Keeping My Old Trooper LS

[BonzaiDuck]

I had made this old SUV the topic in several threads over the last few years.

Now, with the passing of my elderly Moms, my savings (I'm retired) has approximately doubled. I COULD -- if I wanted -- go out and plop down on a new EV or hybrid.

So I'm in a dwindling circle of 70-something-year-old seniors. One is flat on his back getting hospice care. The others, some with gross retirement income over $90K and double with their wives, are sticking with their old cars. For instance, a 2001 Nissan Xterra or a 2001 Ford F150. My 70-year-old surviving brother and sister-in-law are flush -- mostly her money -- and have more recent vehicles.

I visited them for the Thanksgiving holiday -- an 880 mile round-trip up US 395 N, up and over the Sherwin Grade with patches of 2-lane highway. I was using the cruise control on this old beater! It was absolutely wonderful! I was finally able to measure the gas mileage for highway driving. It was 17 mpg -- the EPA highway spec for that year and model. The city driving mpg I share with owners of much newer Jeep Wranglers -- between 12 and 13 mpg.

But 17 mpg? For that class of old car? It makes long trips feasible with current gasoline prices. It was a wonderful and comfortable road trip.

I think I'll wait a few years more before springing for a newer car, whether IC or electric. I might even get my ticket punched before I get to that point. Then, somebody will inherit a marvelous old car of a 30+ year vintage.

 

[Greenman]

With age comes the "why do I need that" attitude. I find that there is very little I want, and a less that I need. I have friends and family that burn through piles of cash, and whatever it is they buy isn't enough. There is always the next thing they just have to get.

I'm hoping my ten year old pickup will be used to take me to the grave yard, that would be fitting.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

With age comes the "why do I need that" attitude. I find that there is very little I want, and a less that I need. I have friends and family that burn through piles of cash, and whatever it is they buy isn't enough. There is always the next thing they just have to get.

I'm hoping my ten year old pickup will be used to take me to the grave yard, that would be fitting.

I've had about three vehicles including the Trooper which seemed to run "better than new broken-in" after so much restoration and parts replacement. The only thing "missing" are those technological improvements that assist car-makers in marketing new vehicles.

Here's an interesting story that parallels your hopes. Edward Abbey is/was a literary icon of the American Southwest. He'd written the novel behind the Kirk Douglas film "Lonely Are the Brave". In addition to his writing, he traveled around the country taking jobs as "seasonal park ranger" in the NPS. One book, "Desert Solitaire", chronicles his sojourn at Arches National Monument. He had health problems, which became terminal.

He had told his backpacking friends that he didn't want a visit from the county coroner, and he didn't want the mainstream burial in a cemetery. Instead, he wanted to be buried in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, with a headstone that simply read "No Comment". So when he punched his ticket, friends packed his body with ice in a pickup truck and hauled him down to the Arizona-Mexico border. For years thereafter, backpackers searched all over the wildlife refuge for the grave marker, but those lucky enough to find it never revealed the exact location to the public.

His resting place was a fitting choice. He had often remarked that he would like to be reincarnated as a Turkey Vulture, of which there are plenty in Cabeza Prieta.

I probably need to run my Pickup today or tomorrow. The Trooper should get smog-tested tomorrow, so I'll run it up and down the highway for an hour before the test. I expect some good results -- particularly after a year's practice of running four bottles of Cataclean through the exhaust and cat-converter.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Nothing wrong with keeping your vehicles, but if you do a lot of driving still, a modern vehicle offers a lot of safety features an older one won't. Better crash structure, more airbags, more advanced ABS and traction control systems, emergency braking, etc. in some sense, it could be viewed as an (expensive) insurance policy/risk mitigation vs. a catastrophic event.

Not criticizing your decision, just offering a perspective of why a modern vehicle can make sense over a perfectly functional but otherwise older (15, 20+ years) vehicle.

Would I spend 70k? Not a chance. Even a 3-5 year old vehicle is going to have substantial upgrades

 

[pete6032]

Does your current vehicle have air bags?

 

[NutBucket]

Early airbags? Probably better off without them LOL.

But your point about safety in general is certainly valid.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Nothing wrong with keeping your vehicles, but if you do a lot of driving still, a modern vehicle offers a lot of safety features an older one won't. Better crash structure, more airbags, more advanced ABS and traction control systems, emergency braking, etc. in some sense, it could be viewed as an (expensive) insurance policy/risk mitigation vs. a catastrophic event.

