I've not been on in a few years.
Between fatherhood and trading the 05 SCrew, I've a bit of an excuse.
Just last spring I bought a 99 Lariat 5.4 from my B I L.
201k miles on it.
I drive 25-30k miles/year. A little cosmetic work is necessary but other than that and anABS wheel sensor, nothing is needed.
How long are you aware of these going? Would you move into this as a daily driver?

 

It should run to 300k with proper maintenance. I'd DD it unless you have to watch your fuel expenses. If I drove 25 to 30k a year, I'd be in a small 4 banger car.

 

What I was going to say. Unless you need a truck for the DD'ing, I wouldn't kill yourself like that on fuel. Plus, that's hard on a 15 year old truck to be putting that many miles on it each year.

But there's no set amount or distance or time that a vehicle will last. Some are perfectly maintained and can't make it too 100k, while others are abused and reach 300k.

 

Not these models, - specially if maintained. I think your referring to the 3 valves.

 

All engines, all makes, all models. Even the little "bullet-proof" Jap cars

 

I actually drive a 2011 Focus that averages 35mpg.
My math tells me that, should I sell the Focus, my money or the car note will then go into gas.
I would stand to save $1,000/year on license and insurance, however.
I just see little to no reason to keep three vehicles; and we all know that I'll need the truck as soon as I get rid of it. Thus the reasoning behind keeping the truck.

 

What do you need the truck for and/or how often do you use it?

At 30k miles per year, that truck will be eating more gas than those payments are worth, and be needing frequent repairs to go along with it. A 3 year old car is better than a 15 year old truck. Focuses are relatively inexpensive vehicles, so the payments can't be that high.

In that truck, you'll be spending at least $450 per month on gas at 16 MPG for 2,250 miles per month. The payment on the Focus should be around 300, certainly no more $400, and spending a little over $200 per month on gas. That truck is going to need a motor and/or transmission within 3 or so years, best case scenario, and that's a lot of money. It'll also have all kinds of random things breaking and wearing out left and right. After a few years, you'll have an exhausted truck that's completely worn out, or a Focus in decent shape and still getting good gas mileage.

The insurance costs per year is a huge factor for not keeping all 3, but again, how often do you need the truck? I see going with the truck as a short term solution, but a bad long-term solution. It all depends on how often you need a truck's services, cause I sure wouldn't be putting 30k miles per year put on it. At that age and mileage, it's best suited for occasional trips to Home Depot, in my opinion. Either way, I agree that keeping all 3 doesn't make sense.

 

If all you need a truck for is occasional Home Depot runs, you can rent a truck from them for about 20 bucks for 75 minutes.

 

Good thoughts.
Focus doesn't fit family well, either.
I may need to trade both for a newer truck.

 

The prices on late model used trucks are so high you would be best off buying a new leftover 2013.

 

That's another problem. It's ridiculous how little they're depreciating and how extremely strong the market is. Trading away both the Focus and F150 might be able to get you ~06 screw with 100k miles for a heads-up trade, which is what your 05 was basically. My truck only books out for $1.5k less than I paid for it almost two years ago with 16k less miles, which is insane.

Certainly sucks to drive that much, because trucks are the most versatile vehicle and car do anything a car or SUV can do. Only trade-off is the mileage.

 

Yep, a catch 22 situation.

 

I wont pay big money for cars anymore.. I paid 3 grand for a 99 Crown Vic that had 85k on it when I got it. I went trough it did all the maintenance on it myself spent $600 doing that. That car will last 200k more miles if I need it to and I wont and it is clean and nice. Belong to an old couple who at the end never drove it it sat in a garage for 5 years.
There are deals on cars out there you just gotta look. Sell the focus find a nice older used car That dont cost you $350 a month for 6 years.

 

I was actually thinking of the wrong thing. My truck, adjusted 2 years younger and 16k less miles, books for $18k, and I paid 14k for it 2 years ago. And if I were looking for my exact truck as it is now, but without things I've added, it's still $13.5k, so that's even worse!

There ain't much wrong with getting an older car, with lower mileage, like a Crown Vic, that can squeeze 2 or 3 kids in the back and still get 23+ mpg.

I do have a question though, why did you get the Focus if it's another payment for you and not what you need to fit the family? I don't mean to question your decision making or anything at all, but I would maybe just keep it because you're gonna lose a bunch trading it in.

 

Then your referring to Lemons. Those are hard to find here, in the 97-03 section.. Know of any?