# Should I have two Identical Cars? Benefits in this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 22, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146 "2020-02-22T00:21:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![john.smith0909123\_160324](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@john.smith0909123\_160324](https://community.cartalk.com/u/john.smith0909123_160324)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/1 "2020-02-22T00:21:10Z")
I currently have a 2005 Camry with 160k miles. Does it make sense to get another 2005 Camry with like 30k miles or less on it? I mean given that I have gotten my current car to 160k, perhaps the second car of the same model and year will have all the same problems that the other car did, not much. I would keep my first car sot hat I would have two identical cars. I would drive the car with less miles on it most of the time, and the car with the most miles on it around town for short drives. I see some benefits in having two identical cars. If one gets into an accident, it wouldn’t be worth much and probably wouldn’t repair it. However I could use it as a parts car. Like I could take the alternator on Car A and put it on Car B. Or lets say I get into an accident with the car with less miles on it and I need a new door. I can take the door of Car A and put it on Car B. If I like my current car, and I come across an identical car with a lot less miles, than wouldn’t it make sense to just get another one? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 12:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/2 "2020-02-22T00:24:37Z")
> [@john.smith0909123\_160324](#): > > Does it make sense to get another 2005 Camry with like 30k miles or less on it? Have you attempted to locate a 2005 Camry with 30k on it? It may not exist. Tester ---
**Author:** ![john.smith0909123\_160324](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@john.smith0909123\_160324](https://community.cartalk.com/u/john.smith0909123_160324)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 12:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/3 "2020-02-22T00:34:34Z")
I have found one with 13,000 miles on it but they want $9,000 for it at a car place not a dealer but a place that sells used cars. Good idea? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/4 "2020-02-22T00:37:57Z")
I’d buy the Camry with 13k, and sell the Camry with 160k. Now you have an almost new car that’ll last another 15 years, Tester ---
**Author:** ![john.smith0909123\_160324](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@john.smith0909123\_160324](https://community.cartalk.com/u/john.smith0909123_160324)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 12:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/5 "2020-02-22T00:49:06Z")
Do you think the price is good? 2005 Camry with 12,000 miles for $9,000 KBB says it’s not even in market value, but idk that KBB is accurate for old cars with stupid low miles on them ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 12:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/6 "2020-02-22T00:51:22Z")
I tried that routine with one of my collector cars years ago. When I bought it, it came with a low miles parts car. The first time I had to do some work on the ‘good car’ ( rebuild the automatic transmission) I said to myself “I’m not putting in all this labor just to put 30 year old parts back into this transmission case”. I think the only time a parts car makes sense is if the good car is so unique that parts are not available. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/7 "2020-02-22T00:54:00Z")
How many replacement parts can you buy for the price of the duplicate car, and would they be better? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 12:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/8 "2020-02-22T00:55:26Z")
After seven years, the price for a used vehicle is based on miles and condition. So, it’s up to you to determine if it’s worth the price, and if it meets your requirements. How much was your 2005 Camry brand new? Tester ---
**Author:** ![john.smith0909123\_160324](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@john.smith0909123\_160324](https://community.cartalk.com/u/john.smith0909123_160324)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/9 "2020-02-22T01:03:14Z")
It looks like it was originally 19,000 to 26,000 depending on all the extra stuff you got on it ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 2:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/10 "2020-02-22T02:08:29Z")
Why you would want a 15 year old run of the mill vehicle that may have not been serviced properly is beyond me. You buy it for 9000.00 it gets totaled and you will receive a lot less . Plus a later model vehicle will have much improved safety features . ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 2:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/11 "2020-02-22T02:11:54Z")
A 15 year old car with ultra low miles may not have been maintained very well. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 2:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/12 "2020-02-22T02:20:43Z")
> [@john.smith0909123\_160324](#): > > Or lets say I get into an accident with the car with less miles on it and I need a new door Very seldom will an accident be isolated to just the door . And if the vehicles are not the same color and trim level the cost to paint it to match will be several hundred dollars . After you have taken as many parts off one that you can then you still have to dispose of it . Are you the only one in your household and if not what does your partner think of this rather strange idea. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 2:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/13 "2020-02-22T02:26:34Z")
> [@john.smith0909123\_160324](#): > > I have found one with 13,000 miles on it but they want $9,000 for it at a car place not a dealer but a place that sells used cars. Good idea? 9K for a 15yr old Camry . . . 🤔 You ever read “Nice Price or Crack Pipe” on the car nut website [jalopnik.com](http://jalopnik.com) . . . ?! They pose questions like this 5 days a week They would vote Crack Pipe . . . I’m confident about it ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 2:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/14 "2020-02-22T02:27:22Z")
I really don’t see much benefit to having two of them unless they both provide utility. I had two Rivieras that I bought at different times and were used for several different purposes. As they aged, they were rotated. I also had third Buick with the same engine and transmission. I’ll have to say the benefits were limited except the same factory manual covered all three and once I was able to swap a MAF sensor to test a new one. Other than that, just familiarity was helpful, but if you can’t use two, doesn’t make sense. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 2:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/15 "2020-02-22T02:30:51Z")
you would be paying a MEGA premium for low miles And it’s still a 15yr old family sedan Buy something newer with better safety features and higher fuel economy ---
**Author:** ![john.smith0909123\_160324](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@john.smith0909123\_160324](https://community.cartalk.com/u/john.smith0909123_160324)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 2:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/16 "2020-02-22T02:47:57Z")
This is the car here [https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory/p/Report.cfx?vin=4T1BE32K35U638054&partner=CDM\_O](https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory/p/Report.cfx?vin=4T1BE32K35U638054&partner=CDM_O) ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/17 "2020-02-22T02:53:10Z")
As suggested above, forget that car. Too expensive and too old. Get something 3-4 years old and forget trying for a matched pair. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 2:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/18 "2020-02-22T02:59:37Z")
Save up some money, plus the $9k, sell your car, put say $12k into a much newer Camry, 2012 or newer, 70,000 miles or less. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 3:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/19 "2020-02-22T03:01:26Z")
You do realize that Carfax only has what is reported to them don’t you ? It could have had an accident that was repaired and not reported or a complete engine overhaul. Have you even seen this thing ? And yes , a place that sells used cars is a dealer just not a new vehicle dealer . ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2020, 3:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146/20 "2020-02-22T03:26:12Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > You ever read “Nice Price or Crack Pipe” on the car nut website [jalopnik.com](http://jalopnik.com) . . . ?! > > They pose questions like this 5 days a week > > They would vote Crack Pipe . . . I’m confident about it Yes, I am a big fan of “Nice Price or Crack Pipe”. And I agree that even with such low mileage, a 15 year old Camry is not worth $9k–and cannot be insured for that much, even if someone is foolish enough to pay that. It would probably garner an 80% or higher “Crack Pipe” loss at the $9k asking price. At $6k, it would be a “Nice Price”. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-have-two-identical-cars-benefits-in-this/159146.md?page=2)