A few weeks ago, my family and I headed to the Cape Girardeau area to visit family. Our second stop was to visit my grandparents, “Albert” and “Iris”.
As always, it was wonderful visiting with them, a visit that gave us an hour to look around the house before they arrived home from an errand. With their having been in the same house since 1961, it is chock full of memories. I even found an old newspaper from Wednesday, August 21, 1963, in an upstairs closet. Sugar was $0.99 for a ten-pound bag.
Several hours into our visit, the phone rang. It seems a cousin of mine had acquired some potatoes he was wanting to divest from his possession. Despite knowing one just doesn’t “find” 275 pounds of spuds, plus a bunch of watermelons, Grandpa and I fired up his trusty 1992 Ford F-150 to run the few miles into the small town of Scott City to fetch our fifty pounds worth.
He told me to drive, so this was the first time I had been in his pickup – let alone drive it – since sometime around 2000.
Last I drove it, this F-150 was just a late model pickup. With sixteen years having lapsed, it’s not as flawless as it had been. The power windows aren’t working, one of the fuel tanks has rusted away and been removed, and there is a mild tear in the seam of the drivers seat. All this has helped it cross the threshold from ordinary late model to endearingly wonderful, awe-inspiring old pickup. It even still has the original spark plugs and wires, but with only 70,000 miles on the odometer it isn’t terribly overdue.
Then it hit me – he bought this pickup in November 1992 and this is the longest anyone in my extended family has owned a vehicle (that has remained roadworthy for the duration). Pushing a quarter-century is no small amount of time.
So, my question: What is the longest amount of time you or anyone in your family has owned the same vehicle? And, of course, what was it?
Shockingly, the longest tenure of my family’s ownership belongs to a 1985 Renault Encore (Alliance) hatchback we bought new that lasted until ’99, if I recall correctly. My dad drove it first, then my brother got it. When it finally died (mechanically), it was still in okay shape physically.
That’s a make & model I wouldn’t have expected to see on the comments here. Congratulations to your family on that that one!
Longest for me was the old Cortina of fond memory – a daily driver for over 20 years, before several years retirement in the shed.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/cars-of-a-lifetime/car-of-a-lifetime-1974-ford-cortina-living-beyond-the-design-brief/
Dad owned a ’67 Falcon from ’68 until his death in ’89, but that was because he couldn’t afford to replace it in the mid-seventies when he wanted to, and he hardly drove anywhere in the last ten years or so.
I still have my first car, which is a 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix. My brother bought it in 1983 as a decent used car and then I inherited it when I got my license in 1989. I’ve been slowly restoring it for last 6 years and here it is about to get its freshly built 400 about 2 years ago.
…and I recently had my 20th anniversary with my 1996 Dodge Ram. My parents gave me the down payment as a college graduation gift in April, 1996 for my first new car (ok, its a truck) I painted the flames in 2004 and now it has a strong 360 small block.
My cars become very sentimental to me and don’t sell them unless I absolutely have to. I also have a 1969 Charger that Ive had since 2008, a 1972 Fury since 1999 and my daughter is about to inherit for her first car; our 2002 Durango that I bought new and raised both of my kids in.
Said it before, I’ll say it again…that’s one sweet 2nd gen Ram!
We bought our 2002 Durango SLT new in February 2002. We raised three kids in ours, and they are now the primary drivers. It’s my longest ownership at 14.5 years, 97,000 miles and counting. It’s a member of the family at this point, and seems to strangely get garage priority over some of our newer cars.
You’re lucky that charger didn’t fall prey to the Dukes of Hazzard wrecking crew that bought up the 69 chargers back during the show. LOL
42 years: 1969 F-100 Custom Cab, 240/auto/longbed styleside.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/coal-requiem-for-a-truck/
As for a car I bought myself, about 12 years: 2000 New Beetle TDI (and Herb’s still kicking over four years after I sold him – still see him in town from time to time!).
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/cars-of-a-lifetime/curbside-comparison-1964-beetle-2000-new-beetle-2013-beetle-convertible/
2005 Mercury Mariner (or, as I used to describe it to others, “a Ford Escape in a tuxedo”). Bought it in the fall of 2006 with about 35K miles on the odometer, and nearly ten years later, it’s now semi-retired from daily use but still running pretty strong with close to 170K. Now that I think about it, it’s been far and away the most reliable vehicle that I have ever owned.
