In 1996, we bought a new minivan, and it gave us 8 years of hassle-free use, and another 4 years of limping along (engine trouble, electronic things not working, ect)
The end came when the engine sprung a leak that our mechanic said would cost more to find than the car is worth… and even then he could not guarantee the engine would run normally.
All told, (repairs, extended warranties, ect) we figured the 12 year cost to be $30,000 ($2500 per year over 12 years). And we were married to a van that was dying a little more each year beyond year 8.
This time we leased a new minivan @ $350 per month ($4200 per year). So for just $1700 a year, we have the freedom to switch to a car that is hassle-free all the time, plus the fact the in 3-4 years from now, should we need a car instead of a minivan (our son will hopefully be in shidduchim by then!) we have the flexibility to move around.
Not to say that $1700 is chump change, but it the scope of things, we felt it was well worth it