This month I am quite proud because my Fabia has just reached 20 years old.

I mentioned this to a friend and his reply was 'isn't it time for a new one then'. This sentiment has also been heard in different forms from neighbours, family and, colleagues and the dealer I bought it off (they did finally gave up).

Honestly though I'm happy as the day I bought it (was 3 years old) and keep it clean and maintained. But it's like from reactions I'm doing something wrong and I end up having to explain why I haven't bought something newer. My only explanation is I'm happy with it still so why change but they are unconvinced.

What's your thoughts? Is running a car and keeping it clean / maintained for as long as possible so odd? Genuinely interested.

Absolutely nothing wrong with your approach if it provides what you need in a vehicle, is reliable and you aren't constrained by LEZ etc. taxes.

Your vehicle may even become a classic one day.

The most eco car you'll ever buy is the one you keep the longest I believe is the thinking

1 hour ago, Tailhappy said:

This month I am quite proud because my Fabia has just reached 20 years old.

I mentioned this to a friend and his reply was 'isn't it time for a new one then'.

Not that I'm aware of. My Octavia (mk1 Elegance TDi) was first registered 23 years ago.

1 hour ago, Paws4Thot said:

Not that I'm aware of. My Octavia (mk1 Elegance TDi) was first registered 23 years ago.

Brilliant. Good to hear.

Our Fabia turned 20 last December I think.

Still does A to B admirably, and I really don't give that many effs at all what anyone else thinks of it.

My last two vehicles owned for 19 years and 18 years, current fabia owned for 4 years hopefully for another 10, all bought and paid for, I agree that this must be the most sustainable / green 🙄 way of ownership. Keep them well serviced and clean

You are supposed to buy a newer car when you want to buy a newer car - it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or says. When looked after and maintained properly cars will go on for years and years. Generally speaking with newer cars there is so much more to go wrong than with an older model, and the maintenance costs are higher the newer the car so keep enjoying your Fabia until you feel is the right time to replace it.

1 hour ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Our Fabia turned 20 last December I think.

Still does A to B admirably, and I really don't give that many effs at all what anyone else thinks of it.

If it is still working fine, why even think about a newer car unless of course you really want one.

It really is far greener to run an older car for as long as you possibly can as the only CO2 it generates is from the fuel used. I wonder just how many of the current new cars will make it to the 20 year mark, and they do create far more CO2 during the manuefacturing process, to say nothing about the increased CO2 generated during the transportation half round the world with the battery materials.

Did a rather interesting, if not very scientific, observation recently of older cars passing through our town. Generally about 15 years and older.

I was seeing cars (no idea of ranking) like VW Polo, Nissan Micra, Toyota Yaris, Skoda Fabia, etc

Mainly small low spec runabouts, presumably because they are easy to repair. Sort of suggests the age to change for this group is when they are no longer cost effective to fix

Strangely older Fords, Vauxhalls, BMW etc (those that sold in volumes) weren't there, and many of the larger cars on school runs were closer to 6-12 years old, or virtually new.

New car volumes were much lower 4-5 years ago (pandemic) and that might partly explain those school run, car age profiles.

Would be really interesting to see a list of how many of each type are registered for cars that are around 15-20 years old. I suspect it will be completely different to sales volumes when they were new. What happened to all those Fiesta, Focus, Corsa, BMW 3 series etc

12 minutes ago, SurreyJohn said:

Did a rather interesting, if not very scientific, observation recently of older cars passing through our town. Generally about 15 years and older.

I was seeing cars (no idea of ranking) like VW Polo, Nissan Micra, Toyota Yaris, Skoda Fabia, etc

Mainly small low spec runabouts, presumably because they are easy to repair. Sort of suggests the age to change for this group is when they are no longer cost effective to fix

Strangely older Fords, Vauxhalls, BMW etc (those that sold in volumes) weren't there, and many of the larger cars on school runs were closer to 6-12 years old, or virtually new.

New car volumes were much lower 4-5 years ago (pandemic) and that might partly explain those school run, car age profiles.

Would be really interesting to see a list of how many of each type are registered for cars that are around 15-20 years old. I suspect it will be completely different to sales volumes when they were new. What happened to all those Fiesta, Focus, Corsa, BMW 3 series etc

Well the fords all had their wet belts go meaning repair was not cost effective

18 hours ago, Tailhappy said:

This month I am quite proud because my Fabia has just reached 20 years old.

I mentioned this to a friend and his reply was 'isn't it time for a new one then'. This sentiment has also been heard in different forms from neighbours, family and, colleagues and the dealer I bought it off (they did finally gave up).

Honestly though I'm happy as the day I bought it (was 3 years old) and keep it clean and maintained. But it's like from reactions I'm doing something wrong and I end up having to explain why I haven't bought something newer. My only explanation is I'm happy with it still so why change but they are unconvinced.

What's your thoughts? Is running a car and keeping it clean / maintained for as long as possible so odd? Genuinely interested.

Brilliant, just shows that taking care of a car just the basics of keeping it clean and good maintenance works. Out of interest, what mileage has it done ?

