You mean you can buy NEW cars?

Actually, I just look at the monthly cost of maintenance versus the size of the monthly payment.

When the '91 Taurus transmission started slipping at 238k, the week after the radiator blew, and the month after the a/c leaked, I decided that the rusty body no longer warranted the cost of parts. Up until then, it was a relatively cheap date that started to get greedy. We donated it to the tech center for use as a training aid.

The rest of the fleet is still in service, each with its own wish list. The broken seat in the Suburban is a nuisance, and has been so for a year, but I pretend it's a rocking chair and gee, we don't drive it as much with gas prices near $2. Oh, it got a new battery when it refused to crank after a week of down time. Sam's Club had fun removing the positive battery cable, it had welded itself to the battery. Something about those side terminals I don't like...

As if jealous, the Mercury broke one driver seat mount too. It's also begun to demand a quart of oil every few thousand miles, but that's not unreasonable. It starts, runs, stops and everything, including the auto-leveling rear suspension still works, so we press on.

The SDL has a coolant leak, probably a radiator seam, and a weak fan clutch. Oh, the rear muffler let go and the front passenger window motor is completely rusted solid. It's waiting parts for each in turn, cooling first, then muffler, then window, etc.

The Sebring is the newest, and so far the least demanding. Well, except for the tires the Previous Owner put on, then forgot to rotate, leaving them quite choppy. They'll be replaced, as soon as the SDL is back on the road.

Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that there's a bit of sentimental attachment that gets added in to the equation, meaning that I keep a car a bit longer than the $$$ would indicate.

Hope this rambling amuses some, and helps any.

Best Regards,
Jim