Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire New vehicle, when and why?

How do you decide that your current vehicle is in need of replacement? The wife's GMC 2010 SUV with the 3.5 v-6 just hit 117,000 miles and doesn't use any oil and has been a terrific vehicle for us, but now she is talking about a new one and I'm telling her that there isn't anything wrong with the old one. She has this saying: "Do you want it, do you need it and can you afford it?" Then again I have a machine shop foreman friend who says anything mechanical can be fixed. I just put a second water pump, harmonic balancer and serpentine belt in my old daily driver Buick and it runs fine again, so I'm not the one to ask. When is it time to start thinking about another vehicle?

When the old one is a GM product with 117,000 miles.

All depends on how henpecked you are.
Grins

Its never time for a brand new one.

This^^^^^

Can you pay cash for it? If so, have at it. If not ...........

When I don't trust the current one to do it's job reliably.

This

Has always been my calculation for personal vehicles.

Business much different.

Depends on the vehicle. I have gone through two '90's era GMC pickups that sailed past 200K without major problems, other than looking like crap, the steering column being loose, and the doors barely closing.

I'm a "drive the wheels off it, and then re-attach the wheels" kinda guy. I've never sold a vehicle with less than 200K on it in my adult life, except one Ford pickup.

That said, wimmenz seem to have a different standard than I do, so I'm guessing you're on the hook for an upgrade. You're going to lose that battle, so focus on tactics: take her to get a nice, but used, vehicle before she goes new car shopping.

Agree . . . Just tell your wife you'll get her a new car when you all save up the cash for it. I have found it is a really good way to determine just how bad you want to buy something . . . when you can pay cash in full. Sometimes, just the knowledge that you could buy it is satisfying enough not to spend that cash and make do with what you already have.

Agreed. Had a brake caliper blow out on me yesterday. Peddle went to the floor. Luckily I was pulling into my mechanics shop for unrelated business and not rolling down a bridge towing a boat.

When is the last time she had to call a tow truck?

Keep it until you reach the point where it is going to cost over 50% of the vehicles value to get it repaired, then let it go for scrap metal. One danger of spending more than 1/2 the value on repairs is the insurance value. You've got a vehicle worth $3000, and you spend $2000 getting it in good running condition then are in a minor accident. Your insurance company is going to pay you $3000- the deductible. I'd end up with $2500 in my pocket. With most cars and SUV's I sorta think this is a good plan. There are exceptions, for example a rare classic car.

Trucks are different. A 10 year old truck with 150,000 miles will easily bring 1/2 the ACTUAL price it sold for new. Not sticker, but the actually selling price. I think you're better off letting it go at that point, getting 1/2 your money back and starting over again. You'll never have to pay for major repairs, and never have a big payment. I like to make a small payment for 5 years, then put back an extra $100/month during the next 5 years. After 10 years I'm into another new truck with a very low payment and with today's 2% loans pay very little interest. My current truck payment is $275. Over the 5 years of the loan I'll only pay $1200 in interest. I traded in a Jeep along with some cash to get the low payment. I COULD have paid cash and not gotten a loan, but I'd have lost money. By keeping my money in the bank I'm earning more than $1200 every few months.

I didn't always follow that advice though. Most of the times I traded vehicles during my life was not because I WANTED a new vehicle. It was because things changed and the old one was no longer capable of doing what I NEEDED done. I started off single, then married, then kid #1, later kid #2. Then the kids get bigger. Then your kids want to bring friends, then one day your son is 6'4. 250 lbs and wears a size 14 shoe and he has friends the same size who need a ride home. Then they move out and you no longer need a big vehicle. Until you get grand kids, then you start over.

I'm currently driving a full size crew cab truck and the next vehicle for my wife will probably be a full size SUV to fit everyone in. I'd probably have been better off If I'd done that 30 years ago.

Same here.

