topic Re: My 17 year old van in Community Chat

My 17 year old van

SeaMaiden — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 01:33:53 GMT

I took my 2000 Chevrolet Venture van in to get a face lift today. I bought the car new in 2000. It only has 48,000 miles on it. I love the way it handles and drives. It has nice big windows so easy to see out of.... and no bells or whistles....like the new cars today have. Just a BASIC CAR. That is why I I love it so! The interior and exterior are still really nice. It has never been in an accident. I do not drive it much anymore other than a trip to the grocery store or to the dentist. Thus the low mileage.

I had had everything fixed that needed fixing or looking at. Things just wear out over the years. .I had new Brakes, a tuneup, new water pump, new power steering pump, filters, new battery, an oil change, and more. It all came to $4600. Seems like a lot, but, I really have not put much out money wise into the car over the years other than oil changes tires, one tuneup and such. With such low mileage I should get at least another 10 years out of it I would hope. I know the blue book value of the car is less than what I spent on it today. But, I think it was a good investment, and I could not buy such a nice car for the money I spent getting the van a face lift.

Re: My 17 year old van

Kachina624 — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 01:43:21 GMT

@SeaMaiden I have one almost as good as yours. I got it new in 2003, a Saturn Vue SUV which now has 53,000 on it. I hit a deer when it was only 3 months old and did $6000. in damage which was nicely fixed but now the paint on the damaged side is starting to flake off so I suppose I'll have to have it painted. It always starts and runs well. That's all I ask.

Re: My 17 year old van

NicksmomESQ — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 01:50:16 GMT

@SeaMaiden The value of something cannot always be assigned a dollar amount. If the van means something to you your investment was more emotional than monetary!! That is priceless.

I hope you get to enjoy your van for many more years!!

Re: My 17 year old van

MickD — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 02:04:25 GMT

@SeaMaiden Wow, that's great! My DH had a 1998 Toyota 4Runner that lasted forever, but he sold it last year for a newer model. I have 2001 BMW that needs a few things done and we need to decide if we want to keep her or not.....we really get attached to our vehicles, don't we?

Re: My 17 year old van

Annabellethecat66 — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 02:48:55 GMT

My daughter and her husband take really good care of their cars (i.e. oil change, etc). They have Toyotas and the Acura that was mine.

The Toyotas have over 300,000 miles on them! They recently sold one of them for $4,000, it was a 1994 Camry that she got when she started college!

If you take care of cars (she put a water pump on my old car) that will run for a very long time.

My sisters never change the oil or do anything to the car. They've run more cars into the ground than I care to think about.

Good for you. That's the way people used to treat cars "in the old days". Ha!

Re: My 17 year old van

Natasha218 — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 02:55:48 GMT

As long as you're happy. That's all that counts.

Re: My 17 year old van

Mominohio — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 02:58:37 GMT

@SeaMaiden

We keep cars a very long time as well. When you love what you have, and are comfortable driving it, it only makes sense to keep it.

Re: My 17 year old van

Andrewsgrandma — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 06:18:57 GMT

I have a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It only has 140,000 miles. It's our spare vehicle. I love it. It needs a new paint job and some cosmetic fix ups. It's such a joy to drive. Dollar value is probably low but we should be able to get many,many more miles out of it. Hubby keeps it running smooth. I told hubby that I want to restore the exterior. I'm willing to spend the money because it's such a good looking vehicle with a lot of life still in it. No fancy interior, no fancy cup holders but it's just such a workhorse and fun to drive. V8 engine which is fast and fun.

Re: My 17 year old van

software — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 10:28:45 GMT

That's a great story to share. When you take the $4600 divided by all those years of faithful service, anyone would be happy.

Unfortunately for me, I drive at least 20,000 miles per year. I'm driving a 2005 Camry with 270,000 miles on it, never been in the shop except for oil change, tires, normal maintenance.

I'm looking to purchase a new car this year, I'll retire next spring and bye-bye to 20,000 miles per year! This next purchase will be my last.

@SeaMaiden wrote:
I took my 2000 Chevrolet Venture van in to get a face lift today. I bought the car new in 2000. It only has 48,000 miles on it. I love the way it handles and drives. It has nice big windows so easy to see out of.... and no bells or whistles....like the new cars today have. Just a BASIC CAR. That is why I I love it so! The interior and exterior are still really nice. It has never been in an accident. I do not drive it much anymore other than a trip to the grocery store or to the dentist. Thus the low mileage.

I had had everything fixed that needed fixing or looking at. Things just wear out over the years. .I had new Brakes, a tuneup, new water pump, new power steering pump, filters, new battery, an oil change, and more. It all came to $4600. Seems like a lot, but, I really have not put much out money wise into the car over the years other than oil changes tires, one tuneup and such. With such low mileage I should get at least another 10 years out of it I would hope. I know the blue book value of the car is less than what I spent on it today. But, I think it was a good investment, and I could not buy such a nice car for the money I spent getting the van a face lift.

Re: My 17 year old van

AuntG — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 11:01:56 GMT

With such low miles, you can be sure it is good for many more years. Now if it had 200,000 miles on it, I wouldn't have put that much money into it.

Re: My 17 year old van

hoosieroriginal — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 12:16:40 GMT

I'm with you @SeaMaiden - last time I went to have my 2003 Honda fixed a salesman said it would start nickel and diming me - well - for $25,000 I can get a lot of nickle and diming done on the car. It only has 60,000 and I rarely drive it. Looks new inside and out and there are a ton of that year SUV's on the road today going strong. I plan on keeping it many many more years - I don't want a car payment. Unless I win the lottery, this thing is going to be it for me. I think your money was well spent.

