Why do you drive your truck?

[Already Gone]

I drive my truck, cause its classy, cool and beautiful in its simplicity, and of course being pink and white when I'm driving it I love getting the thumbs up and smiles from everyone.

[mcmlxix]

I drive my truck because its not a cookie cutter commuter. Mine is a 72 Blazer so I get the extra bonus of having a convertible and 4wd. No payment is a plus but I'm always adding to it that evens out. I do know that it's not going down in value like a new vehicle would be. The fact that its just cooler then most of the cars/trucks on the road!

[ubtripn]

Yeah, I like the smiles I get as well.

[BlackedOut67shorty]

I drive my truck because it tells me to

[Andy4639]

I drove mine in the beginning because I had to it was all I could afford at the time. + they are the best looking trucks on the road... I bought it almost 27 years ago now. Now it gets papered. I drive it now for the cool factor and because I want to. The 71 is the best of the best in my opinion.

[CC69Rat]

New Truck - 35K
0% financing = $16.67/mo per thousand
Payment = $583.45
Avg 15mpg
20% Depreciation the moment you drive it off the lot = $7k
15% Depreciation the first year of ownership = $4,200 ($28k new value)
Truck is now 'worth' roughly $24k.

Avg 15,000 mi/yr. = $3,800 annual fuel costs @ 3.80/gal


Lets see ..

I have been paying $584/mo for 12 months. = $7008
Fuel Costs = $3,800

My truck is worth $11,000 LESS than what I paid for it. Plus, it only cost me about $11K out of pocket to get to this point. And, .. umm ..

Insurance?



I just don't think the new stuff makes sense anymore. I think the dealerships are brainwashing people into 'Cash for Clunkers' making people think .. "Just buy this new car and all your fuel costs will go away" No, .. sorry it doesn't IMO.

Pay $40k for a new Volt / Prius? Yeah, they're cool looking but in the initial kick in the pants when you drive it off the lot, plus the depreciation you take year after year to drive a Prius and save $100 month in fuel (?) $200 month?

How does it make sense to buy a new car nowadays and pay their labor rates for maintenance, loose your butt when you buy it and every year there after, just to be able to say your car gets 40mpg ? My truck gets at least 20mpg and .. it's going UP in value. It takes no depreciation. I can work on it and everything I do to it makes it more desirable (to me) It doesn't get 40mpg .. no way. But think about all costs envolved. Price per mile .. I've still got the Prius (Priui ?) Beat ..

Plus, it's cool to drive an old truck. Shift gears ..
I'll stop now.

[GRX]

Why do I drive my truck? ..... Because I can!!

= (also, #1, #6, and #7)

[ubtripn]

Well put CC69RAT. Half the cost, twice the fun and cool factor. Cars have just become too high priced, it makes no sense.

I guess I don't understand the - "because I can" or the "because I can - take that!" but I don't need to - everyone has there own reasons, these trucks rock!!!! =)

[special-K]

Y'all think too much. Just drive them cuz you like them. You only have to explain why you drive them to kids and they don't care about all that figurin'. You don't have to explain it to other adults.

[CC69Rat]

Just voicing my opinion Tim.. Not explaining, just thinking out loud.

Maybe I should just say Im tired of loosing my butt on new ones so thats how I see value added to driving an old truck. Thats all..
Posted via Mobile Device

[spenceman72]

I bought my 72 Blazer for 2 main reasons.
1. I've always loved older, 60s and 70s, cars and trucks. Although I was born in the early 70's, I've always been drawn to cars/trucks and music from the 60s and 70s..I was born 20 years late!
2. I am very mechanically challenged...in fact I am challenged in most areas of 'do it yourself', however I've always admired those that can fix something instead of just replacing it. I decided that purchasing a 40 year old vehicle that I loved would give me the motivation to get dirty and start learning.....and it sure has! Have probably made every mistake in the book, and then some, in the short time I've had this Blazer, but have 100% enjoyed every second of it.

Oh and I've never gotten a single 'thumbs up' from anyone when driving my '09 Avalanche...but every single time I'm out in the Blazer I get at least one...can't ignore the Cool Factor!!!

[special-K]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

Just voicing my opinion Tim.. Not explaining, just thinking out loud.

