Quote:
Originally Posted by ProfessorX5
Hm, I think I've spent about $3000 in about a year and a half... so about $170/month.
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That's what many fail to consider, that monthly cost is next to nothing compared to the cost per month of a newer vehicle with low miles. Regardless of how you purchase a vehicle, either the payments or the cash purchase price spread over 3-4 and likely 5 years will be greater, on top of that there is the greater cost of depreciation.
Certainly reliability decreases as age and mileage increases, is that really a surprise to anyone? If you want reliability in an older or high mileage vehicle make preventative maintenance the priority rather than waiting for stuff to wear out or break. If it ain't broke don't fix it is the wrong way to look at things with an older and/or high mileage vehicle. If it ain't broke fix it before it does is.
Reliability alone is not the bottom line for satisfaction for any vehicle, value is. How it handles, how it looks, how fast it accelerates, stops, even smells or it it puts a smile on your face, etc. --- a much longer list of features and benefits.
When reliability trumps all else the right thing to do is sell it. It is no longer a value to that individual, but to that individual only. Each of us have our own value equation and our personal experience with reliability.
In my case, if I only used reliability in the value equation, my E53 would be a great value.