How old is your car?

[jeffk]

1998 Toyota Sienna 185,000 miles
2000 Volvo C70 75,000 miles

I usually hang on to my cars until they are unreliable, need major expensive repair, or they rust out.

As to the question of why not American cars; I bought a Chevy Citation back in 1980. It was supposed to be the American answer to foreign competition and I was happy to "buy American". The car was junk. Transmission failed at 30,000 and 80,000 miles. Lots of pollution control device problems EVERY YEAR ($$$). Cam shaft wore out. Coil spring snapped. Finally the floor rusted out and I had a Flintstone mobile which I had towed to the junk yard. All this under 100,000 miles. BTW, I was in school at the time and could ill afford an unreliable car or could afford to replace it. The Detroit companies didn't care about providing me a good product. I came to realize that the American solution to quality was to advertise that their cars had quality, not to actually build it in. Maybe it's actually more cost efficient that way?

And it's NOT an American workforce problem either. Toyota has high quality in their cars built in the US. The US companies have had over 30 years to fix these problems and the have made a conscious choice NOT to. Their workforce is more interested in excessive wages and benefits than building a quality product. They deserve what happens to them.

[LakeSnake]

07 Mustang GT - 30K on it already (bought end of '06)- but a fun ride
05 Honda CRV - the winter car - 50K - not so fun but defenitly comes in handy in the snow.

MRS has 05 Nissan Altima - 40K

[JPC]

2001 Altima and a 2005 Chevy Colorado pickup. Both vehicle were bought used. I replaced a 96 Siverado with the Colorado. Its a smaller pickup with better gas mileage (3.5L 5cyl). Had nearly 150K on the Silverado but the clincher was the rust on the bottom of the doors and tailgate. The Altima is the first non-american car since my 84 Toyota van which I kept for 10yrs.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

"...Over at Heath's in Center Harbor, there's a late model BMW suv with {a NH vanity plate}. No clue here who owns that one either? It must be nice...poor me....a '99 Ford Contour...!"

I've got an even older vehicle—a little '95 Japanese pickup truck which has required only a generator, brakes, tires, and wipers in its long life: it does all the heavy lifting for this family.

But my vehicles get even older: my BMW is a heavily modified '91 M318is. Photos and the rest on this BMW-for-the-street-and-track, I'll put in the blog area later.

My oldest vehicle is a '71 VW camper—also "souped-up" with HD swaybars, oil coolers, Koni shocks, and a modified engine.

The original two steel ignition keys—and a few brass ones—have worn out. Three ignition switches also eventually worn through. But it's seen nearly 400,000 miles, towed boats, trailers and cars, and carried me through 40 states. (So I'm attached to it still).

Oh yeah...two speedometers worn out, too How many drivers own their car for so many miles that they're on their third speedometer?

Below, the Florida BMW (in "street" mode), with an unaccustomed cover of Winnipesaukee-region snow.

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless
"...Over at Heath's in Center Harbor, there's a late model BMW suv with {a NH vanity plate}. No clue here who owns that one either? It must be nice...poor me....a '99 Ford Contour...!"

FLL is playing the poor me card again.This despite he owning Winni lakefront property in which he keeps his self listed 12 boats.Yup,12.It must be really tough FLL.How about poor me?I don't own any Winni property and only have 1 small PWC and 1 motor vehicle.

[sa meredith]

[
FLL is playing the poor me card again.This despite he owning Winni lakefront property in which he keeps his self listed 12 boats.Yup,12.It must be really tough FLL.How about poor me?I don't own any Winni property and only have 1 small PWC and 1 motor vehicle.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but it is a Denali...not exactly a poor man's ride. And at 15 to 18 MPG, feul must set you back a bit, regardless of price.
And, of course, you need to have a few bucks put aside for some brews over at the Bone Yard.
Not really sure what this has to do with the price of tea....

[SIKSUKR]

Got me.Although it was a good buy at $29,000 and change.12 boats though.

[robmac]

I drive a 2006 Z-71 Tahoe,51000 miles,a 2000 S-10 P/U 4x4 ext cab for hauling items that I don't want in the Tahoe and a 1991 S-10 P/U w/a 502 big block for fun.

[fatlazyless]

My purchase prices here for my mostly used boat purchases, which will probably surprise you. And no, nothing is for sale.

12' rowboat - $125.

17' canoe - $100

17' canoe - $175
w/rowing rig 125


16' kayak - $250

12' kayak - $550

12' kayak - $150

9' kayak - $285

14' sailboat - $700 (w/ trailer)

12' sailboat - $300

18' motorboat$4600 (w/trailer)

16'motorboat $8500 (w/ trailer)

15' motorboat $700

hmmm, did I miss one?

So, it's not like it all adds up to a big number, especially when compared to what a single motorboat can easily cost. Plus, I bought them over about 16 years.. Finding bargain boats is all I can afford.......poor me!

craigslist new hampshire is a good place to look for a bargain boat but certainly not the only place.

And, the '99 Ford Contour was purchase last January for $1500. from a NH seacoast police officer through craigslist. Does that sound like a rich guy's car?

...hey...all things considered, the best social and mental health program for anyone is a good paying job! And yes, I am looking for one.
........

off-topic question - How does craigslist make any money when they charge zero for their ads? off-topic answer - big volume?
......
Hey siksukr....just wondering...are you the same guy who sold me the used green Sunbrella 18' cover for about $75 over at the Y-landing a couple years back?

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

craigslist new hampshire is a good place to look for a bargain boat but certainly not the only place.

off-topic question - How does craigslist make any money when they charge zero for their ads? off-topic answer - big volume?

They charge a fee for employment ads. That is how craigslist got started.

[SIKSUKR]

No FLL,that was not me.I'm just busting your poor me posts because we all know you can't be that down in the dumps right?Hey those boats add up to $15,860 which is still 50% more than mine.Poor me.