I drove a new car once. My old one broke down and I got a good deal on a rental with unlimited mileage so I could continue going to school and complete moving to my new rental. The car had point six miles on it when I picked it up so I'm quite certain I was the first person to rent it. It was quite a luxury for a young college student and mother even though I've never been much of a car person. Get me from point A to point B as cheaply and quietly as possible please. I've never purchased a new car even when I made a decent salary. What's the point?
My first car cost fifty dollars. No it wasn't a Model T, I'm not that old, but it was junk and I had a friend of a friend take pity on me when I really needed wheels and give me a super discount. It burst into flames when I was taking my sister to the mall. I know what it feels like to have flames licking the side of your boots while you toss your children car seats and all into the grass on the side of the road. But that's another story. I'm getting off topic.
I've had more cars since then, some good some bad but I have learned the single most important lesson. MAINTENANCE! Being poor, this is the main expense my emergency fund has fed. In a rural, or semi-rural area you must have a car for independence, to get to work and or school, and to transport any number of things. You cannot always rely on someone else. Not having transportation really limits a family.
It's always a good idea to shop around and try out a few mechanics until you find one you trust and feel comfortable with. Once you find a good one show loyalty. They will appreciate it and treat you well. Most will be honest and let you know when something can wait for repair, and some will explain how to repair something easy yourself if money is an issue.
When I buy a used car I also buy a used Haynes or Chilton's manual for that exact car. Even if you have zero skills when it comes to mechanics, your mechanic may find the specialized manual useful when doing major repairs. I've used every manual I've bought more than once.
I wouldn't trade my car for anything right now. We drive a 1994 Honda, a gift from my husbands' aunt when she upgraded. We get oil changes regularly, repairs like timing belts and tuneups when suggested. Sometimes we go a bit longer before we get routine maintenance but that is only because we are saving up to pay cash. We treat this car right and don't make it wait.
I see other used cars with black thickened oil that has probably never been changed, transmission fluid leaks, and old windshield wipers that have worn away and scratched the windshield. I've heard cars with clearly bad brakes screaming on the road. It makes me sad because these cars will probably die and hopefully we will still be driving our beloved Honda decades from now. A used vehicle is so much better than new when it has been well maintained. They depreciate so quickly why buy new?
We've recently passed 200,000 miles. I'll make sure to have an update post one day and let you know what it's like at 250,000.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
You are so right about regular maintenance. We had one vehicle that logged 300,000 miles all because of this! We routinely get 225,000 on our vehicles.
ReplyDeleteI used to have a 1994 Honda Accord, I loved that car... A drunk driver hit me and totalled it... I miss that car. I drive a 1998 Lexus now, and I love that car .... I take very good care of my cars and take them in for the scheduled maintenance. I paid this car off last May and intend to drive it until the wheels fall off. Oh, and I just hit 196,000 miles and she still runs as good as the day I bought it.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Frugal Queen here! Thanks for the kind comments on your blog. I 'googled' the type of degree you have, we've started to have them here too....called Foundation degrees, they cost nothing to get here and Teaching assistants or health care assistants have them, in a specific vocational qualification. It's a shame you got that far in your education and didn't/weren't able to go further. You wouldn't be 'poor' either if you did what you do in the UK, because of our full free healthcare, subsidised housing and cheap public transport - in fact - if you had a job (lot's have lost their's) you would be able to afford a foreign holiday a year. Enough about, the great ness of Britain! keep posting and I've become a follower - it's good/sad that so many people are getting on with life, even if we've had to cut back - love Froogs
ReplyDeleteTerri, that's good to hear because I plan to keep this car as long as possible!
ReplyDeleteDe-ette, if your car was blue then you had the same car. I hope you came out of the accident safely!
ReplyDeleteFrugal Queen,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping in. I would gladly pay twenty cents sales tax if we had health care here. If Britain ever opens it's borders for shopkeepers, or janitorial workers, whatever, I'll be on the first boat over. The grass has always been greener on the other side to me. Sigh.