Hey this is weird topic but I have to ask other people about this.
I bought my Toyota Yaris back in 2011, a really simple small car I was able to buy in cash without going in debt.
I wanted to replace this car so many years ago but everytime I searched for new cars it was the wrong time. For example when I changed my job, I didn’t want to go in debt. Or when Corona the prices skyrocket for simple cars I didn’t want to replace it.
Now, 13 years later I am still driving this car and today ( I am from Germany) it got through TÜV again. Good for me, I can still drive it around. I once again dont want to buy a new car now anyways (just built a house, got no money and expensive asf here).
But now I am at a point I dont ever want to replace it ever again. I want to get this car through so many TÜVs as possible and use it til it just dies.
It transported me to my first shift as a nurse, to my first night shifts, it transported me through my cancer back in 2013, it transported me to my first flight ever in Frankfurt and back, it never let me hanging. Heck, we crashed into three animals (two dears and a rabbit), someone opened the door against us at a parking lot on accident, we failed many times in parking houses cause of failing to stop and go on “ramps”…
And this thing is still running good. It needed one new battery replacement in all these years.
I feel really bad if I give it up one day. I dunno, it somehow feels like I’d lose a good friend at this point. The car itself really sucks, its slow on highways, it’s very loud, but come on… its doing what it should.
Like I am giving up my identity. I can’t give us up. I am at a point it’s a “us” and “we” and not a car. It is me.
Yeah it can’t get to 100 km/h in 3 seconds. In fact, it takes almost 15 seconds. But I’m fine and it’s fine with it too. If someone would trade my car against a newer car I am really not sure if I’d do it. I’d honestly have to think about it a while. It’s stupid because a new car would remove all my worries “what if it wont work tomorrow” but I’d still need time to think about it.
Is my behaviour somehow kind of pathological? Is this something really awkward? I am not even a “car” person. I couldn’t care less what I drive…
I currently ain’t in the position to replace it anyways, but in 2 or 3 years I will be and I am not sure if I will replace it or just try to get through the “TÜV” again and drive another few years.
I have friends that visit once a year from Berlin and Hamburg and every year they say: “Wow you are still driving that car?!” Yes, the seatbelt in the back has the green blue red marks that my friends drew on them when I picked them up from a party where they were totally drunk. My now wife (30 years old now) who was my girlfriend back then (17 years old) puked in that car when I picked her up from a party after my nightshift LOL.
This is insane because time flys… people I am saying it, time really flys.
As long as the car is safe, somewhat fuel efficient, and maintenance doesn’t cost you an arm and leg, it’s a smart decision to keep driving that old car. Nothing depreciates in value quite as quickly as new cars. Don’t worry too much about your friends’ comments. Cars are a status symbol, and people who don’t follow the mainstream consumerism of buying a fancy new model open themselves up to some remarks. But it doesn’t matter as long as you are happy with it.
It seems like you should keep the Yaris, even if you get a new car. That little guy is your trusty friend. Take care of it.
We have a 15 year old Yaris that I’m pretty sure my 1 year old will learn to drive on in another 15 years 😂 I remember the feeling selling my first car too, it was a weird attachment after being the first “big purchase” I had ever made in my life. That car will have a lot of years left in it if you keep it maintained (although I’m not sure how the TUV you mention in your country works - I don’t think my country has anything comparable). The feeling of having no car payments is bliss - when our cars get paid off we just keep transferring the same payment amount into a savings account to help pay for a new car when the time comes.
If it works, absolutely do not get rid of it. If you can afford to keep it and get a second vehicle or pass it on to someone you know. Because the moment you get a new vehicle it will have 1/100th the reliability and you’ll sorely miss it. Not that im saying “they were built better back then,” but something thats worked this long probably will keep working for a while (bathtub curve of failure)
You can start saving now to buy a newer car once this one dies.
Normally I put back about 250 € for car a month. All that money I used after it got through the “TÜV” for my house construction. I am saving again now though… it will be fine the next two years and even if it breaks down now my father would buy me a new car and I’d pay him back instead. But honestly that isn’t my plan. I don’t want to rely on his money.
You can always step your way up in car, it’s tedious but doable. If you sell your car + 6 months to a year of saving you can get a better car, then do it again in a year. Cars less than 10k don’t really depreciate that fast, so you aren’t losing a significant amount of money.
