Some days there’s just nothing that’s really worth talking about. Rather than forcing myself to cover stories that neither of us are interested in, I’m opening it up to the community instead. What happened on your end this week, car-related or otherwise? If you fixed something, broke everything, pet a dog, or did anything you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.
Have a good weekend.
About
Starting to face a dilemma. My ’02 F-150 (the one I got from my grandfather and drove home from CA) is starting to require more and more work. Just replaced some aging suspension components a few months ago. Already sounds like it needs something else in that area because it’s squeaking over bumps… again. Also really needs new brakes and probably a whole bunch more I don’t even know about yet. If it was a third car or something I wouldn’t care at all. But it’s a daily since my Mustang isn’t going to be. I’m at least working 100% remote now but I still do a lot of long distance trips to see friends and family. Each time I hit the road for my dad’s place, which requires driving through some remote areas, I feel more uneasy each time. I’m not confident I can manage a roadside repair myself. And it’s also just not comfortable on long trips anymore.
So… I’m thinking about a new(er) truck. Coincidentally, Chevy and Ford have new midsize trucks coming soon and it certainly seems like the used car market is finally beginning to cool a bit. If I can upgrade to a newer truck, whether it’s a midsize or full size, I think I will. I just have to decide how long I want to wait. And how much of that maintenance I want to do before I make a decision. It’s also just a bit heartbreaking because there are tons of memories in that truck I have. But keeping it as my primary driver is making less sense now.
New brake everything plus new suspension everything, using quality components installed by a competent independent shop might set you back the equivalent of three payments on a new truck. And then you would still be behind the wheel of Grandpa’s truck.
And now that new vehicle shortages seem to be tapering off, new-car depreciation is going to become a thing again.
Thing is though the novelty of being in grandpa’s truck is wearing off, sadly. For how much I use it I just feel better off in something newer, but not necessarily brand new (though my eyes are still on that new Colorado and Ranger, if the prices are good and dealers aren’t assholes about ADM).
That’s looking at it from a comfort, reliability (not that this truck is leaving me stranded, but it’s still 21 years old), and especially a safety point of view. I looked up crash test ratings and some video on my generation F-150… and boy… that was a terrible idea. I’m just at that point where the desire to keep it because of the history and the desire to have something newer, nicer, and safer are all about evenly matched. I’ll either be forced into a decision or I’ll just be a financially responsible adult person and end up with three vehicles at once.
It is always a tough decision to decide to eventually decide to sell a car that has emotional significance. I had my late father-in-law’s 2010 Ranger until last year. He pass in 2020 (covid related) but was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for several years before that. It was a vehicle that he won in a raffle. I finally sold it this year. It was sitting way too much. I used it for short HD runs etc. but my bad back precluded me using it for any lengthy trip.
After a discussion with my wife, we decided to sell it (for an insanely absurd price compliments of a chip shortage). The funds helped to defer some college costs for my kids.
I’m sure you will do what is best for you. Best of luck.
Yep, I did pet my dog.
Vehicle related – I didn’t do anything but drive. I think I’m finally going to get the GTX out of the shed this weekend and see how much further it’s deteriorated from a lack of use. Maybe I should finally get a heater core? But then again, it’s July…who needs heat in July. I should also probably install the skip shift interrupter that I got the MiSSus for Christmas. That project will take longer to jack the car up than to actually plug it in.
A heater core can help it shed heat when it’s close to boiling over, so it isn’t just a comfort issue.
Although now that I think about it, my Country Squire had a 99% clogged heater and MN plates on it when I acquired it. Four years later, the heat is still substantially useless.
Right. I’ve also had a few times cruising around where I’ve had to just blast the heat wide open and it has brought the temp back down. Honestly, I should get a new water pump (which are super cheap since you can replace just the pump and not the whole housing) a new heater core and new hoses.
My mechanic unexpectedly passed away from sudden heart failure last weekend, leaving behind his partner and two kindergarten-kids. This has been quite a shock to everyone. He was a great person, always helping everyone around him.
I’m sorry to hear that. Cross ocean hug.
The impacts are closing in. It will get all of us, so use the time appropriately.
Was that the mechanic who took care of your Korean Embassy?
Thanks, @smaglik, and, yes, this is the mechanic who has had the Centennial for 15 months. I know where the car is now, but will give his friend a little time to take care of more important stuff first.
I borrowed a Tesla Model Y for a day earlier this week (for work purposes), and was a little disappointed. I put about 200km on it altogether (that used up 45% of the battery, I think). Besides the normal Tesla foibles, I found the ride just a little busy, and the steering a little too twitchy on the highway. Considering the Model 3 is pleasant enough to drive, that was disappointing (although I guess a good way to save money). Also, having the driver aides decide I can’t change lanes because someone else is forcing their way in is a little frustrating, although I guess if I actually owned it, I’d be digging deeper into the menus to turn all that off.
My m3 now has about 7k miles on it, after the recent road trip, and it also requires a new windshield thanks to a massive rock on i-15 in st George, Utah. I’ll be getting that done at a bmw dealer backed glass shop, just cause of all the sensor stuff. Insurance covers it.
About to order a roof base system for the e91. I’m on sabbatical next year, and will be moving halfway across the country to work with a different group of cronies, and hang out with a different group of degenerates (bowlers). The wagon will be making the trip with me (I’ll probably ship the snow tires), but doesn’t have enough space for all the possessions I want to take along. I’ll be honest, the bowling balls are the problem, as I’ll probably take 12-15 along with me. So, the roof rack is needed. I’ll probably go with a soft sided carrier on top, since I won’t use it that much, and can just take it inside the hotel at night, and they’re about 1/5 of the price of a hard sided carrier, but I’d be interested to hear anyone’s experiences with soft carriers.