Not criticizing your decision, just offering a perspective of why a modern vehicle can make sense over a perfectly functional but otherwise older (15, 20+ years) vehicle.

Would I spend 70k? Not a chance. Even a 3-5 year old vehicle is going to have substantial upgrades

I stand corrected about my remark that new features are added to encourage purchase of new vehicles. I just completed my Thanksgiving holiday 900-mile round-trip in the Trooper. I was very pleased with cruise control on this 28-year-old vehicle. Everything else, excluding the "rear-view-night-vision" which I added three years ago, is what I'd been used to since I started driving -- more or less.

Would I buy a 3 to 5 year-old "pre-owned"? It's possible, but unnecessary for now.

Today, I ran my Trooper through the CA "Star" Smog-only test station. I'd run a bottle of Cata-Clean through the engine and exhaust every three months for the past year. My HC and NOx levels are way way down below recordings for the last 20 years. My friend with the 2001 Ford F150 didn't wait for my advice about this, and replaced his cat-converter for well over $1,000.

Today's smog-technician, when I asked for his opinion on the old Trooper, said "I have nothing bad to say about this engine . . . . "

But to the point. I am almost finished with tying up the loose ends of my mother's trust and estate, following her death in October. The inheritance doubled my savings. I could go buy a newer car. But this one runs great, and might outlive the owner.

Anyway, on the matter of safety, various mechanics "in the know" have told me they built the Trooper to "last forever". I add to that my observation that it's built like a tank, so I don't need new safety features so much. Maybe just some spare change for gas money!

 

[Indus]

I stand corrected about my remark that new features are added to encourage purchase of new vehicles. I just completed my Thanksgiving holiday 900-mile round-trip in the Trooper. I was very pleased with cruise control on this 28-year-old vehicle. Everything else, excluding the "rear-view-night-vision" which I added three years ago, is what I'd been used to since I started driving -- more or less.

Would I buy a 3 to 5 year-old "pre-owned"? It's possible, but unnecessary for now.

Today, I ran my Trooper through the CA "Star" Smog-only test station. I'd run a bottle of Cata-Clean through the engine and exhaust every three months for the past year. My HC and NOx levels are way way down below recordings for the last 20 years. My friend with the 2001 Ford F150 didn't wait for my advice about this, and replaced his cat-converter for well over $1,000.

Today's smog-technician, when I asked for his opinion on the old Trooper, said "I have nothing bad to say about this engine . . . . "

But to the point. I am almost finished with tying up the loose ends of my mother's trust and estate, following her death in October. The inheritance doubled my savings. I could go buy a newer car. But this one runs great, and might outlive the owner.

Anyway, on the matter of safety, various mechanics "in the know" have told me they built the Trooper to "last forever". I add to that my observation that it's built like a tank, so I don't need new safety features so much. Maybe just some spare change for gas money!

I got myself a 2012 Ford Explorer 4 years ago and although I thought the infotainment system was a gimmick.. the screen display of rear view camera is amazing when backing up.

That feature alone makes older cars look amateurish and I don't think I can do without that feature anymore.

As far as other things.. I can't honestly think of a reason newer cars are better.. mine is rusting but I'd rather put undercoat on the vehicle rather than buy a newer one.

 

[bbhaag]

I say go for it if you have the means to do it with out affecting your day to day expenses and have little to no debt.

If the above conditions are good why not treat yourself to something a little newer? It doesn't have to brand new either. Plenty of good used vehicles out there.

I'm just sayin.......before you justify what you have is good enough why not go to some dealers in your area and test drive some different vehicles you're interested in?

Test drives are free man. I've test driven TONS of vehicles that I'm not even remotely interested in but I just wanted to try them out. There is nothing saying you have to buy it.

Your mom left you this money to do what you want with it right? If your bills are paid why not use a little bit of it on yourself?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I say go for it if you have the means to do it with out affecting your day to day expenses and have little to no debt.

If the above conditions are good why not treat yourself to something a little newer? It doesn't have to brand new either. Plenty of good used vehicles out there.

I'm just sayin.......before you justify what you have is good enough why not go to some dealers in your area and test drive some different vehicles you're interested in?

Test drives are free man. I've test driven TONS of vehicles that I'm not even remotely interested in but I just wanted to try them out. There is nothing saying you have to buy it.

Your mom left you this money to do what you want with it right? If your bills are paid why not use a little bit of it on yourself?

You have some good points. I forgot that I started this thread -- note that Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia at age 59 -- in the news todayyy!

