Mark VI Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 I drive a '93 LeSabre ( 81K miles) and the Wife has a '94 Regal ( 44K ) . Both of us have very short drives to work. ( 8 minutes and 2 minutes ) New break pads every couple years. Just had minor repairs on both cars, costing only about $200 total. Neither car has any rust. Never had a major repair ( over $300 ) on either. Bought both of them used, several years ago. Bought my wifes car for $4500, with only 32K on it, in mint condition, back in 2001. I'll bury them before I buy anything else. The 2 best cars I've ever owned. My friend is my mechanic and told me they are both in fantastic shape. Love those 3.8 V6 engines, which both have. Both are still a smooth ride. Anyone else still driving a 10 + year old vehicle, by choice or by need ? With very low repair $$ totals, I figure I've saved thousands in car payments.
stuckincincy Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 GM's 3.8 motors are quite nice. Understressed, lots of torque, pushrods, so no cam belt/chain $400 -buck worries. Consider a change to synthetic oil. I use Mobil 1 in a '98 4-cyl S-10. Excellent cold-weather start. Not a thing to do to a motor until you have at least 10K or so on the odo, though. You might consider a coolant change-over..not a flush (let sleeping dogs lie) and an ATF fluid swap. I take a basting syringe and suck out some PS fliud and replace it with new every few years. FI nozzle "treatments" other that using STP gas treatments or the like are very suspect. If that's a problem, they have to be removed and bench-flushed. These ninety-buck jobs the dealers and the oil change outfits offer just end up turning the pistons and cyl. walls into an agressive fluid pump without proper lubrication. Ugh.
cåblelady Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 One of my cars is a 1991 Nissan Sentra. GREAT gas mileage and really good in the snow.
todd Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 Anyone else still driving a 10 + year old vehicle, by choice or by need ? With very low repair $$ totals, I figure I've saved thousands in car payments. 5099[/snapback] I don't now, but for a while a drove an '86 civic which was over 10 years old when I had it. What a great machine. It had like 80K on it, and ran like a beast. I bought it used for around 2500K in 1995. Drove it for 3 years, and it was awesome. It ended up with over 100K miles on it and I never had a problem. However, it did get a bit rusty and had a few dings from parking lot idiots. Then the stereo got stolen from it, and when they jimmied the lock it broke it. I ended up getting another civic after that, and I'm driving it now. I'll drive it until it dies, which I fully expect will be over 100K miles. It has 40K now. Cars are not a status symbol for me. They are a means to get from spot A to spot B. They are purely functional machines, and I LOVE not having a car payment.
Mark VI Posted August 23, 2004 Author Posted August 23, 2004 Cars are not a status symbol for me. They are a means to get from spot A to spot B. They are purely functional machines, and I LOVE not having a car payment. 5139[/snapback] Bullseye. I spend my $$ on my house, which keeps going up in value.
Alaska Darin Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 Bullseye. I spend my $$ on my house, which keeps going up in value. 5143[/snapback] I wish more people understood this principle. It amazes me how many kids go out and get credit for a certain amount of money for a car, then spend every cent of it buying something they spend about 2 hours a week sitting in - then they live in a friggin' slum and have less than $100 in the bank at any given time. I drive a 1999 Chevy Silverado that I bought new (cash). It was the first vehicle I ever bought new and I'll drive it until it explodes. It still runs and looks great.
Thailog80 Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 My 84 Vette has 66,000 original miles on it. It still runs great. Of course its rained all summer and sat in the garage.......
mead107 Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 95 chevy 350 van .my work van and drive to ge every day 221,600 + 1QT oil every 1000 miles some times 2 if driving in the hills. gas on a good day 13 mpg. 55 dollars per week.
todd Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 I wish more people understood this principle. It amazes me how many kids go out and get credit for a certain amount of money for a car, then spend every cent of it buying something they spend about 2 hours a week sitting in - then they live in a friggin' slum and have less than $100 in the bank at any given time. I drive a 1999 Chevy Silverado that I bought new (cash). It was the first vehicle I ever bought new and I'll drive it until it explodes. It still runs and looks great. 5147[/snapback] Thank you. That is absolutely what I'm talking about. We put every $$ we can in our house and 401K, and our house has appreciated over 30% in two years. Cars? A waste of friggin money. If I lived in a city with decent public transportation, we'd probably only have one.
erynthered Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 I wish more people understood this principle. It amazes me how many kids go out and get credit for a certain amount of money for a car, then spend every cent of it buying something they spend about 2 hours a week sitting in - then they live in a friggin' slum and have less than $100 in the bank at any given time. I drive a 1999 Chevy Silverado that I bought new (cash). It was the first vehicle I ever bought new and I'll drive it until it explodes. It still runs and looks great. 5147[/snapback] Darin, you never use your cash for somthing that depreciates. I'm suprised at you. Please dont make me do the math for you. However, I'm glad its been a good vehicle for you.
