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What vehicle do you drive?


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2022 May 17, 6:47pm   4,742 views  90 comments

by BayArea   ➕follow (1)   💰tip   ignore  

I ask because I’ve thrown around the idea of buying an electric vehicle but just not totally sold for the following reasons:

- large buy in price commit
- road-trip charging anxiety
- battery losing efficiency over time (and with weather)

I currently drive a 21yr old Lexus sedan - 2001 GS430
This was a $55k luxury car when new and I picked it up for $12,500 back in 2011 with 90k miles in a condition that looked like it had just rolled off the showroom floor. It has 165k miles today and is worth about $6-7k if I had to guess based on condition/mileage. I can probably drive the car another 5yrs and I estimate it will be worth the same amount given that it’s fully depreciated.

The car still looks sharp, gets about 20mpg, and still keeps me happy.

My friends think I’m batshit insane to make as much money as I do and drive a car this old but I have strong convictions about not buying shiny depreciating assets to impress other people. Additionally I prefer to put my money into investments, travel, family than things like cars or jewelry.

I estimate that I drive about 150 miles per week for work which translates to about $200 of gas per month.

I may not drive quite enough for the economics to make sense to go electric given my current reference point. I guess I need to also consider that a 21yr old car won’t run forever although I’ve seen these cars go well over 200k miles, even over 300k in some cases.

It’s remarkable how reliable this luxury Toyota has been. It’s never left me stranded, never had any high dollar repair - only brakes, tires, and some suspension bushings. Also had a check engine light once during the 10yrs I owned it… turned out to be a $80 oxygen sensor that was replaced this year (labor included). Not a drop of oil in my driveway and AC still blows ice cold. I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t experience it.

In a strange way, I’m almost eager to keep driving it just so I can see how long I can stretch this out…

What car do you drive and where do you stand on the gas vs electric topic?





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68   RWSGFY   2022 May 24, 5:17pm  

DooDahMan says

Eric Holder says
Off-road vehicle would have that thing hidden behind a skid plate anyway.


What to you think the odds are that someplace in the country one or more people are driving around with the skid plates just because....


Odds are 100%: there are literally millions of trucks and SUV with skid plates driving around just because.
69   BayArea   2022 May 28, 6:47am  

Thanks for all the responses guys.

I’m going to go take a spin in my classic Lexus with cold AC blowing.
70   WookieMan   2022 May 28, 7:01am  

BayArea says
Tracking devices are cheap and can be taped to the undercarriage of a car, aren’t noticeable, make no noise, and have low power consumption so battery last quite long.

The ones attached to the diagnostic testing port are unknown to most outside of mechanics. The spot is usually hard to see in most cars. I'd guess 98% of women wouldn't notice is. And probably 70% of men wouldn't notice it either. A mechanic probably just assumes it might be a work vehicle and who they work for requested it be attached. Or some people use them for a couple months for a reduction in insurance, so mechanic aren't gonna be all paranoid and say someone is tracking you if they see it.

Not a joke, but I do peak at it maybe once a week to make sure nothing is plugged in. Takes two seconds. We don't lock our cars where I live. I also don't have anything of value in my car either. I also have multiple cameras on my cars (we have a carport). And I also have no reason to be tracked by anyone. But I still take a peak.

I don't sneak around with other women, I don't go to bars solo and I do nothing illegal beside maybe speeding (I'm a geezer driver) which whatever. The only person that would care about speeding is my wife and she speeds. I cannot think of a reason to track me outside of being a data resource for marketing or travel patterns.
71   GNL   2022 Jun 8, 3:59pm  

I just scored a pretty good deal on a pretty good car. A 2013 Toyota Camry XLE with 49,000 miles on it. Owned by a little old lady and hasn't been driven in about 2 years. $11,800. 4 cylinder gets 25/35 mpg.
72   gabbar   2022 Jun 8, 4:06pm  

WineHorror1 says

I just scored a pretty good deal on a pretty good car. A 2013 Toyota Camry XLE with 49,000 miles on it. Owned by a little old lady and hasn't been driven in about 2 years. $11,800. 4cylinder gets 25/35 mpg.

