Scotty,
I have a 2007 Chevy Silverado LTZ I bought new years ago.
It currently has 273,000 miles on it and has had the oil changed every 6000 miles since the day we bought it.
We live in an Ocean Front Condo so we had the Dealer change the oil for years but when they proved they were crooks on an unrelated matter I chose to change the oil myself at a friend’s house who has a shop with a car lift.
Be aware, we do live on the ocean but the truck is parked in underground parking and has little to no exposure to salt.
We also had it undercoated when we bought it.
I know how you feel about that but it seemed like a good idea at the time since we live on the beach.
I started changing the oil myself at a little over 200,000 miles and not knowing what the dealer used I switched to Mobile 1 and have changed the oil and filter every 6000 miles since.
I also have had the transmission fluid, Brake Fluid, and coolant changed at regular intervals as well.
The truck has basically been used as a car all these years and has never hauled a trailer or any heavy loads. I am a Dentist who works in North Florida and lives in Daytona Beach 170 miles away.
The point is all the truck does is gets cranked and driven to Live Oak and shut off and cranked again at the end of the week to come back.
So 99% of all the mileage has been highway.
We have taken very good care of it since we bought it and anything that broke regardless of how small we fixed, even down to the little black cap that broke off that covers the cigarette lighter socket.
We are, actually my wife, is that picky.
So right now everything works perfectly.
All the electronics work, the transmission shifts smoothly, and it burns one quart of oil every 3000 miles.
In spite of its age we have maintained the truck so well everything still works and it still looks almost new inside and out.
So here is the question:
I know I don’t need to do this now but one day I will need to make a decision so I am asking before that day comes.
One day something major is going to go, either the transmission or the engine itself.
When that day comes I will either have to buy a good used truck ( Ford) with low mileage and probably pay around $40,000.00 for it or have a friend I have known since 8th grade who owns a car shop replace the motor and transmission in mine with factory rebuilt ones for around $10,000.00 dollars.
He says the engine comes from a high quality company and the new engine is complete except for the water pump. He told me the transmission would be like new as well.
My question is if we continue to maintain the truck as we have all these years and if it is still in as good a condition then as it is now would it be smarter to spend the 10 grand for the rebuilt engine and transmission or buy a low mileage used truck?
A Tundra is not an option.
My wife hates the way they drive and the way they are laid out.
She doesn’t think they are comfortable, she hates the driving position, and doesn’t like the way they ride.
I think my wife is as opinionated as yours.
The reason I am asking is you have said repeatedly that newer vehicles will not last anywhere near as long as the older ones and this truck has been trouble free except for the usual repairs like a power steering pump, water pump, etc. for all the years we have owned it.
The only exception is we had a rebuilt rear end put in the truck because one area on the steel by a bracket was thin and rusted through leaking oil. I chose to replace the rear end with a factory rebuilt one probably around 35,000 miles ago.
But that is the only major repair the truck has ever needed.
The paint is perfect and there is no rust anywhere.
The trucks market value is not a consideration. I know the new engine and transmission exceeds the trucks value but that does not concern me.
What I care about is not having a truck that while it may be newer will not hold up or be as reliable as the one I currently have.
Also, I have no interest in all the new gadgets they are putting into vehicles these days and consider them more of a nuisance and just something else that can break.
I am perfectly happy with what I have and have no interest in the latest and greatest and consider most of it as just gee whiz stuff that is just waiting to break and drag me back to the dealer.
Considering the cost of a newer used truck, assume $40,000.
My wife likes the best and will only accept the most luxurious models, compared to the $10,000.00 for a rebuilt engine and transmission that is a savings of $30,000.00 dollars. That would pay for an awful lot of repair bills through the years on our current truck. That fact makes it very tempting to keep what I have, especially considering its condition and how well we have taken care of it.
And one final point ( of which I know you strongly disapprove) we have grown attached to the truck and don’t really want to part with it.
What are your thoughts?
10k is a lot. The Silverado uses pretty widely available stuff so it shouldn't cost that much but the chances of the engine and tranny failing at the exact same time is slim to nil.
Anyway, nothing lasts forever, least of all cars and trucks so you'll have to let it go someday. Some newer trucks are better than others. But you say you drive it like a car, so why wouldn't you get a reliable car or smaller SUV?
if you're sentimental about the truck , then that's your cross to bear. There isn't really anything I can tell you because you're choosing to ignore logic.
