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1-Old-Man

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35. I saw a Volkswagen float away once - dam thing sank too

Tue Jul 24, 2012, 05:11 PM

Jul 2012

We were working down in the Keys building swimming pools for private homes on a private island. The head contractor drove around in a Volkswagen "Thing", which was boxy sort of all purpose vehicle. He parked it and went into the house under construction and shortly thereafter the car rolled across the back yard and off a seawall into the Atlantic. The dam thing floated for a long time and the owner went scurrying to try to get a small crane that was being used to set trusses just down the road up there to hook onto it. One of the carpenters had swum out to the vehicle and was with it when it until it floated out about 100 feet. The car sank soon thereafter.

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Most people waiting up to 10 years to buy a new car [View all] Liberal_in_LA Jul 2012 OP

I bought a new 5-speed Toyota Blackhawk in 1997. AtomicKitten Jul 2012 #1

68K. that's low mileage for 15 years. Liberal_in_LA Jul 2012 #2

I just sold a 91 Ford explorer, that I had had since 96' virginia mountainman Jul 2012 #4

You should do this to it, close to race ready ! snooper2 Jul 2012 #12

No flames? AtomicKitten Jul 2012 #22

We have a 2001 (?) Ford Ranger Blue_In_AK Jul 2012 #3

'91 and '93 Toyotas and they'll probably outlive us. Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2012 #5

94 Nissan TlalocW Jul 2012 #6

My 1995 BMW 525i has given me 18 years... meaculpa2011 Jul 2012 #7

I plan to keep the 2002 Rav until she dies on the side of the road. Vinca Jul 2012 #8

I plan to keep this one for a long time. ananda Jul 2012 #9

1995 Ford Escort - still works fine, no major repairs have been needed. closeupready Jul 2012 #10

they must have made the 90s escorts better. Had a 79 and 87 escort that drove me crazy Liberal_in_LA Jul 2012 #14

97 Escort was my best car ever Freddie Jul 2012 #28

I can't see keeping a car that long. We put A LOT of miles on our cars and trucks, and TwilightGardener Jul 2012 #11

I remember my parents considered anything with more than 30k worn out. ileus Jul 2012 #13

I am driving a 1999 Ford Taurus. RebelOne Jul 2012 #15

I purchased new in December of 2000.... Scuba Jul 2012 #16

Only 10? My cars are 26, 24, and 17 years old! mikeytherat Jul 2012 #17

Back in the day... doohnibor Jul 2012 #18

I just bought a new car cuz I got run off the highway by an 18 wheeler. Jazzgirl Jul 2012 #19

I waited 66 years before buying a new car. MineralMan Jul 2012 #20

10-15 years has always been my target, WorseBeforeBetter Jul 2012 #21

car floated away? Liberal_in_LA Jul 2012 #25

I saw a Volkswagen float away once - dam thing sank too 1-Old-Man Jul 2012 #35

Submerged in about 4' of water... WorseBeforeBetter Jul 2012 #38

11 Years for me next week, 20 for my wife's car this October hatrack Jul 2012 #23

Constantly trading in cars to buy new ones & staying with a car payment all the time Lex Jul 2012 #24

Until you have to pay $6000 to replace the transmission on a car that's out of warranty. TwilightGardener Jul 2012 #39

That doesn't sound like trading in for a new car every 2 years Lex Jul 2012 #40

No, I know people who do that--never have a car that's more than two or three years old. TwilightGardener Jul 2012 #44

Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. redqueen Jul 2012 #26

This is only possible because of the greatly improved reliability of cars 1-Old-Man Jul 2012 #27

I sold my 1996 Pontiac Gran Prix in Febuary and was the original owner with 86,000 miles. kimbutgar Jul 2012 #29

I have always tried to do this... Sen. Walter Sobchak Jul 2012 #30

We keep 'em longer but we also have more cars per family than a generation or so ago. Gidney N Cloyd Jul 2012 #31

I wait 15 and 16 years Ezlivin Jul 2012 #32

19 years and counting. Egalitarian Thug Jul 2012 #33

Just paid off our 2008 CRV... truebrit71 Jul 2012 #34

I bought a new car once when I was young. hunter Jul 2012 #36

Most of my cars were 10 years old when I bought them quaker bill Jul 2012 #37

'99 Buick Regal, purchased new... CANDO Jul 2012 #41

I've never owned a new car hfojvt Jul 2012 #42

we have littlewolf Jul 2012 #43

My 2000 Mazda truck has 475,000 miles on it. Ganja Ninja Jul 2012 #45

That's awesome. sadbear Jul 2012 #47

My wife drives a 2003 CR-V sadbear Jul 2012 #46