Top 10 cars people keep the longest.

"Alfalfa" (alfalfa-romeo)
07/22/2017 at 17:27 • Filed to: Lists

An interesting little article that showed up in my news feed. The list is not as dull as I thought it would be, and is as follows:

Rank Model # Years of Ownership (Average)

1 Toyota Land Cruiser 10.6
2 Porsche Boxster 9.9
3 Ford Expedition 9.0
4 Mercedes-Benz SLK 9.0
5 Ford Explorer 8.9
6 Toyota Sequoia 8.9
7 Chevrolet Corvette 8.8
8 Toyota Avalon 8.8
9 Toyota 4Runner 8.8
10 Audi TT 8.8

I’m most surprised that the Boxster made the list over the 911. The Audi was a bit of a surprise as well. Mostly I’m surprised that the list isn’t consisting of Camrys and Civics. Though I feel the same list in 5 years could very well have a Prius.

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DISCUSSION (26)

Anoos > Alfalfa
07/22/2017 at 17:36

It looks like the list is either durable vehicles like trucks that you would expect to last a long time or cars that would most likely be a weekend only car.

Around here, there are a TON of Boxsters and Z3s. I’m betting most of the owners purchased them new and will just have the same one forever.

The 911s I see are either very new or quite old and apparently restored.

WilliamsSW > Alfalfa
07/22/2017 at 17:40

I expected more beige mobiles here too. The LC isn’t a surprise.

I wonder if the 911 and Mercedes SL are too low volume to make the list? I’m with you, I’d expect them over the SLK and Boxster.

The Avalon seems like it’s for retirees that keep cars forever, I guess.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Alfalfa
07/22/2017 at 17:41

I’ll probably still have my Mazda5 in 35 years,if I live that long, when they take away my license because I’m old and/or senile. My knee will probably have given out by then and I wouldn’t be able to operate the clutch anyway...

LongbowMkII > WilliamsSW
07/22/2017 at 17:47

I think 911 and SL owners have the disposable income to get bored and trade in 3-5 years

Alfalfa > WilliamsSW
07/22/2017 at 17:48

Yeah I wasn’t surprised by the Land Cruiser either.

That was my thought on the Avalon as well, same thing with the Corvette.

WilliamsSW > LongbowMkII
07/22/2017 at 17:52

That makes a lot of sense. People buying the Boxster / SLK maybe can’t afford the more expensive car, and people buying a 911 might be just paying cash without thinking about it.

Steve in Manhattan > Alfalfa
07/22/2017 at 17:54

I think the beigemobiles get knocked off because a lot of them are fleet or rental car purchases - 4 or 5 years of duty and they get cycled out.

Alfalfa > LongbowMkII
07/22/2017 at 17:55

I just hear a fair amount about people who have a 911 that they’ve daily driven for like 2 decades. But I suppose those people just don’t outnumber the countless dentists who trade in every few years.

Party-vi > Alfalfa
07/22/2017 at 17:57

Looks like a list of expensive SUVs and old-man retirement purchases.

Alfalfa > Steve in Manhattan
07/22/2017 at 17:58

That’s true, especially since this list is exclusive to cars purchased new.

Steve in Manhattan > Alfalfa
07/22/2017 at 18:16

Agreed though on your earlier point - Land Cruiser the vehicle I’d most expect to see, and the TT I’d never have expected. Also, guessing the candidates had to be over certain sales figures and within certain date ranges. 20 years ago in Great Britain and a Rolls or RR might have led the pack.

ranwhenparked > Alfalfa
07/22/2017 at 18:20

I believe most of those models also have very high customer loyalty scores. So, people keep them a long time, then trade them in for a newer version of the same thing.

Alfalfa > ranwhenparked
07/22/2017 at 18:23

The data was taken by looking at 1-owner used cars, so it’s covering ownership of a single car rather than a string of the same model.

NJAnon > Alfalfa
07/22/2017 at 18:34

Porsche Boxster=the car Porsche made for the “normies”. And there are many normies out there that will buy that car hence why its on the list. 8D

Alfalfa > NJAnon
07/22/2017 at 18:39

I’m not surprised they sold more, just that people keep them so long.

BeaterGT > Party-vi
07/22/2017 at 18:54

I don’t see any BMWs on there?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Alfalfa
07/22/2017 at 19:14

Bought by people who could only afford one fun car, including not being able to trade them out often.

hike > WilliamsSW
07/22/2017 at 19:37

911 and SL probably get leased more than the Boxter and SLK. People that get the best want to always have the best and newest.

ranwhenparked > Alfalfa
07/22/2017 at 19:43

I wasn’t suggesting that, just that several of those names also rate high in loyalty, which suggests that people both keep the car a long time and tend to trade in on the same thing.

WilliamsSW > hike
07/22/2017 at 22:48

Probably my own bias - I see those as aspirational cars (the 911 for me, I don’t aspire to an SL but I get that people do). And once I owned one, I’d want to keep it. But I’m sure a lot of wealthy people are leasing them for 2-3 years so they can upgrade to the newest and best—

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Alfalfa
07/22/2017 at 23:56

Well if they didn’t buy a 911 they have a budget, it doesn’t surprise me that they keep them that long. There are two near me that have been at those addresses for some time.

Discerning > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
07/23/2017 at 00:44

I mean... we’re talking about someone who dropped over 50k on a new fun-only car. Pretty sure they could afford to trade out of it.

People hold onto these because they’re exceptional and there aren’t many cars like it. What else on the market is mid engine, rwd, relatively quick, and pretty nice inside? Add convertible into the mix and I can’t think of anything close for the price.

The corvette only recently met the last qualification, and people hold onto those as well.

There just isn’t a good alternative between 50 and 60k. Boxster or corvette convertible. No other options.

Maybe the f type, but that thing has only been around for 4 years

Party-vi > BeaterGT
07/23/2017 at 10:30

That’s because old men don’t look forward to buying a 5-Series or 3er Coupe.

BeaterGT > Party-vi
07/23/2017 at 11:14

Maybe not a Coupe, but a Gran Coupe on the other hand...

Party-vi > BeaterGT
07/23/2017 at 11:45

I see a GC as business exec material more than retiree material.

Whthuheh > Alfalfa
07/26/2017 at 08:50

The data set is cars sold by original owners. A couple groups that were not included in the data. First, original owners who still own the car. For this list to be accurate this group would have to be included.

The other group is the second (or third or fourth) owners who buy the car and keep it. This group is less important to the OEM, but are still are good marker for value if brands and models. Quite a few people I’ve met bought a one to three year old vehicle and kept it for decades. Or buy a ten year old 911 and keep it forever.

The list is a good starting point but I would like to see the data from the two other groups included.