I replaced it with a lightly used Mazda CX5. I sold the X3 to CarMax. The sale of the X3 to CarMax brought into focus why some folks don't want to deal with realtor when getting out of real estate. I would have had to put money in the bimmer to sell it on my own in addition to dealing with showing it, arranging test drives and etc. Many folks make money parting out old cars, but that too is a hassle. It was far easier to dump the thing at a discount and let someone deal with that. The transaction with CarMax was easy and seamless. The rep himself seemed to be interested in getting the car as a project car. Back in the day, I did a lot of my own work on cars, but those days are over. CarMax and these guys essentially flip cars. --172.56.xx.xxx

Newer vehicles makes you a target for insurance fraud. Plus here in CA, new cars can triple your annual premiums. --47.155.xx.xxx

Sometimes I miss the old pack mule, especially the fuel mileage, but I went well past the time I should have with it. --107.147.xx.xx

Yes, I much prefer the older vehicles. I remember fondly the days when cars and trucks were simple and every kid knew how to work on them in the garage of their house. First truck was a 51 Ford then a 64 Chev. As to cars, 65, 66, 67 Mustangs, 63 Chevys, old Mercurys and more. So many, many cars over the early years. How many of us remember when we could buy a used car or truck for $50 up to $400. Gas at 25 to 35 cents a gallon. I'd drive and nurse them along until something major happened then just get another. --97.85.x.xx

Newer vehicles have a lot of plastic where once were aluminium or steel. A intake manifold made of plastic will distort along will not seal. Plastic valve covers distort then there are leaks. So in the end it is going to a considerable amount of time to completely replace everything. Now most vehicles will deteriorate once 200,000 km on odometer where even careful maintenance things will wear out. A oil and filter change every 5,000 km or 3,000 miles will extend engine life. Some of the older GM pick ups could reach 1 million km where the body will be falling apart. The older vehicles Volvo , Mercedes and VW lasted a long time where some older VW a diesel and 2.5 Liter engine are running where the body shows age. Basically planned obsolete where now it it is expensive to keep a old vehicle on the road. Only a mechanic will be able to fix and keep older vehicles on the road where it is just parts. --216.110.xxx.xxx

Thanks for noticing the CarMax connection --174.131.xxx.xx

About 60 years later I have a '98 Mustang with 255K plus miles and a 92 F150 with 155K miles. Sold my favorite vehicle, my 1953 8N tractor when I retired. Oh well. --184.54.xxx.xxx

My first car was a 1968 Opel Kadet with four on the floor. I bought it in 1973 for $675 at age 17. Back then, many kids bought their own cars. I saved my money from PT jobs I had and my father helped negotiate the deal. Manual transmissions were far more common back then. I remember the column shifts as well. I've never been especially brand loyal and have jumped around from brand to brand. The only exceptions have been BMW, Nissan and Toyota in the sense I bought more than one of each. The current line up of Mazda, Hyundai and Ford are the first time owning those brands. I wouldn't recommend Hyundai. --23.28.xx.xx

GKARL-I had field cars but my first car on the road was a 73 pinto i paid $250 in 1984, piece of junk really rotted badly but it meant i could drive to high school instead of taking the bus.had a truck but the engine was blown and my dad taught me to rebuild it and got rid of the pinto once the truck was on the road and never had a car since, always had a need for a truck --38.248.xx.xxx

My next car wasn't much better, actually worse. It was a Dart with a slanted 6 with a cracked block. I would start it up after school and everyone would start running, like rabbits they ran. Not sure why, I was just fogging the mosquitoes? I probably should have just walked to school as it would have been less embarrassing. Good way to get rid of people though, just fire up the car. --73.19.xxx.xx

6x6 I am a firm believer that a kids first car, especially boys first car should be a piece of junk, let it break down and figure out how to get it going or call a friend who can tow it, now they probably just call AAA but it doesnt really help them learn how to get out of a pickel --38.248.xx.xxx

It is a shame that I see so many of them without anything in the bed though --174.131.xxx.xx

Ray, they aren't even trucks anymore as the beds are only 5ft long. I guess they figure nobody works anymore but they still want a toy, I mean a "truck". Either that or they can't handle a real truck. --73.19.xxx.xx

But I still hate the super short bed. I have a full sized bed toolbox back there so I lose nearly another two foot. It's like having an SUV without the roof. --107.147.xx.xx

2 years ago my old dakota died so went looking for a used truck,80000 miles and they still wanted $30000 so i wound up buying a new dodge ram,it only has enough room in the back seat for tools etc,not enough room for a man.salesman said you want this bigger truck,i said no i dont want guys in my truck,6 cylinder is fine,he said everyone is hauling campers and boats,i said i have neither,they were having trouble selling these trucks so i paid $43000.i haul a lot of garbage and contruction debris and i heat my house with firewood so i haul a lot of firewood,i go off road to my firewood piles in my parents cow field and just to get to my house in the winter i need 4x4 so it is a good fit for me --98.96.xxx.xxx

A mid sized pick up is where if need to more capacity is to buy a trailer then haul a lot more while for everyday driving for smaller loads will not need a trailer. I will avoid buying any vehicles with a turbo charged engine no matter the brand where downsized to four cylinder with same horsepower of the six and eight cylinder. If have a turbo charged engine keep up on frequent oil changes and filter every 5 km or 3 miles so the turbo charger does not fail. Oil changes prolong the life of the engine as less friction along oil needs to be pumped right away for a over head cam engine. --216.110.xxx.xxx

I was about to get a Nissan Frontier until I drove the F150. I'm glad I went with a full size truck. I have a crew cab with a 6.5 bed which is plenty. It's a Ecoboost and is currently in the shop for repairs. I didn't have much of a need for a truck until I had rentals. I started off with a used 2000 Silverado which was decent. Transmission went on me which I replaced with a used trans and then decided to upgrade to the F150. I prefer not driving it everyday though as it's difficult to park. It's a large vehicle. I prefer a subcompact SUV for daily use. --23.28.xx.xx

I do not see me getting another 4 banger. Maybe a 6 if it has the tow capacity that I need. --107.147.xx.xx

You could take the wife and kids out in lawn chairs to watch it rust for entertainmnt.also buy a couple of spare engines to have on hand cause very few made it past 50,000 miles .... --96.236.xxx.xxx

It had to be the lack of quality in American cars during the 70's that resulted in the long term loss of market share. Covair, Vega and Pinto led the way. I remember friends having Datsuns at the time that were quite durable. That 240z was a great vehicle and they had a line up of others that were good as well. I tried to stay with GM products but my last purchase was a 76 Chevy Nova. Those cars had a unibody sort of frame that ultimately got bent and the car would track slightly sideways when driving. I saw many a Nova of the vintage tracking like that. It was 40 years before I bought another GM product (used Silverado) or an American made product and those purchases have been limited to trucks. --23.28.xx.xx

Around 1973 they started putting all the pollution garb on and killed the horsepower. And yes, they went to unibody construction as all of them do today. In the 80's they started using plastic body parts --73.19.xxx.xx