More vehicle woes. <sigh>

[crrcboatz]

I sold cars for a local Tulsa luxury dealer backin the early 2000s. The used car u r looking for can be found

 

[1shott]

TL;DR at the bottom

So some of you may remember the problems with my '04 Tahoe, I blew a head gasket on the last day of 2020.

Spent the last month-plus trying to get it up and running again so we could take it on our trip to NM/CO we've been planning for several months.

I spent a buttload putting in a new motor and rebuilding the trans as well, justifying it to myself that I wasn't going to have a payment when I was done. I love my Tahoe, also... I've had it for close to 12 years, I think, and I always loved this body style, always wanted one from the first day they came out, etc. I've also spent a ton of money on it in the stereo/electrical department, customizing it the way I want(ed). I used to drive 150 miles round trip to work 4-5 days a week, so it was important to me.

So fast forward, since I got the truck back from the mechanic who installed my motor and trans - and had to rip it back apart to replace the rear main seal that was leaking from the newly-rebuilt motor (+$500 or so) - I've had to remove the triple alt bracket just to fill/bleed the PS pump, this was a couple of hours, then remove it again when I threw a pulley and it left me stranded.

I drove it to San Antonio over Memorial Day and it did fine. 1300 mile round trip.

So I'm excited, things are going well, and we get ready to head to NM on Thursday and it overheats just before leaving town. Like literally, as we stopped for burgers to hit the road. Back home, can't figure out why my cooling fans won't fire up - this was something I added not normally available on the '04, but has been working flawlessly for... I dunno, 8 years?

Then, as I'm troubleshooting that, the air conditioner compressor starts binding up intermittently. MFer... you kidding me? I had debated about replacing this when I had the motor pulled and it was all in pieces anyways, but... decided not to to save a couple hundred bucks. Now it looks like it's going out. <sigh>

So we finally get a buddy to take us to the airport and we rented a 2021 Chevy Tahoe to take on our trip. Lotsa bucks, but GD-it, we put it on a CC, we already had this trip all planned out and I NEEDED a break.

So here we are in New Mexico. It's been a good trip so far, in spite of hitting the road something like... 5 hours late or something.

But now I've fallen in love with this 2021 Tahoe. To the tune of a $60k+ vehicle that you can't hardly find anywhere these days, and dealers appear to be charging "market adjustment" addons of anywhere from $5-15k. Sheesh.

I'd love to buy a new vehicle... I would LOVE to. And I'm sure the bank would LOVE to put me further in debt. And dangit, but this thing is nice and quiet and smooth and amazing on the highway. I don't mind my truck at all for in-town driving, and even trip to Tulsa with the family... but jeebus, I KNOW how much more comfortable we are in this thing than we would be in my truck.

And we are wanting to do several more LONG road trips over the next 2 years before my son graduates and goes off to college - we want to do Black Hills and Rushmore, the NW and Yellowstone/Yosemite/Sequoyah...

At this point my dang 18 year old Tahoe has let me down so many times, I'm truly terrified to take it on a trip, even when I get these next niggly things fixed when I get home. <sigh>

And I don't like the wife's truck, which is an '07 Escape. It rides like a truck, and it really isn't big enough for all of us and the dog and all our crap for a long trip. It would be cramped. Not to mention, it's only barely newer than mine.

Why, oh why, did I have to get bitten by the "new car" bug at ALL, much less bitten during the worst time in history to buy a new OR used vehicle????

Sheesh.

First world problems, right? Yeah, I know... and I would think in my position it wouldn't be a big deal, but with student loans and business loans, I don't bring home nearly what people "think" I do. but with what I've spent on this stupid truck in the last 6 weeks, plus my rental cost now, I could have paid for a year, maybe a year and a half of new car payments.


TL;DR - I'm spoiled by a rental vehicle and don't like my old truck anymore for family trips. Want a new ride, but doesn't make financial sense.

So anyways, I'm collecting pictures of "Eating My Way Through New Mexico." Maybe I'll post up a thread later or when we get back or something...

IMO when a vehicle starts to give you problems like that, its time to part ways. Been there done that, not happening again if I can help it.

I trade fairly often at least 3 years, sometimes longer but normally 3 years. I made myself a promise years ago, that as long as I can afford a new vehicle I will have one.

Used vehicles are nuts right now, I currently have a 2019 crew max 4x4 tundra, less than 30,000 miles. The dealer I bought it from offered me $40,000, carvana offered me $43,000, a couple pot growing asians placed $44,000 cash on the hood one day at work wanting to buy it, and a ford dealer offered me $45,000 trade towards a 2021 mustang gt.
I gave $44,000 for it on feb 2019, I owe $30,000 or just under, I could bank come cash right now.
Its ****ing insane out there right now.

Do whats best for you, me, I still have the tundra but that mustang is tempting the hell out of me.

 

[DRC458]

I feel for you, man. But, for now, try to put it in the back of your mind and enjoy your trip.

 

[filbert]

From reading some of your posts I don't think you make good decisions. Maybe let your wife, family, friends have more input. Going from spending way to much on and old car, then going to a high priced new car doesn't show balance or moderation.

 

[El Pablo]

From reading some of your posts I don't think you make good decisions. Maybe let your wife, family, friends have more input. Going from spending way to much on and old car, then going to a high priced new car doesn't show balance or moderation.

it also shows you haven’t looked at the price of used vehicles, they are nuts if you can even find one.

 

[bobfuente]

From reading some of your posts I don't think you make good decisions. Maybe let your wife, family, friends have more input. Going from spending way to much on and old car, then going to a high priced new car doesn't show balance or moderation.

He makes good decisions, but like many people I know, the more he makes, the more he owes. The new vehicle is going to gnaw at him, he will debate the pros and cons, mulling over it. And he will cave and buy it. In the end he will justify it, but later wish that he had more will power.

 

[GC7]

You can always just rent a Tahoe or Suburban for long road trips while you work on getting your '04 Tahoe up to snuff for daily use.

 

[Oklahomabassin]

I feel for you, man. But, for now, try to put it in the back of your mind and enjoy your trip.

This

 

[Capm_Spaulding]

Look at a nice used GX460. They’ll last you the rest of your life and can be had around $35-40k.

 

[BReeves]

If you are not towing, before you spend $60,000 + on a vehicle, go drive a Dodge Grand Caravan or the new Pacifica. Just as much room as the SUV's mentioned for less than half the price. And that 283 HP V6 is an animal.