Do you REALLY need a new vehicle?

[RollingsFarms]

I drive a 2010 F150 supercrew with 237'000 on it and the wife has a 2008 trail blazer with 187'000 the truck will have to do another 5 years and the trailblazer will be given to my son in 2 years time and for the wife i will buy another 3/4 year old suv from an auction . I find maintenance cost to be a lot less than people claim and i've never had a "new" vehicle thats been that much more reliable than old ones tractors included .

I'd buy from an auction too but the auto auctions around here require you to pay $100 whether you buy a vehicle or not. Plus it's full of salesman who will gladly outbid you for a decent vehicle. Just not worth the hassle to me. It does work for a lot of people though.

 

[Alan L.]

Pay down your mortgage. Then you can pay cash for something newer.

Chris

If you are going to have debt better it be on your mortgage since that interest is deductible if you itemize whereas the interest on a personal car or tractor not used for business is not. Interest rates seem to be similar in fact the mortgage might be a little more.

 

[JDgreen227]

I drive a 2010 F150 supercrew with 237'000 on it and the wife has a 2008 trail blazer with 187'000 the truck will have to do another 5 years and the trailblazer will be given to my son in 2 years time and for the wife i will buy another 3/4 year old suv from an auction . I find maintenance cost to be a lot less than people claim and i've never had a "new" vehicle thats been that much more reliable than old ones tractors included .

Agree 100%...I started this thread to make an example that you can pay for a LOT or repairs and maintenance items for what payments on a new vehicle would be. My Y2K GMC has super low mileage, BUT: Most of the maintenance and all of the repairs/replacements have been required because of age and not mileage.

1 set of tires
2 batteries
3 drive belt replacements
3 air filter replacements
2 DRL light bulbs
1 dash panel transfer case switch replacement
2 new valve cover gaskets

Aside from normal maintenance like oil and filter changes and wiper blades, etc. it has not required anything else. The truck has the OEM brakes and hoses which I will replace this year. Meaning prior to now, I have less than $1000 total repairs into it over a ten year period after the warranty expired.

 

[Katahdin]

I have a 1993 Yukon, 2 Door full size, 5.7 liter 350, 310K miles on it. It still runs but its too far gone rust wise to be street legal and not really worth the time, money, and effort to restore it. It'll probably go to the salvage yard this summer after I take the parts I want from it.

That truck I bought used and was a pain to keep street legal due to rust. One of the more recent repairs was replacing a rotted frame cross member that holds up the fuel tank....and the fuel tank. It was my winter beater and I did try to keep up with paint, body, etc but for me it was a lesson learned that if you buy a new vehicle its easier to keep it maintained and the rust off of it then buying used. I'm envious of you guys in the South who don't have these rust-belt issues, or annual vehicle inspections for that matter!

 

[Looking4new]

I've got a 2001 Jeep TJ (Wrangler) sport that has almost 156,000 miles on it. Other than expendables (tires, wiper blades and a starter) it has been good to me. 2 years ago I replaced the front fenders and stone guarded underneath them. Last fall I blew out a brake line, so this spring I replaced them all. I don't off road it, much. It is all mine and as far as I am concerned at 67 years old, I will never buy another vehicle. This one will last me the rest of my lifetime.

 

[Egon]

So...you guys advise me what I should do:

Option 1: Replace my Y2K GMC XL that has a perfect body and near perfect interior that needs only about $500 worth of repairs this year, something I drive less than 2,000 miles yearly.

OR

Option 2: Replace my 2002 JD 4210 E-hydro that is nearing 1200 operating hours and accumulates about 110 more per year. Needs a new hood, a hydraulic system fluid and filter change but nothing else.

OR:

Option 3: Instead of making payments on a new Option 1 or 2..use my spare cash to pay down my current mortgage.

I am long past the age where I need to impress anybody with a new toy. An easy choice, isn't it?

Buy some different new toys, eg. Sailboat!

 

[JJZ 109]

Do I need a new truck every 2 or 3 years? Nope. But if I want one then I'm going to have one. I'm 51 and life is becoming too short. And with time spent running a business I'm not going to spend time under the hood or laying on the garage floor with something that's out of warranty. Or have an older/high mileage truck down at a shop for who knows how long if something goes south. I'm having what I want while I'm here. It's like the JG Wentworth ads. It's my money, I'll use it when I need it!
My home is paid for, so I can swing a truck payment. Everyone's situation and wants are different so there is no "one size fits all" for vehicle replacement schedule. With that said, most of the local dealers in this area seem to have 1 or 2 year old used trucks on the lot with few miles on them for a pretty good savings over brand new. I bought a truck or two like that back in the late 90's. I may explore that avenue again when the fancy for another truck strikes me.

 

[Egon]

I drive a 2010 F150 supercrew with 237'000 on it and the wife has a 2008 trail blazer with 187'000 the truck will have to do another 5 years and the trailblazer will be given to my son in 2 years time and for the wife i will buy another 3/4 year old suv from an auction . I find maintenance cost to be a lot less than people claim and i've never had a "new" vehicle thats been that much more reliable than old ones tractors included .

I got an 18 year old truck and a 10 year old SUV. No, it don't weigh over 5000 lbs. The vehicles have around 240,000 k on them. No rust on the SUV. Some rust on the truck but none on frame members. They gotta last for quite a few more years. Till about the time my DL gets taken away.

Unfortunately most repairs are beyond me these days but it still seems cost effective to keep them.

 

[smstonypoint]

Just curious.

Would your answers change if the question was "Do you REALLY need a new tractor"?

Steve

 

[dave1949]

Just curious.

Would your answers change if the question was "Do you REALLY need a new tractor"?

Steve

Absolutely. I've been telling Sharon I need a new tractor a lot more than she needs a new car--it even happens to be true. :laughing:

I'm going detail her car this spring, put new seat covers on, new floor mats, get a spray can of "eau de new car", and call it good.