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My 2014 Honda Accord hit 10 years recently. It has 97,000 miles. It still runs well; cosmetically it is average. I use it as a 2nd car. We use my wife’s 2022 Honda Pilot for the majority of our driving. It’s a fine car, but not exciting.
I bought this Accord when I was driving from Valley Forge, PA to northern VA frequently. But that stopped after a few years when my company role changed. I probably put on half the mileage in the first two years.
Recently my iPhone would not connect with the 10 year old Accord. The Accord doesn’t have a modern electronics package, or screen, so If I want to play music, or habit it announce driving directions, I was out of luck. I researched the issue and found it was not uncommon for an old car, with old software, to get out of synch with a modern phone. This was more annoying than critical, but annoying none the less.
It goes me thinking when is the right time to upgrade. I generally drive cars as long as they are safe and reliable. I believe the Accord is still safe and reliable. But lately I’ve been thinking it might be nice to drive something new. Automobile electronics have come a long way, and I kind of miss that. And it seems like everyone in both my neighborhoods have nicer cars. I’m surrounded by Teslas, and various other EVs. Lots of BMWs, and a handful of Porsches. One family has both a Porsche EV and new Rivian Truck. A Tesla CyberTruck just showed up a block away. Even the newer KIAs and Hyundais look fancy compared to my Honda.
I’ve read that Aristotle observed that any is feeling pain about other’s good-fortune. I think I’m suffering from auto-envy
But I always come back to “why do I need a luxury car?”. I sometimes tell myself I deserve one – but that doesn’t last long. I might enjoy one, but I certainly don’t deserve one. I’m sure I’ll hang on the Accord a few more years – I paid cash for it originally. The tires are pretty new. I’d hate to waste tread.
It’s been a few weeks since I wrote this but I finally have some clarity on what I feel I have been missing. It cut me off yesterday as I was leaving a parking lot. This is the one.
Not a Ferrari, so not worth it.
Too low to the ground. It will strain your glutes, quads, and hammies getting in and out of that thing.
Darn, never thought of that Jeff. Oh well.
Might also strain Rick’s wallet.
Rick, a good article today by Kim Komando regarding vehicle technology.
https://www.komando.com/news/what-happens-when-your-car-tech-gets-outdated/
Olin, thanks for the link. Interesting article. I wonder if my 2014 got the fix for the 3G issue.
If I walk down the middle of the garage at our condo all I see – with two exceptions out of 25 – are BMWs, Mercedes, Lexus, a Porsche, and Jaguar. New versions pop up regularly so I assume these old folks are leasing. Always wondered about leasing a car.
Dick, I’ve found a lot more people lease cars than I realized. People like a new car every few years and leasing makes sense for them. I was also surprised by the number of people who had a “company” car allowance. Apparently it is more common than I realized, or my industry didn’t participate.
I had a company car during my last 20 years working. It was a nice perk.
As I was told by a salesman, lease a car for three years, get free routine service during those years plus full warrantee coverage so no additional cost and you are always driving a “new” car.
I may lease, but I have a weird mindset (what’s new) that if one has to lease a luxury car they really can’t afford it. That why I saved and waited until age 70 to get my Mercedes so I could pay cash, but I missed out on years of driving my dream car.