When is it time to move on from the car you are currently driving?
This question has been plaguing me for the past few weeks. The car in question, my 2013 Lexus CT200h hybrid, is starting to get a little long in the tooth. With close to 150,000 miles on the odometer, I have a few decisions to make regarding my daily transportation.
Life comes at you fast, and a big change in mine has my commute to and from work now taking two hours. That means I am in my car way much more than before. I will be averaging 30,000 miles a year at this rate, while before I barely cracked 10,000.
Contrary to popular belief, most automotive technicians loathe working on their “daily driver” and I am included in that number.
I find joy working on my classic BMW, but the Lexus is just a chore. It has been a great car so far, needing only routine maintenance and a water pump, but problems will soon be on their way with the mileage crossing the 150,000 mark. I can surely deal with those, but what I cannot put up with is the anxiety of driving the distances I do with a car so deep in the odometer.
The Lexus is mechanically a Toyota Prius, and those cars routinely get 300,000 miles of use with no issues; however, many have major failures as well, such as the expensive brake actuator system or head gasket failure. These issues are expensive, time consuming, and unavoidable. I would most likely need a tow truck and two weeks of being without a car if that happened.
The car also has the original hybrid battery, which would cost $2,000 to replace if it decided to quit.
If you must be in a car for two hours a day, you had better enjoy it. The truth is my car is as exciting to drive as a wet dish rag. While it is a nice looking car, it is a sheep in wolf’s clothing.
The Lexus is dangerously slow on acceleration, I have come close to getting into an accident more than a few times merging into traffic. Achieving 0-60 mph comes in well over 10 seconds, leaving you at the mercy of other motorists to leave a gap in traffic. This mattered little in my previous ten-minute trip to work but has been more important in my much longer current one.
The technology is also aging, as the almost 12-year electronics aren’t getting along with my new smart phone. Bluetooth works when it feels like it, leaving me to occasionally break the “no hands” law by using my phone the old-fashioned way.
Streaming my music and podcasts from my phone to my car is hit and miss as well. There are ways to fix this by installing aftermarket equipment, but I do not wish to put much more of an investment into this car.
There are redeeming qualities for keeping the car. I am averaging 51 miles to the gallon, which makes it very economical to operate. Insurance and routine maintenance are affordable to me, and the car is nearly paid for. The car has also been problem free for the two years I have owned it, and I have pushed it hard daily.
If you ever find yourself in my position, a good way to sort the reasons to keep or sell is by making a list of pros and cons. Strip away the emotions you feel from seeing the shiny cars on the car lots, the commercials and even the feeling you get while driving your old car.
I have seen many people trade their perfectly good vehicles for new ones by getting caught up in a moment, and some of them regret it later.
While this entire column may sound like I am trying to convince myself to purchase a new car, I am indifferent to doing that. Any car that I would consider would be an investment of at least $30,000 plus the painful buying experience.
My insurance would surely rise, and any car I get would not match the fuel economy of the one I have. The cheapest car you can own is already in your driveway, however, life is short enough as is. I am not sure what I am planning to do yet, but I will put some thought into it over the holidays for sure. I do have the luxury of time to decide if a new or a well-cared for used car would be a practical idea, or just more of a treat.
As for me I will see you on the road…I am just unsure of what I will be driving!
