Here’s the scenario. We currently have two vehicles. A 2007 Mustang GT convertible with about 44k miles and a 2011 Escape with 31k. Both were purchased new (April of '07 and December of '10). The Mustang was paid off after about three years and we have about a year to pay on the Escape. Since April of '09 we have put about 10k miles on the Mustang as a result of moving closer to work I figure we average less than 200 miles a month on that car.
We are concerned that the car is actually not being driven enough and occasionally try to find a reason to take it on a “longer” drive. When my wife drives to work, it’s only about a mile there and back. I’d hate to do damage with daily short trips. She has become very interested in the Nissan Leaf and we’ve started to compare it to the Focus EV (considering incentives) and are considering a lease. I don’t see the sense of having three cars though. We both love the Mustang and really would hate to get rid of it.
So, in a nutshell we are pondering the three options (in my current order of preference):
Stay the course with the two cars we have.
Keep the two cars and add the EV
Sell the Mustang and replace with an EV
I’m interested in any other opinions you may have. Thanks.
Oh, Lordy. This is a hard one. There are s few cars that I truly wish I’d kept.
It’s totally about budgets, lifestyles, and personal preferences. There’s plenty of information available on how to maintain a low mileage vehicle for the long term, but only you and yours can determine if that’s right for you. Just remember that if you decide not to keep it, once it’s gone there’s little chance of ever getting it back.
Just a human interest story: There is a lady who is the original owner of and still has the first Mustang ever sold. It was sold two days before the dealer was supposed to, as Ford had planned a nationwide introductory event. She still has all the documentation, all validated by Ford. It’s all original and never modified. She and her husband are now getting on in years and trying to decide what to do with the car. It’ll probably end up in the Ford museum.
I admit that I’m probably not totally objective with any opinions simply because I like performance cars (a lot…) and the Mustang is not only a GT but a convertible to boot.
The Mustang is paid off, has very low miles, and apparently will stay that way. Down the road I could see the value of the Mustang climbing back up especially due to the drop top.
You both love the car and even with sparse use there’s always the fun factor; especially on beautiful evenings with the top down. The short hop driving is tougher on a car but that can be offset mostly with very frequent oil changes; say every 6 months maximum.
Considering the cost per mile with a lease or new car purchase, what about the possibility of just buying a used cheap, no frills, Econo-Car and flog the daily 1 mile grind to work with that?
Every fun factor car in the past that I’ve owned and gotten rid of has always come back to haunt me with that nagging “why in the hxxx did I get rid of it” feeling. There are cars that have been AWOL for well over 30 years and I still mentally boot myself in the rear over them.
You have to do the math on what if any the savings on the new EV would be. I doubt it would make financial sense. Make sure you account for the cost to charge them I have a personal rule that all the cars we own should be able to haul all of us. So if we are headed somewhere and one car does not start, we take the 2nd car. There lies the problem with EV cars and the range issues.
Just take the 'tang on a long weekend ride twice a month, change the oil more frequently and sleep well.
its paid for. do you have a child who will be needing a car in the future?
as said above, I regret not keeping my mustang…
but an ev is appealing…
hmmm. tough choice…
escape?
Man I hope I don’t get eggs thrown at me, but I’m neither a convertible or Mustang lover. Seems to me though you have a fun car and a utility car. I see no reason to get rid of a fun car to get another utility car. I wouldn’t worry about the low mileage. Change oil more ofter and maybe it’ll rust the exhaust system more but just keep what you’ve got.
If you look at this from a financial point of view…then selling the Mustang and buying/leasing another vehicle is financially a dumb idea.
You should keep the Mustang…and as @Bing said…change oil more often and you might have to replace the exhaust earlier then expected. Keep the Mustang and enjoy. Even if you have the occasional repair…it’ll still be cheaper then buying a new vehicle.
She does walk the mile. Sometimes she drives if it’s raining or she has a lot to carry. We were concerned that driving the Mustang so little, or short distances might not be good, but what I’m hearing is what I was leaning towards. It’s true…at this point there is nothing wrong with the Mustang.
You are not driving the Mustang too little. Modern cars do not have the same issues as cars from the 60’s and 70’s from limited use. Seals are made from much better material. Seeing as how I own a 2007 Mustang GT coup, I’d never tell you sell it! The closer to work thing is a no-brainer to me. Gas mileage is not a big issue since you aren’t spending much. Even a large SUV would cost much for a short commute (parking , however…) Both cars have what we here would consider to have very low miles. Enjoy the paid-off cars, and enjoy the convertible by putting the top down, picking a longer route home from work. Everyone should own a convertible sometime in their lives!
I’m with the others. You’d use a Leaf very little, it seems. As for your limited driving, I would take the Mustang out once a week for a half hour drive to get water out of the oil.
I hear ya. #1 in my original post is being supported. Thanks.
As you say, gas mileage isn’t a concern for us. We both work less than two miles from home, but do look for reasons to take the car on longer drives, although a “longer drive” might be 10 miles each way.
The car has been good. Other than normal maintenance we’ve only replaced the alternator and that was in July.
If short drives are a concern take the Mustang out once a week for a 2o minute drive. You may do that running errands anyway. Make sure you change the oil at least once per year. Ford probably recommends a minimum frequency based on time as well as mileage. Whatever the owner’s manual says.
I think it’s a bad idea to get into another car now. These cars will very likely last for quite a few more years at minimal cost. Put away the money you would have spent on monthly payments. You might find yourself able to buy your next car in cash.
“its paid for. do you have a child who will be needing a car in the future?”
I have a relative who gave a used Mustang to his daughter as her first car. What a mistake that turned out to be. She wrecked it in no time. And it wasn’t even a GT
My brother wouldn’t be alive if our parents had given him a Mustang GT to drive
No disrespect intended to anybody, but some kids just aren’t mature enough to handle a Mustang GT and survive
My son is turning 14. He has a few years before he is eligible for a license. IF he gets a car at that point (he won’t necessarily need one), it won’t be the Mustang.
We did take it on a 23 mile drive tonight to dinner (46 round trip). Perfect night for the top down.
I would take a third choice. Sell the crappy Escape and keep the Mustang. The Mustang is a long term keeper and fun car and will hold it’s value longer if cared for. Selling the Escape while it still has some value and get a new RAV or CRV. I like cars with three letter designations. They hold their value better. The Escape is an "end of model " and comparably outdated, under powered and boring car. They are better then Jeeps…that’s about it. The Mustang has always been a keeper, every model change. You will remember teaching your son to drive in a Mustang convertible and not the Escape.
Actually, I believe that Escape is on the IIHS teen safe cars list-I have been looking. They are not very reliable and don’t age well (test a few rentals when shopping), but might be perfect to add some dents and scratches to it.
yeah, i got my son his first car right before he started his senior year, he was eighteen. i don t think many sixteen year olds are ready to drive responsibly.
