Not mentioned is Americans have driven billions fewer miles due to gas prices and a 'reset' economy. Vehicles last longer when driven fewer miles.
1/18/12, "Average age of cars, trucks hits 10.8 years, sets record," Detroit News, Shepardson
"Americans are holding onto their cars and trucks longer than ever.
The average age of cars and trucks on U.S. roads is 10.8 years, the oldest ever recorded, according to Southfield-based Polk. By comparison, the average age of the fleet was just 8.4 years in 1996.
Between 2008 and 2011, analysts estimate Americans bought about 10 million fewer cars than if the economy had been stronger. But a sour economy is not the only thing at work: Modern cars as a whole are more reliable than ever, with many running strong at 200,000 miles or more.
As a result, automakers say millions of Americans have postponed buying a new car. Some see that about to change....
Auto sales rose 10 percent to 12.8 million in 2011. That was still far below traditional sales levels. In the early 2000s, Americans bought about 16 million cars annually.
The age of the average vehicle has been increasing quickly over the past five years.
Polk said passenger cars rose in average age only slightly from 2010, from 11 years to 11.1 years from 2010. But light trucks — including pickups and SUVs — saw a bigger jump, with
- average age rising from 10.1 years to 10.4 years....
Raymond Campise Jr., owner of Certified Motors in St. Clair Shores, says many prospective buyers don't have the credit score to get a car loan. Others with worse-than-average credit face high interest rates.
Many choose to repair their older cars instead. "For some people it can be cheaper to fix than buy a new or used car," Campise said."...
--------------------------11/22/11, "Michigan, U.S. drivers log fewer miles on the road," Detroit News, Shepardson
"The Federal Highway Administration said Americans have driven 29.8 billion fewer miles in the first nine months of 2011, which remains on pace to be the lowest yearly number of miles driven since 2003."...
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8/26/11, "American Drivers Counting Fewest Miles Since 2004," AutoEvolution.com
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8/26/11, "Empty Roads: Americans Drove 15.5 Billion Fewer Miles than in 2010," MotorTrend.com
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Federal gov. whines. Because people aren't driving enough they aren't getting enough gas tax money.
12/12/08, "Decline In American Driving Reaches Year-Mark," US Dept. of Transportation press release
"Drop of Nearly 100 Billion Miles Driven Heightens Need for Highway Finance Reform"
via Lucianne
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