The odometer on my van rolled past 150,000 miles yesterday. I snapped a pic with my cheap-o phone and texted it to Mr. Four Walls, but I'm having technical difficulties getting it to load to the blog, so you'll just have to take my word for it.
But, wow! How many other people do you know driving an old, 90's mini-van with 150,000 miles on it?
It's funny.
There was a time in my life, not too many years ago, when I would have told you there would be no way I would ever be driving a vehicle with that sort of mileage. I would have said that the headache and cost of maintenance on something that old and used wouldn't be worth it. That there's no way a vehicle like that would be safe enough for my family. That having a regular, predictable car payment is so much better than being nickled and dimed for ongoing maintenance on a beater.
That was then, this is now.
Now I say that I would have said all of those things out of pride. I would have said all those things because I didn't want people to see my family rolling through town in something that makes odd sounds at odd times, has one lock outside that won't work at all, and the others that only sometimes let us in on the first try. I would have said all those things because I thought it was normal and perfectly okay to live in debt, to never really own all the things we call "ours."
That was then, this is now.
Since "Goldie," as we affectionately call her, joined the family in November of 2010- already with around 140,000 miles - we have lived car payment free. We have diligently and deliberately maintained her, mostly ourselves, and spent WAY less than we would have on car payments and maintenance on a younger, hipper vehicle. And we've gotten over ourselves.
I still have pride, mind you. Now I'm proud of my old "girl" for being so steady for the family before us and now for ours. I'm proud of myself for not caring how people look at me when I try and try and try to unlock my driver's side door and then have to occasionally resort to crawling in through the back. I'm proud of Mr. Four Walls and me, how we've weathered this long road of financial uncertainty, and are coming through it stronger and more committed to making the journey ahead together, whatever it should hold.
Goldie won't live forever. I know we'd be kidding ourselves if we thought she'd be truckin' (vannin'?) along in another 150,000 (but stranger things have happened....). I'll be tickled pink if she's still going as we ring in the New Year next year. For now, though, I'll simply take her 150,000 milestone as a great reminder to be thankful for what we have, while we have it.
Thanks, Goldie!
Oh, there are so many things said here that I just LOVE!
ReplyDeleteFrugal sisters, we are. :)
Our locks stick, too, by the way. There's a certain rhythm and talent we have to have to get the timing just right. Hit the lock, quick grab the door, repeat. Ha!
LOL, good to know I'm not alone, Amy. Ours takes just the right touch. Not too fast or slow, and a twisting of the key to an exact degree, the "exactness" of which seems to change with the tides. Goldie is definitely a girl...it's almost as if she has moods. :)
DeleteI have a 98 minivan that I've driven to 195,000 miles. It has just in the last thousand or so miles been getting unreliable. I just bought a new(to me) 98 bravada that has only 166,000. I'm hoping it will go to the 200,000 mile mark.
ReplyDeleteWay to go, Jackie! Keep me posted on if you make it to the 200K mark.
DeleteYay! Better to be in an older car and debt free than in a new car struggling with car payments. Having said that, I would highly recommend a Honda if you are looking at going over 200,000. I had a Saturn, before they ruined them and then stopped making them all together, that made it to 220,000 before the odometer stopped working so I'm not sure how many miles it had when we parted ways. Now my husband and I both have Hondas that are pushing 200,000 with no sign of stopping!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely better than a car payment, and I've actually said that almost verbatim to myself as a mantra when I've had to deal with the minor annoyances of having something more "mature." I've heard the Hondas are great, too, but when we needed to get rid of our in-debt car, there weren't any Hondas (or Toyotas) in our price range. Hopefully when Goldie finally does give out we'll have enough to trade-up a bit.
DeleteMy Dad's driving a Suburban from the 90's with OVER 300 K on it, and our car almost has 180, it's a badge of honor : ) Thinking about getting one of those bumper stickers that says "at least it's paid for"
ReplyDeleteI love that, Kasey! I want one, too. We need it for Mr. Four Walls' truck, as well. He's been driving without heat or a working odometer for the past few months, LOL.
DeleteWoo hoo! Driving a 2001 Honda Odyssey with just over 287,000 miles on it. Mechanic thinks it should make it to 400K. Highly recommend the Hondas. I never even had little problems until maybe a year ago. Now that we refuse to have a car payment ever again, I'll be driving it until it dies!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I also drive our vehicles "to death". Our current 2002 Honda CRV has 280,000 miles on it. We sold our 1995 Toyota Corolla this past year and bought a Subaru Outback 2007 with 75,000 miles on. Driving in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota weather, these 4 wheel drive vehicles are a must. We hoping to have them both for years to come:)
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