High way with Aircon ON. Offcourse I had fitted this one with Conical Performance Filter, Twin spark Irudium plug etc., I just can't think of changing this beauty with a new one until 2011 atleast.

Originally Posted by gpa

Thats quite some kms that you have covered! Congrats on keeping her in winning form!

We have a 2002 model (new shape) and it's already done 75K Km. Mechanic says it's good to last 10 years more if taken care of, 2-3 Lakh Km should be no problem. With low resale value, it makes no sense to sell. Plus the 100 BHP engine is very addictive.
There are some people still using the SS80 Maruti's. makes sense to keep these cars.

[phantom76]

True. In no mood to sell my 2004 Baleno. The low resale being one more reason. The car runs great and I have maintained it pretty well. Add to that, I have done only about 41k on the odo.

(The heart often gets excited when looking at a shiny new Linea, but the head keeps him under control )

[GTO]

This Gentleman could well be the official mascot of our article - Link to NY Times

Noteworthy para:

Mr. Curtiss also has a strong emotional attachment to the car. He met his wife, Dorothy, shortly after he bought it, when he was 17 and she was 14; they had been married 56 years when she died in 1998. The initials they carved on the steering wheel as teenagers can still be seen. “She was the first and only girl I ever kissed in the car,” he said. “It’s priceless because of that, as far as I’m concerned.”

[bhaani]

We have a Year 2000 Santro which has put 85000 kms till date and the engine running smooth and silent as ever.Apart from some rear shock absorbers changed, de-carb and mandatory service interval with new set of tyres at 45K kms, its running without a hitch.

Could easily make it to 100K mark without too much pressure on the wallet.

[gpa]

Originally Posted by bhaani

We have a Year 2000 Santro which has put 85000 kms till date and the engine running smooth and silent as ever.Apart from some rear shock absorbers changed, de-carb and mandatory service interval with new set of tyres at 45K kms, its running without a hitch.

Could easily make it to 100K mark without too much pressure on the wallet.

bhaani,

That's just great! I have a 2005 Xing that's just covered 56,000 kms and is still going strong. The suspension has become a little wallowy and the steering has become a little hard, both of which I am planning on sorting out at the 60,000 kms service.

She still runs on the OEM battery even after so long and the tyres have a decent amount of tread left as well. With the bulletproof engine, I am sure she can clock over 100,000 kms. I don't plan to part with her anytime soon.

Cheers,
gpa

[misquitas]

Originally Posted by GTO

Of some of my previous cars : Esteem used for close to 2 lakh kms / 10 years. Zen, in the whereabouts. 118NE & Premier Padmini Diesel for about 1.3 - 1.5 lakh kms. Jeep : 1.42 lakhs and 10 years....new engine and here to stay. My '03 OHC Vtec = The way I see it, still a virgin @ 60,000 kms.

Let's apply some different calculations to one of GTO's earlier posts.

He has used:

Esteem -- 2 lakh kms -- 10 years
Zen -- about 2 lakh kms -- about 10 years
118 NE -- 1.3 lakh kms -- years not specified
PP Diesel -- 1.3 lakh kms -- years not specified
Jeep -- 1.42 lakh kms -- 10 years
OHC -- 0.60 lakh kms (and counting) -- 6 years (and counting)

Wow, GTO, you either...

1. Are a driver by profession (to have covered 8.62 LAKH kms!)

OR

2. You are nearing 80 years (assuming that you got your driving livence at 20 years and you have been driving one car each for about 10 years).

In either case, you certainly are blessed with lots of moolah to have..

...afforded these many cars.
...to have driven for these many kilometres
...and for these many years.

Am waiting for your reply to this post.
Regards

[vishnuvijay]

misquitas : i think GTO along with his family members must have covered the "8.62 lakh kms", not alone.

[kannan666]

GTO has mentioned that the cars have been used for xxxx kms, don't think that he ever mentions that he drove them all himself ! Again, another possibility is that the cars were bought used, which would mean that they already had some kilometres done on them.

[rajeev k]

Usually a car is good as long as you take care in doing all preventive checks at scheduled intervals. This would ensure that the car would perform like new and would not break down and put a smile on your miles.

[GTO]

@ misquitas : Cut me some slack, will ya The said cars were indeed driven by other family members & chauffeurs.

[tortoiseNhare]

Our first car is the 1995 White Maruti 800 that I bought in 2004 with Odo reading 50K. Though I had learnt driving beforehand the kilometers on the driving seat grew only on this car. My brother had learnt driving on this and, hold your breath, my father at 65 did so. It is still going strong at 98K on the odo, taking in its stride plenty of abuse, especially from my father.

The only problem now is depletion of engine oil, which is taken care of regularly. The local mechanic said that any overhaul in unnecessary until white smoke is emitted from the exhaust. I was happy that my father didn't get allotment for the Nano in the first batch. The Nano is scheduled only in 2011. Till then at least the 800 is there with my father.

In 2010 the registration will have to be renewed. I am not sure if the registration of cars with carburetted engines will be allowed to be renewed (new cars must be at least Euro III in the city).

[kannan666]

Originally Posted by tortoiseNhare

In 2010 the registration will have to be renewed. I am not sure if the registration of cars with carburetted engines will be allowed to be renewed (new cars must be at least Euro III in the city).

It will be renewed, the onus is on the manufacturers for complying with the emission norms, not on old car owners ! However, your car must pass the emission test with parameters set for a car of your age / year of manufacture.