Re: Cheaper to keep and maintain 2 very old cars (vs 1 newer one?)

[EMAIL PROTECTED] (John Yang, MD) wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> Hi folks,
> Something that I've been mulling over:
> 
> Might it be cheaper to keep/maintain 2 very old cars versus 1 newer
> one, if you need to be sure that at least 1 will work every day?  Do
> any of you take this approach?
> 
>

John, 
I can appreciate the piece of mind having two cars would offer,
because of the "must be there" nature of your work commitment.

First investigate local "rent a wreck" car rentals nearby before
deciding to a spare car. I found several used car rental places within
bicycling distance and they might even deliver in a pinch.
Wether they would be open at odd hours is another matter.

You could buy a lot of taxi miles for $1,500.

I have a mechanic that only works on Toyotas and will come to the
house:-)

It make take some social engineering, a bit of cleverness or a skills
trade, but I bet there is some friend, neighbor or little old lady,
who might have a spare car for emergency use by a struggling MD to be.

Parking, maintaining, and insuring another car for only an emergency
use seems a liitle overkil. That 89 Toyota is very reliable, but every
once in a while, something fails. I have one of similar vintage.
Most of the times it's left me stranded was when the battery died or a
tire went flat. Keeping an inflated spare and replacing the battery at
the FIRST hint of starting sluggishness is the best advice I could
give.
 
Aside from the regular maintenance, more frequent detailed inspections
are worthwhile to catch potential problems. Paying attention to
strange noise or unusual performance before something fails all
together, has saved me from getting stranded later. The car usually
has given some warning signs... in retrospect.

Good luck, an interesting problem. Reminds me to call the mechanic to
listen to the front drive axle, think another CV joint is (slowly)
going.

-
Sid