I can’t deny that if I ever won the lottery and money was no object, or someone willed me their pickup truck, I certainly wouldn’t refuse a high end luxury truck like a GMC Denali or Lincoln Mark LT. But there is something about a different kind of comfort that goes with having a beater.
I know that if I had a luxury truck, I would be a bit more apprehensive in driving it too hard, or using it for snow plowing in the winter or eating while driving in it. That’s not because those models couldn’t take it, it’s a mental thing with me. I know I would be so much more skittish and conservative in its use because those trucks are meant to always look perfect, so no dents or dings or scrapes can happen. Most likely I would park as far away from others in a parking lot, because let’s face it, there are some people out there who are jealous and inconsiderate of that bright shiny brand new expensive truck. I suppose exercise would be a benefit from doing this, but when I am in a hurry, I like to park close to where I'm going.
Yes, you can sink down into plush leather seats with French stitching, but I love to just slide into that upholstered seat with a rip in it and stains from my work clothes and feel totally worry free and at ease with its condition. To me that is a form of luxury in itself. I guess I would describe it like eating in a fancy restaurant with a tuxedo on. You don’t dare spill anything on that suit when you are eating, so naturally you are not as relaxed as when you have on an old T-shirt and you are enjoying a juicy dripping burger.
I’ve had accidents where a screwdriver in my pocket ripped the seat, oil that got on my work pants stained the upholstery and had numerous unexpected “oops” affecting the paint job or exterior condition. Knowing it’s a beater lets you use your truck with a level of confidence that I can’t see how I would have with a lux truck and not be ultra cautious. I once had a '84 Dodge 100 and it had over 200,000 miles on it when I sold it. That thing was a work horse. It started the first time every time, and all the switches, knobs and gauges worked great the entire time I owned it. The darn thing drove perfectly. I gave it some TLC with scheduled maintenance and it never gave me one single headache or unpleasant surprise.
When I got my new Ford-F150, I spent about 10 months treating it with kid gloves and was so careful not to damage or misuse it in any way shape or form. After that I realized I simply was not enjoying my truck the way I wanted to. As careful as I was, life happened and imperfections found their way to the body and fenders. Stains that could not be removed somehow got on the upholstery. I had a choice to make to enjoy my truck, or worry about it and up my insurance. You guessed it, I chose the former. I can’t picture myself being purposely careless with my truck, but I’ll run this F-150 as long as it keeps perking and fix it until it can’t be fixed. In the meantime, if I happen to win the lottery, I may buy another brand new luxury model, but I’ll still hang on to the Ford as my favorite beater, and will then have the best of both worlds.
Beware Of This When Buying A Used Pickup Truck
Of course a shiny brand new truck is a thrill for any truck lover, but if your wallet can’t deal with a big monthly payment and you still need a pickup for work or just because you want one, use the following tips to prevent getting yourself a lemon or having to sink crazy dollars into the truck right after you buy it because the seller misrepresented the vehicle.
New Year – New Truck? Top Four Best Pickups
If you are like everyone else, you may have made a resolution last New Years that you didn’t keep, which may have been to take better care of your old pickup. The up side to that is that you may be in the market for a new truck to start the New Year. Here is what the manufacturers are claiming to be the top four choices in brand new pickup trucks for 2017.
Plowing Snow With Your Pickup Truck
There is no denying that snow season has arrived. If you’re a truck owner with a snow plow, as much as you may dread all the inches of white stuff, you have to admit there is a certain appeal to the flashing strobe lights, the whine of hydraulics and the sound of steel dragging on the pavement. At times it might feel like you are playing with your favorite toy, but there is no mistaking the price and value of that toy, hence you had better know how to use it wisely and make it last. If you are new to plowing or purchasing a plow for the first time, I think you will find my information regarding features and options valuable.
