Just sent in the last payment on the Dodge Earthf**ker (actually, the last 4 payments; paid it off early with the Xmas bonus). I'm planning on holding onto the Ram for a few years longer, ideally 5 - 10 more if possible. Right now she needs new tires before the winter really cranks up to full speed, and in the next 3-6 months she's going to need new front and rear brakes. With any kind of luck, she won't need any major work for another 50K or so, which should put us well into the time frame of deciding whether we still need a full size truck or not...
It's really nice to own the vehicle you're driving; even better if it's in good shape and doesn't look like it's going to cost you much to operate going down the road (that sound you just heard was my truck ejecting the transmission at the sound of the last payment being made). While I'd love a more fuel efficient vehicle, the fact is that I need something that will haul my camper, tote the various boxes of gear and sundry needed for Scouting, and still seat four people. The list starts at "full size SUV" and ends at "full sized pickup" - there's just not a lot of vehicles out there that can do what I need them to do.
I'd love to pick up a good used (very) small car to supplement the G. fleet, either something I could pay cash for outright or pick up relatively cheaply. I'm under no illusions about saving enough money in gas to cover the cost of the third vehicle, but the wear and tear, combined with the gas price, certainly makes a little econobox more attractive. Add in that neither the Mrs. nor I have a car with a trunk, and that's another reason for a more secure vehicle right there - especially if there are roadtrips on the horizon...
In any case, it'll be great not to have to make that monthly payment for a bit...
That is all.
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8 comments:
Start putting transmission money away.
Dodge has always had iffy trannys.
My Ram got rebuilt at about 150K miles and when I sold it, the new owners told me the reverse was going out.
Gratz on paying off the truck. Feels good, doesn't it? Enjoy it while you can. (You're already aware of what can happen, so I won't belabor the point.)
FWIW, if you're in the mood for an econobox, my fiancee is quite pleased with ther Subaru Impreza. Hers is a hatchback but you can get them as a dinky sedan too. Hers has a stick and she gets about 32 mpg. Subaru's reputation for reliability has some basis in truth, but when it does need service you'll pay for it.
On tires for the truck, a couple of friends with the same truck are happy with Mastercraft tires they bought here in NH at Town Fair.
I am a Michelin fan, and if you plan to keep the truck, a few bucks more up front gives a better value overall. I have Michelins on my two cars, with Michelin snows for one mounted on winter wheels.
Jay,
I'll give you second vote for seeing the folk at Town Fair Tire for when The Earthf*cker needs new rubber. I use Town Fair because they're the company that gave Coupe Deval "the finger" when the MA Dept of Revenue attempted to cross north into NH to collect "sales tax" on transactions of MA residents buying tires in NH.
If you were a client, this is what I'd be telling you :D
Put your truck payment into savings for 3-4 months (after you get new tires, of course). You might even want open a separate account just for this to keep yourself from accidentally spending the money.
Then, follow my steps for how to buy a cheap car.
Best car I ever had was a 15 year old Plymouth Neon that I bought for $800, drove for a year, and then sold for $1000. Got about 25mpg city, too.
I now have a $3000 jeep that I paid $4000 for 60,000 miles ago. Hard to beat that level of depreciation.
Congrats on paying off the truck!
When we paid ours off, I kept earmarking "truck payment" and tried to sock it away instead of adding to the general fund. This really helped when the car decided it wanted to eat the air conditioning compressor for breakfast. I just got the truck payment fund built back up healthily, and now the power steering pump is complaining about the level of funds in that account... it's so nice to not have to worry about making the payment, the insurance, and the mechanic bill!
On the other hand, how many years do you have before this potential econobox also becomes the disposable cars whose transmission will be ground down by teenagers learning to drive? Or will Mrs. G let you start them on motorcycles first?
Paid mine off last year, feels great.had to do my tires in the spring, and town fair was the best price I found.i went with the same tires as oem, figured I was happy with the 55k they lasted.cost around 900-1000 out the door. Just did brakes, cost me under 300 for brakes and rotors front and rear, and I went with the ceramic pads. Did it mtself and saved a bunch.
I'm happy with the Saturn Astra I got just after Thanksgiving (I should do a post on that soon), but that's probably more than you're looking to spend (I got it for $10,000 thanks to my parents - at their insistence, I didn't ask - but it Blue Books at $12,500). As a bonus, Government Motors didn't get a single penny from the sale!
On the other hand, with it being a 2008 and having only 40,000 miles on the odometer, I'll probably be able to drive it for another 10 years or so if I keep up with the routine maintenance. The Astra line (sold by Vauxhall in Britain and Opel in Europe) seems to have a good reputation. With the fold down rear seats and removable rear deck/trunk cover, I've got decent cargo room if I need it while still getting good gas mileage (27 mpg with my usual daily stop-'n-go commute and 34 mpg on the highway).
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