Not roof top, but I used a soft carrier on a hitch mounted cargo tray and it worked well and kept the water out. Of course, not directly in the path of the wind, so not directly comparable.
The hitch mounted rack is a nice option as it is easier to load and doesn’t add to the frontal area and has little impact on fuel consumption. It can get in the way of opening the hatch, however. I used it on our Saturn Outlook and our Prius. Thought I’d use it on the Accord Hybrid too, but never had to.
Thanks man, that’s a really good idea. I’ll look into it.
A hitch basket also avoids the effect of wind causing the soft carrier to rub your roof paint for 2500 miles. With a hitch basket, it probably won’t get that windy behind the car anyway, but if it does, one or two cans of spray paint should make it look fresh again–you won’t escape that cheaply at an auto body shop. And you would have a lower center of gravity for the drive if you don’t have a couple hundred pounds of cargo overhead.
Or how much would it cost to ship the bowling balls before you depart and have them waiting for your arrival?
I need the bowling balls en route. Big event.
Regular Car Stories had a piece on Saab, entertaining and wide and deep as always. In one sentence, The Roman mentioned that works driver Greta Molander probably should get a Story of her own, but the sources are sparse.
I found a biography, in Norwegian, on special offer, in a book store in my city- and bought it.
Boy was the Roman right – and I have read only the first third! The book is based mainly on her diaries and has a lot of private photos and newspaper clippings.
Just one story: she and her co-driver used the start of the Rally Monte Carlo in Umeå, Sweden(!) and continued to Morocco. From there, straight east, through colonial country with conflicts and wars, but since they “didn’t wear helmets and fascist uniforms, the people were always generous and friendly”. In a rather naive approach they worked hard, partied hard, and achieved stuff.
I guess I will have to make notes in English for the Roman…
Do that! She seems like the kind of person that needs a spotlight, especially now that our world wakes up to there’s more than white men?.
i always get wary of clicking play on those long regular car stories videos, and then i blasted through that one during three hours of working from home. it was a good one.
I tried listening to it/watching it after nanoop’s recommendation, but I just don’t get whenever you guys have 3+ hours available for something like this? Tried splitting it up, but that just takes the charme out of it. Closed the tab after a few days.
I listen to it, just like any podcast. The RCStories have not much imagery to convey the story. You miss a couple of jokes, but the narrative happens in the audio.
When I was a teen/early 20’s, the stuff I couldn’t fix on my own I took to a mechanic that was walkable distance from home. After I moved to a different part of town, I still sometimes used that shop, though it wasn’t particularly convenient to cross town twice in rush hour for drop-off, then twice more for pick-up. Eventually, the mechanic (who was well into his 70’s) decided he wanted to go fishing instead of fixing cars, and he closed the repair shop.
The area has been converting from commercial to residential. I was on that side of town over the weekend, and passed by the old shop. There’s just a frame left now–the building is being dismantled while the land is cleared for new construction. The proceeds of sale should fund a REALLY nice retirement. That’s the second shop in 12 months where my ex-mechanic retired comfortably due to accidental real estate-picking skills.
I am going to get the AC fixed on the Jag, and then I think I’m just going to list and sell it after that. I don’t drive it enough. I haven’t made “the content” with it. It’s super cool and I find no emotional draw to it. I’d rather do cool shit to the Montero and also start hunting down something older and angrier…
“It’s super cool and I find no emotional draw to it” does exactly how I felt about my m5 before I sold it, so I can empathize completely with that state of mind…
I understand how you feel, but people don’t buy Jaguars for emotional draw.
i am feeling the same way about my big fancy boat. very beautiful car, will never find another as nice that i can afford, but just not feeling the same joy i used to. it costs me very little to keep it, and it’s nice to have something decent for date night, but i just don’t have the passion for it anymore.
I had to sit down and make a spread sheet to decide what brakes to buy for my Marauder. I had intended to go for Power Stops complete kit but then it was saying they might not ship for 1-2 months. In the end I’m getting the calipers from Napa so they are coated black, the Power Stop Top Cop pads and their slotted rotors. For whatever reason they offer their Z23 and Z26 pads as kits with rotors but again the availability was not there for front and rear.
Next week is going to be busy with work so hopefully the parts all show up like they are supposed to and I can work on getting them installed next weekend.
Post report, I did the long delayed oil and filter change on 2003 Buick and properly taped the broken tail light since the part is very bulky so i would need to visit a yard in person to get one. Also vacuumed out the car and truck. Unlike Greg Kacahdurian my 02 F150 is a very low mileage example so I haven’t made a repair since the heads in 2020 but I’m saving up for tires since that looks like $1000 for 5 new ones, plus some pondering of wheels and hubcaps. The current wheels and 255/75-R16 tires are off a 4×4 and have a slightly different offset. I have a set of factory 4×2 wheels and could go back to 255/70-R16 for a slightly lower ride height, but need to find hubcaps/lug nut covers. This generation’s alloy wheels use a small hubcap and the 4×4 ones don’t fit the 4×2 wheels. On the positive side I have plain steel lug nuts and not those abominable two piece nuts
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Decisions, decisions! Your ’02 F-150 holds a treasure trove of memories, but weighing the practicality of daily use against the increasing maintenance needs is a tough call. Exploring newer truck options sounds exciting, especially with midsize models from Chevy and Ford on the horizon. Whatever you decide, may it lead to more road adventures and cherished memories! ??️
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