Whats the longest you've had a car?

[Cavcraft]

I'm terrible at thus, because I get bored easily, or the cars have sold themselves into the scrap yard.

Probably about 3 or 4 years has been the longest, of that my Mk2 Cavalier SRi saloon, probably followed by the 306 diesel veg oil express (which I'd have kept forever if it didn't fail the MOT so badly), the Peugeot Expert van (bought from an AS member and still lingering on, but hasn't run for nearly a year) or maybe my old XJ6 S3.

 

Longest full term was a Suzuki GT380, 7 years with that but sold for happy reasons when we found out we were expecting our first child.

[DSdriver]

I first read this as what is the longest car you've owned (which would be the two ID/DS Safaris) but reading other replies quickly realised the error of my ways.

So... I bought the DS I currently own in 1985 when it was twelve years old which was  good age for a car in those days as few lasted beyond nine years before rust became a serious problem.

Like Trigger's broom there is not much left of the original car 😁

 

[Tenmil Socket]

Owned a MK1 Focus for 19 years... the last 5 of which it's been sat on the drive, not moved and is being used a 'shed'.

It will likely get scrapped this year as it's beyond economical repair 😞

[Spottedlaurel]

Had the Laurel for over 16 years now, which is the absolute longest for me:

Perfect old car for what I want, it would take exceptionally unforeseen circumstances for me to part with it.

Had some other oldies up to 9-10 years, like the much-missed green Camry estate.

Mrs SL has had her 2010 Auris for nearly 10 years, but unfortunately due to health reasons she can't drive at present so that's been out of use for a little while.

Longest-serving as my true daily driver is the Lexus RX:

Coming up to six years with me now and no plans for it to be moved-on. Was a fairly expensive thing when I bought it but the PCP then loan were paid-off a while ago so it owes me nothing. Hopefully it still has a few more trips to France left in it.

[Shite Ron]

I bought my ‘82 model 2.0GLS Cortina saloon in 1989 so that is the longest but I have no pictures of it and it is currently in bits. I have a few Cortina’s owned since the mid nineties. My 2.3 Ghia estate was my daily driver from 2002 when purchased until 2006. Below en route to Le Mans in 2002, I did change the awful number plates soon after, now in my garage awaiting some restoration work.

 

My TVR bought in 2001 but now in my parents garage awaiting recommissioning.

[warch]

I've had my Land Rover since 1992-3ish so about 32 years although I only passed my test in late 1994. My dad owned it for 19 or 20 years before that, having bought it in the early 70s.

The longest I've owned a proper daily was probably my Qashqai at just under ten years. My old Honda CBR600 lasted nine years as well as and was my daily for much of that, used to use it year round in any weather, amazing bike. 

[Liggle]

Our current Kodiaq family wagon, nearly 6 years from new in 2019. Have no idea what I'd replace it with, other than another one!

[drewd]

I think my longest that's been in regular use is my current 307 1.6 Hdi. I'll have had it for 6 years at the end of this month.

2nd longest was my B3 Passat 2.0 GL.

I've had a few cars over the last 20 years, some have stuck around longer than others and the longest kept haven't been my favourite, but they have been more reliable and/or cheaper to fix.

[Joey spud]

My longest keeper is my Subaru at thirteen years.

But it's been off the road waiting for me to finish remaking the corroded o/s rear sill/arch area since 2018.

Maybe this year little fella...

[barefoot]

Scirocco - 14, Campervan - 29, 944S - 31, VW 1303 - 40, and I've had a 75 since 2019. Ain't I boring?

Edited January 16 by barefoot
I've just remembered, I've had my monkeybike for 25 years as well!

[Dobloseven]

5 minutes ago, barefoot said:

Scirocco - 14, Campervan - 29, 944S - 31, VW 1303 - 40, and I've had a 75 since 2019. Ain't I boring?

Not boring at all.You own a larger than average number of rarer than average vehicles.Well done that man!

[RayMK]

I keep most of my cars for at least 3 years, the average time being probably around 7 years.  My '61 Reliant Regal MKVI has been with me since March 1992 but was bought as a barely running project needing a lot of work.  It regained roadworthy status in 2005 and has been 'on the road' for most of the time between 2005 and the present day.  Even my 'modern' Mitsubishi  Mirage Juro CVT is entering its 8th year in my ownership.

[ProgRocker]

 2003 Nissan Almera 2.2 dCi SXE purchased September 2010 and then traded in in June 2021. So 10 years and 8 months. Sadly now been scrapped when I last checked, 

2nd longest is the 1999 SEAT Ibiza 1.4 S: 7 years 4 months. Bought in 2002, crashed in December 2009 and recovered by the insurance company January 2010. RIP

[gadgetgricey]

Was a little worried what this thread would be when I saw it on the main page??

Can only talk for the wife who has owned her Mk1 Focus for over 10 years.
As for myself chop and change too often so nothing really to speak of.

[JMotor]

Owned this for 11 years.

Never parted with it as I knew it would of been burst for the body kit. Can't see it leaving for a good while too. No choice as it's stuck getting some welding done.

