tj90: sorry, you misunderstand. I spent many years driving vintage SAAB 3 cylinder 2 strokes & am quite enthusiastic about restoring my 3 cylinder 2000 Chevy Metro. Its not a "predicament" its a luxury to have an excess variety of vehicles. I've also got a SAAB 900 Turbo, but mostly drive a utilitarian minivan that I don't care if the dog gums up or salt water fishing rots out.

There's not a whole lot of "pain" involved w/owning an E150 & a F150. Especially considering the F150 was a gift. Its just extra & I never wanted a pickup. I've searched heavily trying to find a Club Wagon to it trade for. Its too bad somebody who could use it hasn't come forward. I did my best to try to love it, I just rarely have any legitimate use for a 4500 lb Gas Guzzling 4X4-it is NOT a passenger vehicle. Got it last Sept w/~7,500 miles & it just turned 12,200! Just wish it was a Club Wagon.

I can't wait to get the Metro on the road. Perhaps by "predicament" you meant the slippery slope that is enthusiasm for our chosen variety of toys? My minty '98 F150 just sits there, needing only a wash. Meanwhile I'm enjoying learning Metro design, repairing it bit by bit & was up early to go to U-Pull for a few more parts. I like the idea of having a cheap, nimble, extremely fuel efficient, little car AND a heavy hauler. Have got less than $400 in the Metro total! Will be very happy to report 45-50 MPG.

I do not consider a motorcycle a viable alternative b/c of the severe limits imposed by weather & safety. This Metro has AC for FL summer, was built in Canada so its got heat, FWD means its a blast to drive in snow & all the safety upgrades GM added made it pass my test. Where's the "pain"?

 

The moment you get in an accident in one of those!

I hope I did not come across bashing you or your choice in transportation. I was seriously looking into buying a rabbit diesel to convert to vegetable oil a few years back. I decided not to go for it cause I did not want to deal with drums of rancid oil around the house.

By pain I meant having an excess of vehicles sitting around. I unfortunately dont have the space so an extra car sitting in the driveway is a pain. I forgot that others have acres of land sitting around so they could have a fleet of vehicles and not care. I did not mean "pain" as having to drive a metro....

 

Now I dont get why you owuld want to restore a metro! To each their own, its definatly something ya dont hear everyday!

 

Wouldn't be my first choice, but I totally get the love of tinkering around and learning something new. If a Metro is the thing you want to tinker on, then tinker away!

As to ATC - I really think you'd have to drive a heck of a long way in your Toyota to make up for all the expenses incurred when switching rides. But, again, do your own thing!

Mostly, I'd ride the bike everywhere I could. I just picked up a 90 Electraglide Ultra Classic with only 29k on it (my tinkering toy) and having that and my truck pretty much make me the happiest guy east of the Mississippi. Plus, pee wee football is starting back up and I love watching my son pop somebody. Life is good even with gas a $4 a gallon!

 

Thanks for everyone's help, suggestions, and info so far!

Actually, a day or two ago on my way for a bike ride, I spotted a 1977 F350 Ranger XLT for sale. 460, 4-speed, regular cab with a flatbed (dually). Very clean, nice paint, little rust (some on rear shackles...easy fix). That got my mind stirring, since I will need something to haul the Bronco around on once I get it finished. Hmmmm....It was a little too pricey for me however ($4800).


I'm not specifically selling the truck due to gas prices alone, but I do need extra money for the $1900 bill I'll be getting from the machine shop once my 466ci for my Bronco is done. Plus, the Bronco will need parts to get it road-worthy (and a lift and tires/wheels), and I would really like a welder for work on the Bronco and for "side jobs" of sorts.

