I just posted part of this on another thread here. What better place to get ideas from friendly members who love telling others where to go, what to do, and how to spend money. Please tell me what to do! I'm to the point I know I'm gonna sell my truck after moving. Finally getting the heads redone. Still, I'm gonna need the quad cab truck to haul lots of junk 1000 miles to our retirement home from this retirement home. The difference is now we really are retireder and don't need all of these toys. My wife can no longer chop wood, mow grass, patch the roof, and the other things needing done on this five acres. She barely can keep up cooking, cleaning, and remodeling this mobile home anymore. It takes her twice as long to do an oil and lube job or rebuild the lawn tractor motor than it used to. So we bought a small home on 1/2 acre for her. Since she won't be needing the truck to load with fire wood, cement blocks, and other things it seems silly to keep it after we get moved. I'm keeping the 1955 Chevy wagon and maybe one other old car. These are not gonna be driven in snow, ice, and salted roads. The closest they've been to salt is along the Gulf and Daytona Beach. This is what's on my mind. Considered a small fuel efficiant late model car. But I haven't seen any I would like and for the most part driving to Wally World, restaurants, and the hardware store won't matter for gas mileage. I hate mini vans, SUV's and look alike generic computer controlled plastic wrapped cars. To me a Cadillac and a Toyota look alike. I hate dashes with blinking lights and digital gauges with strange buttons and levers. When I back up I don't need a TV monitor. I use mirrors. When I go forward I don't need some female voice tellin me where to go. I have a wife for that. I check my own tires and oil so don't need flashing lights to tell me. Those idiot lites always bothered me and the others do too A 60's thru 80's wagon for everyday use seems like a good idea. Midsized Ford or Chevy without woodgrain makes more sense. But I love the wood, lots of shiny chrome, and tail fins. No big wheels, tiny tires, or large engines sticking out the hood please. But it doesn't have to be bone stock. I'm also so old skool that high mileage is anything over 100,000. I'm just dreaming and confused at this time. :confused: Whatever I do won't happen soon. So take your time and tell me what to do. I started randomly looking at small homes back in Illinois just for curiosity. In a few weeks I found just what we wanted and could afford. In reality I hope the wagon of my dreams does not pop up too soon! I'll only have a two car garage. :icon_drive: .
Yeezus, you are a stick in the mud, aren't'cha? You could score a nice '80s wagon and not have to worry about anything but the key minder buzzer going off everytime you open the driver's door. Easier to get parts, and you could even get a front-drive one like what Fannie has, which has much more traction with snow and ice. With the few FWD cars I've had, I've never skidded out on snow or ice, and got one stuck only once. Anything you get's gonna be a throwaway, so why limit what you get? Go for comfort and driveability, price and cost to maintain, not whether or not the geegaws annoy you.
I hate front wheel drive in the winter. For reliability, ease of driving, and comfort, the full sized Ford's are great and so are the box full sized G.M. Sedans and wagons. To me the newer designs are dangerous because the sightings are terrible. Pillars are stupid thick, and everything run through a computer makes them expensive to keep going. The 80s full sized wagon from Ford and GM just seem made for what you need. Keep eyes open, as there are sometimes very good deals.
Thanks. I've only had one front wheel drive car, a 1987 Ford Escort. I really didn't see any difference in driving it. As for the one comment, I don't want to be stuck in the mud or snow. Right now I'm just thinking about what to buy. I love the looks and monster sizes of the Whale wagons, large Buicks, and Fords. Most likely the better for what I need. Still not too old or too modern. Non wood grain also makes sense considering the problems with it and these wagons were built before too many computers and gadgets have been added. Right here on this forum is my best place to look and that's all I'm doing.
Have you thought of.....and just think about it, OK! Deb's ride is a 2011.... Yeah it's kinda small.... Yeah it's a SUV thingy.... It's GREAT on gas..... Lots of power.... All wheel drive..... very user friendly to drive with a crazy insane awesome turning radius.... VERY good visibility all around, especially out the front windshield.... Very comfortable to drive... All switches/buttons in easy reach.... From 2013 on...., been in this body style and I would not have bought one period, sorry Deb it would not have happened period if you wanted a 2013!.... Windshield as of 2013 is so far sloped the ghost image reflections interfere with safe driving IMO if the sun is facing you and or at night with oncoming traffic. over your shoulder visibility SUCKS, you can't see sqwat! It's jane plain and simple FUGLY! When Deb wanted a new ride after 12 years of the old mini van, she wanted a Escape...... to be honest I didn't even know what the, or who the, made the darn things let alone what it looked like I looked online for consumer reports and I also asked about it on this forum. Tiki man had one and raved about it. The only thing I was strongly advised apon and read in other reviews was to stay away from the 4 banger, this was mainly from owners experience living in hilly/mountainous areas witch we live in. The V6 has proven well beyond a doubt it has more power than it needs on highway hills, even hauling my loaded utility trailer. I'd also stick with AWD that we took rather than the FWD witch was standard...... I'd also recommend just like I did, buy a set of extra rims with REAL winter tires and DON't waist your $$$$ buying the computer crap tire pressure sensors ( I didn't) The computer light comes on steady for the first couple weeks of 'OMG, Tire pressure monitor fail, redrum, redrum, redrum" bud no bells and annoying buzzers....then it just lights up every now and then. BTW, the door chimes crap are easy to remove, I RIPPPED them out of Deb's Escape the same day I bought it But first.......you have to move!
