To trade or not, what would you do.........

[ShadowsPapa]

Lately, I base new vehicle decisions on the fact that life is too short. And, many times a healthy, mobile life is even shorter. I have had several friends who died in their 40's. They didn't get to experience what I consider a full lifetime.

If I can afford a new vehicle without it changing my life in a drastic manner financially then I buy it. Sure, sometimes I loose out to depreciation but vehicles are my hobby. To me, its really no different than someone who buys expensive alcohol and consumes it. Or those who hang out in bars and spend their money there. Or going to a casino to gamble. Its what they enjoy.

I look at it as it may be the last new vehicle I ever buy. Because, it may be. If you have the means and it won't put you in a hole financially on a day to day basis, go for it. Enjoy life because you only get one go around.

Before I retired, I had a friend in the antique engine hobby, big in the local club and at shows, etc. and he made some reproduction parts for some of the engines. He worked his butt off to save so he could retire. He put in a lot of hours and worked hard and finally got to where he could retire - not as early as he wanted, but he made it. I believe it was the next month he started not feeling quite right. Trip to the doc - brain cancer. He died just a few short months later. He lived those final months totally pissed off about life and everything in general. Not the type you wanted to spend time with any more. It made me more determined than ever I was going to retire as quick as I could without drastic changes to "lifestyle", etc.
My mother died of cancer, my father killed in an accident by a sleeping driver, my youngest brother had serious fast moving prostate cancer (lived through it but not without major surgery)
My hobby is my cars (and now this truck) and my shop.
My wife's hobby and life's joy (besides me, that is HAHAHA) is her quilting.

Much of the time I'm really tight with money - I try to find "bargains" and buy cheap as I was raised to not spend unless it's a necessity - my mother was a product of bad financial times and a tenant farmer father and depression mother) but after burning through 2 cheaper circular saws, my wife told me "if you dare come back with another cheap one trying to save money, you can turn right back around and take it back".
Being cheap has actually cost me more at times and she knows that.
So I try to get her thoughts and the thinking of others to break that pattern I grew up under.

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[ShadowsPapa]

This is a much more eloquent way of saying what I wanted to say earlier but just deleted instead ?
Life is too damn short to die with a bank full of money and have had less enjoyment/no good memories to flash before your eyes.

When our father was killed, 3 years after Mom died of cancer, my brothers and I were SHOCKED to see what he died with. Mom had saved so many savings bonds it took the three of us several minutes to sign them to be put into the estate. I think it was 77 HH bonds. The bankers said that Mom had been a financial genius. Dad worked in a factory half his life then odd jobs after the plant closed. Their first new vehicle was a Ford Ranger in 2010. They didn't spend much except what had to be spent. They were afraid of running out or a big crash as they were both products of poor times and financial losses of their parents.

My brothers and I made some nice donations to the local animal shelters, etc. in their names as they both loved cats and dogs.

 

[Dryfly24]

I’m lucky in the sense that for the first time in my life I am absolutely, perfectly satisfied with the vehicle I already have.

There’s nothing I’d trade it for.

 

[Dryfly24]

Lately, I base new vehicle decisions on the fact that life is too short. And, many times a healthy, mobile life is even shorter. I have had several friends who died in their 40's. They didn't get to experience what I consider a full lifetime.

If I can afford a new vehicle without it changing my life in a drastic manner financially then I buy it. Sure, sometimes I loose out to depreciation but vehicles are my hobby. To me, its really no different than someone who buys expensive alcohol and consumes it. Or those who hang out in bars and spend their money there. Or going to a casino to gamble. Its what they enjoy.

I look at it as it may be the last new vehicle I ever buy. Because, it may be. If you have the means and it won't put you in a hole financially on a day to day basis, go for it. Enjoy life because you only get one go around.

Great post.

 

[Midnight Rider]

Before I retired, I had a friend in the antique engine hobby, big in the local club and at shows, etc. and he made some reproduction parts for some of the engines. He worked his butt off to save so he could retire. He put in a lot of hours and worked hard and finally got to where he could retire - not as early as he wanted, but he made it. I believe it was the next month he started not feeling quite right. Trip to the doc - brain cancer. He died just a few short months later. He lived those final months totally pissed off about life and everything in general. Not the type you wanted to spend time with any more. It made me more determined than ever I was going to retire as quick as I could without drastic changes to "lifestyle", etc.
My mother died of cancer, my father killed in an accident by a sleeping driver, my youngest brother had serious fast moving prostate cancer (lived through it but not without major surgery)
My hobby is my cars (and now this truck) and my shop.
My wife's hobby and life's joy (besides me, that is HAHAHA) is her quilting.

Much of the time I'm really tight with money - I try to find "bargains" and buy cheap as I was raised to not spend unless it's a necessity - my mother was a product of bad financial times and a tenant farmer father and depression mother) but after burning through 2 cheaper circular saws, my wife told me "if you dare come back with another cheap one trying to save money, you can turn right back around and take it back".
Being cheap has actually cost me more at times and she knows that.
So I try to get her thoughts and the thinking of others to break that pattern I grew up under.