Do you want to sell it for a profit?
73   Tenpoundbass   2022 Jun 8, 4:13pm  

$11 Thousand dollars for a 9 year old Toyota, is only a great deal in LaLa Land, and Joe Biden is the Mayor.
74   GNL   2022 Jun 8, 5:05pm  

Tenpoundbass says


$11 Thousand dollars for a 9 year old Toyota, is only a great deal in LaLa Land, and Joe Biden is the Mayor.

It's about mileage and condition. I'll have that car for another 250,000 miles. Do a cost analysis on that and get back to me. I'll be selling my 2012 Chevy Malibu. It has 190,000 miles on it and, guess what that car is going for? Here's one for $6,500 with 189,000 miles on it...
https://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/details/85565435
This is the exact car I have now. I won't be greedy though and will happily take $3,000 for it. Now, lets see, that brings the cost of the Toyota to a grand total of about $9,000.
75   GNL   2022 Jun 8, 5:06pm  

gabbar says

WineHorror1 says


I just scored a pretty good deal on a pretty good car. A 2013 Toyota Camry XLE with 49,000 miles on it. Owned by a little old lady and hasn't been driven in about 2 years. $11,800. 4cylinder gets 25/35 mpg.

Do you want to sell it for a profit?

How much?
76   GNL   2022 Jun 8, 5:08pm  

Tenpoundbass says

$11 Thousand dollars for a 9 year old Toyota, is only a great deal in LaLa Land, and Joe Biden is the Mayor.

You crack me up, unless I misunderstand you. Here is what they're going for...

https://www.cars.com/shopping/toyota-camry-2013-xle/
77   Tenpoundbass   2022 Jun 8, 5:34pm  

I have drove Mazdas now going on 20 years. I've leased over 12 over the years.
Now I'm at the point, they all look the same, and so does about every other car on the market, in their associated class.
I've leased every one of those Mazdas. I'm looking for a pick up truck to buy outright.
Year don't matter, though the older and better shape the better. I want one bench seat, two windows, nothing behind the bench seat but the truck wall and rear window.
78   Tenpoundbass   2022 Jun 8, 5:35pm  

WineHorror1 says

You crack me up, unless I misunderstand you. Here is what they're going for...


:I know that's what they are going for, and we're in LaLa Land and Joe Biden is the Mayor of LaLa Land.

A 9 year old Toyota or most any car for that matter, should be worth a penny over $5 grand.
79   GNL   2022 Jun 8, 5:37pm  

Tenpoundbass says

I have drove Mazdas now going on 20 years. I've leased over 12 over the years.
Now I'm at the point, they all look the same, and so does about every other car on the market, in their associated class.
I've leased every one of those Mazdas. I'm looking for a pick up truck to buy outright.
Year don't matter, though the older and better shape the better. I want one bench seat, two windows, nothing behind the bench seat but the truck wall and rear window.

IMO, Toyota or Ford Ranger. The Ranger has to have the 6 cylinder though. I don't remember which 6 cylinder though. My father has had 2 Rangers and they both lasted to 300K.
80   GNL   2022 Jun 8, 6:18pm  

Tenpoundbass says

WineHorror1 says


You crack me up, unless I misunderstand you. Here is what they're going for...


:I know that's what they are going for, and we're in LaLa Land and Joe Biden is the Mayor of LaLa Land.

A 9 year old Toyota or most any car for that matter, should be worth a penny over $5 grand.

In 2017 I scored a 2006 Camry 6 cylinder with 25,000 miles on if for $2,400. I put all new tires on it and replaced the timing chain/belt and gave it to my daughter for graduation. Within 6 months she totaled it. F*ck. I told her to stay off the highway but...noooooo.
81   RedStar   2022 Jun 8, 6:22pm  

I'm saving my 2013 Camry for my daughter but if prices are this high I'm almost tempted to sell
82   GNL   2022 Jun 8, 6:24pm  

Tenpoundbass says


WineHorror1 says


You crack me up, unless I misunderstand you. Here is what they're going for...