I was addressing the first and all the posts with my way of putting it out there humorously. No explanation required,except of course,to the ever wondering youngins. There's always time to answer their curiosity.

I never think about it. Just been driving them all my life and no reason to change.

[Billett]

Originally Posted by spenceman72

Oh and I've never gotten a single 'thumbs up' from anyone when driving my '09 Avalanche...but every single time I'm out in the Blazer I get at least one...can't ignore the Cool Factor!!!

I give a thumbs up to every single car I see on the road that looks like the owner has put some hard work and effort into. Doesn't matter if it's an old pickup, muscle car, mini truck, or even a ricer. If it looks like the owner really spent a lot of time on it then I can appreciate that.

I was the same way with my s10. Almost never got a thumb back. Now I get honks and waves all over the place. It's a great feeling.

[junior43]

Bottom line... there is nothing cooler and more American than a nice old Chevy truck!!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Mick Je]

Because it gets me to high school. Also because driving it through town shows how these trucks were made to last and are easy to work on!
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device

[ubtripn]

Yeah, I guess my original question came from asking myself, at times, why am I doing this to myself? The continued mini-projects, intermittent frustration and rewards. It's just cool to hear why others drive em.

[Billett]

That's the thing, my mini projects on the s10 always turned into gigantic hassles and huge headaches. With my c10 I can just get it done and it always seems to work out with very minor setbacks.

[lolo33]

because here, in France, it's ORIGINAL to drive an american car and i like that !
so, I love my C10 and my MUSTANG

[ubtripn]

Great answers. Especially from spenceman72. It is a learning thing that teaches self-reliance. I actually broke an engine open at 13 with a sledgehammer just to see what was going on inside. That is when my parents bought me some tools. Every mistake comes with a guarantee to not make it again the next time. (Most of the time.) I always just put things down in the order they came off and take lots of pics.

[haminator]

Im with special K. I just have allways been in an ols truck. My folks bought one new a 70 SWB 4x4, been ridin in that one since I was 4. Im 47 now. My daily driver now is a 70 Longhorn. It eats gas but never fails. I had a 96 GMC for about a month. After a fuel pump then a PCM failure I had enough and went back to the Longhorn. Gotta get that ol 4x4 back together I miss it. My 3 boys have the bug too. Oldest has a 60 Impala and had a 57 pickup and a 71 C-10. No. 2 son had 54 Bel-air that he chopped 3" and put it on air. also installed a 351 which I really frowned on lol. Youngest has a 69 C-10 and just got a 68 C-10 project. These youngsters dont have to ask why they allready know.

[spitfire73]

It feels constructive, you da man!! I'm about to trade my 1991 454ss for a 1960 c-10 Apache shortbed fleetside, yah!!

[spitfire73]

Originally Posted by spenceman72

I bought my 72 Blazer for 2 main reasons.
1. I've always loved older, 60s and 70s, cars and trucks. Although I was born in the early 70's, I've always been drawn to cars/trucks and music from the 60s and 70s..I was born 20 years late!
2. I am very mechanically challenged...in fact I am challenged in most areas of 'do it yourself', however I've always admired those that can fix something instead of just replacing it. I decided that purchasing a 40 year old vehicle that I loved would give me the motivation to get dirty and start learning.....and it sure has! Have probably made every mistake in the book, and then some, in the short time I've had this Blazer, but have 100% enjoyed every second of it.

Oh and I've never gotten a single 'thumbs up' from anyone when driving my '09 Avalanche...but every single time I'm out in the Blazer I get at least one...can't ignore the Cool Factor!!!

That's exactly me!!

[mike16]

Originally Posted by junior43

Bottom line... there is nothing cooler and more American than a nice old Chevy truck!!
Posted via Mobile Device

pretty much sums it all up

[CST10]

3 reasons I guess.

1. It's what I remembered growing up, they were everywhere and dad and grandpa had them most of my life.
2. I can work on these trucks without a computer.
3. Vintage cars are double the price but half the fun of owning an old truck. With my truck I don't worry about them getting minor scratches and such.....it's a truck.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Billett

And I don't have to worry about being backed into. Diamond plate bumpers are hard to dent with an econo-box.

Twice now I've had someone back into my truck while I was parked (out in the boonies, I might add).

No damage to my truck either time.