Buy what you can own outright without debt/payments.
Make sure you have reliable 4x4. Good to go.
Make sure you have reliable 4x4. Good to go.
My Vehicle Folly
About a year ago I sold my Crew Cab Nissan Titan. I was spending more in gas than a new car payment and it was at 100K+ miles so the frequency of repairs was increasing. Traded her in and got a Ford Fusion Hybrid. Now I'm driving a very nice, very civil car and I'm saving about $200 to $300 a month. But since that time we have had three biblical floods in Phoenix. I'm down right squeamish about driving a car with an electric motor and a big honkin battery any where near the water.
Before, in the truck, it took about 12" of water to raise my concerns. Now? It only takes 3" of water and I'm going beszerk. And that ain't much - you can find 3" on the curb some times.
Do I regret selling the truck? No - it was the right thing to do for the family. But I do regret having our automotive choices limited to two very low slung cars that have limited capacity and no 4x4. It has created a liability I was aware of but apparently vastly under-estimated.
Original plan was to drive this for 5 years and give it to my daughter. Then I'd buy an old, used, beater truck. I'm thinking Toyota. Maybe a 2 seater even to keep it small and economical. Think of it as a Tech, or Technical if you know what those are. Obviously my load out would be a little different but the concept is the same.
Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't bump that up by a year or two. I've got 4 years left with the car before I hand the keys over. So that would mean buying a third vehicle with in 2 years - and we could very well go 2 years with absolutely no rain above .1" at a time.
Soooooo conflicted over this. Ultimately it will be about $4000 to buy the truck and I anticipate putting $2000 into it right off the bat. So that's still pretty cheap for good wheels, but then that's also $6k I could use on other stuff.
Before, in the truck, it took about 12" of water to raise my concerns. Now? It only takes 3" of water and I'm going beszerk. And that ain't much - you can find 3" on the curb some times.
Do I regret selling the truck? No - it was the right thing to do for the family. But I do regret having our automotive choices limited to two very low slung cars that have limited capacity and no 4x4. It has created a liability I was aware of but apparently vastly under-estimated.
Original plan was to drive this for 5 years and give it to my daughter. Then I'd buy an old, used, beater truck. I'm thinking Toyota. Maybe a 2 seater even to keep it small and economical. Think of it as a Tech, or Technical if you know what those are. Obviously my load out would be a little different but the concept is the same.
Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't bump that up by a year or two. I've got 4 years left with the car before I hand the keys over. So that would mean buying a third vehicle with in 2 years - and we could very well go 2 years with absolutely no rain above .1" at a time.
Soooooo conflicted over this. Ultimately it will be about $4000 to buy the truck and I anticipate putting $2000 into it right off the bat. So that's still pretty cheap for good wheels, but then that's also $6k I could use on other stuff.
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
GT
I won't fault you for making a financial decision but I'll state emphatically that my 4x4 trucks and Jeep have gotten me and Mrs Slippy out of numerous tough situations. I will most likely never buy another vehicle that does not have high ground clearance, 4x4, the ability to haul stuff etc.
I won't fault you for making a financial decision but I'll state emphatically that my 4x4 trucks and Jeep have gotten me and Mrs Slippy out of numerous tough situations. I will most likely never buy another vehicle that does not have high ground clearance, 4x4, the ability to haul stuff etc.
The wife and I both drive full size 4WD pickups. But we are at the stage where we feel we have earned our comfort.
For many years I kept a Chevy S-10 going. 25 years and 378,000 miles worth. Gave me a solid 28 MPG with a 2 liter 4 cylinder. Sold it for $100, the buyer drove it for another year and sold it for scrap for $125.
I'm wanting a late 80's Ford Ranger with the 2.4 liter OHC 4 cylinder to play with. Even the 4WD models get 25 MPG. And the engine is so easy to work on. No computer, carbureted with electronic ignition.
For many years I kept a Chevy S-10 going. 25 years and 378,000 miles worth. Gave me a solid 28 MPG with a 2 liter 4 cylinder. Sold it for $100, the buyer drove it for another year and sold it for scrap for $125.
I'm wanting a late 80's Ford Ranger with the 2.4 liter OHC 4 cylinder to play with. Even the 4WD models get 25 MPG. And the engine is so easy to work on. No computer, carbureted with electronic ignition.
My first vehicle was a 1984 ford Ranger.The wife and I both drive full size 4WD pickups. But we are at the stage where we feel we have earned our comfort.
For many years I kept a Chevy S-10 going. 25 years and 378,000 miles worth. Gave me a solid 28 MPG with a 2 liter 4 cylinder. Sold it for $100, the buyer drove it for another year and sold it for scrap for $125.
