ScottyBoy
Full Access Member
Pop a few Oxy and sleep it out? Okay Jordan Belfort! 
When is enough to let go?
- Thread starter DadsToy
- Start date
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Like this OP I ended up giving in to the "Dark Side" I am too old and decrepit to actually do any major work on a vehicle anymore and I really just do not want to attempt it. Sold the 2009 Hoe with +266k miles, cheap to a young fella that works on his own cars and I am sure that he will get major enjoyment and value out of it. I bought a 2023 Toyota Truck, it currently has 112 miles on it and seems to be a fairly decent product. Rivian is an interesting product but my confidence in an all electric vehicle is low i sure wish the OP luck with that. Does Rivian have a forum to check out to see how the product is doing?
I’m 63 and I built a couple trucks over the last few years including a blower, cam, built trans, Wilwood BBK etc on my 02 Denali daily and I still maintain them. So far I have done all my own work and I’ve replaced pretty much everything as preventative maintenance as I can think of so they should be ready for another 100-150k miles with just regular maintenance and I feel I’ll still be able to do that until I can’t walk anymore at which point I’m done anyway lol. I just take my time and rest up as I go, and if something stops me I just take some time away from it, watch some videos or look up tips and then get back to it. I’m retired so nothing has to be done in a day or weekend anymore so time is on my side. I feel if I need to pull a transmission again I’ll probably look to find someone to help me but other than that, meh. As far as blue book prices and what I have into my trucks, it makes zero difference to me. There’s no way I’d get back out what I have into either truck so they’re stuck with me. 
No way would I ever buy a new truck especially nowadays- for one thing I’d need to spend another small fortune on parts to get the handling and performance where I like and besides that the manufacturers are making it impossible to even tune them much less add performance or do maintenance other than minor stuff. Even if they made an electric sound like a blown LS with headers, I couldn’t go there. I’ve been in Teslas and to me they’re boring. There’s just something missing.
No way would I ever buy a new truck especially nowadays- for one thing I’d need to spend another small fortune on parts to get the handling and performance where I like and besides that the manufacturers are making it impossible to even tune them much less add performance or do maintenance other than minor stuff. Even if they made an electric sound like a blown LS with headers, I couldn’t go there. I’ve been in Teslas and to me they’re boring. There’s just something missing.
TollKeeper
Full Access Member
They do.. a bunch of uppity arsehats in my opnion..
Edit: They dont like me much. Im buying it because of the HP/TQ.. Not because of a greeney eviro AOC BS.
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OP
OP
DadsToy
Member
I must be living under a rock. This is the first I have heard of a Rivian. Guess its an electric pickup truck. Looks like a Honda Ridgeline but way cooler. The truck bed is useless. I don't think you could put a sheet of ply wood or a 2x4 in the back. And to think about dumping a load of mulch or rock in the back of a 80k+ vehicle. That isn't going to happen. To me its a very pricey Honda. What dealership is going to support it? You know you have to get rid of it after 3 years. After that the batteries take a dump and replacements cost more than the vehicle cost. Case in point. Saw a Nissan Leaf for sale. Wanted $3000 for it. Thought, Hey this is a good deal and be a great commuter car. Low miles, clean and only 5 years old. Problem was the batteries needed to be replaced. Cost to replace the batteries was over $8000. And that's not counting labor. Cost more than the cars worth. So when is it enough.....
TollKeeper
Full Access Member
You are mostly correct.. The R1T is a much faster Honda Ridgeline, but made for the "vegan" masses.. The Honda is about the half the price. Rivian is building their own dealer network. Gotta get rid of it at about 7 years. Warranty on the powertrain is 8 years, so about 6 months before that.
I am looking at the R1S (the SUV version). I may still consider the Hyundai or the Honda, even a GMC. The main reason I was buying the Rivian was the high HP and TQ.. Which neither Honda, Hyundai, or GMC, have any claim to fame of in that segment.
The Nissan leaf was a bad design to start with. The cooling system for the electric system was horrid. In between the Nissan Juke, Rouge, and Leaf, are the reasons Nissan was considering bankruptcy. Lots of lawsuits..
