www.cartalk.com is an excellent source of information. if your car is almost paid off, do you really want another bill each month? i kept my first car, a 1990 toyota tercel hatchback for 12 years and 140,000 miles. i had 8 years w/o payments, just repairs and maintenance, which is cheaper then payments and insurance. when my current 1999 ford escort(bought used) is paid off in september, i'll keep it for as long as i can also. i'm sure the last car salesman cringed when i drove my beater onto his lot to pick up the new car...