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Shiters, Average chod-age? Where on the spectrum are you


HMC

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It struck me today that in 2018 I have bought a 1998 Saab 900 for banger money. In 2005 I bought a 1985 Saab 900 for banger money. Actually that one was in much worse structural condition than this GM 900 for their 20 years. Looking back, a 1989 Volvo 240, 1989 bmw525i, 1995 pug 405 I won’t bore you with a list but 20 seems to be the magic number for me.

 

Anyway it got me thinking, the average age of car gives a clue as to where on the AS “spectrum” you are. SMMT figures suggest 14 is the average vehicle age for scrapping and (to my eyes) this defines shite- it is something that statistically is right in the zone for being cubed. An average chod age over older than this suggests more classic leanings and the younger you get your sort of getting into the zone of a “conventional” used car buyer. So what is your chod “age” and what do you think it says about you?

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Hmmm so my current fleet are 21 (Saaaaaab) 26 (Camper) and 28 (MX5)...

 

Chod age around 25 then.

 

I’m 32.

 

Is that a good thing? Should you be younger or older than your chod age?

 

If I look back my fleet used to be one modern and one 30+ year old classic... so I guess I’ve matured?

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Current fleet daily xantia 19, Camper is 35 wife's is 13 so average 19 years old (same as the daily which is cool)

 

Tend to agree that late 90s to early 00s is the golden age for modern positives but old school longevity in my experience anyway.

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Current fleet 1990, 2000, 2002.

 

For me, 15-20 years old is generally the sweet spot for chod in terms of cheap to buy but still practical for everyday use. I like older cars too, probably more, but they tend to be more of a labour of love and less of a "fix it when if breaks" prospect.

 

If something's survived 30+ years (and especially if it's rare and/or valuable) I feel guilty running it into the ground, whereas if it's less than 20 I feel like I'm doing the world a favour keeping it on the road.

 

At the end of the day, price is probably the major factor for me. Something has to really tickle me to spend more than a grand. The only expensive motor I ever bought (a £5000 VW camper) felt like a liability and a responsibility.

 

Basically I like anything that the market deems -almost- worthless.

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Not really a fleet as such, but I still catch myself thinking of the Forester as a 'modern' even though it's 15 years old.

A trawl through my fleet history reveals that the average age of my chod at purchase is 17.5 years old; the oldest being 27 (Cortina 80 estate) and joint youngest being the Escort MkVI and the Alfa 156, at a tender 8 years of age each. The Alfa was the most expensive car I've ever bought, while simultaneously being the most comprehensively fucked and unreliable.

 

Older cars FTW.

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Current fleet daily xantia 19, Camper is 35 wife's is 13 so average 19 years old (same as the daily which is cool)

 

Tend to agree that late 90s to early 00s is the golden age for modern positives but old school longevity in my experience anyway.

I had to read that twice to notice it's not your wife that's 13.
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