I retired in 2014. I bought a brand new car in 2019 and all they cared about was my payment history, my other debt and my SS income. I have a 401(k) but have not been taking money out. They didn't ask about it or about any other savings.
I asked for "thoughts", but at the same time, wife and I can disagree with those "given thoughts" if we choose to. On many things, people will have their own thoughts and reasons for doing something/having something, but that sure doesn't mean that other people have to agree with those thoughts/reasons. Forum members can do a thread about something and some members could disagree, or agree, with what the thread is about. It doesn't have to be about replacing a vehicle engine, it could be about smoking or swearing, just to name a couple of controversial things.
Well of course you can disagree, and you usually do. My point is, if you've already decided to buy the new engine then what's the point of asking people for their thoughts? Good luck and I hope you get many more years from the Durango. I understand about keeping a car that "just works" for us. I have a 2012 Lincoln MKX that I absolutely love, purchased new in April 2012. When I say it is in "like new" condition I am not exaggerating... it has less than 20k miles on it and is garage kept. Not a scratch on it and the interior is immaculate. We drove it to Georgia to my brother's funeral last August and my sister remarked that it "smells like a new car" inside. I don't plan to ever trade it in (though the oil change guy is lusting after it). So just do what you feel is right for you.
Actually, Beth, some of the replies on this thread, thinking about it ourselves and then finding out that my wife's brother is having the same thoughts of a new engine for his vehicle, made us more positive about getting the new engine. At the time I put the thread on here, we weren't totally sure about the new engine, but now we are.
Of course you must know about inflation. The buying power of $3150 in 1964 is equivalent to $27,000 today (except for things like electronics). Not saying whether a new engine is a good idea for Cody, or not. Just saying.
@Beth Gallagher Why do I believe Ford Engineering is better? Our little 4.0L V-6 is close to turning 180,000 miles, has never been touched beyond the usual ancillary problems: starter replaced, thermostat, etc. Engine has never been "opened up", but just remembered: I put in new spark plugs at 100,000 miles. Frank
@Nancy Hart I know, I know! It's just that I despise all the hoopla about "buying power"......there is no such thing in my opinion. Here's what I base that on. In the late 1800s for example, gold was HELD at a fixed value, perhaps $20 an ounce. At that time, one ounce of gold bought a nice new suit of clothes, or a Colt revolver. 100 years later, ONE OUNCE OF GOLD bought a nice suit of clothes or a revolver, though it took almost $1000 to buy ONE OUNCE of gold! Thus it is the decreasing value of the dollar which drags so strongly at our purse strings. The guy who believed in gold instead of dollars always came out the winner! Frank
As of right now, our engine has 171,000 miles on it. Along with thinking about buying a new/remanufactured engine, we have also looked at a number of newer (2010 thru 2017) Dodge Durango SLT/V8 online and most of the Durango's we've found are V6, not V8 and without AWD/4-Wheel Drive. To tow/pull our boat, a V6 wouldn't be powerful enough. Our 20 ft. boat has a 5.7L V8 350 engine in it. Larges engine that can be put into a 20 ft. boat. It sits on a dual-axle trailer, due to the weight of the boat engine. Plus, it's an absolute must that we have AWD/4-Wheel Drive. This last winter, in March, we had a full-blown blizzard of 30 inches of snow. Right in front of our apartment, I seen numerous vehicles, without AWD/4-Wheel Drive keep getting stuck in the snow. Our Durango also has All-Terrain tires on it and none of those stuck vehicles did. It's extremely funny how, on a Colorado Relocation Forum I'm on, many people will tell folks, who are interested in moving to Colorado/Denver area, "you don't really need snow tires or 4-wheel drive in the winter here". All wife and I can say is "yea, right" (very sarcastically). We both know better. On top of this, a new V-8 and AWD costs so, so much. We seen one online that was for sale for $70,000! Would love to have a "back-up" camera, for our boat, like it has, but the cost.......... Now, what I'm wondering is.........just how long do we wait until we buy a new/remanufactured engine? Wait until a rod or something inside the engine fails? Continue renting a car, for a weekend getaway?
Is there a salvage value to the current engine that might drop down to $0 if you wait for a mechanical failure? I gotta think there is a Core Charge. Might you be putting that at risk if you wait? And if you wait for a mechanical failure, how long will you have to rent a car waiting for the engine to be ordered, to get shipped and to get installed? You're gonna go from being in control to panic-reacting. Regarding backup cameras: if you are towing something, wouldn't your view be blocked? It might be a benefit when hooking up the boat, but that's about it. Regarding 2WD vs 4WD/AWD: Yeh, it adds a lot of money, don't it? I've never understood why anyone would buy a 2WD truck...there is zero weight over the drive wheels.
We are thinking about the engine right now. Service Center told us it would take a few days to get it into their shop by freight, then they will need the Durango for about 3 days for the install. I seriously don't think we'd rent a car. Besides that, most of the car rental businesses around here have already rented out all of their cars...........believe it or not. Cars come in and go out almost on the same day! People are going nuts here with renting cars, for whatever reasons. As far as the backup camera goes, that only goes on when gear shift is put into reverse. So, that would be for hooking up boat/trailer at Storage and launching/retrieving at ramp.
After foolishly driving into floodwaters, my wife had a new motor put into a Chrysler Sebring convertible she had. Before buying another (used) car, my dad would often put a rebuilt motor into the old one, but he'd do the work himself. I don't think he rebuilt the motor but he would switch them out.
@John Brunner "Regarding 2WD vs 4WD/AWD: Yeh, it adds a lot of money, don't it? I've never understood why anyone would buy a 2WD truck...there is zero weight over the drive wheels." Many heavy 4X4 vehicles, such as the Ford Explorer, have gone to Front Wheel Drive for the main drive when not employing 4X4, which places almost the entire engine weight on the DRIVING WHEELS. Is it a good idea? Apparently not, since they have again gone back to Rear Wheel Drive when not in 4X4 mode. Frank
Sure, but a 4WD gives you the option of "weight over the drive train" when you need it. Driving in the snow is tough when you're pushing all that weight. I've know folks to carry sand in the trunks of their cars during the winter so they don't just sit & spin. My truck won't hardly budge in any amount of snow unless I put it in 4wd. But your comment made me think. I had not realized there was a period of FWD in 4x4 trucks. Here's the opinion of the first article I found. Not sure if you might agree with it...
@John Brunner The opinion you have stated fails to consider that CV joints have been very extensively used in many different vehicles equipped with the largest most powerful engines, V-8s mainly, offered by the manufacturers. My Ford Explorer is an example. It has CV joints both front and rear, was offered with a V-8 engine.
i had CV joints on an 82 Buick Riviera. I don't remember how many time I replaced them in 77K miles. AT 77K the transmission went. So I fixed it and traded fro Toyota 4-Runner.