Skeeter - "IMHO most people change vehicles for asthetic reasons rather than for true utlility."
I agree and there is nothing wrong with that...but many seem to want to believe that they are saving money by buying a new car.
The other common reason to get a new car would be because they do not like to have to deal with getting repairs on older car.
For me a new car comes when the old one just does not seem worth fixing any more...even though it might be cheaper to go that way. I figure 12 years for a new car...I have had two and both were gotten rid of after 12 years and about 120,000 miles. One had a lot of body damage and rust the other had every engine seal leaking (including blown head gasket) and all kinds of rattles.
I told my wife I want to go for 15 years with our third new vehicle, a 1997 Windstar.