With one caveat. I traded in a 2014 Toyota Camry with 87000 miles on it a few months ago because 100,000 miles is the point where they take a dramatic dump in trade in value. I commute 250 miles each way to work so fuel mileage is a big concern to me and the 2018 camry has a new engine with about 5 mpg better fuel mileage than the old ones. I did some ciphering and concluded that the better gas mileage would save me a bit of money so it was either hold on to the 2014 until the wheels came off or trade it before 100,000 while it was still worth something.

I usually drive them until they fall apart but in this case I made the trade. The older I get the less tolerance I have for old vehicles that need constant attention though. I used to not mind working on them a bit but now a missed work trip will cost me a lot of money so I can't risk older, less reliable vehicles.

That’ll get your attention. You were past lucky on that one.

The only reason to trade in one with only 117k is if you want one and can afford it. It should have lots of years and miles on it yet. You're throwing away the depreciation you've already paid for.

I started buying Honda and Toyota vehicles because I got tired of the "trade it in on a new one every 5 years" routine.

when I don't think I can just hop in with pretty much no worries...…..I get a new one...……….bob

Normally when I get 60 to 70 K miles which is usually done in 3 to 4 years.

I replaced my 4 runners at 90k miles. The last one at 50k. It was mechanically perfect but the body was pretty scratched and dented and I liked the 2018 TRD 4wd and the trade value. We travel 6 months/year and I don't like messing w/ vehicles. A 4wd 4Runner w/ good tires is perfect for us.



mike r

My old jeep had 160,000, my Dodge has 180,000. I sold jeep to son in law, keeping Dodge to drive to work for another two years, then give to grandson. I bought a new 3/4 Dodge diesel, 4x4 last Saturday. I will start getting my Social Security in March, it will pay for new truck. I owe nothing else, should be able to pay it off in two years. I put half the price of truck down. I drive 200 miles to deer lease. I hate driving that far in a vehicle with so many miles on it.

Yessir. Backing into salt water all the time is hell on brakes.

Back in 1979 I ordered out a new F-150 the way I wanted it. Drove that till 1991. Sold it outright had a succession of used vehicles for 23 years after that. In 2004 I bought a used Tacoma with a 5spd 4 cyl and 76k miles on it,in Oct of 2016 with 244k on it the clutch started slipping so I parked it and drove a 1994 GMC I had. At the end of October 2016, Ford had a model year clearance sale and I got a good deal on a 2016 F-150. The thing of it is I got to a point where I'd have sit down and draw up a list on the Tacoma and GMC before I went anywhere of things to do and check before leaving for a cross state trip. I don't want to be the guy broke down at night along side the road. Just before T-day that fall coming home from prairie deer hunting, the GMC ate a mule buck at 55 mph. I live in the country and owning only 1 vehicle is not an option. What you drive, NEEDS to be dependable and if it's not it's time to buy something else. MB

I buy new every four years or approximately 80,000 miles. From a pure economic viewpoint, that not real smart. But that’s what I do and I’m not changing. Have a 19 silverado ordered to replace the 15.

I drive something for 20 yrs until the transmission or engine takes a major crap. Like nuclear meltdown.

Then I go buy another 'new-to-me' 10year old vehicle.

Yep. Implied, as I see that stated, is also the possibility the job changes and the current one won't do it well. Family situation changes, purchase of something heavy to tow, etc could also reasonably trigger a change.

Tom

"When is it time to start thinking about another vehicle?"

When your wife starts to worry about breaking down in the current vehicle.

It's one thing for a guy to have car troubles at 11pm on a lonely road, and quite another for our wives/daughters.

I have only bought 2 new cars in my life (I'm 62yo), one in 1975 and the other in 2005. I just sold the 2005 a few months ago with 197k on it. I'll never buy another new car.

When I grow tired of the old one. I have a '16 F150 I'm ready to trade in now, but decided to wait on the 2020s and new body style.

Your vehicles are just getting broken in...... Hunting/fishing/garbage truck 350K+....Good truck 235K+..... wife' car almost 140K. I wouldn't take of just any where in the old truck, but the other two vehicles are in good condition, been serviced regularly and I'd take off anywhere in them.

