How many rides do we need?

[LS2JSTS]

Had another thought.....


What about those of us who keep at least one junker on hand for whatever reason. Maybe DD, or junk truck for runs to the landfill.

When I find a good deal on a older car that I think will serve my future needs, I buy it. Regardless of what I currently have, a good junker at a fair price is harder and harder to find. So I'll buy them and let them sit until needed. My "clunkers in waiting"....I personally get more satisfaction from running and keeping my junkers on the road than I do driving my "nice" cars....lol

 

[TooManyWheels]

In my past I have had too many situations where a car got wrecked, stolen, sudden catastrophic ailment, whatever. Having backups is a lifesaver in those instances. It also allows you to time your repair and maintenance for when it is most convenient to your schedule.

The downside is that your cars may be depreciating more from age than from mileage, and if insurance ever totals your car you lose out big time due to the low percieved value of an older, but low mileage car.

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: CourierDriver
I have noticed that a lot of folks on here own more then 3 vehicles, jeez, how many rides does it take to be happy, well its their business,,the oil companies love it though, car or truck ownership sometimes seems like a hobby. We are a spoiled nation, could b in Haiti I guess, I don't think they are concerned with oil wt there,,opinons are like body parts, we all have some.................


We now own four cars. We have the new 2010 Nissan Altima, a 2002 Toyota Sienna Van, a 2002 Toyota Camry and a 1994 Geo Prizm.

Frankly, we use LESS gas and oil this way because we drive the biggest one ONLY when we need a big vehicle. The Camry and the Altima were purchased new, the other two used. The Camry and the Prizm both have over 200K miles on them, so we wouldn't get much to trade them.

I still drive the Prizm as my daily driver for work with 246K. The Camry is being driven by our 17 year old son and will be shared by his sister when she gets her license this summer.

Folks can only drive one car at a time, so they really don't use any more fuel to own multiple cars.

In fact, I contend that by owning multiple vehicles and choosing the smallest one that will get the job done, I'm actually using less fuel than those who have one, really big vehicle and use it for everything.

Some might cite the energy used to build the vehicle. Well that energy is not lost or wasted as not using the vehicle doesn't really deplete that energy the same way as USING it does.

For example, the Sienna has less than 1/2 the mileage as the Camry even though both are 2002 model years, so we should be able to keep it longer time wise, using the energy of production more slowly than using the energy of production for the Camry.

But I do agree, many are spoiled. Many also realized that we are blessed.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
Had another thought.....


What about those of us who keep at least one junker on hand for whatever reason. Maybe DD, or junk truck for runs to the landfill.

When I find a good deal on a older car that I think will serve my future needs, I buy it. Regardless of what I currently have, a good junker at a fair price is harder and harder to find. So I'll buy them and let them sit until needed. My "clunkers in waiting"....I personally get more satisfaction from running and keeping my junkers on the road than I do driving my "nice" cars....lol



You sound like me.

Plans in the near future for a "classic" (a GN, I hope), and an SUV for my family.


Looks to be a fleet of five.


Plans are to keep the wife's Cav and my Balt as our beaters.....



Everyone's got a plan.

 

[Jim74]

I own as many vehicles as I want. Why? Because I can. I don't care if anyone else doesn't like it.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

A friend of mine has 12 cars...He has 10 kids and they all work or go to school in different parts of county and in different counties...Mass transit is not realiable and extremely slow here...Every night one of kids lines up the cars in driveway in the order they go out in the am.

BTW they own have no foreign cars...They are all Ford and General Motors cars.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: XS650
What does need have to do with anything?

Exactly. I only need an animal skin and a stone knife ..less if I'm native to some pacific islands.

Toys. Just the size and price change

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: javacontour


Folks can only drive one car at a time, so they really don't use any more fuel to own multiple cars.



Unless one of the cars is a fun car that you drive when you wouldn't be driving a more boring car. My Corvette gets 6k to 10k miles a year. At least 1/2 of those miles wouldn't happen If all I had was a transportation appliance.

 

[CourierDriver]

sometimes i guess folks buy their undies to small and they become testy, or way to wired over stuff.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

My commute and work driving is covered with my company truck. For trips and my wifes shopping excursions the Ford Explorer and for fun we have the Jeep rangler.
I live on cash on hand and only keep a car note on one vehicle at a time because I have no credit cards. (as soon as I close on my house I will pay that sucker off).
We always have our eyes out for projects. An old 4 runner, FJ40 or a jeep could get adopted on impulse at any time as my wife wants me to build her an offroad toy as well.

I don't Need more than one personal vehicle..its just really nice to have the flexiility.

 

[Gary Allan]

I'd own a personal dealership car lot or parking garage if I could afford it. Expand the list for any and everything else too.

Although my score is not all that impressive in the Nature's way of saying you make too much money quotient, I would love to excel in that regard ..with distinguished honors.

 

[andyd]

I've got a company van and 2 22 yr old BMWs and a few parts cars. The BMWs have been acting up lately, but thankfully not simultaneously so Marina can get to work. Keeping them going is a hobby. I win more than I lose with the challenges they present me. About every 2 yrs they require 4-500$ worth of parts and maybe a few parts I can harvest from a parts car. I also have a Grand Wagoneer I should be working on to restore to occasional use.

 

[wander2039]

Originally Posted By: LS2JSTS
Had another thought.....


What about those of us who keep at least one junker on hand for whatever reason. Maybe DD, or junk truck for runs to the landfill.

When I find a good deal on a older car that I think will serve my future needs, I buy it. Regardless of what I currently have, a good junker at a fair price is harder and harder to find. So I'll buy them and let them sit until needed. My "clunkers in waiting"....I personally get more satisfaction from running and keeping my junkers on the road than I do driving my "nice" cars....lol


Sounds like me! Currently we only have the Festiva and Escape. Festiva gets drove when only one of us needs to go some where. Escape the is family vehicle. Eventually I'll be getting my dad's old 86 F150 for truck duties and a RV. Don't think we'll need anything else but never know when a good deal will show up.. the festiva only cost $450.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: Eric Smith
. the festiva only cost $450.


That's a lot of fun per dollar, not to mention cheap transportation.

 

[tonycarguy]

Nothing wrong with multiple cars as long as they're not parked all over the place. Best way to blight your neighborhood is to park seven $1000 vehicles in plain view of the street.

 

[CourierDriver]

Ever go back into old car magazines,, read the specs on 60 model muscle cars that were right off the shelf, 300 hp 400 hp were the norm for family cars, the GTO, Camaro, olds 442, 64 Buick Rivera,,no 4 bangers there or those sissy mufflers some put on their cars today, guess some drivers carry a pacifier when they install those mufflers,,lol.

 

[CourierDriver]

what is a vue and an sl2

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: tonycarguy
Nothing wrong with multiple cars as long as they're not parked all over the place. Best way to blight your neighborhood is to park seven $1000 vehicles in plain view of the street.


All the more reason to live way out in the country. Even better, fill the barn with those pesky vehicles!

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: CourierDriver
what is a vue and an sl2


Do you really not know or are you being sarcastic?

 

[CourierDriver]

I never think of Saturns, thought they shut down