Does the age of a car really matter?

While it's a good idea to consider the age of a vehicle and the number on its odometer, it's more important to look at how well the owner maintained the car. A 10-year-old car with 100,000 miles may have received more TLC than a five-year-old model with 50,000 miles.
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What is the best age of a used car to buy?

What's the “Sweet Spot” for Used Car Age? In retaining “like new” quality and inheriting a slower depreciation rate, the best used car age for buying is 2-3 years. In fact, Americans are saving up to $14,000 on a 3-year-old vehicle.
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Is a 10 Year car Too old?

When buying a used car that's 10-years-old or older, your primary concerns are purchase price and reliability. Don't pay more than that 10-year-old car is worth. And, pick a car with a solid reputation for dependability. No car is really too old if you follow those rules.
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What is worse for a car age or mileage?

Even when mileage is low, the older a car gets, the less reliable it becomes. Modern cars are much more reliable, even as they age. Five-year-old cars record what is considered a major problem every three years, while 10-year-old cars are more likely to face a problem every 18 to 20 months.
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At what age should a car be replaced?

When you own a vehicle, it's often difficult to know when it's time to replace it. Many car owners make the mistake of assuming that they need to replace their vehicles every few years. The average age of a vehicle on the road is about 11 years, but most drivers keep a car for about six years.
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How Long Can a Car Really Last



Can a 20 year old car be reliable?

Reliability does depend on the vehicle and how many miles it's covered. We wouldn't go too far beyond the mid- to late-1990s for any car, as parts can be harder to find once a car crests 20 years of age.
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What is the normal lifespan of a car?

A conventional car can last for 200,000 miles. Some well-maintained car models will reach 300,000 or more miles total. The average passenger car age is currently around 12 years in the United States. Choosing a well-built make and model can help extend your car's longevity.
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At what miles should you not buy a car?

Often, 100,000 miles is considered a cut-off point for used cars because older vehicles often start requiring more expensive and frequent maintenance when mileage exceeds 100,000.
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Should I buy a car now or wait until 2023?

Americans planning to shop for a new car in 2023 might find slightly better prices than during the past two years, though auto industry analysts say it is likely better to wait until the fall. Since mid-2021, car buyers have been frustrated by rising prices, skimpy selection and long waits for deliveries.
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At what mileage do cars start failing?

As a general rule, most vehicles begin to seriously degrade at around 150,000 miles. It is considered rare, and therefore outstanding longevity, if a car reaches 200,000 miles on the road. That said, there's more to identifying good versus bad mileage on a used car than just the odometer reading.
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Can a car last 15 years?

Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org/) says the average life expectancy of a new vehicle these days is around 8 years or 150,000 miles. Of course, some well-built vehicles can go 15 years and 300,000, if properly maintained.
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How many km is too high for a used car?

For many used vehicles you are wanting to look at cars under 200,000 kilometres. However you can find exceptional used cars on the market that have over 200,000 kilometres that is in excellent condition and has at least 5 years of roadworthiness left.
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What is the most reliable 10 year old car?

Reliability of small cars aged six to 15 years old
  • Toyota Yaris 2011-2020. 98.5%
  • Suzuki Swift 2010-2017. 97.8%
  • Mazda 2 2007-2015. 96.5%
  • Volkswagen Up 2012-present. 95.4%
  • Audi A1 2010-2018. 95.3%
  • Kia Picanto 2011-2017. 93.5%
  • Dacia Sandero 2013-2020. 93.0%
  • Honda Jazz 2008-2015. 92.9%
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Is a 5 year old car too old?

New cars are so reliable that, on average, one could be expected to remain trouble free for years at a time. A five-year-old car may encounter a problem every three years. Even 10-year-old cars would only be expected to have a problem every 18 to 20 months on average.
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Is a 5 year old car too old to buy?

As a very general rule of thumb, a car is usually reliable up to 5 years providing it has been maintained. But if you look at the older car market, you're likely to get a model at an even lower cost.
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What is the best month to buy a car?

In terms of the best time of the year, October, November and December are safe bets. Car dealerships have sales quotas, which typically break down into yearly, quarterly and monthly sales goals. All three goals begin to come together late in the year.
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Are car prices expected to go down in 2023?

Used car prices will likely drop in 2023. The used vehicle market is particularly sensitive to rate hikes because buyers tend to have less income than new car customers.
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Is it better to buy a new or used car?

New cars come with the latest safety features and are very likely to be reliable, though they can come with a higher price tag and higher insurance costs. Used cars are generally cheaper because the high depreciation of their early years is already behind them and you may not need as much insurance coverage.
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Is it OK to buy a car with 200k miles?

In general, most modern cars can cross 200,000 miles without any major issues, provided the vehicle is being well-maintained. Considering that an average person drives 10,000-20,000 miles per year, this will account for roughly 15 years of service.
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Is it OK to buy a car with 50000 miles?

Overall, if you find a used vehicle with about 50,000 miles that has been properly maintained and mainly driven in a less congested area, it's definitely worth your consideration. It would be ideal if the car appears relatively new and shows little wear and tear.
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How many miles should a 10 year old car have?

A wary buyer should use as a general rule of thumb that most cars are driven 12,000-15,000 miles per year. If a vehicle is 10 years of age, it should have between 120,000 miles and 150,000 miles on the odometer.
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Do cars last 20 years?

Another way of looking at it: “The average lifespan [of a car] is now almost 12 years,” says Eric Lyman, chief analyst at TrueCar. “It's been a slow and steady climb over the past decades.” That's because cars are smarter, better designed and better built than they were 20 to 30 years ago.
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Should I keep a car for 10 years?

But when it comes to cars, owning a car well past the 10-year mark should no longer be a badge of honor. Due to safety reasons, if you have the money, you should probably start looking for a new car after a decade.
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Which brand of cars last the longest?

Topping that list is the Toyota Sequoia, which has a potential lifespan of 296,509 miles, according to a new study from iSeeCars.com. The automotive research website analyzed more than 2 million cars to determine which last longest and found that 20 models are able to endure for more than 200,000 miles.
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Can I use 25 years old car?

As per the norm, cars that are older than 15 years cannot be used. Though they can be transferred to a new state for re-registration, it is a hassle. Instead, one can scrap the car.
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