Ray Magliozzi
Dear Car Talk:
My husband passed away recently and I’m liquidating some assets in order to pay off the house.
I have five vehicles that are paid off. We don’t have two-legged kids, but I do have one four-legged fur child. We have our home in Ohio and a place at Cumberland Lake in Kentucky. I was planning on keeping the old Chevy truck down at the lake (to tow the pontoon to the ramp and use it solely to put the boat in and out of the water). Here’s what I have:
— 1997 Chevy four-door 6-cylinder with 160,000-plus miles (stays down at Cumberland)
— 2008 Toyota Highlander with 120,000 miles
— 2015 Toyota Scion with 60,000 miles
— 2019 Toyota C-HR with 16,000 miles
— 2020 Chevy Silverado Custom 6-cylinder, 4WD, four-door with 26,000 miles
I figured selling the two newer vehicles with low mileage would save money on insurance and maintenance, and bring in more money to pay off the mortgage. BUT! I’ve been driving the new Chevy truck and love it! So now I’m in a pickle and can’t decide what to do. I know Toyotas last forever if properly maintained — but doggone it — I love driving that new truck! I feel like a real cowgirl driving that truck!
I would like to keep two vehicles, including the old truck at the lake. But if I keep the new Chevy truck, I’d only keep one vehicle. So, if you have any advice for this cowgirl, I would definitely appreciate it!
— Michelle
I don’t see the problem here, Michelle. You love the new Chevy truck. It makes you happy when you drive it. And if that’s the vehicle you keep, you can unload all four of the others. So that’s exactly what you should do.
Sure, if you’re looking at the percentages, the average Toyota is probably going to be more reliable than the average Chevy. But who cares? Reliability isn’t everything. Happiness is also a legitimate factor when making a car decision. And feeling like a cowgirl makes you happy, right?
So, sell the old Chevy, the Scion, the C-HR, and the Highlander. Put the vast majority of that money toward your mortgage, but first, skim a little off the top first and buy yourself a bangin’ cowboy hat.
Got a question about cars? Write to Ray in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email by visiting the Car Talk website at www.cartalk.com.
