Last Week Was A Bittersweet Week.

etex211 · February 23, 2010

A couple of months ago, we came to the realization that none of our vehicles were adequate for traveling. Wifey's HHR was just too small. My '92 half ton extended cab would only seat two adults comfortably, and it had 180,000 miles. My '96 crew cab dually would seat four adults comfortably, but one ton trucks aren't much fun on trips, and it has 145,000 miles. My company car, a 2005 Venture van, isn't all that comfortable, and it has over 200,000 miles. A decision was made to start looking for an older Tahoe. I really like the old body style Tahoes and the 350 Vortec engines, so I focused my search on '96-'99 Tahoes.

After seeing the condition of most of those older Tahoes and the prices that folks were asking for them, we eventually redirected our search to later model half ton crew cab trucks. On the 13th, we bought a one owner 2007 Silverado Classic crew cab pickup. It is white with a dark charcoal interior. It has the LT package and something called a Southwest package. It also has a towing package. The engine is the 5.3 and it has a 3.73 locking rearend. The truck has 48,000 miles. We are pleased with our purchase. We don't plan to put a lot of miles on it and we intend to keep it for a very long time. Wifey will continue to drive her HHR back and forth to work, and I will log most of my miles on the company van. The '96 one ton will still be used for pulling our race car trailer. We will keep the new truck stored in the shop when it is not in use.

Well, adding that truck meant that one has to go. I don't need three of them. So I had to part with my '92 half ton extended cab truck. We bought this truck brand new in June of '92. The baby was only 18 months old when we bought that truck. She is at college now. That truck was like a part of our family. I personally performed every oil change that's ever been done on that truck. Mechanically, it was still a very solid truck, but there was no escaping the fact that it was an 18 year old truck with 180,000 miles.

I put the old truck on Craigslist last Tuesday night. On Friday, I sold it. The first guy that actually looked at it bought it. I think he got a good one. I will miss that truck. It's been very good to me over the years.

Time marches on, I guess.

sab316 · February 23, 2010

I was sad when I sold my '01. Dad gave me that truck when I was 17 as my personal truck/work truck. Dark Green with tan interior z71. When she was washed boy it was a great looking truck. After I bought my current truck I washed her up good and stuck her out infront of my uncles bank.. Sold within 3 hours. I was sad when they came and picked her up and drove the ole 'Green Machine' off.... but I figured it'll happen with this '09 too

robbd · February 23, 2010

I know how you feel. I just put my old 1999 Sierra 1500 SLE in the auction a week ago. It was the first fullsize truck I had ever owned and had such pride in owning. To let it go was pretty hard, but it was time in that I bought myself an 07 Sierra 1500 SLE. Its a great feeling of having a new vehicle, but at the same time.. I miss my old white truck, she did me well. Tough as nail she was.

jblakeney · February 23, 2010

Unless it gets wrecked and totaled I keep everything... It just becomes a restoration project after daily use.

Jbo

amtz.zero · February 23, 2010

Unless it gets wrecked and totaled I keep everything... It just becomes a restoration project after daily use.

Jbo

That's what I plan on doing with my current truck. I never want to get rid of it.

2009SierraZ71 · February 23, 2010

These trucks are like old friends after you have had them awhile. At least feel good that your old truck went to someone who will probably take care of it and it'll live on serving it's new owner. That's pretty cool.

I got rid of my 93 last August (had it since 95 with 185k miles). I did the cash for clunkers and they destroyed the engine. I felt kind of bad and the truck stayed in the dealer's lot for a few weeks. I even went back to see it a couple of times. My neighbor said I was sick.

grose67 · February 23, 2010

Back in 1985 I bought a beautiful brown and tan one owner 79 Scotsdale 1/2 ton 4wd. 3 engines, 2 transmisions and a rear end later I retired it. It is still sitting out back. Turned down may offers, it just seemed like selling the family dog or something.

etex211 · February 23, 2010

The thing about that '92 is that it's the only brand new vehicle that I've ever called "mine."

It was hard to do.

terrible1one3 · February 24, 2010

Great story. I haven't put more than 50k on a vehicle before trading up... It's a sickness, I'm losing soo much money because I get "bored" with a vehicle.

Well I had my last truck, a Colorado for 3 years which was a record for me. Traded it in for a same model year silverado CC 4x4 2LT. I also have an '02 Corvette. I will be keeping them both for at least 5 years as they are both financed so that will be a struggle. I plan on owning them for their lives but time will only tell. I really want to have a couple high mileage vehicles I can say I put most of the miles on.

Must have been hard to let go of that '92. My uncle has a 96, he's had the original motor in it but about 4 transmissions. He's had many vehicles inbetween but has always kept that one. His most recent was a loaded '02 ECZ71, sold it and he is still driving his 96, well over 300k, he'll still have that when my 5 years are up I bet.

sc4808 · February 24, 2010

Trust me, it gets easier, I compiled a list a while back and have been through 35 Vehicles to date (28 of which were trucks).

I am 45 years old and got my first vehicle when I was 15 so that is 35 vehicles in 30 years, that equeals a lot of $$$$$ down the toilet.

Hopfully I have learned a lesson, there is no perfect vehicle, there are always compromises.

By the way I own 7 right now:

2009 Silverado ECSB (Son Matt Drives)

2008 Silverado CCSB (I Drive)

2006 Sierra RCSB (Son Mark Drives)

2003 Sierra RCSB (My Work Truck)

1999 Explorer (Wife Drives)

1995 Silverado RCSB (Son Mark's Toy)

1994 F150 RCSB (Son Matt's Toy)

terrible1one3 · February 24, 2010

Trust me, it gets easier, I compiled a list a while back and have been through 35 Vehicles to date (28 of which were trucks).

I am 45 years old and got my first vehicle when I was 15 so that is 35 vehicles in 30 years, that equeals a lot of $$$$$ down the toilet.

Hopfully I have learned a lesson, there is no perfect vehicle, there are always compromises.

By the way I own 7 right now:

2009 Silverado ECSB (Son Drives)

2008 Silverado CCSB (I Drive)

2006 Sierra RCSB (Other Son Drives)

2003 Sierra RCSB (My Work Truck)

1999 Explorer (Wife Drives)

1995 Silverado RCSB (Other Sons Toy)

1994 F150 RCSB (Sons Toy)