Again, echoing what I mentioned above. A buddy of mine bought a '85 Toyota for $700. Clean body for it's age, no frame rust, runs like a top. Hopefully I can find a deal like that. Keep in mind that I do quite a bit of camping. 45-minutes or so one way. On the weekends, I also go to a buddies house for some fourwheeling (20 minutes one way...can't take the bike)

I've driven my fair share of them. Drove my buddies '85 (mentioned above) back from the lake after he had a few beers...about a 40 minute trip through the mountains...and I really liked it. I tried to talk him into selling it to me...but he wouldn't let it go


What expenses? At best, I'll make a $3k-$3500 profit selling my F150. Remember, winter is coming up, so I'll have to drive a truck everyday. During the late fall/winter/early spring, I will save enough money in gas alone to nearly pay for the Toyota (assuming I find one for about $1k or so...)

 

I'm on the hunt as well for a cheapy car...looking for a vintage VW rabbit gti in the late 70's early 80's type. If I'm going to drive a little car, might as well be one that has a little jam.

 

I guess I'm lucky in keeping my bought new 1996 4 cyl 5 sp manual tranny Ford Contour when I bought my new 2002 F-150. The Contour has always been garaged in the winter months so it's in great shape and runs great, only 78,500 miles. Before the 2002 F-150 I had a bought new 1989 F-150 for all season use. I get twice the mpg on the Contour than the truck. So needless to say in the "nice" weather the 2002 doesn't get used much, but it does get used.

It doesn't pay to panic and dump a good vehicle for a loss. The price of gas will most likely come down. Maybe not as low as it was before but much lower than it has been recently. It reached an unnatural and unsustainable price. Keep mentioning drilling in the US and it will drop much further. We wouldn't see $8 to $10 barrel prices but something way under $147 to make it attractive to bring new oil to the market.

Whimsey

 

Club Wagon has the right attitude. Enjoy wrenching, enjoy having a variety of vehicles, and sell those you don't need because there are plenty out there if you change your mind. They are consumer goods, like toasters and video cards.

"Between the people of china and russia buying our trucks and the euros buying the sports cars, all we are going to be left with are mopeds and geos."

That's called "export" and it's great for our foreign trade balance!

We won't be left with "mopeds and geos" because we can make more vehicles to suit any need, restore vehicles to suit any need, and modify vehicles to suit any need.

 

Quote - What expenses? At best, I'll make a $3k-$3500 profit selling my F150. Remember, winter is coming up, so I'll have to drive a truck everyday. During the late fall/winter/early spring, I will save enough money in gas alone to nearly pay for the Toyota (assuming I find one for about $1k or so...) - Quote

Maybe I misunderstood. I would never get that much back on my investment in my truck, so maybe you got your's super cheap and have done a lot to fix it up, thus creating the "profit". It sounds to me like the Bronco is your love anyway, so do whatever puts a smile on yer face!

 

Well...I put an ad on Craigslist last night for my truck. Someone calls me today on my way to work and wonders if I would be interested in a trade (which I am...stated in my ad). He's got a '77 F250 4x4. 351M, 4-speed, been restored about 5 years ago with a fresh paint job. I'm going to go look at it this weekend. I'll probably hold off on it, as I would like the money instead.

There is a '78 F350 4x4 dually, flatbed, 460, 4-speed for sale across town from me. I really like it...would be the perfect tow-rig for my Bronco. Very nice paint job, straight body, clean interior...gawd...I want it.

 

Keep your eye on the ball.

How would a '78 F350 dually w/460 be "more fuel efficient"?

 

"How would a '78 F350 dually w/460 be "more fuel efficient"?"

It wouldn't, but it would be a LOT more truck.

 

Well...I got to thinking (after I already made the post)...but I am going to need something to tow my Bronco with eventually. A Toyota ain't gunna do it. So why get something fuel efficient, when I'm going to have to get a tow rig anyways. I'm only going to be driving the truck during the winter, and when it rains. Besides, a 460 gets about the same mileage that I'm getting out of my 4.6L....WITH a load behind it

I'm even kicking around the Diesel idea...but I'm not fond of the diesel prices, or ~$80+ oil changes.

 

lol id take the 460 over the 4.6 if its getting that kind of mileage

 

"I'm even kicking around the Diesel idea...but I'm not fond of the diesel prices, or ~$80+ oil changes."

Add expensive diesel parts to the list.