:I know that's what they are going for, and we're in LaLa Land and Joe Biden is the Mayor of LaLa Land.

A 9 year old Toyota or most any car for that matter, should be worth a penny over $5 grand.


It isn't the best deal ever but, in this environment, I'll take it. Seriously, my total cost is going to be around $9,000 after I sell the Malibu. So, in essence, I'm trading a POS Chevy with 190,000 miles on it + $9,000 for a Camry with 49,000 miles on it. My mechanic has been screaming at me for 5 years to get rid of the Chevy and get a Toyota. When I told him about this car, I could hear him screaming through his text to buy it. Haha. Anyway, what are the total costs going to be for a car that you spend $9,000 + maintenance for the next 250,000 (ok, maybe I only get another 200,000) miles? Pretty damn cheap imo. Cars are a total waste of $$. I'll never buy a new car again until I have a good bit more $$.
83   GNL   2022 Jun 8, 6:33pm  

It seems insane to me that people spend $50-$60-$100K on a car. The way I think about $$, I wouldn't purchase a $100K car unless I had at least a few million bucks.
84   BayArea   2022 Jun 8, 10:57pm  

I had a college reunion this past weekend.

Rather than drive separately, my good buddy picked me up in his $250,000 exotic.

I kept thinking about how his first year depreciation will be more than my annual mortgage amount. Seems to make him pretty happy and he can afford it though.
85   GNL   2022 Jun 9, 4:08am  

BayArea says

I had a college reunion this past weekend.

Rather than drive separately, my good buddy picked me up in his $250,000 exotic.

I kept thinking about how his first year depreciation will be more than my annual mortgage amount. Seems to make him pretty happy and he can afford it though.

Haha, who wouldn't love showing up to their HS reunion in a Lamborghini? Sweet.
86   gabbar   2022 Jun 9, 5:54am  

WineHorror1 says

How much?

12k
87   GNL   2022 Jun 9, 7:00am  

gabbar says

WineHorror1 says


How much?

12k

Haha, I'll make $200?
88   gabbar   2022 Jun 9, 7:30am  

WineHorror1 says

Haha, I'll make $200?

Sorry, I meant to type 13k
89   clambo   2022 Jun 9, 9:09am  

The car I drive in Baja California Sur Mexico is a 2002 Jeep Wrangler 4x4.
It’s like driving a little truck or tractor, because the wheelbase is so short.
It feels squirrelly on the highway over 55 mph.
It gets shitty mileage, probably 17mpg.
The engine is an in line 6 cylinder.
Recently on a little excursion we drove down a random road in the middle of nowhere and got into sand and we got stuck.
I pulled the lever and in four wheel drive we just drove out, the little Jeep is an off road beast.
I put new BF Goodrich AT tires and KYB gas shocks on it before I went anywhere in it, in addition to changing all oils, fluids, spark plugs, etc.
It has gauges for oil pressure and temperature, which my Volvo doesn’t 😎
90   WookieMan   2022 Jun 9, 10:19am  

clambo says

The car I drive in Baja California Sur Mexico is a 2002 Jeep Wrangler 4x4

Older Jeeps are fine. Anything from my experience 2010 or newer is a trash vehicle for Jeep. We had a Commander for a while. We rent newer Wranglers in St. Thomas/John and they work fine there for the roads and speed limit, but I'd never get one stateside.

Haven't done much rough driving with the 4-Runner yet, but it feels and drives exponentially better than a Wrangler. I know they're as capable, if not more than a Wrangler. Can fit more. I can't stand long distance driving, but I could flip 4-Runners out in MT driving them from here. Could easily make $2-5k a 4-Runner even including IL taxes when I purchase.

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