One day at a time
is what it takes to get over awrenching addiction.
Jim D believes I should get rid of the old girl because she’s- as he said- “worn out”. Well, no. She has a problem I’m trying to fix. I’m pretty meticuous about taking care of the stuff I need to work, so I know the Exploder- for the most part- is in pretty good running trim. The sheet metal is all there and not rusting, the electrics and electronics are good, the systems all work well. What this exactly is I don’t know, but I’m fixing it.
Supergirl is also insistent I just “let it go”, but so far nobody is suggesting how I can come up with the cash I need to make payments on a new $40,000 truck. Because I don’t have that cash. As I have repeatedly said. Additionally, I DO develop attachments to vehicles- partially because I drive so much, partially because I UNDERSTAND the vehicle.
Like this: I purchased an all-wheel drive Explorer because I knew the Dana transfer case they use is the best in the business. Like I got the V-8 because it has a cast iron block with cast iron heads. Almost nobody understands that an engine thermal cycles- it goes from ambient temp to a couple hundred degrees in a few minutes, and then back when you shut it off. And an aluminum head expands almost .030 more than the cast iron block it is attached to, and this action of inequal expansion/contraction eventually scrubs the head gaskets off. I sought out this vehicle for it’s specific properties and it has not failed me in more than a quarter million miles. Now that it has had a (well deserved) hiccup, I intend to find the source and eradicate it. And long after everyone else’s disposable ideas of the world have caused them to buy a half dozen vehicles they treat like kleenex, I will still be driving the Exploder.
Look at Mercedes. A lot of the ones you see in the country are high mileage. THis is not because they’re better cars- they’re not. In Europe they laugh at Benz, it’s the Chrysler corporation of Europe. People keep them a long time here because of perceived value. They cost more, so they take better care of them. And they last longer.
Any properly engineered vehicle that is properly maintained will last a long time. And earn it’s keep. No, I won’t just toss the Exploder out. Because it is still basically in good shape. It has a simple problem that I can probably fix. And I would consider myself more of an asshole than usual if I could just walk away from an eight year relationship without a second thought.
19 comments Og | Uncategorized
Mercedes are a bit of an odd one. Believe me, I don’t like them, but they did used to have something to their reputation. An old ’80s or prior Merc is a tank, overengineering run riot. Sure, it does puncture the owner’s ego a bit to remember that an E-class is a Stuttgart taxi, but why do you think the cabbies bought them in the first place? They lasted.
Now that they have ‘prestige’ and ‘brand image’ to sell on, well, they don’t bother with that anymore. So they’ve shocking build quality and created the original A-class. Which was comical to look at, and had to be recalled for rolling in evasive manoeuvers.
hey, honestly, i was just trying to add some humor to what seems to be a quite sad time in your life, pal. you’re welcome!
I have been driving a toyota for the past 160k miles and seven years, so I do understand your attatchment. The new cars, they’re prettier, and shinier and they don’t smell like warmed over funk, but my 4rnr? she’s family now too.
i never said anything was wrong with coffin grabbers, i just never pictured you that way. enough sorrow, bro, prosperity now!!
Og,
I do know what you mean by an “attachment” to a car, I had that with my 1991 Jetta Diesel. It was so bad that I spent $1500.00 on overhauling the engine (ask me what 3000 mile oil change intervals mean to an engine), but it was futile. The last month that I had it, it was breaking faster than I could fix it: headlight switch (2nd time), alternator (3rd time), front brakes, CV joint boots, etc. Oh yeah, the engine was still running great, but….
Dunno why a “new” truck should cost 40 grand, either. There are enough people with more money than sense who think that a vehicle with only 100K on the clock is worn out, and those cars/trucks are usually comparitively cheap on the used market. My current Jetta was $10,000, the new Dodge truck was $17,000 and has less than 50,000 miles.
Of course, with your description of the Exploder (no rust and in otherwise pretty good shape), it might make sense to give ‘er one more chance.
I sympathize.
I have sitting in my garage a 1965 Chevrolet El Camino.
It’s in good running condition, though I’ve not driven it for years.
But I also recall coming home with my Dad when he bought it new at Beach Cities Chevrolet in Long Beach California.
When you finally find and fix the problem it probably won’t reoccur for another 8-10 years. By then, you’ll have forgotten what you did this time. Heh.
Supergirl, maybe you never got the memo on “don’t cast aspersons on a man’s truck”. So I’ll cut you some slack. But “adding humor” doesn’t usually involve specifically insulting someone. And you insulted me in one of the very few ways I don’t easily shrug off.
Olds 98 with 160k. Had to replace the supercharger not long ago. If the tranny goes the thing will be history. As to the explorer, what are your symptoms? Some time the simple part give the fuel injection system fits. Most common failure is the o rings that seal them in the hole. Engine will run a little lean if they are leaking. Next is fuel pressure, followed by parts in the system that make it fire. Some of the parts will show on a monitor tool that your local auto parts might have. Good luck. BTW I was out with some guys in Iowas first season deer. If you like I can send along the photo of the take.
“Dunno why a “new†truck should cost 40 grand, either.”
Government mandated safety whatsits sure don’t help. Nor do they do a thing for weight, which of course hurts gas mileage.
