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Go Green By Driving It 'Til The Wheels Fall Off

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  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I'm pretty sure the cruise on that car would be aftermarket. I don't think cruise was even on the full sized cars in 64.

    I like how the old lady has taken advantage of lifetime warranties on parts such as batteries and mufflers. What a character.

    And I love the Commodore 64 database/server system we are posting to... :shades:
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I think about the most daring thing I did was drive my '68 Dart to Oklahoma City back in 1995. But back then it only had around 280,000 miles on it. :P
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    The first car with cruise control was the 1958 Imperial - a system invented by a guy named Ralph Teetor. I'm sure Cadillac and Lincoln had cruise by 1964.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Yeah, no doubt those Continentals and Caddys had it. But a Galaxie or big Mercury, I have to doubt it.

    I have seen early aftermarket setups where some kind of actuator was hooked up to the throttle assembly, and if the pressure was let up after the cruise was selected, it would then accelerate at full throttle to the desired speed - dangerous.
  • 210delray210delray Member Posts: 4,721
    My former '77 Chevy Impala that I bought in 1985 had aftermarket cruise. It wasn't adjusted properly, so I had to step fairly hard on the brake to cancel it -- not too safe. I had it fixed.
  • 210delray210delray Member Posts: 4,721
    Well my '98 Frontier is now 11 years old (but hasn't quite made it to 70K miles yet), and my wife and I take it to the beach (about 275 miles one way) when we need to carry our bicycles. It's been super reliable, and the only incident that stranded me (one whole mile from home) was when the original battery exploded! I expected to find acid and battery fragments throughout the engine compartment, but only 3 caps blew off and threw some acid onto the underside of the hood.

    When our 1990 Sable lost overdrive in its tranny in '95 at 93K miles, we were advised not to drive it long distances until it could be fixed. We had 4 tickets to a Baltimore Orioles game and decided to use the Rent-A-Wreck near us. However, the one sedan available had a nasty smell inside, so we took "old trusty," our 1980 Volvo 240 with about 180k miles or so at the time. This was our primary family car from 1982-90. No problems making the trip from central VA and back.
  • dgs4dgs4 Member Posts: 66
    I found this thread by accident but I think it's a very good one.

    "She worked and saved until she could pay cash. If we were all to do that our country would be in better financial and environmental condition. "

    I agree paying cash is the best way to go when buying a car, but not everyone is in the position to do that. Some people would rather buy new (myself) instead of used and drive the snot out of the car (myself) for as long as possible than buy an unknown quantity like a used car. I bought one used car in my life, that was supposedly very well cared for by the female owner. It only had 21,000 miles on it in the five years she owned it, and I thought I was getting the deal of the century by only paying $3,000 for it. The interior was in perfect condition, as was the paint. That car however proved to be the most problematic car I have ever owned, and I easily dumped another $3,000 in repairs into that thing to make it last five years. When it finally broke down and left me stranded on the side of the highway, I said to myself "no more used cars ever. I don't care if I have to buy the cheapest car made, it will be new" and that is what I have done with great success ever since. I currently own a 2009 Honda Fit sport and I have a feeling this car will easily last me 10 + years with proper upkeep.

    Anyway, the real issue is not people buying cars on credit, it's people who have bought way more car than they can afford on credit. Instead of buying the car with the $300 payment they had to buy the car with the $800 payment. That's well and good when times are going well, but when they're not people quickly realize they can't afford that high payment. Usually expensive cars also are expensive to maintain (such as German cars), and the insurance and poor gas mileage on premium fuel need to be factored in too. It's just like buying more house than they could afford. People just went crazy with credit, not realizing they actually had to pay for that $50,000 car or for that $1,000,000 mcmansion. Greed and stupidity got us where we are now.

    I'm financing my Fit for four years and I can't wait until it's paid off and I don't have a car payment any more. I will drive it until the engine dies, and being it's a Honda I'm sure will take a long time.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    It's a great feeling not having a car payment. Of course, there are those who believe a car payment is an ongoing thing like the gas bill.
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    If people could just reverse that thinking and save that car payment every month. They could afford a much nicer car after 5 years. Instead the banker drives the nice car with their interest money. I quit buying cars on time when they dropped consumer interest as a tax deduction. Best thing that happened to me.
  • larsblarsb Member Posts: 8,204
    The last year in which I did not have a car payment was 1991.

