Time for new wheels...

[ls99]

I had a mid 90's Z71 too, great 4WD truck. Mine had about 200k miles when I sold it. Have you tried to use some "non foulers" for the fouling plugs? You can do each bad cylinder for about $5 and it is a very simple ~2 minute fix per cylinder. It may very possibly extend the life of your engine for a while. I've used the trick/fix on some older vehicles that I didn't want to do an engine rebuild on and it's worked for me a number of times.

Rust holes just add character to a work truck.

I gave them a thought. Might go for it (them) to try and get it past emission inspection. Getting a bit tired of resetting the misfire codes. Agree the rust holes are genuine macho backwoods glory.

Btw I had used them on rear O2 sensors to fool the 'puter about catalyst efficiency.

 

[Hermit]

I gave them a thought. Might go for it (them) to try and get it past emission inspection. Getting a bit tired of resetting the misfire codes. Agree the rust holes are genuine macho backwoods glory.

Btw I had used them on rear O2 sensors to fool the 'puter about catalyst efficiency.

No emission inspections where I live. A benefit of living in the boondocks!

 

[ls99]

No emission inspections where I live. A benefit of living in the boondocks!

If I change my address to the next county where my mancave is, no emisssion testing required. Though DW would frown upon the change of address

 

[GravitySucks]

Since this has devolved into a Pickup vs. Car thread - how about the best (worst) of both worlds?

 

[MRG]

I gave them a thought. Might go for it (them) to try and get it past emission inspection. Getting a bit tired of resetting the misfire codes. Agree the rust holes are genuine macho backwoods glory.

Btw I had used them on rear O2 sensors to fool the 'puter about catalyst efficiency.

I used them on a '60s Ford 360 engine, from a 68 F-100, it had character too. I ran hot plugs with them. Couldn't foul a plug, eventually the oil consumption and the thick blue clouds from the exhaust led to a nice $75 390. That was a big improvement, didn't have to buy bulk oil anymore. Emissions inspections?

 

[rayinpenn]

I just have to comment on OP's thinking the daughter's car with 115K is not reliable or can't be trusted. That is fewer miles than any of my vehicles, except my motorhome and F-650. I guess having ability to do my own car repairs and understanding how things work gives me a different outlook.

Newer cars have way more than 115K of life, as long as you have done sufficient preventative maintenance. It sounds like OP wants an excuse to get a new car, that is fine. I just do not agree that the 115K car is a POS and unreliable.

Point of order I said the jalopy was still reliable meaning it starts, runs fine etc., however Im sure we will all agree the likely hood of problems increases with age and mileage. The issue isn't me being able to do the repairs the issue is:
1) the phone call "daddy the car died"
2) my daughters need to deal with a breakdown 4 hours away at school or two plus hours away at the internship. Or more likely somewhere in between. She just replaced a failed $800 alternator in the car up at school. (The CRV has the alternator buried it is a big job)
3) we need another car (HS son has a job 2 miles away) and we use the oldest goes to the newest driver rule.

Hondas are known for the durability of their engines --it is the transmission that will likely send it to the bone yard. PS I did my own tune ups etc for years... Now I tune ups really don't exist.. Oil and filter changes (Which we religiously do every 3K miles) transaxle fluid, and a timing belt at 100K miles.

Finally the reason I am in a quandary about what to do is I am not a big car person. (I do love the RAV) If I wanted a new car I have the means to buy one...I just don't have a burning desire.

I would never refer to my CRV as a POS
- first I'm not big on profanity
- second that SUVs been great reliable and got me home on several snowy days. It's also been a great parking lot queen for the daughter (it gets real cold at school below zero) only one time did it need a jump.




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[check6]

As a completely independent woman living alone for the past 18 years, I have never once needed an F-350, or even a pickup truck. I have paid one or two establishments for delivery of items, like my living room set, but that really isn't going to break the bank.

I don't rely on F for this sort of thing either; in fact, several times he has relied on me to help him with my Venza, because it has a bigger cargo capacity than the 2003 Murano that he has owned since 2004.

He wants to get another pickup truck as his next vehicle. Men seem to need trucks, although I haven't quite figured out the reasoning behind that, yet.

Whenever I see a Venza I point out to my DW with a chuckle, "That's what the Oceanographer lady on ER owns." Btw, my DW made me sell my Toyota PU last month that I owned for 24 years <sniff, sniff>. Hope that makes you happy.

 

[W2R]

Whenever I see a Venza I point out to my DW with a chuckle, "That's what the Oceanographer lady on ER owns." Btw, my DW made me sell my Toyota PU last month that I owned for 24 years <sniff, sniff>. Hope that makes you happy.

Ha ha!! Well, not really if you miss it. After 24 years, I bet it was about on its last legs, though.

 

[Senator]

As a completely independent woman living alone for the past 18 years, I have never once needed an F-350, or even a pickup truck. I have paid one or two establishments for delivery of items, like my living room set, but that really isn't going to break the bank.

I don't rely on F for this sort of thing either; in fact, several times he has relied on me to help him with my Venza, because it has a bigger cargo capacity than the 2003 Murano that he has owned since 2004.

He wants to get another pickup truck as his next vehicle. Men seem to need trucks, although I haven't quite figured out the reasoning behind that, yet.

Actually, by definition, since you had to rely on one or two establishments for delivery of items, you were not completely independent...lol

It's a nice feeling to fire up the diesel on a cold Minnesota winter morning, and to hear that big engine knock and ping as it struggles to get warm. When I see that nice blue cloud of diesel exhaust, I know I am doing my part to help the global warming trend in MN. If we could get another 20 degrees warming in the winter, it would be a great thing.

Of course, when I pick up ~1,000 lbs of flooring like I will today, haul away old carpet and Sheetrock, move appliances, plow snow, haul mowers, etc. It's nice to have a truck.