Having lost my father in law & my sister at 46 & my mother in law at 62, all I can say is amen brother. Life is too short.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I’m lucky in the sense that for the first time in my life I am absolutely, perfectly satisfied with the vehicle I already have.

There’s nothing I’d trade it for.

There's one way my wife would trade her Grand Cherokee - if she could get an identical one in purple.
When Spencer asked me to list my wife's choices of colors, I responded thusly:
1. Purple
2. Purple
3. Purple

She got slate blue but still she asked what it would cost to get it painted purple. I simply told her - you don't want to know.......

 

[Dryfly24]

There's one way my wife would trade her Grand Cherokee - if she could get an identical one in purple.
When Spencer asked me to list my wife's choices of colors, I responded thusly:
1. Purple
2. Purple
3. Purple

She got slate blue but still she asked what it would cost to get it painted purple. I simply told her - you don't want to know.......

I recall we had this discussion a while back and the shit storm that ensued when I happened upon a purple Jeep here in town and I posted a pic of it in a new thread. Some male Karen took exception with me posting it publicly instead of PM‘ing you and hilarity ensued… ?

 

[BAT]

There's one way my wife would trade her Grand Cherokee - if she could get an identical one in purple.
When Spencer asked me to list my wife's choices of colors, I responded thusly:
1. Purple
2. Purple
3. Purple

She got slate blue but still she asked what it would cost to get it painted purple. I simply told her - you don't want to know.......

Haha Yep my wife wants me to get a purple one. I said he this is my truck if you want a Purple Jeep go buy one but If I change for color its going to be Mojito.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Haha Yep my wife wants me to get a purple one. I said he this is my truck if you want a Purple Jeep go buy one but If I change for color its going to be Mojito.

Time to learn something - that's the cool green I see? My wife saw a Wrangler with a really neat bright green and said "what about that color" and I didn't know any better - I said "that's a Wrangler - don't know if that's even an option on Gladiator".

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I recall we had this discussion a while back and the shit storm that ensued when I happened upon a purple Jeep here in town and I posted a pic of it in a new thread. Some male Karen took exception with me posting it publicly instead of PM‘ing you and hilarity ensued… ?

I think I remember that.
That's when we were looking into new Grand Cherokees for her and yeah, crazy.
The number of people that see me in mine around town, my JT's pic has to be out there somewhere (aside from here, that is)- all I ask, please photoshop it if I'm in the pic - take off about 25 pounds, please?

I've had TWO more emails from Dewey! One was a general manager asking if there's anything they can do for me, and then an hour ago a sales guy asked if I have built one online yet as the sooner they order, they beat any rush and get it in sooner.
Popping into my head - rush? .What rush? There's a rush coming? ;-)
And the other thing - I've told them what it would take - get that difference into this range and I'll come and talk serious, but if you can't come close to Spencer's number and aren't willing to match driveway then I guess I have to keep looking, checking Gupton, etc. - assuming they are even interested in any sort of trade.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Well dang @ShadowsPapa you got my mind going now and I just saw a jeep gladiator in the only other color i would consider in a Rubicon used with only 15,000 miles on it. They are offering me $41,000 for mine, man I may end up with a Rubicon.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Well dang @ShadowsPapa you got my mind going now and I just saw a jeep gladiator in the only other color i would consider in a Rubicon used with only 15,000 miles on it. They are offering me $41,000 for mine, man I may end up with a Rubicon.

That's a nice looking truck. The black grill goes nicely.

 

[Dryfly24]

Well dang @ShadowsPapa you got my mind going now and I just saw a jeep gladiator in the only other color i would consider in a Rubicon used with only 15,000 miles on it. They are offering me $41,000 for mine, man I may end up with a Rubicon.

I’m not a blue truck guy and even I think it’s gorgeous. That is one hell of a sharp looking truck…

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Well the more I talked to them and then while sitting there I got on Jeeps website and started building one, for what I'd pay for the that one, around $55,500 out the door I could build a new one for that. That one's a 2020 with 15,500 miles on it. They did say they would be more than happy to swap my tires for me but wanted me to keep the bumpers and winch installed and the lights. Just didn't feel worth it to me. I also called Hendricks and they told me to come up there if I wanted one and they would work out better deal for me. I just ain't feeling starting over on another truck really. I'll have this one paid for in 18 months. After they paid mine off I'd put roughly $22,000 in my pocket and then if I throw that at the 2020 Rubicon that still puts me owing $33,000, that's just 4,000 less than I paid for mine.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Jeeps built your Jeep site doesn't put in destination charges, so you have to add that if comparing prices on new. The dealer will have somewhere maybe around 1500 while the Jeep site will show you the price without that.

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