    That's why I'm planning on paying off my TCH by Nov 2011 and recycling a lot more cash into my savings account....:) :):):)
  • gagricegagrice Member Posts: 31,450
    Good plan. Unless you can get 0% loan you are losing money. Of course money in the bank is not going to keep up with inflation. I don't know how you can win these days. My last 4% CD just matured yesterday. The most I can get is about 1.5%. I think we will just pay off our highest interest mortgage with the cash.
  • carstrykecarstryke Member Posts: 168
    My mom&dad loves their camrys. They have drove them since the early 90's. They have never had a brand new camry but they always bought them with between 40,000 - 75,000 km's. This is how their cars stand

    1985 Camry Le- died at 480,000km courtesy of me trying to push a semi off the road
    1995 Camry Le-died at 550,000km engine finally went
    2002 Camry Xle- 280,000km they still drive this to this day

    These Vehicles never have needed any major repairs, just small wear and tear stuff like brake pads, timing belts ect. They definatly got their moneys worth, you would think this would rub off on me but i cant keep a vehicle over 3 years and only drive chevy's lol
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    "That's why I'm planning on paying off my TCH..."

    Sorry for asking something that's probably very obvious, but what's "TCH?"
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Sorry for asking something that's probably very obvious, but what's "TCH?"

    I think it's the stuff in cannabis that gets you high. And if you're taking out a loan to finance your habit, you need to cut back! :P

    On a serious note though...Toyota Camry Hybrid. Don't worry, took me awhile to figure it out, too. Personally I kinda like the NAH, but it has limited availability, and not in Maryland.
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    Thanks, andre.

    By the way - and way off subject - but are you planning to display any of your cars at the Rockville show next month? My oldest car is only 22 years young, so it doesn't qualify yet.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Actually, thanks for reminding me about the Rockville show. I keep thinking it's still way off, but here it's September already! Yeah, I'm planning on putting my '67 Catalina convertible in the show. They tend to keep all the car classes in the same spots in that show from year to year, so I'm guessing I'll be in roughly the same spot as where I had my LeMans 2 years ago (wow, hard to believe that's been TWO years!)

    So, I'll be there...unless its wheels fall off! :P
  • corvettecorvette Member Posts: 11,288
    You can always buy a used NAH, but they're rare birds, plus they're going to be something your local dealer or mechanic has never seen. I never understood Nissan's decision to sell it only in certain markets.
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    I didn't attend last year, but I may go this year. I saw your LeMans on display three or four years ago, but not your Catalina convert. Will look forward to seeing you there if I go.
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    andre, are you going to enter any cars at the 2010 Rockville show? I missed the last two, so I'll probably go this year.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Probably not. I just checked, and that show's on the 16th of October. I've already got plans to go do Kings Dominion with some friends from out of town.

    I missed last year's show, because of the rain, and then I was busy on the day it got postponed to. In 2008, I had my LeMans registered, but had to back out at the last minute. Can't remember why...I think the car was acting up? Anyway, I went, but just as a spectator.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Change of plans...now we're going to Kings Dominion on Sunday the 17th, so I think I'll hit the Rockville show, after all. I'll probably bring the Catalina if I get its transmission fixed by then (acting up, holding the gears too long and over-revving the engine), but if not, then I'll put the LeMans in again.
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    Thanks for advising about your change of plans. Since it's been around three years since I've gone to the Rockville show, I'll probably go this year.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    My '99 Nissan Quest rolled over 150,000 miles yesterday. My previous record for longevity was my '82 Toyota Tercel that lasted 17 years and 114,000 miles. My Outback is older than the Quest by a couple of years, but barely pushing 80,000 miles.
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    edited October 2010
    Congratulations! My guess is that your driving style is just as green, if not greener, than if you had traded each of your vehicles for hybrids.
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    It seems that. with modern cars, the wheels never fall off. What finally kills modern cars is the cost of repairing ot replacing (usually the latter) complex components. Therefore, the old saying of "drive it 'till the wheels fall off" is not longer applicable. When is is applicable, assuming the car is properly maintained, it's only in a tiny minority of cases.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    "Go Green by Driving it til the auto trans and catalytic converter fail and it won't pass smog"......just not as catchy, you know?! ;-)

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    That's right, not as catchy. Not only that, but it's more difficult to determine when you've gotten your full value from a modern car, and that it no longer owes you anything?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    or accidents. I read somewhere that even if medical science could make you theoretically "medically immortal", you'd still die eventually from being blown up, crushed, drowned, etc.

