octavious
octavious Dork
11/16/17 10:24 a.m.

Short version 

3 vehicle

2 motorcycles 

1 trailer

Thinking about ways of reducing the numbers

 

Long version

I’m thinking of ways do reduce the number of vehicles in the family fleet. Currently we have 2 drivers, 2 young children, and 1 choco lab.  The current fleet includes the following and their mileage

 

  • 1942 Willy’s MBT
  • 1976 Porsche 911 (221k)
  • 1999 Ducati 750ss project (23k)
  • 2000 Toyota Land cruiser (233k)
  • 2005 Suzuki Vstrom (56k)
  • 2008 Mazda 3 wagon 5spd (160k)

 

The 911 stays, let’s just get that out of the way, it currently gets used sparingly, and has an agreed upon value insurance policy consistent with the current market.  It needs rear tires, rear seatbelts to haul the whole family, and some general maintenance.

 

The Willy’s is an old army trailer that gets used for hauling stuff (light loads as it’s tiny) and camping gear.

 

The Ducati is the most recent acquisition and has turned out to be a project my 7 year old is interested in and is helping me on. Not registered or titled yet, but I have the paperwork to do so. 

 

Land Cruiser is the current family hauler, trailer puller, 4wd and also gets used when my wife needs extra room for picking up friends etc. There are times when we need 5 seats, but not one where we have needed all 7 seats. However, the back seat does fit 3 car seats across the back. After a recent brake module replacement it should be good to go. Ugly but no rust and runs strong.  I also use it sparingly as a DD on super nasty rainy days. 

 

Vstrom is my DD, hence the mileage, I ride even in the cold but not on massive monsoon rain days. 

 

Mazda is my wife’s DD, and we’ve owned since new.  Clutch is starting to wear, will need tires soon, bumps and bruises from a 10 year old car. 

 

Now, I should mention all vehicles are paid for, in fact we haven’t had a car payment in about 4 years.  Everything runs good (minus the Duc) and the issues I stated above.  We also have no state vehicle taxes, so basically the whole fleet cost us insurance and the tags fees ($150) Vstrom, Cruiser, and Mazda a year.  

 

However, number one I think we have too much.  And number two I’m also starting to worry about the mileage on the Mazda and Cruiser.  Number three is time constraints for maintenance and repairs.  The possible clutch being a prime example, I’m sure I could do it, but how long would it take? Lastly the trailer while great behind my old Jeeps, and super cool, has proven to be to small, can’t use it to haul stuff due to payload and it’s too short to assist with carrying our canoe/kayak.

 

I was thinking we could get down to a car hauler for her and I just have the bikes and 911, but my wife is concerned that she would need me to pick up the kids when she can’t. And rightfully so there are a few times when we need two vehicles, aka kids and school and I go on a hunting trip. We also travel off road some for camping trips, but regularly go to NC mountains in winter and need 4wd/AWD. 

None of my friends are car/motorcycle project guys so I’m bringing it here.

Thoughts?  Ideas?  Constructive criticism? Or am I just being weird/worrisome?  

 

 

John Welsh
John Welsh MegaDork
11/16/17 10:41 a.m.

 

The 911 stays and the Ducati stays so lets take them of the list.

You use the Vstorm and it is likely not worth much with those miles so it too stays.

Trailer could go, you seem to not like it.  

That leaves you as a guy with one SUV that you use as Utility and one economy car.  That seems wise.  I suppose if you wanted you could unload the SUV and the econo car for one, "better" single car.  That single car might have to be a minivan to meet the "utility" demands.  Moving down to just one economy car seems to leave you w/o utility.  Certainly then, no need for the trailer since the econo car could not pull it.  

 

  • 1942 Willy’s MBT
  • 2000 Toyota Land cruiser (233k)
  • 2008 Mazda 3 wagon 5spd (160k)

 

 

szeis4cookie
szeis4cookie Dork
11/16/17 10:44 a.m.

Forgive me, I'm not much of a motorcycle person - would the Duc be DD'able after completion of the project?

 

My instinct would be, if SWMBO will drive a crew cab pickup, to replace the LC with a crew cab pickup (Ridgeline maybe?) and get rid of the trailer. Keep the Mazda for now as your bad-weather driver and reduce the mileage driven, buying yourself time until the clutch needs replaced. When you and kiddo complete the Duc, sell the VStrom and DD the Duc.

mazdeuce - Seth
mazdeuce - Seth MegaDork
11/16/17 10:46 a.m.

