Owning an Old Car

Downsizing included getting rid of a car with a monthly payment. Instead, I sold the newer vehicle in a high price cycle of the market, and bought a 17-year-old car. The old car is a good car, but it does have 92,000 miles on its odometer, and there are the usual squeaks and hiccups of an old car.

However, the old car is a station wagon model of a ‘classic’ luxury brand. My ride is a 2006 Mercedes R-500. The 500 refers to its 5-liter V-8 engine. The vehicle is classic Mercedes with leather interior, navigation, power everything, and three-zone heating and air conditioning to keep the third row of seats comfortable. The roof is entirely a see-thru window. Half of it retracts for open air driving. The suspension is air bladders and adjustable to many preferences of height, ride quality and that sort of thing.

The downside has been this: new set of tires with four-wheel alignment; replace rear air bag suspension components; replace four-wheel drive front differential and replace a large component of the air conditioning system. Still needing repair is a rear taillight assembly and the overhead sunroof power button. Oh, and the power steering unit has failed with resulting stiff turning action. It feels like I’m driving a 40-ton semi-truck. And the right front axle may need replacement, too.

These items are not cheap to repair. Most cost more than $1000. But we drive less than 4000 miles per year and there is no loan payment with this car. Meanwhile, the car has interior space for walkers and wheelchair while carrying four adults in spacious comfort. The sound system is Harmon-Cardon and super nice with 7 CD capacity. And quiet. Very quiet unless you have the sunroof and windows open.

The car is rust free and reliable. It gets us to the grocery store, pharmacy, doctors and, yes, the gas station. I’d rather live with this aged beauty than make a monthly loan payment. That includes worrying about the next unavoidable repair. Somehow that seems OK.

If you happen to see two old goats riding in a big old car on a Sunday drive, it just might be us!

October 13, 2022

 

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