Wow, Frank, an amazing claim, but I am right behind you, my partner and I just sold our ’06 Mariner Premier, bought new in the fall of 2005 and was ready to turn 100K miles. Always garaged and well maintained, it still shone like a new penny and was running like a champ. Probably shouldn’t have parted with it, as you note, ours was also one of the most reliable vehicles I have ever owned. A “Ford Escape in a tuxedo,” cute!
32 years for my 1984 Jeep Wagoneer (XJ version) bought in the summer of 84. It had deeply flawed components and proved to be an unreliable nightmare. The first 2 years were fine, but it soon started failing repeatedly. I learned how to fix minor problems myself but eventually dispaired of it. I parked it and bought various other more reliable and more interesting cars around 1989.
I put it back on the road briefly in the late ’90s and it continued its expensive, infuriating ways, so I parked it for good. I squeezed about 90,000 miles from it while it consumed a shocking amount of money in engine, transmission, torque converter and transfer case repairs. I still have it, a rust pile behind the barn. But it was by far the worst of the 30-odd cars I’ve owned.
My father had his 1973 T-Bird for around 36 yrs. until he died. He only racked up 24k miles on it. As for myself, I had my 1985 1/2 Ford Escort for 9 yrs. (1987-1996), my 1989 Chrysler LeBaron Turbo Coupe for about 10 yrs.(1996-2006) & my current ride, a 2005 Ford Focus for 10yrs. & counting ( I still like it a lot & there’s nothing new that I’m interested in)
1: 1988 Dodge Lancer ES Turbo, 10+ years. Bought new after the previous purchasers credit app was refused. From about 1500 miles to ~160,000 miles it took me all over the country as a new husband and then father. It had a few rough patches along the way, but I liked the car a great deal and in the end, it was worth it to me.
2: 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier, 11+ years. Bought it from my brother in law for $1000 in the spring of 2004, as it had 192,000 miles on it. I remember thinking to myself, even if it only lasts me two years, I’m ahead. My kids learned to drive on it and both eventually took it to college with them. My younger daughter drove it up until last December when it had 267,000 miles on it. The major reason why we took it off the road was due the amount of rust. Just looking at it would give you tetanus. It still ran well.
3: 2009 Pontiac G6 Sport Sedan, 7+ years. Imagine a G6 GT V6. Now, imagine a G6 GT with a 4 cylinder. That’s the car I have. It too has had some issues, most of which were rectified during it’s 100,000 visit (done with my usual tardiness, at 105,000 miles). Still, it’s been a great driver, pretty economical with the Ecotec motor and 6 speed autobox. It has the typical Epsilon body rattles, a few electronic glitches and some minor rust starting from rock chips. But, I plan on putting another set of tires on her in December and see where it takes me in the next few years.
One car at 46 1/2 years, another at 33 years with others ranging from 7-15 years that are in my possession. All very much functional. Actually there are only two cars that I have owned that are not with me any longer. The 1980 Civic wagon that wiped a cam lobe in 1986 with only 100,000 miles. Haven’t owned a Honda since then. The 1986 626 went 375,000 miles over 22 years of ownership.
Cape Girardeau, huh? There is a namesake ship (T-AK2039) now moored in the dwindling Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay. Was on her back in 2011 for a visit.
My 2000 Ranger, purchased new.
It only has about 135,000 miles, and since I only drive it about 5,000 miles or so per year, I plan on keeping it awhile.
(I have no idea why the thumbnail appears upside down, and the full size photo is right side up…)
86 VW GTI. Red. Bought it in 2000 as a summer car, still have it.
86 VW GTI black. My first new car, sold it in 99 for $3000. I missed it, the red one had 4 previous owners, but half the miles.
1974 Vega GT…factory ordered, delivered in July of 1974 and kept in the family until 1990. The body and interior both in very good condition as it was dotted Ina garage for several years.
I do dream about it once in a while.
Dad bought our ’71 notchback in ’72, and it became mine in ’79. I think I sold it in ’87 or thereabouts.
My family typically disposes of cars in two ways- sell/give to the junkyard, sell/give to high school students…
1996 Dodge Dakota SLT std cab, long bed, V6, 5 spd- ordered, yes ordered specifically by me, new late September 1995 and then received Friday after Thanksgiving 1995, actually I saw it parked in the dealer lot with shipping plastic and protective items still in/on it on Thanksgiving day 1995. With regular maintenance its now 182,XXX miles and barely any original paint.