36 minutes ago, classic said:

Brilliant, just shows that taking care of a car just the basics of keeping it clean and good maintenance works. Out of interest, what mileage has it done ?

Thanks. 110k so far. I was driving yesterday and was still impressed how smooth and tight it felt. If it needs something doing I get it done no quibbles. I have noted that its the newer cars that are getting pampered by mobile cleaning vans and owners jet washing on a weekend but the 15+ years old cars that actually need it are left all tatty with dust and litter inside. It should be the older cars that get the attention surely?

1 hour ago, SurreyJohn said:

Did a rather interesting, if not very scientific, observation recently of older cars passing through our town. Generally about 15 years and older.

I was seeing cars (no idea of ranking) like VW Polo, Nissan Micra, Toyota Yaris, Skoda Fabia, etc

Mainly small low spec runabouts, presumably because they are easy to repair. Sort of suggests the age to change for this group is when they are no longer cost effective to fix

Strangely older Fords, Vauxhalls, BMW etc (those that sold in volumes) weren't there, and many of the larger cars on school runs were closer to 6-12 years old, or virtually new.

New car volumes were much lower 4-5 years ago (pandemic) and that might partly explain those school run, car age profiles.

Would be really interesting to see a list of how many of each type are registered for cars that are around 15-20 years old. I suspect it will be completely different to sales volumes when they were new. What happened to all those Fiesta, Focus, Corsa, BMW 3 series etc

I note similar in Hertfordshire. I never see any older BMW or larger Vauxhall either but plenty of 04 Honda Jazz and the like. The oldest BMW i see is a dumped 07 plate with flat tyres. Seems incredible to me that such expensive cars are not looked after.

In Dorset there are lots more older small cars still. Mk1 Fabia everywhere all looking well. Some Mk2 as well. My Dad's 05 Elegance had a 1.2 HTP join it in Lyme Regis a few weeks back.

There's a lot to be said for cars "of a certain age".

Less technology to beep and boop at you as you travel, easier to find spare parts at "Scrappies", you're more in control of your vehicle and the driving experience rather than relying on electronic gizmo's to "nanny" you along, good old fashioned switches that turn things on and off etc.

I say keep it until it gives up the ghost !! 👍

We tend to keep that as long as we can... Our Mitsubishi Colt, Fabia and Octavia were all kept for 12 or 13 years and well over 100k miles.

My MX5 turned 30 this year and is still a joy to drive.

So I agree with others... Nothing wrong with your approach and it's probably the most economical and environmentally friendly way of running vehicles

12 minutes ago, skomaz said:

We tend to keep that as long as we can... Our Mitsubishi Colt, Fabia and Octavia were all kept for 12 or 13 years and well over 100k miles.

My MX5 turned 30 this year and is still a joy to drive.

So I agree with others... Nothing wrong with your approach and it's probably the most economical and environmentally friendly way of running vehicles

Sounds good. Im getting the feeling that the need to keep updating and spending isn't felt by many here who actually care enough about cars and driving to join a forum. Thinking back none of the people who commented why haven't I bought a new one yet were that interested in motors.

Are they more the sort who prefer their designer labels to be on the outside by any chance?

I don’t know about that, I am getting a new car and anyone who knows me would collapse laughing if designer label clothes and my name were mentioned in the same sentence. Everyone has different ideas and different needs.

If I’d bought tailhappys Fabia in 2005 it would now be on 400,000 miles, would it have done that - probably but with a lot more bits wearing out obviously.

I always been interested in cars but my interest didn’t end with the one I bought 20 years ago.

Tailhappy is doing a brilliant job with their Fabia, I applaud that and it is exactly the car I would be interested in looking at if I went to a car show but on a day to day basis it’s horses for courses. Probably a lot of those saying time for a new car are blowing their money but some are probably looking from their own view point that a 20 year old Fabia wouldn’t work for them.

Edited 20 September, 202520 Sep by classic

4 hours ago, Redestate said:

Well the fords all had their wet belts go meaning repair was not cost effective

If you are considering the lack of 20 year old Fords to be due to wet belt issues, this is unlikely to be the case as it appears that wet belt Fords only date back to 2012.

2 minutes ago, Routemaster1461 said:

If you are considering the lack of 20 year old Fords to be due to wet belt issues, this is unlikely to be the case as it appears that wet belt Fords only date back to 2012.

Forgot about rust as well 🤣

Went banger racing 2 weeks ago most cars was MK1/1.5 focus or Mk5/6/7 Fezes

Probably the same types that go, Oooh, when are you getting married then ..... just cos you've been together for what they deem to be too long to not get married.

You may not have even thought of marriage .....

Or Oooh, when are you having children ...... just cos there's nothing going on in their own lives they put pressure on others to give themselves something to talk about ......

'Peer Pressure' .......... I hate it

No absolutely not.
Don't get caught up in the 'don't you want a new one' mentality many people have.
Commerce relies on this for so many things, think about the people who change their phone every year or every contract.

If it works for you then stick with it. At some point the attitude flips and it becomes a classic.