Re: My 17 year old van

Yardlie — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 12:34:49 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
I'm with you @SeaMaiden - last time I went to have my 2003 Honda fixed a salesman said it would start nickel and diming me - well - for $25,000 I can get a lot of nickle and diming done on the car. It only has 60,000 and I rarely drive it. Looks new inside and out and there are a ton of that year SUV's on the road today going strong. I plan on keeping it many many more years - I don't want a car payment. Unless I win the lottery, this thing is going to be it for me. I think your money was well spent.

@hoosieroriginal ... I totally agree with what you said. We have two cars. DH is kind of a car freak. He likes to drive the latest model, as well as a car with lots of accessories. We have agreed that he can trade it in every other year.

I, on the other hand, am still driving my 2003 Honda (like you). It has only 90,000 miles on it, and I had it in less than a year ago for a total overhaul. It looks brand new. I have always taken great care of it. DH keeps wanting me to trade it in, but I say...why? It is good enough for running errands and even for short trips to the next largest city. The Honda repair center told me that it would be good enough to drive across the country, but we use DH's car for long trips. I agree...why waste money on car payments when I have a perfectly good car.

Re: My 17 year old van

SeaMaiden — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 14:31:22 GMT

@Andrewsgrandma wrote:
I have a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It only has 140,000 miles. It's our spare vehicle. I love it. It needs a new paint job and some cosmetic fix ups. It's such a joy to drive. Dollar value is probably low but we should be able to get many,many more miles out of it. Hubby keeps it running smooth. I told hubby that I want to restore the exterior. I'm willing to spend the money because it's such a good looking vehicle with a lot of life still in it. No fancy interior, no fancy cup holders but it's just such a workhorse and fun to drive. V8 engine which is fast and fun.

@Andrewsgrandma LOL!~ I guess the cup holders started being the selling point in the year 2000... my van has about 8 cup holders THAT I NEVER USE. That was a selling point I remember when purchasing the van. Yes a nice workhorse car, nice to drive without anything fancy. That is just me as well.... You should fix up that nice car and enjoy it for years to come!

Re: My 17 year old van

SeaMaiden — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 14:32:55 GMT

@AuntG wrote:
With such low miles, you can be sure it is good for many more years. Now if it had 200,000 miles on it, I wouldn't have put that much money into it.

@AuntG I agree totally with you.

Re: My 17 year old van

SeaMaiden — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 14:37:16 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
I'm with you @SeaMaiden - last time I went to have my 2003 Honda fixed a salesman said it would start nickel and diming me - well - for $25,000 I can get a lot of nickle and diming done on the car. It only has 60,000 and I rarely drive it. Looks new inside and out and there are a ton of that year SUV's on the road today going strong. I plan on keeping it many many more years - I don't want a car payment. Unless I win the lottery, this thing is going to be it for me. I think your money was well spent.

@hoosieroriginal Thankyou! I was concerned that most comments would be saying I was out of my mind to spend that much on an old car.. but I see most comments are positive which makes me feel good. Definitely if the car had a ton of mileage on it , I would have not spent so much to keep it going..... but with the low mileage I hope the engine will keep on going for awhile. My husband has a brand new KIA SUV with all the bells and whistles and when I drive it I just do not enjoy it as much as my van.

Re: My 17 year old van

beckyb1012 — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 14:40:23 GMT

I totally agree. I did special order mine back in Oct. 2002 for the '03 Ford Escape. It does have all the extras but after all this time only as just over 56,000 miles on it. It may be my daily vehicle but since I do not drive much it works for me. Cannot even remember the last time I opened the sunroof. Sure is nice not having a car payment for tons of years.

Re: My 17 year old van

aggravated — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 14:59:19 GMT

@MickD- just traded in my 2000 BMW over the weekend. On the way to the dealer I kept saying "we can just go home, you know." I adored that car. It had only 83,000 miles on it in 18 years. Husband was bugging me to purchase a new car. Anyway, got a new MINI Cooper convertible and it's the bomb! Even my husband loves the car and at first he thought I was just being quirky. Just wonder if I will ever figure out all the toggle switches and buttons - it will be a miracle.

Re: My 17 year old van

SeaMaiden — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 15:03:45 GMT

@aggravated wrote:
@MickD- just traded in my 2000 BMW over the weekend. On the way to the dealer I kept saying "we can just go home, you know." I adored that car. It had only 83,000 miles on it in 18 years. Husband was bugging me to purchase a new car. Anyway, got a new MINI Cooper convertible and it's the bomb! Even my husband loves the car and at first he thought I was just being quirky. Just wonder if I will ever figure out all the toggle switches and buttons - it will be a miracle.

@aggravated yAND everytime you think about that wonderful 2000 BMW you loved... think of someone else loving it now giving it a new life.

Re: My 17 year old van

MickD — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 16:37:15 GMT

@aggravated oh good for you! Now you gotta love your new baby!

Re: My 17 year old van

aggravated — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 18:19:08 GMT

@SeaMaiden @MickD Thank you both very much. I'm a little perplexed with all the buttons but the car is great and winning me over all the time. I've gotten a lot of compliments from my friends. I'm enjoying. Obviously, I too buy very few new cars. As the salesman said at the dealership "you only live once." True enough.