Og,
You misunderstood me: I know well why a New Truck costs 40 grand, but I said “new” truck. IE: “new to you”, not “new in the box”.
I’ll never buy another brand-new car or truck, there’s plenty of decent used vehicles out there. One must make up his mind that the “new to me” wheels will almost certainly require some wrenching, but I figure that in. My wife’s “new” 2000 Pontiac Montana cost us $1200.00 right off the get-go, but I expected that. They have a problem with an intake gasket that begins leaking at about 80 or 90K miles, I knew that, and I knew that our “new” one hadn’t had the gasket replaced. Took it to my local garage and had that done, along with trans service, a couple of brake lines, and some other nickle-dime things. Since then, it’s had one electrical problem that I fixed and a rain leak at the driver’s door that I had fixed at the local body shop. We’re still in good shape, cost-wise, and we’ll run it another 6 or 7 years, until it approaches 200K, then it’ll probably go down the road.
I figure a vehicle should cost less than $1000.00/year in depreciation, and that’s not too hard to do with a decent used one. It’s near-impossible if you buy new.
I’m like you, Og. I buy my vehicles with the intent of keeping them well over 100,000 miles and/or ten years by taking care of them with regular maintenance. It helps to keep them clean and waxed too. Yearly repair costs are a lot cheaper than yearly payments.
Now I don’t know much about these things but a cousin who does told me the engine design in my green 1998 Jeep Sahara has not changed since the late 50’s and it was used in many Mopar vehicles over the years. I have had no engine problems whatsoever and now can laff at the 108,000 miles on the OD. Many more miles to go.
I could easily afford to pay cash for a new vehicle but my frugal side says wait. If I do buy new it will be another Wrangler but mine still looks and works as good as new so WTF?
I also own a red Exploder for the wife and to tow the boat but it’s only two years old. Time will tell but I intend to keep it a long time too..
I bought the Exploder “used”- a warranted vehicle from Car Max. I had a good history oin the vehicle.
Buying a vehicle wiht more than 30k miles on it, for hte most part is foolish. I know people, and most of them haven’t got the brains god gace a duck. So assuming they properly maintained their vehicle is not a safe assumptionn to make.
A good used (and by used I mean less than 30k miles) vehicle of the type i need will cost at least ten times what it takes to put this vehicle back on the road. Even if I have to replace the entire engine.
There is a dent in the right rear quarter panel. There is a speaker grille broken. The truck is dirty (it’s a work truck, duh) but it is in good shape, and I KNOW everything about it. I would NEVER buy a vehicle that had 100,000 miles I didn’t know about.
“…an aluminum head expands almost .030 more than the cast iron block it is attached to, and this action of inequal expansion/contraction eventually scrubs the head gaskets off.”
I had an ’84 Mercury with a V6 that chewed through one head gasket a year for two years; I sold it before it could snap up a third.
I’ve had several VW Diesels, all had aluminum heads/cast iron blocks. None had head gasket problems; they fixed that by 1980 by going to larger head studs. The Jetta had 261,000 miles on it when I overhauled the engine and still had the original gasket.
They will NOT stand overheating, however.
JD- look at the head gaskets on the jetta diesels. Notice they don’t match the holes in the block? they retard coolant in those heads to try to keep the differential stretch working for them instead of against them- Ford did it later with the Escorts- but VW was a lot more successful.
Maybe I was not clear enough in my response Og, but I buy all my vehicles brand new with the intent of keeping them for ten years or longer. I would never think of buying another person’s problem. Just sayin’.
yeah, Gerry, if I could afford to, I would. But a certified vehicle with 20-30k miles, I’m not so worried. The exploder- and the wife’s Escape- both Carmax cars, both have treated us well.
ouch. sorry, og. i never meant to insult you at all, i promise i was just trying to be funny. ugh. misunderstandings are the worst. be well, og.
We’ve got a 1997 Dodge Caravan that just turned over 177K on the clock.
As far as we know (because it was bought used by Sally’s parents and driven by them several years before they made a gift of it to her in 2002) the only major work that’s ever been done on her was to rebuild the transmission (we did that about three years ago). The air conditioning compressor died shortly after Sally got it, but she doesn’t care — she’d rather drive with the windows down.
My only complaint is that the headlight covers have fogged so badly that they just don’t work well anymore. Of course the same thing is starting to happen to my 2002 Intrepid. However, cleaning them regularly with Meguiar’s #17 Clear Plastic Cleaner and polishing with Meguiar’s #10 Clear Plastic Polish seems to help in that regard.
And it’s difficult to make Sally understand that she needs to get the oil changed every 3 months even if she hasn’t driven 3000 miles. I just had that argument with her again yesterday. She works 5 minutes from home and I had to explain about moisture degrading the oil when it doesn’t get hot enough long enough to boil out…maybe she gets it now…
Anyway, we have no current intention of replacing the van. It would take total engine failure to make us start thinking otherwise. We’re hoping she lasts at least another year or two, if not more.
Oh, and should mention: Sally gets the next new car. The Intrepid has 75K on the clock in close to six years, and I hope to get at least another 75K out of it.
Of course, I’m the guy who drove a ’91 Ford Escort for eight years without anything worse than a couple of brake jobs and a clutch replacement. Detroit hates people like me. :)