The vehicle that I've owned the longest is either my '98 Cherokee or my '06 F150 both were around 4 or 5 years. I've owned my house for 9 years now and the only other thing I can think of that I treasure and I've owned for longer is probably my '77 Fender Telecaster Deluxe. Just like this one:
I think I got it in 1995 or so.
chandlerGTi wrote: I usually average about 9 months per car...
Dude, I've had my daily driver for 9 years, and my wife's had hers for 11 years. We'll probably have them both for another 4 years.
NOHOME wrote:Sonic wrote: I think it is time to move it along, just need to fix a few things and then it is going up for sale this spring.Pretty much the same story here. Having a hard time letting go and it would be very hard watching it go away without me driving.
It can be surprisingly liberating. It pained me to see this car leave the fleet, and my life. But on the upside, it is now with someone who loves it too, and who has time, money, and inclination to bring it out of its coma. It's now moving around under its own power for the first time in 8 years or so, which is awesome.
I still love the old Le Mans, but I had lost interest in it as a car, and that is the kiss of death. Like a pet, they need to be touched and loved and talked to and interacted with regularly, not stuck in a crate waiting for a scrap of your attention.
On the practical side, it basically repaid what I spent acquiring the Manic Miata, and now I have space to get my van off the street.
My longest is this truck. I've owned it for 26 years, and will die with it. I don't know why, but it has more sentimental value than any other vehicle I do or have owned.
Well now I see we're including musical instruments, I have a couple to add. I still have the first trumpet I ever owned, a 1943 Conn. I've had that for 45 years. But I'm more attached to my custom hand built Bach Stradivarius that I bought new in 1978. That is still my primary horn today.
Last year, someone asked me something like, "nice car, when did you get it?" which sort of implied "did you get it recently?"
I answered, "May" and then after a long pause I added, "21 years ago, but it was certainly the month of May."
This picture from roughly 4 years ago (it still looks the same.)
The day that picture was taken, I had taught my 16 yr old Niece how to drive a stick for the first time and she successfully put about 100 miles on the car that day.
'90 Miata bought used in '93.
This year the Miata will be wearing Ohio Historic Plates now that she is 25 yrs old.
These plates only allow for use of the car in "Parades and Car Shows" but I have vowed to myself to wave at anyone I see while driving it essentially making all my travels in it a parade.
Best part is that Ohio Historic Plates cost $30 to get and then never have to be renewed again. Essentially, I never have to pay annual registration again!
(picture is from 2011)
My 1997 Mustang Cobra, Got it when I was 16. I havent killed myself in it. 3 speed warnings, no tickets over 13 years of ownership. Drove it in highschool, paid it off through 3 1/2 years of fast food work. First autocross. Started building for ESP, over time came to accept that its an impractical platform for autocross dominance and got a Miata as a daily driver.
Upon graduating College, I parked it. I needed the money for getting on my feet. Still parked in mom's basement. I havent started the engine in a few years. Still hibernating, waiting for my career to earn me enough to get out of apartment life before getting it back out. Much of it because if I parked it at my apartment it might get destroyed.
I got it because it's identical to the last car my dad took for a test drive on a weekend before he passed away. Plus, I grew up restoring a Mustang with my dad.
I sometimes contemplate selling it. I dont know what the future holds for it. Currently thinking I will scratch my formula car itch for serious racing and use the Mustang for casual autocross (and possibly FM tow vehicle).
Hell, many of my friends still call me "Mustang Boy" even though I haven't had the car out in years and drive a Miata now. My newer friends have never seen it and to them its the imaginary girlfriend.
My wife has told me that she will murder me if I sell it, so I don't think thats an option.
Shameful admission, it has less than 60k miles on it.
July 16, 2004: I bought my '90 Miata. It is my longest car ownership. I drove it last night for the first time this year.
Freshly-detailed right after I bought it:
More current:
I toy with selling it every year and always talk myself out of it.
This is my '90 900S as I found it on 7/5/07. It was given to me after being abandoned for 3+ years.