I'm wanting a late 80's Ford Ranger with the 2.4 liter OHC 4 cylinder to play with. Even the 4WD models get 25 MPG. And the engine is so easy to work on. No computer, carbureted with electronic ignition.
2.2L I-4
No power steering
No power brakes
4spd Manny Tranny
Camper Shell
And it was baby shit brown all day long.
It was a fleet truck with a rubber interior and a steel roof inside. I used refrigerator magnets to keep paperwork stuck to the roof. It was so plain the horn was on the turn indicator.
The only creature comforts it had were installed by the driver.
I added a Cig Lighter and a CB and a gauge cluster.
Also replaced the AM radio with AM/FM/Casette and an amp/EQ.
The previous owner had put an AC system on it from an old Lincoln Town Car. It sucked when you were in town because it took so much from the engine but at freeway speeds (50+) it would get so damn cold you could hang meat in there on a hot summer day.
I loved that truck so much that when I flipped it in a ditch one night, I went and bought a brand new Ford Ranger - 1993 with the EFI 2.2 and a 5 speed. Fantastic truck!
When I pay off my truck, I will save that 500$ a month, and buy a used but nice fourwheel drive.
I recently got a 93 ranger 4x4. Bought it from an old man and it's only got 80,000 miles! It's the backup for my tacoma that has 215,000 on it. That Toyota has been a tank, almost no mechanical work in it so far. I'm thinking of trying to find a hilux diesel for it at some point.
Edit: the ranger is 4.0 and 5 speed.
Edit: the ranger is 4.0 and 5 speed.
the Jeep got us thru all that bad weather here,no concerns..but it's lifted 4 inches on 33s.
After all that flooding,I'm considering a snorkel,seriously! We saw about 4 inches of rain here in SanTan..everything was fairly flooded when we headed out to the ranch.
Had water wash up over the hood in a few spots.If we had no other choice but to drive the dodge pickup,I would have been walking/swimming to go work the horses
After all that flooding,I'm considering a snorkel,seriously! We saw about 4 inches of rain here in SanTan..everything was fairly flooded when we headed out to the ranch.
Had water wash up over the hood in a few spots.If we had no other choice but to drive the dodge pickup,I would have been walking/swimming to go work the horses
We bought a 2004 4Runner new. It has the 4.7L V-8 and a transfer case. Despite our best efforts, we can't kill it. It has been paid off for 5 years and we just can't see ourselves parting with it. If and when it dies, It will be sent to Valhalla with honor. Yotas are bulletproof.
Remember if two trucks are exactly alike except one is 4 wheel drive and the other two, the two wheel drive will tow or haul more. If you need 4X4 get one just understand what you are getting.
Jeep rub with lockers 4 inch lift Currie one ton steering and 35s for back up will go through almost any thing.
Gee if you think having 3-4 cars or trucks is a lot your mistaken. I'm currently down to 12 and still looking. I'm buying nice older trucks and cars. The ones that don't have computers and I can easily work on.
I'd rather spend $2500 on a 93 Bronco from AZ that gets 12 MPG. Then $25000 on a new car to get 25 -30 MPG.
My newest car is a 07 Crown Vic squad car, 85000 miles. Paid $3500, gets 22-23 MPG at 75 MPH on the highway. Most people can't get into the right fast enough if I fly up behind them and flash the lights. I'll NEVER buy a new car.
I'd rather spend $2500 on a 93 Bronco from AZ that gets 12 MPG. Then $25000 on a new car to get 25 -30 MPG.
My newest car is a 07 Crown Vic squad car, 85000 miles. Paid $3500, gets 22-23 MPG at 75 MPH on the highway. Most people can't get into the right fast enough if I fly up behind them and flash the lights. I'll NEVER buy a new car.
That is what I REALLY want. You can order a half car (frame and body cut in half and you get the front half) and then swap the engines, or you can get a kit to swap a Diesel VW Jetta engine over. I actually like the Jetta idea a little better because it is a slightly bigger D.I'm thinking of trying to find a hilux diesel for it at some point.
But, do you really want rice-burners for vehicles after shtf??? I let the wife talk me into an SUV instead of another truck when my Silverado died, but that will be the last time. I miss my Chevy every day. It was easily the toughest vehicle I've ever owned.
Rice burners? Specifically, no. But as they fit my criteria, yes.
So here is what I want.
Fuel Efficient
Small
Light weight
Low end grunt / torque
Manual
Simple - not over engineered
And a PLETHORA of parts to buy or scavenge.
Anything that fits that will do.
So here is what I want.
Fuel Efficient
Small
Light weight
Low end grunt / torque
Manual
Simple - not over engineered
And a PLETHORA of parts to buy or scavenge.
Anything that fits that will do.
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
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