 

[Wibble]

I’ve had my Senator for 27 years this year. I bought it in 1998, when it was 6 years old. I love a straight 6 and enjoy that most people nowadays have no idea what it is.

 

[Shite Ron]

12 minutes ago, Wibble said:

I’ve had my Senator for 27 years this year. I bought it in 1998, when it was 6 years old. I love a straight 6 and enjoy that most people nowadays have no idea what it is.

 

A white one is best for clearing the road ahead. I’ve seen a few in my rear view mirror and the sight of one now on the motorway would probably make my heart stop. The police had an unmarked one in White patrolling the M4 as well as all the marked ones, the steel wheels, missing hubcaps and extra rear aerial made it stand out.

[Carl1981]

I’ve had the Jag 

since 2009, daily for three years and a toy since then. Has a running problem right now so hasn’t turned a wheel in two years 😔 unusual for Jag, I know 🤣

We’ve had the VW camper 

for 10 years in March.

 

my FIL would win this though, he has a 1928 Jowett Long 4, it was his grandfathers car new from the factory.

It’s been in the family the whole time!

[Wibble]

31 minutes ago, Shite Ron said:

A white one is best for clearing the road ahead. I’ve seen a few in my rear view mirror and the sight of one now on the motorway would probably make my heart stop. The police had an unmarked one in White patrolling the M4 as well as all the marked ones, the steel wheels, missing hubcaps and extra rear aerial made it stand out.

So true. Years ago a late friend had an ex-police 24v in white, with the calibrated speedo. 150mph on M4 was quite exciting!

[Peter C]

I bought my W123 in 2009, we’re in our 16th year together and I still love it.

[egg]

9 years next month.

[Ian_Fearn]

I had this from 2010 till 2022. Sold to a friend who still has it. Went all round Europe in it. Loved it but life moved on.

[delux]

Prolly my Impreza wagon, 6 years. Its probably the car Ive spent most time cleaning too.

The Mrs had a K11 for about the same time. It was a write off bought for spares but her majesty went a bit teary eyed when the scrapman loomed.

It was fully rebuilt and put back on the road, rebuilt again when the Mrs parked it in a berlingo then a 3rd time when the rear arches disappeared.

Was glad to see the back of it. Had to buy a new house to be skint enough to get her to sell it! Sold with 245000 miles on the clock!

[Homersimpson]

24 years this year for my 1962 Austin Healey Sprite MK2

https://i.imgur.com/1kk92Ry.jpeg

[warch]

3 minutes ago, delux said:

 

The Mrs had a K11 for about the same time. It was a write off bought for spares but her majesty went a bit teary eyed when the scrapman loomed.

It was fully rebuilt and put back on the road, rebuilt again when the Mrs parked it in a berlingo then a 3rd time when the rear arches disappeared.

Was glad to see the back of it. Had to buy a new house to be skint enough to get her to sell it! Sold with 245000 miles on the clock!

I can see me doing this with my Qashqai. Mrs W wants it gone, but I’m strangely attached to it, it was our family car when the kids were toddlers and we’ve put about 100k on it in the time it’s been with us. 

On the other hand it probably needs a fair amount of upkeep for its next MoT and my ‘new’ car is doing the business so it is completely surplus to requirements.

[MiniMinorMk3]

I used to change cars quite often when younger, rarely keeping a car for more than a couple of years. In the last 20 years or so I have started to hang on to cars for longer periods.

My current daily driver Focus has been with me since December 2017.

However it has been in my family since new. It was the last car that my father purchased before his passed away, clocking up about 17,000 miles in it. My mother used it sparingly until she decided to buy a Fiesta, putting the mileage up to 21,000. As the dealer only offered her £2000 for the car I said I would have it as the car had loads of life still in it. It currently has almost 60,000 on the clock, so should last me another 10 years at least.

 

I also have had this Rover Mini since 2016.

Union Jack Roofs and bonnet stripes are shite, so it quite quickly had a make over and plate swop.

It's been off the road since 2020. I had the body work welded up and a repaint, but have never got round to putting it back together, yet.

[iainrcz]

Just over 3 years, my Toyota GT86. Coming up 3 years at this end of this month with the Corolla.

 

Forgot about my 406, had that 4 years!

Edited January 16 by iainrcz

[vulgalour]

Near as makes no difference, 13 years.

[Peter C]

7 minutes ago, vulgalour said:

Near as makes no difference, 13 years.

That’s cool!

Got more pics?

[Steviemillar]

Longest ownership was my Capri 2.8i Special, bought 11/10/1990 at 6 years old with every penny I had and sold 11/10/2004. I bought it back in 2009 but was sold on again in 2012 as ot was getting pretty rusty. The guy I sold it to  has had it sat since 2017-ish after the shell was soda blasted confirming its lack of metal integrity! Not sure if it’ll ever see the road again. 

 

EDIT - Longest owned vehicle in my current fleet is the Z1 purchased in Nuremberg April 2018. It’s a bit rough and ready but mechanically spot-on. It hasn’t been on the road for a couple of years but hoping to change that in 2025