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[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

> James' method of buying old vans and such may well cost less over the  
> decades.

For example, what little driving I do any more is in an '84 S-10 for which I 
paid $800 in '01.  Since then I've put on one set of (used) tires for about 
$100 and I replaced all the brake lines.  Don't remember how much that cost 
but 
it was only the cost of the brake lines and fluid as I did the work myself.

It is still running.  It has about 300K miles.

People often remark, but what if something expensive like the engine or 
transmission goes out that might cost $2K or more to replace?   See above.  
The 
whole truck just cost $800 and since then I've stashed enough in a mason jar 
to 
buy another one when the need arises.

The family vehicle is a '90 Caravan with 275K miles bought in '96 for about 
$3000.  It's had a radiator, brake shoes, pads, and drums, tires two or three 
times, three axles ($60 ea), and an oxygen sensor.  I thought I was going to 
have to replace the MAP sensor but a mechanic showed me how to clean the old 
one 
out and it's run fine for a year since I did it.  The van was bought with the 
proceeds from one litter of registered Aussi Shepherd puppies (amazing what 
people will pay for a meaningless piece of paper).

We've had some "luck" but the odds, says I, are on the side of the automotive 
bottom feeder.

It requires the stance that the world could get along without us for a few 
days should a vehicle bit the big one.  In the past, when an ancient 
conveyence 
has shaken its mortal coil, I've called a friend pick up a classified and 
take 
me around and I'd be in another one by that night.  I then call the junk yard 
or charity and leave the title in old one.

The worst that I did was once I bought a Caravan (or Voyager) for $900 and 
eight months later the gasket had blown.  I traded it to a neighbor for 
mowing 
and baling the front pasture.  Still, it was far less than a car payment so I 
wasn't too much surprised or disappointed.   </HTML>