I'm seriously thinking about buying a 96 f350 single wheel 4x4 with small extended cab with 216,000 thousan on it. Tires are shot and the 4x4 shifter linkage is broke. It has some rust on one fender. But it had a good neck hidden hitch, the interior is clean and in good shape from the few pictures I got and I can get it for 3,000. Seems like a good deal if nothing else is wrong with it to me. 12 to 1500$ for tires and I would have a good 4x4 pulling truck for 4,400. Hard to find that theses days.

I just seem to prefer fixing older vehicles even when repairs can be 5000 vs 50 to 80k for a new one
I'm more likely to have what I want with an old one also.

I thought of 2 more points.

Some of the richest people I know drive the oldest vehicles. They have zero loans on vehicles. They generally don't drive as much.

Some other wealthy people I know drive newer vehicles , and trade often. They tend to drive more.

Some of the poorest people I know drive the more $ vehicles and basically drive to work to pay for the vehicle, but seldom have $ for other things.

. Steel Jaw. A lot of truth right there

My breaking point came where I was throwing good money at a 23 year old midwestern truck EVERY Year

My truck in theout in the lot is 26 years old and got me to work this morning. It's a 127 mile drive.

look at this way, if you spend $2000 a year on repairs/fixes thats the equivalent of 2-4 monthly payments. Its still a lot cheaper than new on top of that your insurance will be less, and minor scratches and dents just add character.

Newer vehicles can come with their own baggage and the much higher cost. Even if you had to double the cost of the vehicle to me it is still 1/5 of what you would pay for a similar used truck that would be 5-7 years old with 100K. Not all mileage is bad.

Bryce

As long as my Cummins doesn't rust bad I'll keep fixing it, it's cheaper for a couple hundred dollars a month to fix , compared to 6-700$ a month for new pmts.
I have 454k on it now

I was in that spot about 12 years ago. 260k on my '98 Chevy. Started looking for a decent used pickup for reliability. I put about 30k miles a year on a rig at that time. Everything used with 50-60k miles on it was within $5k of new price. Farted around long enough looking that the head cracked right when I had about 400 acres of hay down and had to buy something. Ended up getting a great deal on a new 2011 Dodge 1/2 ton
Had it been winter I would have just done a complete engine rebuild. Now I'm back to almost being in that situation again. Just turned 245k on the Dodge. Still going but starting to have a lot of little problems here and there. I ordered one of those new Ford Mavericks last Fall. I'm getting 12 mpg out of my Dodge so my fuel mileage should double. I can do 90% of my running around with the little pickup and not put so many miles on the 1/2 ton that'll cost $50-60k to replace. I'll save it back for when I need to tow instead of completely wearing it out. Maverick is $30k out the door. I'd rather wear out a $30k rig than a $60k rig. Fuel mileage savings per month will basically make my payments. With used prices right now, any full size pickup at that same price point is already high mileage. If there's other savings involved, sometimes a new rig makes better sense.

Rust belt truck?ⁿ8

I envy you guys that don't have your Ride rust out from underneath you.

My old 2004 Canyon (2wd) is at 234,000 miles and still running strong. It gets used primarily when not wanting to take out the 2021 GMC Elevatiion.

The 2021 GMC will probably be my last truck. If it lasts like my 2004, I will either be very old, or in the dirt.

We get tons of salt on vehicles here if you drive on the highway.
Before they started making aluminum bodies I would wash and wax my vehicles at least once a month but more like every two weeks.
I sold a 2003 f-150 in 2017 with 300.000 km on it,a lot on the highway,and it had no rust.
An old guy I worked with used to wash his old truck down with a rag soaked in kerosene every fall and spring.The paint looked real dull but never a speck of rust on his old truck.

I'm seriously weighing selling my 2017 Ram with 83000 miles for a little bit more than what I owe, and buying a 95 Chevy half ton with a 350 and 5 speed. It has 215000 miles on the body, little rust, but a rebuilt motor and transmission. I could pay off a lot of credit card debt and then save $ for something else down the road. I'm so sick of car payments and a vehicle to me is nothing more than a tool. Some people take great pride in them but I could care less as long as it gets me point a to point b.

You'd probably be very surprised at how good it would feel to get that weight off your back. Being out of debt is amazing and just think about how little your insurance would be compared to now.

Or you could sell a reliable ride you know that is getting close to paid off and buying a turd that will be broken down all the time….

I would be wary of trading one known bill for an unknown quantity. But if you need to, you do…

I just bought a '96 Ford Ranger. Didn't even look at the miles. Got it for $1000, so I figure if it lasts a year it's better than payments. Hopefully last a lot longer, even if I have to put some money into repairs.

I use a clear liquid wax, Ice from turtle wax.
I put a strip of roof flashing in my wheel wells to prevent rock damage.
I remove them, make new ones or just put old pieces back on after covering all bare or rusty metal with axle grease, every summer.
In the winter I pour warm water over the body to help remove salt between washings.
I have a couple pin holes in two fenders, otherwise it is still clean, Brite white would look bad with rust on it

wool wax or fluid film, spray under your truck, inside frame, everywhere u can get it. You can buy fluid film at home depot. Helps stop the rust.
I have had the same truck for 13 years, bought with cash. If the motor blows up .tomorrow ill put a new one in it. I would rather put what i would be spending on a truck payment on my house payment.

Fix it
You wouldn't believe the stuff we fix in ontario. It's not uncommon to completely replace a cab and box on a truck, rebuild doors, change sub frames, fenders. Engines and transmissions. You name it
Or even frames etc. New vehicles are basically un affordable unless your totally broke and have nothing to loose anyways or older and have lots of money.
I have always drivin junk and it's just the way it is. Even good used vehicles is getting hard to find