Exwife’s Dodge 1995 Neon early production late 1994 purchased by her Thanksgiving 1994 and disposed by me Nov 2011 with 267,XXX miles. 17 years which was about 15 years too long for all of the issues with that car from new- Chrysler lost on that $1,100 extended warranty! Then me keeping the Neon on the road (for the higher gas mileage versus the above Dakota) using extraordinary life-saving repair and upgrade methods. The stuff I did to the car that I hated can be summed up by the quote from a potential buyer looking over the list of repairs/modifications/upgrades done to keep the heap on the road: “If you had done this amount and kind work to a Honda or Toyota you’d gotten at least 400,000 to 500,000 miles out of the car.”
The Neon was a good example of the IKEA effect in that I had pride of ownership because I had to work on it alot even though I hated it from the start and, even in 1994, asked my then fiance, now ex-wife why she didn’t buy a Honda or Toyota.
Well, the longest I’ve ever personally owned a car was seven and a half years. Seven point five years with a 1976 Vega. I should get an award for that, a Shitbox Lifetime Achievement Award. If there isn’t such a thing, there should be. My current car, the 1992 Prizm, has been in family for almost 25 years now.
A noble effort, but check out GarryM’s post, a few above yours.
He spent 16 years with a ’74 Vega GT. Either that was an extraordinarily well-built unit, or he’s the gentlest driver on the face of the planet!
I had over 220K on my ’71 Vega when I sold it around 1987 (Buick 3.8l-powered at that point). That would be a good QOTD: Who racked up the highest mileage on a Vega? (c:
My ’76 Vega has 135,000 Miles on it when I sold it in ’99, but all the miles were on the original “dura-built” motor. It still wasn’t burning oil when I sold it. Odd, but true. The ’76 motor was a real improvement over the previous engine.
Is that a ‘GEO’ Prizm? I don’t even remember if GEO was its own car company or if they were a branch of another co.?
GM Division: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geo_(automobile)
1986 Ford F150 stripper, reg cab long bed. Two wheel drive, 300 straight six. The only options were A 4 speed overdrive stickshift, am radio, swing out mirrors and a tach which was pretty rare on these. It didn’t even have a back bumper. I bought it new and drove it for 14 years and 190,000 miles. I went into a skid on black ice at 60 mph and stove it up pretty good hitting a snowbank at about 10 years old. I drove it for the last year with almost no oil pressure. I worked two miles from home so I’d start it and go before the oil had a chance to thin out. It still ran when I junked it but it was knocking loud and smoking like Uncle Bucks car. That truck got me through some severe economic lean times when a break down was something that I just could not have afforded. I came to think of it a friend.
I tend to keep vehicles as long they run well and fit our needs so the longest we owned a car was the 1995 Escort for 15 years, although my 1997 Saturn SL2 will surpass it since I’m still driving it after 14 1/2 years. The true longevity champ is my BMW R100S motorcycle at 26 years and counting.
On the flip side my 2 Sciroccos only lasted 2 years each and my first motor cycle lasted less than 6 months before I got the BMW.
Our 2003 Toyota Sienna, which we bought new in January, 2003. It’s just shy of hitting 300k miles. Runs beautifully, but the rust is becoming a problem.
I forgot to mention my 68 Corvair Monza that I kept as an old lady car with 6500 miles in 1973 and kept until 1980. Also my current 2005 Chrysler Hemi bought in 2004 as my daily driver and still on the road with 85k miles. What a ride even today and surely a future classic!
Bought my 1973 Porsche 914 2.0 in 1979 for 37 years of ownership. Earlier this year shipped the fourteen to Seattle from where my wife and I drove to BC for the Spring Thaw rally, then down the Pacific coast to San Luis Obispo then on the way east, across the desert to Vegas to see a friend, then eastward to Colorado for the Silver Summit Rally, then east to Mount Rushmore, Michigan’s UP before returning home to Ohio. About an 8500 mile adventure. A definite old friend and a lovable COAL which is being resaddled for a trip to eastern Ontario in two days for the Maple Mille rally. A 914 is like an old DC3 that can keep flying forever given enough love and routine maintenance/rebuilding as necessary. The essence of Curbside Classics.
In my case, it’s not cars, it motorcycles:
1995 Triumph Trident – bought new, June 1995. Totaled by T-boning a deer at 60mph, November 2014. 19 years, 5 months, 117,213 miles. My primary (daily, weather permitting) ride all that time. Always backed up by a series of secondary bikes, at least one recent and in regular rotation with the Trident, most of the rest vintage.
