One can only drive an old car for so long.
A more stable economy and the curse of necessity are a few of the reasons why analysts expect Americans will buy more cars this year, and local dealers believe Schuylkill County is no exception.
"The economy appears to have stabilized," John Kelley, general manager of B&L Ford of Ashland, said Friday.
D.J. Quinter, sales manager at Bob Weaver GM Chrysler, Pottsville, agreed.
"With an increase in customer satisfaction and confidence in the economy, things are getting better, things have been turning around," he said.
Yet it is clearly not all due to more money in more people's pockets.
"I think because of the slowdown in sales over the past five years, people are going to have to buy out of need now," said Jerry Enders, owner of Jerry's Northeast Auto Sales, Route 61, Pottsville. "It's not uncommon to see cars with mileage counters up to 150,000 and 200,000 miles."
According to The Associated Press, U.S. auto sales were strong in November and December and analysts expect the momentum to continue this year. Among the causes of the change from slow sales are improving employment numbers, low interest rates and the need to replace older cars.
"Because of uncertainty over the economy, people were hanging onto stuff longer. But eventually you've got to replace it," Kelley said.
"With an automobile, no matter who makes it, they wear out."
According to the AP, U.S. auto sales rose 10 percent to 12.8 million in 2011. That's up 22 percent from 2009, when the U.S. auto industry and the financial system were in peril.
General Motors Co. and other auto makers predict that U.S. auto sales will rise in 2012, possibly to 13.5 or 14 million vehicles. While that's below the peak of 17 million vehicles sold in 2005, it suggests the economy is slowly recovering.
"I think historically that's what happens. The car industry goes in cycles. You're going to have good years, then you may saturate the market and, possibly, have down years," Kelley said.
"With us, 2011 was our best year since 2002. And I think 2012 is going to at least equal to 2011, or maybe a little better. It's not going to double. But it is going to go uphill," Kelley said.