I don't know but they should replace them in Michigan a lot sooner. I mean the rust problem is terrible up here.

Do a lot of people in the north still have a 'winter' vehicle, usually a rust bucket, for driving on the salted roads? And, then a nice 'summer' car that is garage kept in the winter.

Yep,

I've had this 48 years and way past 117,00 on ths GM product, it will last quite a few more, no plans in the near future of replacing it...

I try to wait to buy when purchase price - trade in price / years of ownership is $2000 or less. You can include/exclude tax and/or set your own number as you choose.

That's a pretty open definition, ain't it? A Toyota Camry with 250K on the clock would not worry me one bit (if I've been the one maintaining it) for a winter time cross country trip.

With cell phones, even a local break down at 11 pm is no biggie. Just run out with the truck and pull it home in a pinch.

Replace it when you want to, because you want to. Provided it doesn't mess with long term financial goals, of course.

We are currently researching buying a 4 season, 21' ish travel trailer and a snow machine. this would require a pickup for optimum use. This is a whole new world for me so much studying yet to be done. Standby for lot of questions. Sometimes the anticipation and planning is 1/2 the fun.


mike r

nice goat!

Used to be when the ash tray got full, but nobody smokes anymore.

When the one yer drivin' begins to 'thousand-dollar-you-to-death'.... In agriculture, it's called the 'law of diminishing returns'...

Rust problems in Michigan a pretty much are a thing of the past. Best way is to run it through a $5 car wash a few times each month in the winter.
As to when we buy new vehicles, usually when they get 60-70K on them (around 5 years). I find they are much easier to sell or get a much better trade in than those with 100K + on them. Last year was my time, 17 Explorer, this year wife got her new 18 Terrain.
We make car payments to ourselves over those 5 years, so when it's time for a new one it's a cash deal.
Oh ya, just love the smell to a new car

When is a judgment call, when the current one needs more money put into it than I want to. Last one was a GMC Sierra, my son borrowed it and rear-ended a truck, $2,500 to fix the minor damage to the bumper and grill. Plus, it needed new tires. Then, it started burning oil at a pretty good clip. The transmission went out within the warranty period so that was a free fix but did not bode well. I took it to a few dealers to see what they'd give for a trade-in and got $18K so traded it in on a new long-bed crew cab Tacoma and didn't look back.

We sold the wife's Jeep four months ago, and she's been driving my truck since then. She has her mind made up on a new Lexus, so if the stealerhsip still has the one online when I get home for R&R next month, I've promised her we would buy it. When I return home for good next summer I'll need my truck so I can drive back and forth to work there. I wish I was paying cash for it, but I'm not. I do have a nice down payment though for it. Come September, I'll probably be buying the youngest his first car. I refuse to finance a car for a kid, so it will be a cash buy.

I refuse to finance a car.......

Best reply so far. Live your life without worrying about a bunch of money you can't take with you. I have great medical insurance, life insurance and I'm way ahead on my house even though I still make payments. I do what I want but don't do stupid. Life is good.

When mama wants one.

I just drive whatever junk is sitting around the house.

The short answer is whenever I want, I have owned more than 35 vehicles in 40 years, mostly because I bought old vehicles, repaired and drove them and I just like cars, trucks and hotrods.

My 2005 Frontier was bought knew, 10 years and 200K miles and before I traded it I replaced the timing chains and tensioners but it was still running good. I wanted a fullsize again and traded it for 2010 2500HD with 82K miles, half as old, half as many miles, twice as big and half the fuel mileage and 6K to payoff. Love it and don't foresee selling it.

After several year of running a GM TBI/AMC 360 in my 1978 Cherokee I am In the middle of a 5.3/4L60/NP241 swap, reliability, better mileage, part-time 4WD and I don't foresee selling it, it's fun as hell to drive, gets a lot of compliments and very capable off-road.