1969 Triumph Bonneville – bought used May 1992 with 8800 miles on the clock, sold July 2013 with a final mileage of 48,173. 21 years, 2 months. In service as a daily rider for all but the last five years of my ownership.
I was wondering when someone would mention motorcycles. 117+k miles on a motorcycle is extremely impressive!
I’ve owned my ’77 Suzuki GS400 since 2000, and have no plans to sell it. I do tend to keep two wheeled conveyances a long time, though – I’ve had my 1993 Mongoose Switchback mountain bike since it my mother bought it new for me when I was 12 (yes, it still fits me). Neither get ridden much anymore, but both get exercised at least once a year.
1980 Pontiac Phoenix. 11 years. Started as an every day driver, but lasted with me as long as it did because it shared me for the last 4 years. POS.
1988 Chevy S-10 4×4 bought it new, owned for 17 years. Sold to in 2005 with 249k, still working, Now a farm truck in Mexico.
Replaced with a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 with Cummins TD. With any luck, it will outlast me.
2000 Honda Accord EX coupe 6cyl. Wife’s car, still driven daily, 388K on the clock. Almost 17 years.
1972 Honda CT70, bought by my folks new in October 1971. Passed on to me in 1978. Top speed 34 mph down hill. Still have it. About 1700 hard miles on the odo.
Shown here circa 1973, with my Brother up front, Mom, and myself on the back. Yes, we rode it that way… at about 5 mph since we only had one helmet. Total weight between the three of us was still under capacity.
Strangely enough the two I have now are the longest lasting 8 years for the Minx as a second car and the Citroen is either 5 or 6 here as a daily car,
The second EH Holden I kept for 8 years as an occasional use car it did three years constant duty travelling Aussie before semi retirement.
Sugar for .99 a ten pound bag in 1963 equals $7.68 today. That’s about $3.00 for a four pound bag which is around what it would cost today.
When I got my first car, a ’68 Saab 95 V4, in 1971, I naively thought that I’d keep it, and all my future cars, forever or until they wore out, whichever came first.
The 95 was T-boned by a Duster when I’d had it a year and a half. 🙁 I had one other car (’71 Peugeot 504 gas) that was T-boned after a similarly short ownership 🙁 . Most of my other cars ended up being short-term because they developed problems that wouldn’t have been cost effective for me to fix, or because my needs changed.
The two longest-term ones:
’68 Saab 96 V4, owned from 1978 to 1991. Can’t remember how many miles I put on it. I got this one because the body was in better shape than the ’69 96 I had at the time. I had my mechanic swap the fairly recently overhauled engine from the ’69 into the ’68.
’87 Audi 4000 quattro, owned from just after Xmas 1999 to August 2015. 154K on it when I bought it, 246K when I let it go.
Correction: sold the Audi at 264K.
Well, I had my first car, my 66 Impala convertible, for 5 years, from the time I bought it from my sister until sometime in college. My next car, a 75 Monarch, I had 3 years until I had a job and could afford to unload the piece of trash. My 79 Mustang I didn’t sell until 1993, but I only actively drove it four years, so that doesn’t count.
Given all of my Ford management leases were for one year each, that leaves my present 2009 Mazda6 that’s going on 8 years with no plans for replacing it anytime soon.
wow! how do you keep a vehicle years? I figure I did good over the years if I didn’t change cars in the same calendar year.
the longest I owned a vehicle was my second last one. a 2006 dodge caravan, inherited in 2009 with 70,000km and sold in 2014 with 265,000km.
the longest I know of in the family was my aunt’s 1989 Bonneville sse, owned until 2005 when I got it and unfortunately died in 2007.
the shortest I ever owned a car was 1/2 a day. the local dealer had a 69 mercury and 68 ford for the same price. couldn’t decide which one so I literally flipped a coin and brought the ford home the next morning. someone came into my dad’s gas station and offered me a healthy profit so I went back that afternoon and bought the merc!
No exceptionally long-term car ownership in my family, but as a few commenters above mentioned motorcycles, I was reminded that my dad still has the 1965 Honda S90 his parents bought new for him in high school. That would be 51 years now.
11 years, first and only car since age 17, my 94 Cougar. Although It’s not exactly been the “same” car in those years(theseus’ paradox?).
The pictured 1966 Bonneville convertible was my car from December 1974 until August 1991, when I sold it along with pieces of a parts car. By then it was much battered, and it needed more care than I could give it; the frame was beginning to rust. Unfortunately I didn’t meet my wife-to-be until a year after selling it, so she never got to ride in it.