Mountain Man,
Yes I am sentimental but not to a point of throwing money down a rat hole.
If it becomes necessary to part with it I will.
I said we treat it like a car but we do use it like a truck, we just don't carry heavy loads with it.
There have been hundreds of times whether it is bringing 6 months of paper towels, toilet paper, etc back to our office in Live Oak, buying lumber for a project, or bringing home a new dishwasher.
Owning a truck is extremely useful and we take advantage of the bed in the back more times than I can count.
An SUV or car could not do that.
Using it as a car meant it has been treated gently and never strained as someone who was using at as a work truck would.
We just like having a four door car with a bed in the back instead of a trunk or hatchback.
paper towels and toilet paper is not a reason to own a truck. You're a dentist you can afford to have the odd appliance or lumber delivered. But I am not telling you what to do ... just something to think about. Most people buy trucks for the image.
Actually guys,
I am really curious about Scotty's opinion.
You both make good points but I would be interested what Scotty has to say about the idea.
Yes, I realize the Engine and Transmission would not fail at the same time but if one goes and I choose to replace one I would go ahead and replace both and be done with it.
Assuming I have reason to believe the truck would last long enough to justify the expense.
Mountain Man,
I love a good debate and you whetted my appetite.
I am 63 and been married 31 years.
"Image" is not something I think much about anymore.
I doubt I could get a woman's attention now even if I set myself on fire.
Live Oak is a rural community and when we lived here before deciding to live in Daytona you had to take your garbage to a transfer station which meant you had to own a truck.
Before moving to Live Oak I never thought of owning a truck, let alone buying one. I always drove Lincolns.
But after owning one we realized how useful they are and also how much safer they are, especially since we drive 340 miles a week on the expressway.
Me being a Dentist has nothing to do with it.
I could pay someone to fix my wife's washing machine as well if I wanted to but I fix our appliances myself.
It isn't about image, what I can or can't afford, or anything else.
Once we had to buy our first truck to haul or garbage we realized how useful and handy they are to have and since our Silverado is almost as fancy inside as my Lincoln we just like it and enjoy owning it.
I wish I was young enough again to care about image but those years have long since past me by.
We own a truck because we like owning one.
It is any more complicated than that.
I understand very well how useful large vehicles are. But I don’t think I will ever replace an engine “just to be done with it “. If I wanted a pickup I’d sooner put $10k towards a taco/tundra. Anyway stay tuned to Scotty and if he likes your question it’ll be answered in a video.
I would keep it and do the rebuilds. That shiny new $45,000 truck sitting in your parking spot is now made in Mexico, has hundreds of useless electronic devices that quickly malfunction and you don't want anyway and will spend most of its life at the dealership where they will tell you that everything that goes wrong with it well, that's just the way it is. Ask your wife if she likes spending a great deal of her time in the dealership waiting room.
Thanks Doc,
I felt the same way.
Actually, my wife is not interested in a new shiny truck at all. It is really her vehicle and she loves it and doesn't want to part with it.
When I said she likes the most luxurious models that was a correct statement.
But the LTZ is now and was in 2007 the most high end trim level Chevy sold.
She is happy with ours but if we bought a new one she would want the same wood trim, leather seats, etc. that ours has now.
So no, she doesn't want to buy a new truck anymore than I do. But if we did have to buy a new one she would want the same high end trim level ours has.
The one thing I am really curious about is how long the truck will last before I have to do anything.
I wasn't kidding about how well we have taken care of it.
We both grew up in families that if a knob broke or an AC vent came apart you just lived with it.
They never fixed anything dealing with trim or appearance.
Both our families were the same way.
The only difference is her family had an Oldsmobile in the garage while my parents had a Lincoln Towncar and a Porsche 911 in theirs.
But my family didn't maintain their cars any better than her parents did, even though my parents drove high end cars.
She hated growing up that way as much as I did which is why we are such fanatics about fixing everything that breaks regardless of how small or insignificant.
You said it burns a quart of oil every 3000 miles which is not bad, but is an indication that the
rings are wearing out. If you just did the rings and rod bearings, you could probably get another 100K miles or so without a rebuilt engine.