New car rant
I enjoy driving the older stuff, but you need to have a plan to make it work.
My newest vehicle is a 1996 GMC Sonoma with 244398 miles on it. Bought used in 1999 for about $8000 was a full time driver till 8 years ago, now is a winter time daily driver. With the Firestone WinterForce tires mounted, I would drive the '96 Sonoma anywhere. And I do.
2.2l with a 5 speed manual, replaced alternators, starters, rear wheel axels and bearings, believe it or not, has the OE exhaust system. The bed rotted away, got a replacement out of AZ, when I had it repainted to match, also did the hood and front bumper. The truck looks and runs great and I drive it everyplace I go from November through about April.
My May to October daily driver is the 1983 D150. Stripped the truck down to the frame rails in 2010.
Re built, renewed, replaced everything.
Added AC, tinted glass, power windows and locks, re wired electrical system to run relays, installed a nice Bluetooth radio, plenty of sound insulation.
I put a lot into it, maybe 1/2 the cost of a new truck in 2010, but nine years later, I could still get that value back out of this truck.
Every time I buy gas, someone walks over to ask about it.
And I like driving it. And I drive it everyplace I go, I put a lot into it, and I intend to use it up. It will never see snow again. That is what the ‘96 Sonoma is for.
Then there is the 68 Barracuda, but that is a different story.
and when I mentioned a plan when daily driving the older stuff.
Each of my old daily drivers sits in a dry garage about 6 months a year, with a full tank of gas, with stabilizer added, a charged battery and all the required maintenance done. So if something ever happens and I need the spare vehicle it is just a turn of the ignition key away. To date, neither of these vehicles have ever stranded me, but the reassurance is knowing I have a back up. In IN, the cost of license plates on older vehicles is discounted, and I suspend the collision insurance on the vehicle that is parked in the garage, so there is basically zero extra cost in maintaining two vehicles while driving one.
I enjoy driving the older stuff, but you need to have a plan to make it work.
My newest vehicle is a 1996 GMC Sonoma with 244398 miles on it. Bought used in 1999 for about $8000 was a full time driver till 8 years ago, now is a winter time daily driver. With the Firestone WinterForce tires mounted, I would drive the '96 Sonoma anywhere. And I do.
2.2l with a 5 speed manual, replaced alternators, starters, rear wheel axels and bearings, believe it or not, has the OE exhaust system. The bed rotted away, got a replacement out of AZ, when I had it repainted to match, also did the hood and front bumper. The truck looks and runs great and I drive it everyplace I go from November through about April.
My May to October daily driver is the 1983 D150. Stripped the truck down to the frame rails in 2010.
Re built, renewed, replaced everything.
Added AC, tinted glass, power windows and locks, re wired electrical system to run relays, installed a nice Bluetooth radio, plenty of sound insulation.
I put a lot into it, maybe 1/2 the cost of a new truck in 2010, but nine years later, I could still get that value back out of this truck.
Every time I buy gas, someone walks over to ask about it.
And I like driving it. And I drive it everyplace I go, I put a lot into it, and I intend to use it up. It will never see snow again. That is what the ‘96 Sonoma is for.
Then there is the 68 Barracuda, but that is a different story.
and when I mentioned a plan when daily driving the older stuff.
Each of my old daily drivers sits in a dry garage about 6 months a year, with a full tank of gas, with stabilizer added, a charged battery and all the required maintenance done. So if something ever happens and I need the spare vehicle it is just a turn of the ignition key away. To date, neither of these vehicles have ever stranded me, but the reassurance is knowing I have a back up. In IN, the cost of license plates on older vehicles is discounted, and I suspend the collision insurance on the vehicle that is parked in the garage, so there is basically zero extra cost in maintaining two vehicles while driving one.
