What would you do with a 98 Maxima GLE with 135,000 miles?

A.
Sell the car and buy something newer/with less miles?

B.
Keep it for another year or two and sell it then?

Keep in mind that I put about 40K miles per year on a car. So at the end of this year it will have about 160-170K and next year 200K. It is a Maxima and as strong as it is running it should easily go way over 200K, but which of the above options would I loose more money on? I guess it will come down to figuring out cars depreciation under both options A and B.

Tell me what you guys think.

 

keep on drivivg it just keep on maintaining it u will save a lot of money if u buy something new

 

It's almost always cheaper to keep what you already have.

 

Here are some numbers I came up with:

Now, with 135,000 miles it is worth around $6000
At the end of the year , with 170,000 - around 5800
Next year, with 180,000 miles - around 4800
Next year with 200,000 + it will be around 4000

Those figures are based on edmunds.com and personal judgement.
So seems to me it would be wisest to wait till summer-fall of this year and let it go.

 

It would seem so, but I don't agree when it comes to cars or other items that depreciate and you are planning on selling in the future.

 

Drive it till it dies, then get a new one.

 

Well, your used car has pretty much depreciated as much as it's going to. Plus, the cost of maintaining your used car each month would be far far less than the cost of the payment, insurance, maintenance and depreciation on a newer car.

 

No guys, I wasn't talking about getting a new car. The comparison was more geared toward buying another 4th gen, but with fewer miles.
If you shop around you could find one with less miles, without having to ad much money for the difference.
If I was to buy something that I would have to get a loan for it would be the 2000-2002 5th gen.

 

If you drive 40 k per year,even a car with less miles would depreciate pretty quick...It s called the usage value...Of course,a new(er) car is always nice, but imagine the figures (payment,insurance etc) that will also change...For example ,when you lease a car ,the cost per mile is about 10 cents (15 if you are over the limit). So ,if you would look at it this way, it would cost you aprox $ 4k per year to drive any car. Now if you compare your figures, the depreciation for your car is not that bad after all...

 

I never leased before, but I hear that it is in the 20+ cent range per mile if you go over the limit. Besides who in the right mind would lease while putting 40K per year on a vehicle.
I am most interested in comparing used cars that you would pay cash for. I own mine and don't have any payments to make, so after selling I would put the money I get for it plus 1-2 thousand more and buy something newer with less miles.