I have 5 cars. Yes, I may be over the top just a little. But they are not very expensive cars.
We have:
1997 GMC Suburban (wife's car and family carrier)
1993 Chevy Pickup Ext cab truck(wife's backup car and my parts carrier, but broken A/C and now leaky power steering)
1979 911SC(track car, several mods, my baby since 1989, pre-marriage, the one I planned to keep till I'm dead)
1972 911T Targa(a driver with RS flares and a 2.7 with Webers, the one I hoped to sell for garage construction down payment)
1990 Miata(OK, it's a girly car, but it's cheap and gets decent mpg)
Before the Suburban.......In 2000 when we were expecting child number 3, my wife decided that the 1993 pickup was too small. She HAD to have a truck with the 3rd door. We had talked Suburban before, but she decided that the 1999 Silverado would do and she would be happy.
After child number 3 she decided she HAD to get a Suburban so I traded in the 1999 Silverado on a used 1997 Suburban with the Southern Comfort package. I really lost my shirt on the 1999 Silverado, but figured if it would make her happy.....
Now it's 2007 (5 children now. No we are not catholic. Yes we are done)and the Suburban has 170k miles. We have had several problems this year. So far I have replaced the brake rotors and drums with brand new, fixed the leaking intake manifold problem common to the Vortec engines, and replaced the entire air conditioning system with brand new components. The engine still runs strong and doesn't leak. We have replaced the cable from the battery to the starter. To be fair it has had several issues this year, all major.
Wednesday she said the transmission started slipping on the way home. I test drove it and it was slipping so bad I wasn't sure I'd make it the 3 blocks back to my house. I had it towed to a reputable transmission shop and the guy will rebuild it totally for $1050(including R&R). The GMC dealer wanted over $2k. Now I know I have spent a pile of money on it this year, but we really didn't have many expenses at all from 2001 to now. I am thinking that we have fixed everything major but the engine and it is running fine. It's got brand new brakes, brand new A/C. She thinks we should get rid of it and get a 2002 or 2003 Suburban with 80-90k miles to replace it. The transmission guy says they tend to last 130-160k miles so the 2002-2003 might need a transmission in as little as 2 years. It just seems to me that the vehicle we have now is likely to be much cheaper to operate and own for the next 2-3 years at least. Plus we have no car payment.
Should I keep it because I've fixed all the major possible problems (except the engine which is running great)? Or should I sell it and buy something newer that is going to require these kinds of repairs in the future? We do need something large like a Suburban with our family and she cannot stand minivans(neither can I). I am thinking it's probably pretty good for another 80k miles or so and think maybe we should drive it another 60k miles (2 years +) while putting some money back for another vehicle. The we buy her something newer and sell the old one.
Now the kicker.....I get the "We've just got TOO MANY CARS!!" crap thrown in my face yet again. I try to explain that it's because I like having older cars that are cheaper and like having a spare around for when problems arise, but it seems to fall on deaf ears.
Then there is the "At least you have your precious race cars, even though the family car keeps breaking" line followed by "Somebody has their priorities screwed up." I'm just stressed beyond all manner of understanding. When my car has a problem that is going to cost some money it gets put in the garage until I can find the cash to get it fixed. Hers will get fixed regardless, no questions asked. I have missed many driving events due to either not having my car ready or choosing to be with my family instead simply because they want me home.
It's not like I'm having to make car payments on anything (YET). They've all been paid for for a few years now. The last car payment I had was the Suburban. The previous car payment was for the 1999 Silverado for her...... I REALLLY REALLY REALLY do not want another car payment yet.
First one here with a $25k check can have BOTH the Porsches and all my spare parts....... I'm sick of having them thrown in my face. Aaaaaaaaaagh!!!!!!
Maybe I'll cool off in a week or so and come to my senses........
rant mode off for now.............
