More vehicle woes. <sigh>

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xseler

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I finally bought my first brand spanking new car this weekend at 0% interest for 60 months. Would I have rather kept the hoopty we just recently bought and repair it when needed? Dang right. But then the wife gets PO’d at me and the debt was worth it to me to not hear anymore whining. Lol

That’s why I drive the hoopty (2005 Camry with only 69k miles) while she drives the new one (2017 Escape Titanium with 41k miles).

Now looking for a ‘60’s VW Bug.....lol
 

crrcboatz

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When I hear stuff like that I wonder how many miles the person put on the car and did they keep it until it puked.
or did they trade it off with under 200,000 miles on it.

5 Datsun Z cars 240-280's every one made 300,000 NO repairs except brakes and filters and oil. Original clutches struts
and all.
200 and 250 inline 6 fords I have had many and one went 300,000 also and then a starter went out.
That was a 1982 Mustang. Car eventually fell apart at 376,000 miles.
Engine , trans and rearend were still perfect and were donated to another vehicle.


1989 Escort made 250,000 before the trans decided to slip a bit sometimes.
Made 275,000 and I traded it for a 70,000 mile 1995 Corolla which now has over 350,000 miles on it.
No major repairs.

Anything should go 200,000 without issue in my book if it is reliable.

I drive my stuff hard also and my Z cars and Mustangs had trailer hitches and pulled stupid loads that
i should not be pulling.
I do not show my cars much mercy.

I would sincerely hope the "bugs" are worked out of all 2020-2021 vehicles.

If you can't get 400,000 miles from todays technology then the manufacturers have stuck it to you once again.
 

crrcboatz

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When I hear stuff like that I wonder how many miles the person put on the car and did they keep it until it puked.
or did they trade it off with under 200,000 miles on it.

5 Datsun Z cars 240-280's every one made 300,000 NO repairs except brakes and filters and oil. Original clutches struts
and all.
200 and 250 inline 6 fords I have had many and one went 300,000 also and then a starter went out.
That was a 1982 Mustang. Car eventually fell apart at 376,000 miles.
Engine , trans and rearend were still perfect and were donated to another vehicle.


1989 Escort made 250,000 before the trans decided to slip a bit sometimes.
Made 275,000 and I traded it for a 70,000 mile 1995 Corolla which now has over 350,000 miles on it.
No major repairs.

Anything should go 200,000 without issue in my book if it is reliable.

I drive my stuff hard also and my Z cars and Mustangs had trailer hitches and pulled stupid loads that
i should not be pulling.
I do not show my cars much mercy.

I would sincerely hope the "bugs" are worked out of all 2020-2021 vehicles.

If you can't get 400,000 miles from todays technology then the manufacturers have stuck it to you once again.[/QUOTE

you have a right to your opinion but my opinion of your bragging about 400000 miles is asinine. All the work you claim to do yourself is not the norm for vast majority of car owners. You just enjoy putting down others because you like to BRAG about the fact you are some great and gifted mechanic. Well you may be however bragging about it while putting down others with that bass less 400000 figure you pulled out of a hat by the way is ridiculous.
 
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BReeves

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I don't think 400,000 is rediculous but may be stretching it a bit. Had a Dodge Caravan, sold at 260,000, keept seeing it on the road for several years after I sold it. Transmission at 200,000. My last pickup was a 2000 Silverado, sold at almost 270,000, no doubts it would go 300,000+ without anything major. Still on original engine, transmission rebuilt at 180,000. Present pickup is a 2010 Silverado 4X4 with 170,000 on the clock, truck is still like new, everything works and interior is as good as it was when it came off the line.

With today's oils and lubricants all one needs to do is keep it serviced. I usually go 5 to 6k between oil changes even though Chevy says 10k. At every 100,000 get all the fluids changed, this it the one item most do not do then wonder why they can't get more than 150,000 before they start having major problems. I don't consider things like alternator, starter, water pump as major problems, almost anyone can afford to pay someone to replace a water pump.
 

trekrok

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My 2005 LX470 has 238k and I would not hesitate putting the family in it and going anywhere. I've replaced a LOT of parts in getting to this comfort level - suspension, steering and most components that bolt on the motor. But motor and transmission are original. No leaks and no oil burn.

Personally, before I'd spend $60k on a tahoe, I'd spend $85k on new Land Cruiser.

I get the OP's dilemma though. Getting in a new fancy ride right after the old car craps out, after pumping time and money into it makes you start thinking.
 

swampratt

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I am not trying to put down others here.
My parents thought they had reliable cars and would trade up to a new vehicle every 2 years and never put over 100,000
miles on a vehicle.
Not a good test in my mind.
2 years worth of testing is not any testing.
They lived in debt also.

I have seen many vehicles with over 400,000 miles on them without any major repairs.
One 1998 Corolla with 850,000 miles and still going.
But that car was used for a driving instruction car ..always going.
Ford Truck 300" six that ran from Texas to OKC daily had 450,000 on the odometer.
That is old technology and I would think today you can trump it.

