After reading about Tim's Mini van experience I sat down and looked at what
my Chrysler product has done to me. ( This is going to be a bitch session
hold on ! )
First let me compare three of my cars and what they have cost me.
95 Toyota Celica GTS. Not to offend any ladies in FOT but this is a Chick
car to the max. I love it! It is uncomfortable as hell for 6'1" guy but is
my daily driver. For one simple reason. It will never die!
I paid $22,500 for it new off the lot with all the bells and whistles I
could get. So far it has a smidge over 130,000 miles on it.
Maintenance and repairs have been $2,820.00 in almost eight years I have
owned it.
These include: Timing belt, tune up, and tires at 75,000 miles
26 oil and airfilter changes
Brakes, major tune up and open check book to the
dealer at 128,000 miles to make sure it goes another
100,000 miles before my back gives out.
The dealership gave me a free rental when I did that.
Cost per mile of owning car so far has been 2cents a mile and complete
worry free driving.
2nd car is my 98 Dodge Durango. This is the family car. My car. ( Well it
was for a short while.) It was to be my tow vehicle and work truck when my
wife did not need it. Well she liked it alot so it became my tow vehicle
only and her every day car. This did not last long. What I did not know is
Dodge has very cleverly install timed components into this vehicle. ( Better
grab a beer this is going to the long part of my Bitch)
Maint. and breakages.
20, 40 and 60,000miles complete front end rebuilds
14 oil changes,
36,200 miles bad front hub.
36,125 in the dark in the mountains down hill (fast)
O2 censors failed telling the engine to shut down. Cost
alot and caused pulled muscle from trying to stop it
and steer on steep mountain road with absolutely no
power.
52,000miles GD sensors failed again. This time I had an
anchor ready!
Battery at 18 months to the day I bought the truck.
(Celica still has original battery)
Every other time I rotate the tires the rear studs seem
fall out with out much effort. This can be really
costly if it happens in the wrong way! ( Never had this
happen on any other car I have owned. ( Finally went
ARP studs and problem solved.
Water pump and belt twice!
Full brake job at 59k (Rotors and Drums were wasted!)
One bearing bad.
Headlights at 60k
Lots of fuses blown for not apparent reason.
Dimmer switch replaced
Rear washer stopped working When I don't know.
Washer fluid system in front crapped out at 50k. Eight
week wait on parts so I said F&*k it and built my own
out of ball point pen parts and Radio control airplane
fuel tubing with a boost pump. I can now hit a kid two
houses over if I want. ;o)
60k the transfer case started leaking. Mechanic at
Dodge confessed that I will be lucky to get 80k out of
the transmission.
Just as it hit 70k I replaced the tires. During install
it was pointed out to me that 3 out of 4 shocks were
leaking!
I have spent just over $4,800.00 in maint. and repair in 70,000 miles. This
by far the worst vehicle I have ever owned. That is 17% of the cost of the
truck new! About 7 cents a mile. The problem is. It is such a darn good tow
vehicle for its size and comfort I am going to keep the damn thing!
Third Vehicle is the Gt-6. I have had it 12 years. Paid $100.00 for it and
initially restored it for about $3,500.00. Since then I have drove the
living crap out of it. I have spent upwards of $23,000 gettin where it is
today. It has never failed to get me home when it was a street car. Has
always been the envy of any gear head that has been to the garage and is
responsible for my divorce from my first wife and then the hook for my 2nd
wife. It also is the sole reason I keep that damn Durango!
So which is worse the Durango or the sweet little she devil it pulls to the
track!
OK done babbling. It made no sense. I am just pissed at new cars made
supossedly in the US!
How many FOTers are going to the Runoffs. Maybe we should meet up. I will be
there Thurs through Sat. With our 64 Spit GP car. Look for it #65 blue and
white.
Thanks for the shoulder
Andy
PS Tim will it be the evaporator that breaks my back on this Dodge? ;o)
_________________________________________________________________
Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com
|