In "Moms' money" -- which my Merrill-Lynch advisor tells me is now "mine" -- I like watching it earn money as I choose to keep it invested and avoid spending it. But you DO have a point about that!

I should go test drive some newer vehicles, anyway . . . .

 

[bbhaag]

You have some good points. I forgot that I started this thread -- note that Wendy Williams has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia at age 59 -- in the news todayyy!

In "Moms' money" -- which my Merrill-Lynch advisor tells me is now "mine" -- I like watching it earn money as I choose to keep it invested and avoid spending it. But you DO have a point about that!

I should go test drive some newer vehicles, anyway . . . .

So yeah just like you I also forgot I posted in this thread. While I still agree with what I originally posted I think you should be cautious when you go to test drive different vehicles. I did not realize you were in your 70's when I made my post. Not that this is bad or negative but many dealers/salesman take advantage of people your age. Its just fact dude.

You go for a test drive then next thing you know your sitting down at the salesman's desk and he's talking you into buying a car you may or may not really want.

Look, all I'm saying is just be careful and don't let some guy with slicked back hair talk you into something when all you wanted to do was take a test drive. Take a friend or family member with you if necessary and let them know up front that all you are doing is going to test drive some different vehicles with no interest in purchasing one.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

So yeah just like you I also forgot I posted in this thread. While I still agree with what I originally posted I think you should be cautious when you go to test drive different vehicles. I did not realize you were in your 70's when I made my post. Not that this is bad or negative but many dealers/salesman take advantage of people your age. Its just fact dude.

You go for a test drive then next thing you know your sitting down at the salesman's desk and he's talking you into buying a car you may or may not really want.

Look, all I'm saying is just be careful and don't let some guy with slicked back hair talk you into something when all you wanted to do was take a test drive. Take a friend or family member with you if necessary and let them know up front that all you are doing is going to test drive some different vehicles with no interest in purchasing one.

Oh! I should've thought about the behavioral and market "pressures" on my own! That's what they want to do -- sell you a new car! A major distraction, if all you wanted to do was to get caught up on new technology!

Even so, for things like an automobile, I don't make impulse buys! I just don't want to let myself get too cocky about my self-control.

 

[nOOky]

Meh, once you get used to adaptive cruise control, regular old cruise control sux. I hate modulating the gas pedal with my foot in stop and go freeway traffic. I turn lane keeping off, but man once you get used to heated seats and steering wheel you'll never go back. We have a 2016 Honda without any of that, and driving it with a cold steering wheel sux lol.

 

[Indus]

Meh, once you get used to adaptive cruise control, regular old cruise control sux. I hate modulating the gas pedal with my foot in stop and go freeway traffic. I turn lane keeping off, but man once you get used to heated seats and steering wheel you'll never go back. We have a 2016 Honda without any of that, and driving it with a cold steering wheel sux lol.

Get a microfiber steering wheel cover.. costs like $10.. world of difference between touching plastic and microfiber!

 

[nOOky]

Get a microfiber steering wheel cover.. costs like $10.. world of difference between touching plastic and microfiber!

Well my wife has a leather Tampa Bay Buckanear one on there so I can't change it

 

[evident]

trying to keep my 2008 vehicles alive for at least the next 3 years then i'll probably splurge on one final ICE car before going EV. just did a major suspension overhaul to the TSX 6MT. Otherwise it runs pretty great with 210K miles. I will be driving alot so it needs to be perfect.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

trying to keep my 2008 vehicles alive for at least the next 3 years then i'll probably splurge on one final ICE car before going EV. just did a major suspension overhaul to the TSX 6MT. Otherwise it runs pretty great with 210K miles. I will be driving alot so it needs to be perfect.

Well, plan your finances, and keep growing your savings account. I think I decided a long time ago that I would not buy another ICE car, or that I would wait until EVs were more affordable.

Looking into my California bundled insurance hassles, the latest observation to sum up is that EVs today as "brand new" are beyond the reach of many middle-class families.

I don't feel "environmentally" guilty, because I'm driving two cars less than 5,000 miles per year in total. It's still a low carbon footprint.

I may spend up to $1,000 on the trooper this year. The fuel gas-tank sensor needs replacement, although unnecessary as long as the regular needle gauge works. I am beginning to suspect that my fuel pump is starting to fail. If I'd made plans with my repair shop last year to eventually address this matter with the dashboard "tank-empty" idiot light and the sensor which activates it, it will be the perfect time to do the fuel pump also.

Both items require dropping the gas tank. To drop the gas tank, I need to deliver the car to the shop with about a quarter-tank of fuel or less.