One way Im saving money is not buying a new car every 5 years like the majority, which means those "drunken sailors" in all 3 Gov Tiers wasting our BILLIONS on futile dead end projects arent getting their money off me from all the fees, taxes and charges that go with every new car, and the insult from Simsmetal of 50c x kilo for your car when the yard doesnt want it as a trade in, or the "pulled wool over the eyes" when the caryard fools you into believing your getting a fabulous deal when you trade up, just to see it back on the lot for DOUBLE what they reckon was its max worth 5 minutes ago.
My last Brand new car was 1988 Toyota HJ61 Turbo Diesel 5 sp manual.........the only failure in all those years was the turbocharger needed a re-build in 2008 after 20 years!  .....which cost $260 as I fitted it myself. ...... Air Con is still like Mt Hotham in winter!
My darling wife bought a 30k 3 month old Prado V6 Petrol in 2001, for $36k instead of $56k (saved $20G in 5 mins!), and in 16 years has only done a lower Rad Tank req a whole new Rad even tho rad core was perfect, plus the elec aerial has morphed into a manual, plus Air Con Pump failed. See, 13 years newer, yet not quite as tough as the HJ61 TD ! I'm not complaining.
Toyotas are the last word in "BULLET-PROOF" as far as I'm concerned.
 
Changing Mineral oil Engine oil and Filter every 5,000kms or 12 months is "money in the bank" if you want them to last, or if you must use it, (which should NOT apply to any pre 2007 cars) Full Synthetic & filter every 10,000kms................
Brake Fluid flush/change MAX of 2 years regardless of distance..............
Diff/s and G/box and Transfer every 60,000k or Auto every 30,000k drain/refill............
 
All my 9 cars that were meant to run on leaded "Super" have been getting 2 stroke Super Outboard Oil (SOO)  at 200:1 with none suffering engine damage in 20 years.   Castrol Chief Chemist reckoned if the Philip Island Superbikes and Racing Outboard Marine Engines that spin 4 or 5 times faster than car engines, thrive well on SOO, then all leaded Super & Standard petrol cars on our highways will too..............it appears he was right.............. only with highly stressed track cars did he recommend lead replacement additive as well as the SOO.
 
Hope this helps

Hi BeeVee,
 
I think along similar lines.
Can't understand why anyone chooses to buy a brand new car, which:
1. will devalue to near no value in a few short years
2. will if you can't afford to pay cash to buy the car will cost the owner more to finance the purchase
3. will need expensive full comprehensive insurance to protect the money spent buying the car
4. will need a rocket scientist who is familiar with specialist diagnostic equipment to service and maintain 
5. will, if even has a small amount of accident damage, more than likely be written off forcing the owner to spend yet more money on a new car and a new finance package and new insurance.
 
All seems like a vicious circle which enables, banks, finance companies, state government, federal government, multinational vehicle manufacturers etc while the proletariat just pays, pays and pays, while sinking further into debt.
 
Question:
Do airbags have a life expectancy?
I was thinking recently wouldn't it be a crack up if government played a game by making sweeping new laws stating airbags had a safe life expectancy of say "X" years deeming either the material the airbag is manufactured from, or the explosive charge itself would become unreliable. The vehicle then could not be registered.

You're spot-on Peter,
as a mechanic trained in all cars, dealing with European Vehicles as our specialty with my son and I, we cant believe what we see every day with people forking out ludicrous money Repair Bills for new and used modern cars that are just out of their warranty, and to hell with the poor unsuspecting 2nd owner. As people "wake up", so Sims Metal gets more and more cars under 10 years old dumped on their pile the minute the smallest thing goes wrong.
The car Makers want exactly this, so owners update into a new car just as the existing one's warranty is about to expire.
I have had it proven to me by my friend who knows figures better than me (as if I needed it to be!), that changing cars every warranty Cycle is a Financial Burden & just boosts your ego while deflating your wallet. It's only a Tax advantage if you're a fleet-owner and/or big company like BHP or similar. It's a breeze for a small business to save a fortune with a good solid reputable car like a Toyota as our last Business Purchase: a 6 month old/15,oookms 2001 Toyota Prado from the Auctions for $36k instead of $56k from Dealer. Still got my 3 yr Factory warranty, saved $20k on day one, and hasn't failed in 16 years but for a new Radiator and Air Con Pump. That's it ! 2 items only if I don't count the electric Aerial that recently stopped being automatic & that needs to be manually pulled up. Still drives like the day we got it. Serviced every 5,000k without fail and never abused on bitumen or off road.

To date, air bags have no time limit, but I'm sure that's coming !
 
TYRES however DO!...........no matter how good they look, they wont pass RWC if the date on them is over 5 years!
My Goodyear G800 Grand Rally tyres are still doing a great job on my 1957 FE Holden that I fitted over 40 years ago!
As a VACC RWC Inspector, I cannot find any issue with them............what does that tell you ?

My understanding is, aging tyres can still look good, however the compound becomes harder with age, which may reduce the safety margin in the event of an emergency stop.
 
However arguments then can come into play that an older higher quality tyre can still out perform a brand new cheaply made tyre.
 
We live in the consumer age. The motor car is just an extension of the ego and is a disposable consumer product.
 

I agree with all you say, however as much as I love cars in this "consumer age", I'd still prefer to consume beautiful babes like your inset, and them me ! .............As I get older, my appetite for babes has not abated one iota, and knowing it cant last forever is more reason to eat healthy and exercise to stay fit as long as possible!

Quote "I'd still prefer to consume beautiful babes like your inset, and them me !"
 
Like motor cars, just another consumer item that chooses to play games and cause continual headaches.
The price to keep happy is far too high, with little, or nil return expected on my investment of my precious time, love, security and money. 

Check out the dealer price on a head light globe for a Lexus (no idea which model) $400 should be close.
 
Check out the dealer price on a (ie 1 off) complete head light assembly for a Lexus (no idea which model) $2800 should be close.
 

I heard that the front logo for the Lexus was $10000 as it has the camera inside. Told by my insurance estimator when I crashed one of my trucks into another of my trucks by leaving the park brake off.

Why are you guys criticizing new car buyers. Aren't they giving you the opportunity to buy their 2nd hand car for a lot less than new car price????