A crew cab truck (either full size or Tacoma size) would work as a people hauler and a stuff hauler and eliminate the need for the trailer. They're easy to find, arguably easier to find than non-crew cab trucks and if you go Tacoma size you can get one with a manual if that's your gig. The problem with going from three cars to two is that you end up having to drive the 911 or a bike on nasty days, neither of which is ideal. So if you're stuck with three cars then the best you can do is combine the utility of the trailer into one of them. Put a decent cover on the back and it's just like a really big trunk. 

Sonic
Sonic UltraDork
11/16/17 10:46 a.m.

The easiest to cut loose is the one that makes the least sense: the Ducati.  The rest are all actively used and have a purpose and they all seem pretty complimentary with each other.  The 911 sounds like it could fill some of the “project with kids” need that the Ducati fills now.  Basically, the Duc and 911 are purely toys and overlap, and the 911 seems to have more sentimental value and usefulness than the Duc. 

KyAllroad (Jeremy)
KyAllroad (Jeremy) PowerDork
11/16/17 10:54 a.m.

I wouldn't cut any of them loose.  If space is tight maybe the trailer, it doesn't really accomplish anything useful and the SUV can haul most anything that needs hauling.  

Otherwise it sounds like you're either bored and want a change or overwhelmed with the small projects so just tackle one at a time.  Start with the easiest and cheapest and work through each one till all is good (and still paid for!)

WonkoTheSane
WonkoTheSane Dork
11/16/17 12:30 p.m.
octavious said:
  • 2008 Mazda 3 wagon 5spd (160k)
Mazda is my wife’s DD, and we’ve owned since new.  Clutch is starting to wear, will need tires soon, bumps and bruises from a 10 year old car. 

And number two I’m also starting to worry about the mileage on the Mazda and Cruiser.  Number three is time constraints for maintenance and repairs.  The possible clutch being a prime example, I’m sure I could do it, but how long would it take?

150k isn't cause for a concern on a Mazda 3..  Assuming rust isnt a problem where you're at in TN, you've got another 50-100k without major service easily as long as your wife is okay with driving the car that long.

That said, you haven't had a car payment in 4 years.  I'd outsource the clutch job to a competent shop.  You can probably get that quoted for <$400 labor.  While they're in there, replace the rear bushings and all four shocks.  Budget a half hour and $50 and have the lad help you replace the rear engine mount after you get it back.   You'll be out for $1000 after parts and labor and have a basically new Mazda 3 for two months worth of car payments. 

octavious
octavious Dork
11/16/17 3:09 p.m.

Thanks some interesting points given, for instance actually putting some money and work into the Mazda was not a thought I had. But is relevant since my wife really likes the car. 

 

I think the thing is that I see all of them as needing “something” and me not prioritizing makes it look like that much more work. 

I agree the Cruiser/trailer could probably be consolidated.

 

I think the trailer is just taking up space which is frustrating because I looked so long to find it. But the fact that it is in the way and not being used is more of the issue. 

WonkoTheSane
WonkoTheSane Dork
11/16/17 3:31 p.m.
octavious said:

Thanks some interesting points given, for instance actually putting some money and work into the Mazda was not a thought I had. But is relevant since my wife really likes the car. 

 

I think the thing is that I see all of them as needing “something” and me not prioritizing makes it look like that much more work. 

I agree the Cruiser/trailer could probably be consolidated.

 

I think the trailer is just taking up space which is frustrating because I looked so long to find it. But the fact that it is in the way and not being used is more of the issue. 

I'm sort of going through this myself..  I've finally started outsourcing the jobs I can (physically and mentally) do, because I just don't have time.  And I even have all the tools, but with young kids, a house and all other standard excuses, sometimes it's just good to admit that non-emergencies aren't worth prioritizing and it's worth the $100/hour to make my problem go away.

 

But, I always do the math vs. car payments;  Okay, I had to pay $300 in parts and labor to have my inner and outer tie rods replaced, which means that this month I broke even vs the car payment..  Every month without a repair like this is money ahead.

gearheadE30
gearheadE30 HalfDork
11/16/17 3:38 p.m.

I think if you start checking a few things off the list, it will make you feel a little better about things. Potentially consolidating the Cruiser and trailer situation is really the only other option that jumps out at me.

 

I made a post very similar to this one somewhere around 10 months ago. I ended up thinning out the herd (went from 4 cars and 4 bikes to 3 of each) based on advice from other members of the hive. However, what I found was not what I expected - it wasn't at all that I didn't have time; it's that I was getting a little bored. As soon as I cut a few vehicles loose, I filled those spaces back in with vehicles I actually use/enjoy using/enjoy working on. The fleet size didn't change, but I feel a lot better about where I am now than where I am then. Don't know if that makes any sense for you personally, but maybe you're subconsciously looking for a change?

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