Speaking of Rivian, I invested a grand in their stock about a year ago, because it was supposed to be a great stock. I just checked because I knew it went way down but I had no idea how far since I figured I’d keep it forever and it was only $1000. It’s worth $163 today, an 85% loss. Sure glad I didn’t invest a few hundred thousand. Not sure what happened, I haven’t been following what’s been going on with that company.
Sure glad I didn’t invest a few hundred thousand. Not sure what happened, I haven’t been following what’s been going on with that company.
TollKeeper
Full Access Member
I feel your pain man.. I bought in at 7000, Its now worth 2300.. But Tesla did the same thing, Lucid, Nikola, Polestar are also crashed.
I am hoping in 3 years, it will bounce back. It should, with states outlawing gas engines.. Next 10 years should be interesting.
I am hoping in 3 years, it will bounce back. It should, with states outlawing gas engines.. Next 10 years should be interesting.
Mudsport96
Full Access Member
One of my closest friends works at their Bloomington, il facility. They offer a discount to employees... and he still drives either his 86 Fiero or 03 AWD Chevrolet Express van. Because he doesnt see enough quality to buy what his employer builds.I knew it went way down but I had no idea how far since I figured I’d keep it forever and it was only $1000. It’s worth $163 today, an 85% loss.
Reading this made me question some things I was already feeling. I too do all my work on our vehicles. But my son's '05 Tahoe...we bought it in '09 with I think 40K. It was my wife's daily. Great vehicle. Well maintained and garage kept its whole life since our owning it. In the past 2 years (probably around 150K), it started leaking, then the gas tank fill issue, the steering idler arm and pitman arm (which I had someone do) needed replaced etc. For me its like every week a little thing pops up and here I am, under the truck, laying across the hood, fixing whatever. My issue is time. I have 2 very active boys involved in lots of sports and I always have to find time to fit these repairs in. I've wondered...should we get him something else? My son loves this truck. Its pretty, its clean, the interior is in almost perfect condition. But everything is so da** expensive and the quality of most things these days is terrible. I'm actually in the market for a truck. I love the newer GM model looks wise, but I won't buy one due to so many having issues (mainly motor). I'm actually looking at the 18' - 21' Tundras with the 5.7. They seem reliable. Also, not cheap.
I'm a car guy. I love working on cars. But I've started to hate doing repairs, and I do not trust most mechanics. There is a difference between modifying and repairing. I used to drag race as well as race autocross for SCCA. I had a '71 Cutlass "S", '04 Camaro Z28, '00 Camaro SS with all SLP options, and I sold my '05 Pontiac GTO (LS2, M6) May of 2020 with only 45K on it. I love the car hobby. My next muscle car purchase will be a C6 Z06. Been wanting one for a while. Just hope that I don't hate working on cars altogether by the time I can get one.
I'm a car guy. I love working on cars. But I've started to hate doing repairs, and I do not trust most mechanics. There is a difference between modifying and repairing. I used to drag race as well as race autocross for SCCA. I had a '71 Cutlass "S", '04 Camaro Z28, '00 Camaro SS with all SLP options, and I sold my '05 Pontiac GTO (LS2, M6) May of 2020 with only 45K on it. I love the car hobby. My next muscle car purchase will be a C6 Z06. Been wanting one for a while. Just hope that I don't hate working on cars altogether by the time I can get one.
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repairman54
Member
Let go time is when things breaking on a regular basis and it's not getting you home type of failures. Currently waiting for a couple rack pressure lines to arrive as one is leaking due to rust.
I'm at the 150k mark and rust it getting to all the fluid lines on mine now. I've just started looking at Silverado's, got 2 other SUVs in the fleet currently.
I'm at the 150k mark and rust it getting to all the fluid lines on mine now. I've just started looking at Silverado's, got 2 other SUVs in the fleet currently.
Well that Corvette will make you hate working on cars itself. It’s the most difficult to work on GM ever built. My neighbor has a Z06 and while it’s great to look at, that’s all I’d want to do. Everything is so crammed in that in order to get to one thing you need to disassemble half the car. There’s zero room for hands or tools.