    Same with cars--statistically you're going to get demolished sooner or later, no matter how well you take care of it.
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    True, and furthermore, the less a car is worth, due to age, mileage, etc., the greater the chances that the insurance company will total the car. For example, a one or two year old car with a market value of, say, $25,000 will be repaired if it incurs accident damage of $6,000, whereas that same car when it's worth $5,000 will be scrapped.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Of course you can buy the totaled car back from the insurance company and repair it---but then, if you are calculating your "green-ness" in doing so, you'd have to take into account the energy to rebuild the car and to ship all the parts for it.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Some states have laws that make that a bit cost-prohibitive. For instance, I would have loved to have been able to buy my 2000 Intrepid back, after it got totaled back in late 2009, and fix it up. The damage was actually fairly minor, but because the car was 10 model years old, had 150,000 miles on it, and, well, let's face it, Intrepids don't particularly hold their value, the ins. co. totaled it out.

    In Maryland, the law works like this: I can buy the car back (they assigned a $300 salvage value to mine), but would have 90 days to get it fixed, would have to get it MD inspected, and then would only be issued a salvage title. So, liability-only on the insurance, and if the car ever got hit again, I'm sure the salvage title would've been held against me. So, in my case, I just took the $2000 they offered and cut my losses.

    And, it was probably for the best. Heck, I could've put a few hundred into fixing it myself, maybe another few hundred $ to get it through inspection (God only knows what else they might find), only to have the transmissoin or engine go out, and then have a car worth essentially nothing.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Well sure, the insurance company doesn't want to total the same car twice---that's understandable.

    A salvage title on an Intrepid really has little effect on its resale value anyway, so aside from the inspection hassle, and presuming the insurance company will insure it again for basic liability, that might not have been a bad move.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    You were nearly at the point where it would have been totaled if it ran out of gas....

    That was a good life for an Intrepid. Can't think of the last time I saw one of that vintage - though I did see a Concorde that age just last week.

    I still have that 00 Accord with 215K or so on it. My daughter is driving it and pretty much hates it I think - it's a stick! I wonder what I could get for that. I'd give her whatever it would fetch and let her finance a car on her own. The only problem is I'm pretty attached to it. I've had it since it was a pup.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    I still have that 00 Accord with 215K or so on it. My daughter is driving it and pretty much hates it I think - it's a stick! I wonder what I could get for that. I'd give her whatever it would fetch and let her finance a car on her own. The only problem is I'm pretty attached to it. I've had it since it was a pup.

    Nah, sell it and get something else .. isn't that what you're always advising me? Let the daughter have some skin in the game by financing her own car. Plus, you get to do some shopping.
  • railroadjamesrailroadjames Member Posts: 560
    I never kept a car beyond 3 yrs (owned over 50 cars) until I purchased an '04 Prius brand new in '03. The Prius made me a believer in a big way. I have 143K on my baby blue buggy and so much pride in Toyota's "little engine that could." I think the wheels can't fall off though no matter how hard I continue to pile the miles on her. This amazing car has come to quietly prove that 48 mpg's is the standard daily pattern. I still see amazing performances that other cars can't compare in any way, shape or form. Here at almost 9 yrs I think the Prius is just getting its second wind. Still original are the brakes, exhaust, suspension sys, and both batteries. I got an amazing 478 miles out of a tank of gas. The only thing falling off my car is bird doo-doo when I hose it off. Body is rust-free and that's not easy in NW Indiana winters. The phrase that just doesn't seem to be attainable...."go green till the wheels fall off."
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    You're certainly proving that the first part of that phrase is true. Given enough time and mileage the second part will also be true. Nothing lasts for ever, but congratulations to you.

    Check back with us in a year, and let us know whether you had to do any repairs on your Prius .
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited September 2011
    Kind of crazy, but we just got back from a 6,500 mile road trip in our '99 Quest. Started out with a bit over 159,000 miles. Destroyed a tire on a gravel road stretch and the gas mileage is suffering compared to when it was new, but it's still running, and it's still a comfortable road warrior. Hauls the canoe nicely with lots of room for the paddles and camping gear. Decided to leave the bikes home this trip.

    Lost the blower resistor about half way through the trip; no other problems.

