I have this old truck – a 1994 Ford. (It’s not THAT old, but at 15 years, it has its share of scrapes and dings.) I use it, mainly, to haul off the trash, but it’s also good for towing a trailer or bringing home supplies from the lumber yard.
I bought the truck, used, almost 10 years ago. I really like my old truck. It’s not much to look at, but it’s fun to drive and it gets me where I need to go.
Recently, I had a couple of truck-related. It needed some pretty major engine work, several other parts (like the brakes and belts) needed to be replaced, and it needed new tires. I thought, very briefly, about replacing the truck with a newer model – but quickly decided not do so.
Instead of replacing the truck, I had it repaired. A good friend of mine is a mechanic, and he fixed the engine and replaced the worn out belts and brakes. Two days ago, I had a new set of tires put on it. It’s now running, in my opinion, better than it has in years.
The best thing about my truck – honestly – is the fact that it’s paid for. It’s mine. I own it. Sure, it’s old, a little beat up, and requires some attention, but, again, it’s paid for. For the cost of two, maybe three, car payments, I was able to get my old truck fixed, put a good set of tires on it, and keep it road-ready for another five, maybe ten, years.
To put things in a bit of perspective, let me tell you a quick story-
Several years ago, long before No Credit Needed time, I owned a little blue car, a sedan. It was a nice car, it handled well, and had no major mechanical issues. One day, as I was driving down the road, I heard a strange noise. When I arrived home and inspected the car, I found that there was a problem with the rear tire on the passenger’s side. I also noticed that the right-rear brake-light had gone out. Instead of fixing the tire (or just buying a whole new set) and replacing the brake-light (a 5-minute job that might have cost me $5) – I traded the car and financed the purchase of a brand new SUV.
That’s right. I didn’t want to deal with two very minor repairs – so I went into debt – simply to avoid a little hassle. It makes me cringe, even now, thinking about the foolishness of that decision. Alas, I was young, convinced that I could make the payments, and looking for excuses to upgrade. I found the excuses (very lame excuses), and I made a poor financial decision.
The good news is, after years of not-so-bright decision making, I managed to get my act together, turn things around, get out of debt, and move forward. I don’t want to even think about where I’d be, right now, had I not come to my senses.
By the way – I’m not saying that I’ll never buy a newer (or even new) automobile. In fact, a few years ago, I purchased a slightly used minivan for our family. However, there was a major difference between the SUV purchase and the minivan purchase. The SUV purchase was ill-planned, silly, and required taking on an unwise amount of debt. The minivan purchase was well-planned, justified, and made with cash. The day after I purchased the SUV – I felt immediate buyer’s remorse. The day after I purchased the minivan – I felt a sense of accomplishment.
Each time I take it for a spin, I’m reminded of the fact that my old truck is paid for. The title, tucked away safely, has my name on it. Humble though it may be, it gets me safely from point A to point B, and that’s really what’s important. Divorced from any notion that I-am-what-I-drive, I’m free to focus my time (and my finances) on more important things.
Amen!
I wrote an article about my 1978 (much older than yours! LOL) Chevy Pickup.
http://www.ellisbenus.com/ellis-benus/new-vehicles-are-traps-buy-old-and-save-thousands/
I find it quite funny that the ad at the bottom of this article was a link to get pricing on a new Dodge Grand Caravan. Ah the magic of google advertising.
Having no car loan is a fantastic and while I do want another car occasionally, I understand that getting a car loan is not the best solution. Instead of sending a check to the bank, we have choices on where to direct that money.
Ha ha…the ad on the bottom of the article when I read it just now was for a brand new Ford!
Right on. I have a 2002 Hyundai Accent hatchback that I OWN. And I am so grateful that I own it almost every time I drive it. I have done the same as you in the past — hear a rattle and say to myself “time for a new car and loan.” I bought this car used and I did have to finance it, but I paid it off in two years, and have been car payment free since 2005. I vowed this would be the last car I ever financed, and would pay cash for the next one. BUT I’m fixing what needs to be fixed and hope to get many many more years out of my beloved little car. Not to mention the lower cost of insurance and excise tax.
Quite interesting fact about your old truck every thing has age and get older while you have as your own that’s why love is coming to that cool post.
My poor husband is afraid that I will impulsively buy a new car when these minor annoyances/repairs come up. It is almost as if he has to save me from myself. As a result he has become very handy in fixing the door locks, directional, etc. The car just hit 200K miles and is doing ok. Both cars are paid for and the thought of another car loan makes me sick. I am slowly stashing away money for a new car while I pay down the *!$%* HELL LOCK.
IMHO, there’s something magical about “it’s paid for” that adds a glowing patina to any vehicle.
Me and my car, same thing. I like my car and it is paid for so why start car payments?
I drove my last car (1991 Honda Accord) for 14 years. I eventually sold it to get something more practical for our family (two door sedans are not ideal when you have four kids). I got a little better than $2k for it after driving the heck out of it, then put that money toward a new CR-V (paid for in cash). I agree, there’s nothing better than owning your wheels instead of paying someone else on an ongoing basis.
BTW, how many miles does your truck have? I’ve always wanted a big ole truck.
I still miss my 1991 Ford F150 I bought for $200. I traded in on the Cars for Clunkers at my wife’s urging, but a week doesn’t go by that I don’t still think about it. 🙁
My first car was a 1993 Ford F150. I loved that thing! It’s funny- it lasted until about two weeks ago when my parents sold it on craigslist!
Driving a paid-for car or truck is the greatest feeling. Sure, it’s easy to get jealous of the people around you driving brand new BMWs but then you realize that about 60% of those people are leasing them and just throwing money away.