As far as the Tahoe, it could be uses as a learning tool for your kids, to get them involved in taking care of their own vehicles. Unless you plan on buying new vehicles for them, they’re going to be driving used ones and you know those will need maintenance so you’re back in the same situation only multiplied. And yes, at 150k there are several preventive maintenance items that should be knocked out. These can be done on your schedule so you’re not doing them when it’s inconvenient. If you go this route, you could start a thread asking members here what’s advised as far as that preventive maintenance. My truck currently sits at 170k and everything I can think of preventive wise has been replaced and I have no question it will go another 200-300k with only basic wear items. I’m old enough (63) that I’ll probably never even wear it out.
LOL, I know all about how horrible working on a C6 is gonna be. I watch vids of cam swaps, header installs etc on them and I'm like, man...do I really want one?
As for your comment about teaching my boys...we absolutely do that. I WILL NOT be buying all of their vehicles. I refuse to have basement dwellers unwilling to support themselves. I make jokes to them about how when they're moved out, they can't be swinging by the house for me to work on their vehicles. That aint gonna work! We ride drit bikes as well. Been doing it for 4o years. I have 3 motorcycles in the garage right now. 2 are somewhat apart for carb cleaning and jetting. We have a hard time finding the time to do that as well.
OP
OP
DadsToy
Member
When each of my kids was able to drive. And they wanted a car. I bought them a car from the Salvage yard. Yep a junk yard car. They had to learn how to build it back and get it running. This life lesson teach them how to respect the car that was given to them and how things work. How to fix it and what is able to be fix. The cars I bought where around $800 and only needed minimal amount of work. To this day my Daughter fixes her family's cars..lol Her Husband doesn't even touch them. Chip off the old block...lol One car was a really nice Jeep Grand Cheerokee that someone drove thru a corn field. Had corn stocks wrap around the drive shaft. Put a battery in it and drove the piss out of it for 5 years.
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DadsToy
Member
I guess it comes down to this. Doesn't matter about KBB value. It's a matter if it works for you and your budget. Your relevance as to how much is it worth to you vs someone else looking at it. Like someone said. If it starts to become a parts chaser might be the time to give it up. Or as we get older. Is it your ability to work on such car says it's enough. Knowing you could take it somewhere to have the work done. But at what cost and does that really work into your budget. Price of new cars are so out of sight that old cars will still continue to be the true source. People are keeping their cars longer do to the increase of prices. I know my kids would love to buy a newer car. But prices are so high there is no way they could afford one. I've taught them all how to work on their own cars. I think to the point they hate it.
As I work on my HOe I hear it from my DW; When are you going to grow up and get rid of that thing. With 296K its still rolling. Yes it needs a lot or work. Yes I would like to have a newer car. But this fits me. I got a place for my phone, I have cup holders, Place for my Bang Bang and plenty of room for what ever I need to carry. She hates riding in it.
But also for me its easy to work on and parts are still available and cheap.
As I work on my HOe I hear it from my DW; When are you going to grow up and get rid of that thing. With 296K its still rolling. Yes it needs a lot or work. Yes I would like to have a newer car. But this fits me. I got a place for my phone, I have cup holders, Place for my Bang Bang and plenty of room for what ever I need to carry. She hates riding in it.
But also for me its easy to work on and parts are still available and cheap.
Mudsport96
Full Access Member
I just priced a comparatively similar new tahoe to replace mine... yeah it was 2/3s the price of my house. Not happening. Anything within 10 years of today is ridiculous in price as well. So no replacement anytime soon...
Also the local chevy dealer has this on the lot for 6,999. .
Sparksalot
Elite Member
Clark Griswold, please pick up the white courtesy phone.
TollKeeper
Full Access Member
My grandfather, rest his soul, would actually make a B-Line to the dealer to buy that. He loved those little K-Cars. Junk Yard fodder is all they were ever good for.
You would be surprised at what vehicles like that bring at B.A.T. auction site. I saw a Chevette go for over $9k, IIRC, about a month ago.
OP
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DadsToy
Member
No freaking way....Those Chevette where rust buckets. My friends Dad had one. Drove it every where. Was not good on gas either. $9k is crazy money. Then I should ask $10k for my almost 300k mile Tahoe.