    Maybe I'll tune it up and try for 200k. :shades:
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    We are down to 1 kid in college, but they go to school 750 miles away.
    The '02 had made countless trips of that length between the kids going off to school and getting them back home, not mention vacations and visits to relatives.
    It had gotten to the point that I didn't want to load up the old beast for any more of these long trips.
    In early May, we did the trip to Ohio and back from CT, but by the end of the month I had a new explorer in the garage.
    I kept the '02 for one of the kids to drive over the summer, with the intention of selling it this fall.
    Put so many miles on the new explorer, 5200 in 2 1/2 months, that I decided to keep the '02.
    This year has cost about $700 in repairs and $50 in maintenance.
    The repairs were the one wheel bearing which had not been replaced yet, plus front and rear pinion seals.
    The CD changer stopped working a few months ago, but other than that, it's running pretty well.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    How many miles are on your '02?
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    edited September 2011
    118k plus a few hundred.
    Just realized my replacement transmission is under warranty for about another 6 months. That's good news. it's just a peace of mind thing.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,200
    edited September 2011
    MY 1988 GMC van did in fact have one of the wheels about to fall off when I bought it 2 years ago with 121K miles on it for $900. After installing a new tie rod it's run pretty good for an old beast.

    I only drive it about 4000 miles a year mainly to haul farm products to market so I doubt it will last until 200K. I'm less worried about the enginge and tranny as I am about the body. 23 years of NY road salt has eaten it up pretty good. It is starting to shed chunks.

    I figure another 2 years and 8-10K miles and I will have gotten my money's worth. The nice thing about owing a wobbly-wheel-wonder is that it doesn't owe you anything. You can just shrug off the little things that break.

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I'm less worried about the enginge and tranny as I am about the body. 23 years of NY road salt has eaten it up pretty good. It is starting to shed chunks.

    That sounds alot like my '85 Silverado. It only has around 137,000 miles on it, but spent a lot of time sitting around, and often on grass. My Granddad bought it new in the summer of 1985, it got passed down over the years. Grandmom kept it for a few years after Granddad died, then gave it to my Mom. Then in 2002, Mom bought a new F150, and sold it to me. The 305-4bbl engine and THM350C tranny still seem like they have plenty of life left, although it smokes a bit on start-up, and has an exhaust leak. But, the body's starting to look pretty bad.

    Oh, and speaking of wheels falling off, it is missing one lug nut. Guess I should do something about that, but hey, it has 19 more! :shades:
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Then in 2002, Mom bought a new F150, and sold it to me.

    I'm sorry but that brought back the old line from Love and Death - "My grandfather, on his deathbed, sold me this watch."......
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I'm sorry but that brought back the old line from Love and Death - "My grandfather, on his deathbed, sold me this watch."......

    Actually, Grandmom was pretty miffed that Mom sold the truck to me, considering she had given it to her for nothing. However, Mom did put around $700 into it just before that, and only sold it to me for $1200.

    At first, I was giving Mom $100 per month for the truck, but after I paid her $200, she had a problem where the neighbor started trapping her outdoor cats on the sly and sending them to animal control. She tried to start keeping them indoors, but they were used to being outdoor cats, and being in the country, Mom wasn't accustomed to having the cats indoors anyway. She tried to find homes for them, and begged me to take one. I did, and as a thanks, she said don't worry about the remaining $1000.

    Well, that cat turned out to be a pain. Took weeks to get him used to living in a condo, and at one point he actually managed to disappear for a week. Then, when I moved from the condo to the house, I remember putting him in the carrier, and sitting it on the front seat of the Intrepid, and he managed to reach his paw out and dig into the armrest and leave a couple holes. :mad:

    At the house, he didn't do TOO bad, until I got a new kitten. Then he started peeing down one of the furnace vents in the living room. When we got the dog, he refused to come downstairs. He peed on my bed, and that was the last straw. I paid my Mom the remaining $1000 so there would be no guilt, and then on Mother's Day, 2005, put that cat in a carrier, and gave it back to her!

    She still has it, but made peace with the neighbors, and lets it, and her other cats, run loose outside. I wish she wouldn't do that, but at least they're all fixed. And, I guess they keep the rodent population down.
  • djm2djm2 Member Posts: 712
    Hi All:

    My philosophy of vehicle ownership is as follows:

    1.) I purchase a vehicle usually on a three (3) year 36 month note.

    2.) I always put a Maximum Manufacturer's Warranty, for the maximum number of years, and maximum mileage with zero deductible.

