No New Car for Me

I have never owed a new car.
The newest one that I bought
was 4 years old.

So the likelyhood, at 69, I will never
owe a brand new vehicle. Not unless
I win the lottery. Which I forget to buy
tickets or just don't.. and last I heard,
you had to buy. The King buys when
he remembers, but even he has cut way
down on buying them. So a new car is
just not in my future.

Maybe the King, being he is younger than I.
He talks about that red convertible sports car
with a hot chick, when he gets that life insurance
money. I asked him if people will laugh at him
with a chicken in the front seat. (before people
get upset... we are joking).

Also even if I was to win the lottery, I would not
be buying one of those little cars. The reason
behind this reasoning is, the comparing the prices,
and the gas mileage. The average mpg is 30-33mpg
for those cars. The average for a full size vehicle
is 28-30. If I am going to be traveling, I want some
thing I am not looking out the window at the semi's
hubcaps. I want something that is comfortable.
Not folded up, short casket like thing.

I thought those vehicles were great on mileage. But
was disappointed to see that it is just a little bit more
than a regular vehicles. Even the hybrids are not doing
that well. I don't think it should be legal to sell a car
that gets less than 35 mpg. After all if they make it a
law you have smog stuff... they can make it for that too.

My father had a diesel Chevelle in 1981. It got 50 mpg.
Yes, it sounded like the pistons were trading places when
it started up, and a sewing machine after...but it was pretty
comfortable and it got 50 mpg.

Two friends have Volkswagen Jetta diesels. Both get 45 to
50 mpg. Both vehicles are 2002. Tell me why the newer
ones only get 32? What changed since then?

Anyway, even if the government gives us the $3,000 to
$4,000 for our older cars/trucks...we just flat out could not
afford the payments on a new car. I think that speaks for
about 1/3 of the retirees. And a good share of the general
public.

The rule of thumb that a certain percentage (low) trade in
their vehicles every year. Another certain percentage trade in
every 3 to 5 years. And I think it is safe to say that more than
1/3rd are like me, and never have had a new vehicle in their
lifetime. So that makes it 10 years or more before the new
vehicle will trickle down to the used car lot for those of us to
buy. In 10 years I will be almost 80.. so not really a good
chance of me owing one.

So how is it the government or the powers that be... feel we
will be all green in the next few years?

Happy Birthday, GBW