Saturday, June 7, 2014

Cheapskate, I Am


My main driver. 1996 Escort Wagon, purchased with 114,000 miles on the odometer for $1,400. Have spent, over the last 86,000 miles,  about $1,000 for tires, alternator, battery, struts, brake pads, and a timing belt. A/C still blows cold. Including purchase price, $0.0279 per mile cost to drive plus gas and oil changes. Gets up to 34-35 mpg on the highway if there isn't a significant headwind.

Probably two thirds of those miles driven were for business with income being produced.

From Colorado, it has taken me as far North as Aberdeen, ND, as far South as Marfa, TX, as far East as Omaha, and as far West as Dugway, UT. I have no qualms of getting in it and driving anywhere.

I am considering getting a new windshield. Extravagent, I know, but is getting to a "Hello Officer" state.

Blasted Fords, wish they would last!

4 comments:

Old NFO said...

ROTF... So you don't trade em in when the ashtray gets full??? :-) And I'd probably replace the windshield AND the moulding at the same time... That stuff has to be pretty worn too!

Well Seasoned Fool said...

The last time I had a car payment was 1984. The windshield moulding will get replaced. Any others? Meh. Over the years, had two Lincoln Towncars that went 250,000 miles +. The E350 Diesel is still going strong at 210,000. I regret selling it,and the buyer is happy he did buy. SOB won't sell it back.

Scotty said...

Yeah, but sometimes......there's just that smell a new car has!! ;-)

Well Seasoned Fool said...

You do have a point! I prefer the smell of large bundles of Benjamin Franklins.