RIP Ol’ Blue

Guys, I’m in mourning today. Ol’ Blue died this morning. RIP ol’ Blue. You were a good girl and had a good long life. We had some great hunting and fishing trips together and you always pulled your weight.

It’s not my dog, BTW, Ol’ Blue is my 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada. She died on the side of 94 this morning with just over 186,000 on the clock. I felt the transmission start to slip and I had just enough time to pull off the shoulder before everything burned up. Had her towed in, but the diagnosis came back as DOA. $3800+ to fix. She’s AWD, so the tranny is expensive.

And the quest to get to 200k goes on. I can’t do it, boys. I’ve tired, but the last 3 vehicles have all died on me at 178k, 192k and now 186k. I just can’t nurse them past the magic 200 mark.

It’s always sad to me when good equipment dies. This will also be the end of an era as far as my 20+ years of owning GM vehicles. I guess you can call me the King of Obsolete because I’ve now closed out Oldsmobiles and the Pontiacs that we had.

So I’ll be doing a little car shopping this week and on Saturday looking for a replacement.

It’s still sad, though. RIP Ol’ Blue. It’s going to be hard to clean out all the stuff and all the memories.

Grouse

Always sad when another Olds goes down. My first two cars were Olds and they made them in my home town.

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Always sad when another Olds goes down. My first two cars were Olds and they made them in my home town.

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I’ve driven nothing but Pontiacs, Olds, and GMC’s since high school. Mrs. Grouse goes her own way on cars and after a disastrous flirtation with the SchnitzelMolbile (Audi), she decided to get a Lincoln last spring.

What’s killing me most is probably that stabbing pain I’m feeling in my wallet, to be honest. 2 vehicles bought in just less than a year. Ouch! My wallet hurts!

Grouse

I have 225,000+ on my 1994 Buick Roadmaster…:)
Still runs like a kitten…
Buicks,Pontiac,Olds…..Great stuff..

Condolences Grouse….

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Guys, I’m in mourning today. Ol’ Blue died this morning. RIP ol’ Blue. You were a good girl and had a good long life. We had some great hunting and fishing trips together and you always pulled your weight.

It’s not my dog, BTW, Ol’ Blue is my 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada. She died on the side of 94 this morning with just over 186,000 on the clock. I felt the transmission start to slip and I had just enough time to pull off the shoulder before everything burned up. Had her towed in, but the diagnosis came back as DOA. $3800+ to fix. She’s AWD, so the tranny is expensive.

And the quest to get to 200k goes on. I can’t do it, boys. I’ve tired, but the last 3 vehicles have all died on me at 178k, 192k and now 186k. I just can’t nurse them past the magic 200 mark.

It’s always sad to me when good equipment dies. This will also be the end of an era as far as my 20+ years of owning GM vehicles. I guess you can call me the King of Obsolete because I’ve now closed out Oldsmobiles and the Pontiacs that we had.

So I’ll be doing a little car shopping this week and on Saturday looking for a replacement.

It’s still sad, though. RIP Ol’ Blue. It’s going to be hard to clean out all the stuff and all the memories.

Grouse

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Hey Grouse! Not to worry! I too, feel your pain! I’m also one of those freak’s of nature that’s feel’s compelled to apologize to my car or truck that has given me outstanding, loyal service over a long period of time! When it’s time to trade them in I’m apt to fall into fit’s of deep depression. I feel like I’ve just committed a cardinal sin! How can I treat a good old friend so callously, eh? The two best vehicle’s that I’ve ever owned were both Dodge pickup’s! Both of them stuck with me well in excess of 200,000 mile’s! The last one was a 1991 Dodge that lasted me that long. I sold it to a guy 2 year’s ago that was going to use it as his wood hauling truck. For all I know, it is still going through the wood’s! If not, may she rest in peace! So you can relax Grouse just in knowing the fact that you are not alone! Good luck! DIRTBALL2

The BLU 1 Vue has 286000 plus miles. It is red of course all my vehicles purchased since 92 are still on road. The old S10 has over 500000 on it last I heard. Goes to ATV races nearly every weekend all over midwest.

I think part of the barrier with me getting a vehicle to 200k is that I don’t rack up huge miles every year. I think it’s the opposite of the old saying, in my case it IS the age, not the mileage that kills the vehicle.

I only do about 18-19k per year. So to get to 2000, it’s going to be at least 10 years. I know lots of people that get 200+++K, but they seem to do it a lot easier by driving 40-50k per year.

Grouse

I feel your pain. We used to drive our old Chev Cavaliers until the junkman turned up his nose at’m. 190k was the best I ever did. Always like losing a family member when we had to call for the hookjerr

Look into a Toyota or Subaru!

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Look into a Toyota or Subaru!

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No thanks. Of the 3 ‘Ru owners I know, 2 of them Forum Members, all 3 have had tranny blowouts between 70k and 100k. One of the poor slobs here at work had both his ‘Ru transmissions blow out within a couple of months and both were less than 100k. Bad trannys and expensive to fix when they go bad.

I’ve never gotten along with Toyotas either. Just drove one for 3 weeks on a trip to New Zealand. Nice enough truck, just uncomfortable seats and funny ergonomics.

Grouse

Condolences Grouse….
I only do about 10 -12K a year. By the time 100K is coming up, I’m ready to let someone else have ’em. I practice regular maintenance on all my vehicles. One exception right now is my wife’s 03 Buick Park Avenue. Just love that big car and the ride is incredible. Has nearly 140K on it….

condolences as well- my favorite junker/awesome car was a buick lesabre with the 3800. Just a smooth tank, great gas mileage, bulletproof motor, insane factory stereo, 80 mph feels like 20. I think she finally passed at apprx 300,000 miles with my younger brother. When I build the manshed, I am going to leave truck connected to boat and find a sabe with a 3800 previously owned by a gramma and rock it out for every day travel.

I bought my ’02 Bravada at an auction with 56,000 miles. Original engine died at 97,000 and GM replaced it free of charge. She now has 207,000+ and going strong! Lucky

FG,
I had a 1998 Bravada that was a very nice vehicle, til the trans burned out.
I had a 1987 Mazda B2200 that went 215,000 for me. Freeway commuted to work. Original tires went 90,000; it never had to make any turns.

I’ve currently drive a 2012 GMC Acadia Denali. Give it a try, you’ll love it.

Jack

i’m addicted to buying junk cars and driving them till they fall apart. best “investment” i’ve ever made.

in college i bought a honda prelude i took to 200k. the rear calipers froze up, and the head on it warped a 2nd time. and the entire exhaust fell apart. it was an amazing vehicle.

next i bought a geo prizm at 85k and took it to 160. bought it for 500 bucks never had to do anything to it. transmission blew and a guy offered me 300 for it.

i had an s10 i then bought for 200 bucks with only 98k on it (it was rusted to hell) that i ran until 150k and it needed some work, my wife was like this is enough, you are going to kill your children in one of these vehicles. i told her she was nuts, she went out a few days later and got in a rearend accident where the brakes didn’t react well enough (one of the brake lines was leaking) so she basically said to get rid of it. sold THAT for 400 bucks.

i spent 4 grand on a 00 silverado with only 96k on it. it has the typical rust in the typical spots but otherwise is super nice. the nicest vehicle i’ve owned ever for myself. too nice. i long for a junker.

my wife thinks i’m crazy.

I’m on my third Suburban, like a shed on wheels.

my wife can sense i’m getting the itch. we moved out of town into a small farming community and my drive while only a few minutes longer in time, is like twice the miles. the silverado and its 16mpg is making me start to look for a junker corolla or something.