Alaska Darin Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 Darin, you never use your cash for somthing that depreciates. I'm suprised at you. Please dont make me do the math for you. However, I'm glad its been a good vehicle for you. 5163[/snapback] It's worked out to be about the same price for me as buying something used (the used 4x4 market here is pretty ridiculous). I could still get well over 50% of what I paid for it but it has less than 40K on it and runs awesome - especially in the winter. FWIW, I'm good with my money. This particular vehicle was my gift to myself for leaving the military. I deserved it.
bill in Livonia Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 The longer you can nurse those older cars the better off you are. It makes personal financial sense to avoid new car costs. That being said, if you are an old fart like me, you dont want to be broken down by the side of the road. I have friends who don't mind such a hassle and they are driving around at much less per mile than those of us with new car costs and high insurance rates. The problem is you never know when it is time to quit fixing and turn loose of that old wreck. All in all, who the hell knows?
Mark VI Posted August 23, 2004 Author Posted August 23, 2004 The longer you can nurse those older cars the better off you are. It makes personal financial sense to avoid new car costs. That being said, if you are an old fart like me, you dont want to be broken down by the side of the road. I have friends who don't mind such a hassle and they are driving around at much less per mile than those of us with new car costs and high insurance rates. The problem is you never know when it is time to quit fixing and turn loose of that old wreck. All in all, who the hell knows? 5167[/snapback] AAA+ and a Cell phone is my norm. I won't keep it when the Transmission or Engine starts going. I'll just have my friend go to the dealer auction and buy me another bargain.
erynthered Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 It's worked out to be about the same price for me as buying something used (the used 4x4 market here is pretty ridiculous). I could still get well over 50% of what I paid for it but it has less than 40K on it and runs awesome - especially in the winter. FWIW, I'm good with my money. This particular vehicle was my gift to myself for leaving the military. I deserved it. 5166[/snapback] Did'nt mean to get personal, but a vehicle is not an investment. Market values do have a place in decisions. And, Yes, you probably did deserve it. What with all those winters, ooops, I mean lovely weather you have there. There's no way I would drive a car in Alaska. Who knows what you may run into, say a MOOSE. Ouch
cåblelady Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 The longer you can nurse those older cars the better off you are. It makes personal financial sense to avoid new car costs. That being said, if you are an old fart like me, you dont want to be broken down by the side of the road. I have friends who don't mind such a hassle and they are driving around at much less per mile than those of us with new car costs and high insurance rates. The problem is you never know when it is time to quit fixing and turn loose of that old wreck. All in all, who the hell knows? 5167[/snapback] Your vehicle is very easy to follow. Thanx! again.
millbank Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 Have a 1993 Taurus and is going just fine being a farmer am not trying to fool anyone it runs well and I hpe it will for another tens years or more.
Alaska Darin Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 Did'nt mean to get personal, but a vehicle is not an investment. Market values do have a place in decisions. And, Yes, you probably did deserve it. What with all those winters, ooops, I mean lovely weather you have there. There's no way I would drive a car in Alaska. Who knows what you may run into, say a MOOSE. Ouch 5176[/snapback] I'm under no delusions there. Nothing that depreciates a minimum of 10% when you take possession of it can be considered an investment. There are alot of reasons not to drive cheaper vehicles in Alaska. Part of it is horrible snow removal, part is the likelihood of being stranded, and part is the sheer size of stevestojan you might run into. I have no doubt my truck would be totalled if I hit a moose, but I'd survive - which is the important detail.
OGTEleven Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 My last car was an 88 Accord (cheapest model). It was rusty but running whe I got a new car. I sold it to the mechaninc that worked on it and he says it's still running. How many miles when I sold it? How does 308,000 sound?
Guest Guest Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 I had a 98 ford escort that I drove for 207,000 miles. Bought it new. I never had a tune up ever. Still had the original plugs in it when someone ran into me and my insurance co. totaled it. Had to replace an alternator at 194,000 and a radiator at 150,000. Used it as a delivery vehicle . Started it a min. of 40 times a day. I couldn't believe the starter lasted. I changed the oil every 5.000 to 6,000 mi. 33 mi. to the gal. combination city/ interstate driving. I'm gonna miss that car. I was hoping to drive it another 100,000 mi.
erynthered Posted August 23, 2004 Posted August 23, 2004 I'm under no delusions there. Nothing that depreciates a minimum of 10% when you take possession of it can be considered an investment. There are alot of reasons not to drive cheaper vehicles in Alaska. Part of it is horrible snow removal, part is the likelihood of being stranded, and part is the sheer size of stevestojan you might run into. I have no doubt my truck would be totalled if I hit a moose, but I'd survive - which is the important detail. 5204[/snapback] I dont envy your conditions, thats for sure. Abrams would work, eh? Just imagine crusing down one of Alaskas roads, throwing a shell in there and clearing out a path, ahh, just what I need in florida.
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