The car was equipped with power windows, power (vacuum) door locks, power bench seat, and factory a/c; it had the vinyl-and-leather upholstery that was standard in Bonneville convertibles through 1966. It cost $850 in 1974, having sat unused – except for occasional parades – for several years in the dealer’s lot. For some reason, the real wood veneer was missing from the dashboard; the panel was matte-finish metal, maybe aluminum.
The photo was taken at a rest stop on the Ohio Turnpike in May 1975, when it still had bias-ply tires. A few of my college buddies are, appropriately, worshiping it.
I’m a huge fan of the ’65-’66 big Pontiacs. The convertible with the top up seems to accentuate the length of the rear quarter panel.
The car almost seems to need an advance warning: Pardon me, but my rear quarter panel will be passing through the area for the next 15 minutes.
Well you only need to look to my name to find the vehicles that have been in my possession the longest that have seen somewhat regular use, my Scouts.
My 73 CabTop I’ve had since 1993 and my 72 TravelTop since 1996, and I have no intention of selling either of them, ever.
Probably myself. I inherited my father’s 1987 Honda Accord LX 5-speed. It was almost flawless until I pretty much gave it to a friend of mine in 2001. I realized I was turning thirty and was still necking in the same car from high school. Shortly afterwards, a great car met it’s glorious end when it was run over by a garbage truck.
Dad’s car before the Accord was a 1977 Volvo 264GL 4+1 stick with the PRV engine. It reliably left him stranded about once a year, and he held onto the thing until the rust was so bad that you could see daylight through the frame rails. The economy was very tough in the early 1980s, and I guess he must have developed a deeply masochistic relationship with the “French Engine”. I drove it for my driving test (hard to speed in that car) and thereafter he promptly got rid of it for the Accord. He’s never kept a car that long since.
1967 Peugeot 404 white red velours interior
24 years !
I can’t remember if my 2003 Falcon ute I have now has been the longest, or a 1977 ZH Fairlane.I owned in the 90s.
Either way the Fairlane doesn’t count, as it spent significant time in the shed or driveway refusing to start. It was a truly miserable ownership. I hope to write a COAL on this car one day. It was that bad there has to be a story in it.
The Falcon ute has been a much happier experience owned since 2005, it has 195000 kilometers (approx 121000 miles) the only major repair has been the differential and axle bearings.
A recent central locking issue, ( the drivers door unlocking itself after about 10 minutes, I think can be traced to a faulty remote control, fingers crossed)
I plan on keeping this car as long as I can, as long as the electronics hold out.
The engine is still sweet and Falcons don’t rust like they used to.
I also don’t know why my pictures are upside down if you click on it its the right way up.
Upside-down pics usually mean you posted from an Apple device. Been a problem for years.
Ooooh I like that a lot,wish they were sold in NA I’d be looking at one of those in a heartbeat..
My Dad’s 1993 Mitsubishi Magna wagon. Original engine and gearbox. He’s had it since new and it currently has 506,000km on it. He bought a new Skoda wagon the other day, and has finally admitted the Magna can retire from full-time duty. What an amazing car.
The longest I’ve owned a car is my ’95 Altima, which is just over 10 years at present. Daily driver until this January save for short flirtations with other DDs. It still runs and drives well, should probably sell it but it’s hard to find stick shift sedans anymore.
As noted in an earlier comment my motorcycle has the longest tenure of any motorized vehicle at 16 years and counting.
Keeping a vehicle vs getting something different has always been a struggle for me, but even with longer periods of ownership (5 cars owned for over 6 years each) I have managed to buy an average of a car a year over the 20 years I’ve been driving.
I’ve had my ’58 Buick Special for 17 years, but it’s always been an occasional driver, never my main vehicle.
’86 Camry LE, 5 speed. Bought new as wife’s car and ended up with it after divorce. Indefatigable machine; served me faithfully for 22 years and 250K miles when a career change dictated another vehicle. Passed it on to a friend’s son with a newly minted driver’s license who pushed it through high school and college years in another state until it was hit while parked on a side street.
Working on my next auto retention record with a ’97 Camry LE that currently shows 235K on the clock. Think I’ll make it in stride, providing I stay off those side streets.
It just hit me that my ’62 sunroof Beetle has been in my possession for almost 20 years now, although as a runner for less than the first year after I bought it. It’s still sitting in the machine shed in a pile of parts…
Me: 1994 Ford Taurus GL sedan, bought January 1995 and traded in October 2009.
