The High Heeled Ruminations Of Melrose Plant

[CrushedVamp]

No American vehicle trend to me was more dumb than the Humvee craze of the early 2000's.

Not only was it a gaz guzzler, it was not even a pickup and could carry anything other than people. And despite having a crazy ability to go off-road, those that bought them would never take them off-road anyway. It was all a status thing, which as all of you should know by now, I am polar opposite on. I could care less what other people think of my choices as long as I have thought things through and made a decision on what I feel is best for me.

For now, I like my Honda CRV, but I also buy my used cars outright and try to stick with models that go for a long time. I literally drive my cars to the last mile. When I am done with one, they go to the crusher to be turned into scrap metal. Typically, I try to get 250,000 miles out of one before they ultimately die.

[pebblesf]

4 hours ago, CrushedVamp said:

No American vehicle trend to me was more dumb than the Humvee craze of the early 2000's.

Not only was it a gaz guzzler, it was not even a pickup and could carry anything other than people. And despite having a crazy ability to go off-road, those that bought them would never take them off-road anyway. It was all a status thing, which as all of you should know by now, I am polar opposite on. I could care less what other people think of my choices as long as I have thought things through and made a decision on what I feel is best for me.

For now, I like my Honda CRV, but I also buy my used cars outright and try to stick with models that go for a long time. I literally drive my cars to the last mile. When I am done with one, they go to the crusher to be turned into scrap metal. Typically, I try to get 250,000 miles out of one before they ultimately die.

Those "hummers" were a bummer for sure.   I suppose some folks have enough money to afford tossing money away on stupid vehicles like Hummers, not to mention their never ending thirst for gasoline.  I tend to keep vehicles forever as well, but that is only possible if you are somewhat handy and can tend to basics yourself such as oil changes and basic maintenance/repairs.  I can understand how many would prefer to buy a new car every so often, trading in a low mileage well maintained vehicle that might even have a bit of original warranty left on it.  Today's vehicles are super complex, and very expensive to repair.  

[higherheels]

I live more on the country side, but still have most of the daily needs in reach by foot or bike.

Living without a car would be possible, but sometimes very inconvenient.

6 hours ago, CrushedVamp said:

I literally drive my cars to the last mile

I like that mindset!

My car is 19 years old and I'm not planning on replacing it. If I look at new cars I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything, more the opposite. So I'm trying to keep it well maintained and maybe also drive it to the last mile 🙂

[Cali]

I had one car that was at 250,000+ when I totaled the front end in a accident caused by a mountain lion crossing a freeway. My next one blow a rod when the oil pump failed at about 160K. I now drive a 4-wd RAV4 which has 120K+ on it currently.

The new ugly, dumbness 'truck' of the day is the Tesla 'pickup'.  It seems the same people who bought the hummer also bought on of these.

Edited 18 hours ago by Cali

[pebblesf]

6 minutes ago, Cali said:

I had one car that was at 250,000+ when I totaled the front end in a accident caused by a mountain lion crossing a freeway. My next one blow a rod when the oil pump failed at about 160K. I now drive a 4-wd RAV4 which has 120K+ on it currently.

The new ugly, dumbness 'truck' of the day is the Tesla 'pickup'.  It seems the same people who bought the hummer also bought on of these.

I'd sooner drive a 1977 AMC pacer than one of those tesla "pickups", what a joke they are

[CrushedVamp]

I am super frugal so I try and look at things math-wise and not so much from an emotional point of view. In that, while repairing cars are expensive, it ALWAYS pencils out to be cheaper than having a new car with a payment.

I just did brakes on my car with 144,000 miles. It cost me $752, but will go for another year before it needs that much work again. But when the average cost of even a USED car is $521 a month, my repair bill will pay for itself in 1-1/2 months. That is only 45 days. That is a darn good return on investment.

And the car itself is pretty darn good too. I put $40.00 worth of gas in my car, drive to work for five days and bring home $2000 for the week. People brag about having stock options that pay 9% a year, well my car and job nets me a 4900% return on investment in a week so my coworker who eats his can of sardines in the breakroom is suddenly not that hard to put up with.

Nothing last forever so at some things just are not worth fixing. My last car was a 2003 Honda CRV that had 206,000 miles on it when the transmission really started slipping. It was $4000 for a rebuilt transmission so I went looking for a different car. I hate debt so I pay cash for my cars, but buy used and then just run them till they die.

But as Dave Ramsey says, if American’s want to know why they are broke, it is because of what is sitting in their driveway. I am not about status symbols at all, in fact I like to stay under the radar.

But let me ask about the Tesla Truck: can you even get into that thing wearing high heels? I think with the Humvee you would HAVE to wear high heels.

[Shyheels]

I’m so glad to be out of the whole car ownership thing. It saves me a fortune and doesn’t inconvenience me a bit

[higherheels]

@CrushedVamp So true! What's funny is that my car now is worth about the same as when I bought it. With the help of my husband I'm even able to do some things on my own, so repairs can be surprisingly cheap. And it's a good feeling when I know that I was able to fix/maintain it (at least a bit) by myself 🙂

[Shyheels]

4 minutes ago, higherheels said:

@CrushedVamp So true! What's funny is that my car now is worth about the same as when I bought it. With the help of my husband I'm even able to do some things on my own, so repairs can be surprisingly cheap. And it's a good feeling when I know that I was able to fix/maintain it (at least a bit) by myself 🙂

Well done you! I’m having to learn about diesel engines, solar power and electrical systems - and starting from a very low knowledge base! 

[higherheels]

I really don't have a high knowledge level when it comes to cars. Only a bit for the things I already worked on myself. My husband is a great help and guides me through so even I can manage some things 🙂

[Puffer]

1 hour ago, Shyheels said:

I’m so glad to be out of the whole car ownership thing. It saves me a fortune and doesn’t inconvenience me a bit

2 minutes ago, Shyheels said:

Well done you! I’m having to learn about diesel engines, solar power and electrical systems - and starting from a very low knowledge base! 

Yes, motoring costs and the increasingly-draconian laws applicable to driving and vehicles provide no incentive to car-ownership, let alone motoring for pleasure.   But you won't entirely escape their equivalents with a narrowboat, especially when it comes to maintaining a diesel engine.   And public transport, when necessary, can come at quite a price.   That all said, I can certainly see the appeal of your canal lifestyle!

[Shyheels]

Yes, this is by no means a full avoidance of the headaches of care and maintenance, but life on the cut seems a whole lot simpler than in the world of bricks and mortar and automobiles.

As I write this I’m getting ready to take off my heels and head down the muddy towpath with my collapsible dolly to buy a couple of 25kg bags of coal …