My 78 Nova had over 400,000 on it and it was a 305 2 barrel.
But it did have 2 transmissions built for it TH 350. Reverse kept going out.
This was an in the family car and I did not build the transmission.
Today I know most shops would not change the lower drum seals because it was hard to get to and that was the issue with NO reverse.
I turned it into a mid 11 second vehicle and first year I put 70,000 miles on it and only repairs were broken torque converters.
I got a custom one built by Wilson and never broke it.
Most of those miles were from Spencer to FAA center.


You do not need to be a great mechanic to get the miles from a vehicle.
The 850,000 mile Corolla the guy was not a mechanic and neither was the driver of the F150.
But they did know you need to change oils and filters.

I have seen the older LS GM engines with 3 bolt cams with 350,000 miles on the odometers.
No major repairs.
That newer style single bolt cam with small dowel pin is a failure waiting to happen.

That is what i hope todays technology fixes so you do not have failures.
But I would think the big 3 are not in it to build vehicles to last you forever.

I read an article something like top 5 or 10 vehicles that will last forever and they spoke of 200,000 miles.
That is a joke in my mind.
The wife and I both used to drive 70,000 miles a year. So you get to see what is really reliable or not.

Neighbor has an older 5.3 LS Tahoe with 275,000 miles on it and he just pulled the heads and ported them and stuck a big cam in it. Still going.
 

SlugSlinger

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I agree with swampratt. Stuff is going to break, and if you can fix it yourself, like many of us do, that is great. But at some point, you must look at the economics and the emotions of a reliable daily driver.

I have good friends that just got their new High Country Tahoe they ordered back in February. They are at a different economic level than about anyone else I am good friends with, and me as well. Salary is relative and so are the assets folks purchase. If the numbers on making a purchase are ran and they don’t scare you, then I would make the purchase. Starting from a minimum wage background to earning a decent income, it’s hard to look at making purchases with a decent income from the standpoint of earning a minimum wage.

Millionaires become that in at least a couple ways. Earning and saving money their entire life, having a high income and saving money, or stuff like inheriting it. If someone has a high income and they are comfortable with their savings, investments, and insurances, then there is not an issue with making a relatively large purchase.

Folks that have been frugal and saved their entire life are likely going to die with a large savings because they never wanted to spend it. They are millionaires because the never spent money.

If it makes you happy and does not put you in the poor house then do what you want to do.

The Tahoe is a good platform but you need good parts not the cheap ones.
Moog for suspension pieces. I have had great luck with National and Timken bearings and seals.

Stuff sometimes breaks.
For me it is not a big deal because I fix all my own stuff and I love my older vehicles.
I always wondered why people would finance a new car at $30K or more.

There are very nice classics you can get 50-60-70's vehicles that have been done well with heat and ac.
Wind noise is higher in those old vehicles.. but i think that is what the radio is for.
 

tRidiot

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I love seeing all the opinions. lol. Man.

It's great to see people making assumptions about me ("you make bad decisions", etc.,). I guess it's easy to do when all you see is a snapshot on here - I do come here sometimes to *****, I understand that - people don't see everything, and sometimes this is my place to vent, commiserate, etc.

We are enjoying our trip immensely. I am very pleased with our rental vehicle, it really has made things much more comfortable for us. It's clean, reliable, quiet, smooth, everything works as it should, it's truly wonderful.

But no, I'm not ready to jump out and spend $80k on a new truck. Hell, even if I wanted to, I don't think there're many on the lots. And buying BRAND new is usually a bad idea anyways due to the immediate depreciation. Although the current market has turned some of that on its head, I still think the principle applies.

As for Dave Ramsey telling me not to buy anything or go on any vacations while I'm still in debt - hey dude, come live in my shoes for a while. The debt I have isn't going away anytime soon, and I'm not going to spend years workings without ever doing anything nice for my family or for myself - that's a ticket to eating a bullet, I'm sorry. Some of you may be fine with warm beer and bread, but I work to live, and that's that.

I may have debt, but it's mostly not bad debt like credit cards and such. I have student loans - which enabled me to achieve a very high level of education which led to my current job field. I have business debt, which again, led me into my current business. Without taking on that debt, I would still be someone's hourly employee. We have no vehicle debt to this point, I paid off the last car note, which was a 5 year note, back in... I think 2018. Still own that car. Our three vehicles are 2004, 2007 and 2009. I'm not in a revolving door of upside-down car notes. Ditto with homes. Our home is very modest and about 44 years old, we have made lot of improvements and the value is a good bit more than we paid for it - if we were looking at selling it, which we're not.

So anyways, like I said - this was more of a 'venting' thread. I do have to figure out what to do with my daily driver, but I won't be getting rid of it. It should be reliable from a powertrain standpoint, but there are tons of other things that can leave you stranded, for sure.

I'm enjoying my rental (and yes, we've considered renting for big trips from now on), and the family and I are having a great time.

For the moment, I need to get showered and load up the family to go rafting on the Rio Grande this morning. :D

Ciao!
 

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