When the HD is paid off in the fall of 2019 I will buy a 2018 5.0/10spd Mustang, my goal is for less 30K dollars and 25K miles, I have not owned a car (not including now EX wifes wheels) since my 77 Nova around 2000, I just want the option of a car again. Considered Camaro, Cadillac CTS-V, the last of the air cooled 911's and Challenger's but the 5.0 to me is the best bang for the buck.

It's just money, my goal is for the money to run out when I die, until then I will have fun.

That's as good as it gets right there.

Sometimes I wish I didn't have 4 miles of a nasty limestone gravel road that would beat a car like this to pieces, then I come to my senses.

Me too!

I financed a new truck in 1993. I quickly decided that once I got that thing paid for, I'd never make payments on a vehicle again. So far this has served me very well.

I believe car payments are responsible for keeping more broke people broke than all other bad decisions put together.

If I could cut the deal, I would throw in one of Smokes nuts for this one....





As far as when: Right about the time I get tired of looking at the same old insides, which is usually around 70K, and takes a little +/- 3 years. I still work for a lot of reasons, one of which is to drive something I like.

Just had new brakes and rotors put on the 2016 4 runner and it needs new tires soon. 57K on it as of now. Money I will never get back when it comes time to trade it.

You have a vehicle, owned outright or financed, you make payments.

If I can afford it....pretty much when I feel like it.

Or in your case...every time you go to the dealership.

Lots of food for thought here, thanks. Dad use to trade his American Mortors Ramblers every 50,000 miles because those carburetor, automatic choke motors put a lot of fuel dilution into the oil and the rings were about shot at 50K. My buddy was the sales manager at a big local dealership and he said that the 3.0 Ford, 4.0 Jeep, 4.8 Northstar and the 3800 Buick were routinely the only engines that came in with a quarter million miles on them. My winter beater Buick has that 3800 V-6 in it and it just keeps going like the Energizer Bunny. My work Buick with that engine did the same thing, so I'm embarrassed to even mention the age of the "Classic" daily driver, but it still starts, runs well, does what I need and isn't rusted. They don't change the body style of the new ones every year and they can't hang any more options on a vehicle than they had ten years ago, so if they work for you, they work for you. As mentioned the salted roads eat up a car here anyway and you can't store something nice or the condensation will get it too. The wife's aunt just willed her a pile of cash and that might be entering into her thinking. With my Scottish heritage I've been accused of being tighter than the skin on a wiener, so I don't spend for unnecessary things. With that mentality though I'd be driving my '95 for ever.

I have a rule that is a result of experience in my twenties. If the vehicle has been relatively trouble free and shows no signs of radical change, and it is capable of doing what I currently need - best to stick with it until one or the other changes. Sure as I "upgrade" just for the sake of it, the new(er) vehicle will turn out to be less reliable. Seen it even with new vehicles. Just because it's new and has a warranty, doesn't mean it won't be a headache. I guess this comes under the heading "if it ain't broke - don't fix it".

I make a point of researching a potential new-to-me vehicle so I know its rep for reliability and maintenance cost. I don't care how cool something looks. If it ain't got a good track record, I ain't buying. That also means I generally won't buy new. Models can be great one year and suck the next. I'd rather wait and see how they're doing first. Buy one a couple or few years old with low miles and then drive the wheels off it if it will let me. That's been working pretty well for me, but I don't mind fixin' minor things myself.

That's mighty white of ya. If you let me drive it, I might give you the left nut but never the right.

Hmmmm. Let me get with the seller. She may insist on the right.

It’s always something.

The reliability of my 260,000 mile '09 and 350,000 mile '02 Corollas has been a friggin' lifesaver these past two years as I have done nothing but clear debt. Each is a backup for the other in case one needs fixing but so far so good. OTOH driving either one cross-country with that many miles would be a calculated risk, fortunately too I commute by bicycle most days.

All goes as it has done and in 2020 I'll be in a position to buy another Toyota or Honda (possibly my last vehicle), I actually ain't looking forward to that with all the computerized crapola on cars and trucks today. A need rather than a want.