Older brother: 1959 Mercedes 219b, bought October (?) 1966 and sold about 1996.
Oldest brother: 1969 Plymouth barebones Valiant 2 door, bought new with no options, sold due to rust in 1999.
Ex-sister in law, 1963 Triumph TR4 (commission date August ’62), bought lightly used in early ’63, sold it to my older brother (her ex) for $50 in 2013, now refurbished and runs like an express train.
Longest would be 15 years on my 1965 Ford Galaxie 500–it is also the largest car I have owned by weight and exterior size. Shortest duration is my newest aquisition, my 2001 Mazda Miata–and it is the smallest car I have owned.
The noob, baught a week ago.
Galaxie 500!
Another member of the CC Miata Caucus. Welcome!
Thanks! I am having a blast with it.
I owned my ’99 Saturn SL2 for 8.5 years (2003–2011) and as far as I know, it’s still bangin’ along somewhere.
My Dad has a ’91 Ford Tempo that we got in 2002 when a friend of my grandmother’s could no longer drive it. It had 8500 miles on it at the time. Almost 15 years and 100k miles later, I’m about to get it–FOR FREE! So in a sense, the car has been in or around our family since new. I just have no idea what I’m going to do with the thing once I get it.
I had a ’91 Corolla as a daily driver for a little over 21 years. Sold it to a kid. I think it’s still on the road.
Our 1993 Accord EX 5-speed wagon – Seattle Silver with Red cloth interior. LOVED THAT CAR! Bought it with just under 100k and sold it 10 years later with 220k. One of the best cars I ever owned. I changed the clutch at 200k and one timing belt at 180k. Other than brakes and tires it never cost me a dime in unexpected repairs and was just as fun to drive the day I sold it as it was the day I picked it up. Sadly the tin worm got hold of it. The rear quarters were starting to rust badly and many suspension components were rotted out so badly that the cost to repair them would have been astronomical. Replaced with a 2002 CR-V (Nice but definitely not the wagon!)
63 Valiant Signet 2 door hardtop: 35 years
05 Saturn ION: 11 years
86 Olds Calais: purchased in 1992 with 21,000 miles on it, kept until 1999 when I gave it to my parents, who in 04 then got an 02 Focus and gave the Olds to my little brother who is still driving it. 24 years in the same family.
02 Focus: purchased in 04 by my parents. Purchased by my little brother from Mom’s estate. His newest vehicle with approx 50,000 miles on it now. 12 years in the family.
My first car was a 1963 Valiant 100–totally opposite of your ‘loaded’ Signet. Had no options which meant rubber floor mats instead of carpet, no reverse lights, no windshield washers and no HVAC system whatsoever–not even a heater. It was a 2-door sedan, with three on the tree and seafoam green interior.
Loved that car and drove it all over during my 7 or so years of ownership. Couldn’t kill that 170 leaning-tower-of-‘power’, lol.
I bought my 1989 F-150 new in August, 1989 from Gilmore Ford in Prattville, Alabama. I still drive it with its over 259,000 miles.
I bought a 13-month-old 1974 Pontiac Catalina coupe in November, 1975, and drove it regularly until 1992. It’s now under a shelter, with 253k on the clock, waiting patiently for better days.
Bought Memorial Day of 1994 for $75. First vehicle I bought on my own. Still have it. They say you can’t take anything with you… I’m gonna try!!
72 F100 300 I-6 3 Speed Manual on column (anti-theft device)
Longest term of ownership is, of course, the Malibu. 7 years with my grandfather, who bought it new, 10 with Mom driving as our primary family car, and it’s been with me since ’96. However, it hasn’t run since early 2001, so it misses the “roadworthy” criteria! COAL here: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/cars-of-a-lifetime/coal-1979-chevrolet-malibu-a-lifetime-of-memories/
Longest of any vehicle that has been a functional DD for the duration for me personally is the ’03 Marauder. Bought in November ’06, sold in November ’11, 1 day short of 5 years.
My wife owned her ’00 Alero for almost 10 years, from June ’03 to February ’13. She’d already had the car for 4 years when we met, and I ended up driving the car primarily for its last couple years with us, but it was her everyday transportation for about 7 years.
Thirteen years, 140,000 miles, 27 states, 3 countries. I regret selling her every time I see an unmolested one on the street…which is rarely.
So why did you sell it? (Please pardon my curiosity).