    3.) I also purchase a "pre-paid service plan," (oil & filter service), from the dealer at the specified service intervals for the first 60,000 miles, (example every 5,000 miles!) ---- This provides documentation of my oil and filter service with the dealer!

    4.) If the recommended service interval is 5,000 miles for oil and filter changes, I have this service performed every 2,500 miles. (I always divide the recommended oil and filter changes in half. --- I believe that clean engines are happy engines.) ---- All oil and filter service is performed by the selling dealer. ------- (I pay for the 2,500 mile interval service with cash, and the 5,000 mile interval service is paid by the pre-paid service plan!)

    5.) I run my vehicles to 100,000 miles, because my extended warranty runs to 100,000 miles. At 90,000 miles I start to look for a replacement vehicle. This process usually takes me one year, because I do extensive research on the vehicle and the dealership, if I am going to a NEW NAME PLATE! --- I will not make a vehicle purchase "IF" I do not like the "attitude" of the selling dealer. ---- I look at a vehicle purchase like a marriage. For three (3) years the dealer and I must be able to get along! If I cannot get along with the dealer at the selling stage, ------ it is going to go down hill after that portion of the process is over!

    6.) Prior to taking my vehicle to the dealer for a "trade in appraisal," I spend one day cleaning, and detailing the entire vehicle. ---- I make an appointment with the sales person, and I stay in control of the entire purchasing process. ---- (At the present time I have two vehicles for business, a 2007 V6 Toyota XLE Camry with 68000 miles, and a 2010 4 cylinder Chevrolet LTZ Malibu with 17,000 miles. Both vehicles are service by the selling dealers in the same fashion.

    7.) In both vehicles I use an additive in the motor oil at every oil and filter change. The product is; BG/MOA. My Camry does not use any oil between oil and filter changes, and I do not have any signs of a "sludge build up" in the engine. (This is my decision! ---- I also use an additive periodically in the fuel!)

    8.) I will not own a vehicle without an extended factory warranty, because it is too expensive to repair the new vehicles. An automatic transmission could cost thousands of dollars. A simple A/C compressor problem could cost $1,500.00 to $2,000.00 dollars. ---- My vehicles are in excellent condition when I turn them over to the dealer at 100,000 miles. I get "top dollar" on a trade in!

    Best regards. -------------- Dwayne :shades: ;):)
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited September 2011
    I'd rather change my oil myself and save on those service plans. They aren't worth it in my book. It's easy enough to document changes with receipts, and if you are really concerned, take photos when you do the change.

    I don't believe in dumping perfectly fine fluids down the drain into the waste stream. Offends my green sensibilities to waste oil like that. I generally extend the oil change interval by a few thousand miles after my cars are out of warranty. I don't believe in additives either, although with a Toyota and their past sludge and gelling issues, I don't blame you for going that route.

    Extended warranties can pay off, but the odds are definitely in the dealer's favor. Their profit margins are at least 50%. I sleep ok without one. The length of the factory warranty does factor into what car I'll buy.

    $2,000 sounds expensive, but that's only three or four car payments on your 36 month note.

    If your vehicles are in excellent condition at 100,000 miles, then you are leaving another 100,000 miles on the table. :shades:
  • gouldngouldn Member Posts: 220
    Until now, I've been very fickle about cars and sold/traded them well prior to 100K. However my 01 Forester has about 174K on it and is still a very nice smooth ride. It does everything I need it to and I get about 25mpg. Good enough for now, and I'd like to take it to 200K!
  • oldfarmer50oldfarmer50 Member Posts: 24,200
    "...he started peeing down the furnace vents..."

    Ha ha. Who says cats aren't lovable?

    2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Yeah. Besides now we want to hear about his cat......

    Andre - that's a great story. I'm glad I made the comment that generated it....
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • paopao Member Posts: 1,867
    this car has been solid since day one...purchased in Feb 04 and have replaced one leaking brake caliper and two front tire rods...other than the normal wear and tear items still all OEM. Its a V-6 and I regularly pull 30-32 MPG on extended hwy trips and 24 around town. Its my daily driver and commuter car as well as the weekend warrior for hauling misc stuff. I love the hatchback design, but this model never really caught on for Chevy. Im hoping for three more years and 250K out of my Maxx. It shows some of its wear and tear on the seats and the road rash, but otherwise, rolling along with regular fluid changes and synthetic oil every 7000 miles.
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