When should you buy a new automobile?

There is no one size fits all answer to this question. Car models and manufacturers aren't equal. Some cars ARE better than other cars. In addition to the way the car is manufactured, there's also the maintenance record to consider. If you (and other owners of the car) have kept the car in good condition, it should last a long time. I agree with what was said about hanging on to the car until you've put too much money into it (for repairs) or until it dies.