Please let this thread die .
Right after I post.
@MG My son in the early 21st Century lived on a main east-west track. Every few minutes, around the clock, 80 or 100 car trains went past, loaded with coal, going to Chicago. Is that what you are talking about?
One day, he told me, “I need to show you something you will never forget.”
We went into a large city park the train passed through. There was a ditch the track crossed. He led me down under that short bridge. Our head was just under the ties, right in the middle.
He was right. That was a totally unforgettable experience. The sounds; the vibrations; everything. There was no fear at all. Human synapses simply aren’t fast enough to transmit pain if the track failed. I think I was still laughing a couple hours later.
Apparently, what I read on this board would indicate that carrying that coal all the way to Chicago and charging car batteries is still cheaper than gasoline, if your daily mileage is limited.
@Docnick I don’t have the exact figures with me, but I think my total car outlay since 1960 is close to your figures. And, just one car, the 2002 Sienna, alone was nearly 28,000 bucks. But, early cars were often like $15 and $35 each.
@irlandes My cars cost $125, $325, $3125 (new), $700, $1700, $3400, $3000, $3000, $1700, $9400, $22,000 (new), $22,000 (new). Selling the ones worth selling after use netted $3700. Net outlay Was 56,385 over 57 years.
I have not calculated the savings in insurance costs by buying used cars and keeping new ones for a long time, but it is considerable.
The numbers would change dramatically if adjusted to today’s dollars.
I’d be afraid to figure mine. All I can say is that only a few of the choices were bad ones. I tried to learn from the few mistakes.
@mountainbike Yes, the 1957 Plymouth with only 54,000 miles on it for $325 was a bad deal for me. That car literally fell apart in my hands. As a student, it only meant walking to class.
The rest were basically good cars, but the 2 Fords (1976 Granada and 1971 Mercury Comet) were more repair prone than the rest.
On the way back from Costco, I always drive by a Granada . . . it appears to be approximately the vintage you mentioned
I’m in southern California, and I suspect that car has been local its whole life. Cars from that era were prone to rusting out, if in areas where road salt was used, yes?
I see them every once in awhile. They’re usually just soldiering on, with faded paint and a worn out interior. I suspect whoever drives them is a longtime owner and doesn’t have much money, and will drop them like a hot potato when the engine or transmission goes
@db4690 Yes, my Granada spent the first 3 years of its life in the Great Lakes area. although it was “rust proofed” and by that time had the Ford lower rust protection on the rocker panels, it still rusted out before its time.
I did the usual Bondo and spray paint treatment until the I could no longer jack up the car; the jack just kept rising, but the car did not!
The engine (351 Windsor V8) and transmission were in very good condition at that time and it had a killer retrofit stereo system.
I sold it for $750 with 104,000 miles on it to a guy who worked the ski lifts in the Rocky Mountains. He really like the stereo!
Even with this low mileage the car needed new back leaf springs, I removed the rusted out smog system, the turn signal stalk just broke off, the heater core sprung a leak, and many other little things went wrong.
In my town as well there is a veteran who has a slightly newer Granada with very little rust on it. This car has always been in a dry climate, and probably has few miles on it. The paint is a little faded but the car looks good otherwise…
Happy Holidays! Thanks to all for your input!
WW III just signed a consent form temporarily releasing me from the nuthouse in Texas and into her custody. One phone call to authorities triggers my immediate re-incarceration. However, staff there is convinced I’m serious about reform. They have hired a young doctor who performs brainectomies and he assures us my new model was never used before (in humans. They call me Tabula Rasa.)
I feel like a new man. My Mercedes appears to like the changes-not throwing hammers at her, not using rustproofing gel on the glass, etc. Plus, I have about 8 floor jacks supporting her weight; Just need to get her off the cliff that is my front yard.
Voices are telling me 2016 should be a productive time. Blessings to each and every one.
deleted :trollface:
well dearly beloved, since you probably expected your lives would be clear sailing from now on, i have even better news. tomorrow, 2 mar oh!, may be the big day. will give you boys a holler if i hear anything. if not then, very soon i shall likely get a proper diagnosis for all my baby’s ills and maybe even a twist or two of some wrenches. this could get exciting. probably won’t sleep a wink.
This is it, Lizabeth. I’m comin home Lizabeth. This is the Big One. Oh honey. I’m gettin ready to join ya honey. Can you hear me honey?
No news yet.
Can’t believe there’s actually some remote chance the old girl just may make it back to old papa. There’s a chance she’ll be dropped off at Murray’s Auto Salvage 3 blocks from here, too. If she’s got compression, clean, good fuel, a powerful, heavy weight battery, working starter (including solenoid) and ignition, good fuses, an a okay NSS, good grounding, good wiring, good fuel injectors and unclogged fuel filters–each one of them–, fuel pump relay, fuel injector pump, pre fuel pump, and 3 or 4,000 other functioning parts and systems, she just might light up the night, baby! Oh, yea, all that is contingent upon the engine not being seized or riddled with bullet holes. Gee, what else is there?
If she fires and keeps firing and brings back the beautiful pat-pat-pat sound of a Benzi diesel, a display of fireworks, the likes of which have never been seen before, nor ever again, shall permeate and decorate the night sky with bursts and streams of exploding red, white and blue diamonds all over North America, Mexico, Canada and most of the eastern half of Kazakhstan,
wesw Junior Grease Monkey
December 2015
does this beast yet live?
You don’t really believe you could get rid of you know who with the you know what that easily, do you? I’ve been married for 5 months. Do you think WW 3 hasn’t hired dozens of hit men to take me out? Who, what do you think I am? Semi-normal or something?
Ahoy Matey, Argh ! ,sell er’ heart to a boat builder that needs an engine (Diesel ) some people love MB diesels and gracefully recycle the rest . She can spend er’ last years at sea ,arg! No boat anchors hereabouts .
uncle harry, keep that candle burning.
burn it at both ends, round the sides, down the back (oxford comma), and up the middle!!!
I see my secret crush still wants my car. She never did care for me! It was always about them thar beautiful wheels I been a sportin! Ain’t it the truth!
KMC, have you been sloughin off, not reading these comments? As of this moment, my Benzi engine couldn’t power butterfly wings. She could sink a mid-sized ship, however.
I, on the other hand, been a takin my thorazine like thar milk duds, hopin against hopin that she’ll remember how to kick over and might keep it up for the foreseeable future. Then, I plan to take another trip out of state to see if I can find that one true love a mine. By now, she may have grown accustom to my face-in her sweet dreams
Ah Matey ,I be a busy lad these days .If She turns She will probaly fire ,you would be suprised what some folk use these Teutonic wonders for nowadays ,If she lies Heavy ,lets hope you didnt go down with the ship .
My patience amazes me! Got tons and tons of it, as long as I don’t need any. The moment I do, my stash disappears like that.
Waiting, wonderin, hopin, dreamin, waitin, waitin, waitin. I’m goin nuts. Can you imagine if the news is good, what that will be like? I don’t care about nuthin else. If she will kick on, and on and pat pat pat popcorn cracking along beautiful sounds. Oh Baby!
How disturbing is that? Tied up for a few moments, running for dear life from The Texas Nuthouse orderlies, and just like that, everyone disappears and moves on to more exciting topics like how to build an electric car from a can opener. How deserving of the flying fickled award we are.
Just stopped by to offer my unusual advice for any/all impossible to solve car problems. Oh, btw, no news yet on the beast. Am exercising more patience than I have.