We've done a lot together since then. It has bee to Carlisle, Florida, Iowa, and lots of place in between. We've done a bit of this:
Some of this:
I drove it to work today looking like this:
6/9/07 - I flew to Utah to pick up my '69 SAAB 96V4 DeLuxe eBay purchase.
It looks much the same, but with new suspension, seats, brakes, newer engine/trans, wheels, tires, etc. We drive it occasionally. This is it after winning 'Diamond in the Rough' at Carlisle a couple of years ago.
My wife and I have had one another for a while.
Looking over this stuff, it feels odd. I've bought and sold a lot of cars over the years, but these have been the stalwarts of the collection. I hadn't realized that they'd been around so long (aside from the wife).
Bought new in 2005 and daily driven since with occasional autocrosses.
The only vehicle I've owned longer is the 'Sploder. It was bought in '01 I think, as my wife's DD. It's now my bike/adventure/tow vehicle and takes me to work on the days I'm going riding afterward.
In reply to JohnRW1621:
Shoot! When did the historic plates go up? They were $15 last time I bought them about 5 years ago. Still, like you said, they are a great deal. I'm surprised some politician hasn't figured out a way to ruin it by now.
OK, well, if musical instruments and human significant others qualify... I bought my Frye boots in 1976.
This guy---- Dad bought it nearly new back in 97. I've had it since 04 or so. It was always mine though.....he just didn't realize it for awhile. 
Lesley wrote: OK, well, if musical instruments and human significant others qualify... I bought my Frye boots in 1976.
So you are one of these people eh?
I've had my Techniques turntable, Toshiba amp and Advent 1 speakers since 1978.
OK, that is just wrong!
I bought my REPU in either spring 2003, or 2002 I forget. It is a record for me and owning a vehicle. Still love it, and can't wait for spring to come so I can start using it again.
We owned my wife's old Nissan Quest minivan for eight years. A record for us. I've had my Mazda 2 for almost three years now. A record for me (now on car #46)
Lesley wrote: OK, well, if musical instruments and human significant others qualify... I bought my Frye boots in 1976.
Those look just like the ones that 3-legged OJ Simpson was wearing on the back of Penthou... uhhh, certain magazines in the late '70s!
bravenrace wrote: In reply to JohnRW1621: Shoot! When did the historic plates go up? They were $15 last time I bought them about 5 years ago. Still, like you said, they are a great deal. I'm surprised some politician hasn't figured out a way to ruin it by now.
I made the mistake of personalized historic plates, they DO have a yearly renewal.
About 15 years now... I haven't driven it in about 12...
Say what?
RossD wrote: The vehicle that I've owned the longest is either my '98 Cherokee or my '06 F150 both were around 4 or 5 years. I've owned my house for 9 years now and the only other thing I can think of that I treasure and I've owned for longer is probably my '77 Fender Telecaster Deluxe. Just like this one:
Bought the red 64 Vox Tornado in 91 and it is still my main guitar
I guess I have had the Fiat for about 10 years now which is a record for me
Apparently I have commitment issues. 7 years for the 4-runner
I've had this since 1972:
Longest uninterrupted is probably a toss up between the 318ti and '95 mtx sho....both combined have seen less than 1000 miles in that time. 
chandlerGTi wrote:bravenrace wrote: In reply to JohnRW1621: Shoot! When did the historic plates go up? They were $15 last time I bought them about 5 years ago. Still, like you said, they are a great deal. I'm surprised some politician hasn't figured out a way to ruin it by now.I made the mistake of personalized historic plates, they DO have a yearly renewal.
Funny you should mention that. I felt that I had done a good job of researching Ohio Plates on the website. It was there that I learned you could get Personalized Historic Plates. When I got to the BMV, I was informed that Personalized would have a annual charge. That annual charge is about equal to what traditional, non-personalized plates cost, yearly.
I then dropped the idea of personalized Historic Plates.
The website did a very poor job of point out that Personalized would cost more. I seem to remember that Historic is covered in one chapter stating personalized was available.
You then had to read a chapter on personalized to see that "all personalized plates have an annual upcharge". You have to make the connection yourself that Historic personalized will equal an annual charge.
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