pk1023

To keep things short, the question of this post is this: Why is life so hard in the present only to allow you then relive your regrets in the past?

What I mean is that so many things are "One Shot Deals", like buying the truck I did a couple years ago.

I have to leave out many of the details, but I needed to buy a truck to tow our little camper that we had plunged 9000 dollars into on a loan. ( LET ME SAY RIGHT NOW, NO LECTURES ABOUT THE VALUE OF MONEY OR BUYING WITH CASH) We had towed it with a daily driver mini-van and it was coming apart at the seems!

In the end, I had one chance. My mom gave me 15000 dollars. I know that's going to stir up people too, but just get past it... She had 15k and I wanted a truck, she wanted me to go to grad school, I'm 2 classes away from graduating, everybody got what they want.

I searched and searched dealerships, decided I'd get more truck buying private party. I only saw 2 trucks. It's nerve racking taking someones time and I wasn't prepared for it. I saw this really nice 2007 GMC Sierra. It was a fun little trip in the rain on a Friday night to this house WAY out past the town I went to college in, it was a hour drive. I loved it, but it needed brakes....

Then I find a 2006 F150, 1000 bucks cheaper, less miles, not being driven and owned by a young cop with a family. I buy it, it's a disaster. New transmission, brakes and other parts later, here I am. I don't like the truck, it's just not what I wanted. I resent it because what it's put me through and I am worried about the next thing I'll do wrong.

But, there's no going back. The truck isn't worth but maybe 12k on it's best day. If I sold it TODAY, I'm out 3000 bucks plus all the work I did. That's stupid, nobody does stuff like that right?

I'll pass 4 car dealerships on my way home, they'd be glad to help me screw myself out of that 3000 bucks. They'd never say, hey this is a stupid idea and you should stop. i know it's because they have to eat too, but come on.

If I were more wealthy, none of this would matter. I can burn a hundred bucks tonight and not worry a bit about it. My kids will still eat, I'll keep my house. But, I can do the same with 1000 dollars. Rich people can burn a 1000 dollars if means they get what they want. That sucks because here I sit, probably actively stopping myself from getting rich.

It's all such a mess. I don't want to hear that, just be happy with what you have crap either. I want to know that someone else out there thinks it all BS too.

John316

I'm really sorry life sucks right now. We've all been there too! The ones who haven't, will go through struggles as well. The important thing is that you have family who loves you and wants to see you succeed. It seems you have your stuff together: graduating from school, working, and kids too and all those things combined can really stress you out. That was amazing that your Mom gave you money to buy something you needed. I wish more parents were in a position to do the same for their kids. You are very fortunate to have that kind of support! Don't worry, things will get better if you believe they will.

Are all the issues with the F150 fixed? If so, you may be able to at least get your money back by selling it yourself. You can generally negotiate your own price instead of taking to the ripoff dealership. It's really a risk buying used from anyone, even people you think you can trust. Although, hanging on to what you have now that it is fixed may be the best thing for you right now. I'll be praying for you. Hang in there Brother!

Sock Puppet

Crap happens. If you learned from it then you are a better person. No need to be bitter about it, just take it for what it is and come away a little wiser.

Adam013085

Is there a punchline at the end of this I'm missing?

brihvac

Welcome to life.
You first mistake was buying a truck that you say "it's just not what I wanted". You should have shopped around longer and got what you wanted/ felt comfortable with.
Now put on your big boy pants and move forward.

NASSTY

It's unfortunate that some dude sold you a truck with bad brakes and a bad transmission and didn't tell you about those issues. Lesson learned.... I bet you don't make that mistake again.

pk1023

Ohh the big boy pants aren't the problem. I do see the "count your blessings" part, I am blessed. This is my second masters degree, I am well employeed for 10 years with the same company. I have a strong skillset that will sell in any market I choose.

My wider point here is the NATURE of life in our capitalist society. The truck didn't live up to my expectations. I tried hard, I spent money, I fixed the brakes (Rotors/Calipers/up) myself with my own hands. I've learned to service the truck myself, it took me no time to learn. But, it's nerve racking because it's dangerous that you could loose everything if you mess up.

We're all stuck in this wheel. If the truck were a 10 dollar clock radio that I didn't like, I'd give it to Goodwill and buy another. I have a desk FULL of computer mice at work because I'm always trying to find the right one. I write code 40 hours a week, I should have a comfortable mouse. Because they are cheap to me, I try new ones out whenver I want.

BUT, that model fails after 100 dollars. At 100 bucks I feel like you have to do your homework, you have to KNOW you're making the right choice. The problem is that at 15 thousand dollars ALL of my MONTHS of homework failed me. I read and researched and went to dealerships and drove trucks and got under neath them.

Then I had a bad day... I found a good truck on a Friday night, second guessed myself and found what's now a BAD truck Saturday, went to look at it in a RUSH on Sunday and bought it on a Monday. I lost all my sense. I was in a RUSH on Sunday to pick up the kids and get back home from about 1 hour away for flag football and I made a poor choice. Everything went wrong there after. I raced to the BMV instead of waiting a few days. I no more than pulled in the drive back from the BMV with the license plate then a saw the transmission fluid.

I'm a grown man and I am experienced. Everybodies had bad experiences and this is just one of them, I get that.

But what kills me is the VALUE PROPOSITION. I feel like I can't put a sale tag on that truck for 15,000 dollars and expect ANYONE to give it to me. Maybe I'm wrong, but I SHOULDN'T be. I paid 13,800 for the truck, I put 3000 in the transmission, 1000 in fluid issues and other small fixes at the dealer, 1000 for the brakes myself. I should be able to put 15k in the window and someone pay me that.

But, I KNOW what will happen. People will dicker and fight and say it's not worth it and Billy Bob has his F150 for 12000 and it's only got 20k more miles on it and other nonsense like that.

Nothing holds value, nothing. People always talk about the good ole days when things did. Nothing has ever held value for me in my life. It feels like I am cursed.

Dealerships are terrible, you're right. We know what it is though,every PERSON in the place should have a button on to show the PERCENTAGE they take for your trade in value. 10% to the sales guy, 5% to the sales mgr, 7% to the owners, on and on.

The world shouldn't be like this, there should be another way.

pk1023

This is really funny, your pic of the Grand National? I stand to inherit a 1987 GN with 8000 miles on it... My dad bought it brand new from the dealer, I rode home in it at 10 years old. It has the original everything down to the tires. It's never been serviced more than an oil change. It's like it rolled off the assembly line yesterday!

Hopefully that will appreciate in value!

Sock Puppet

Uhhhh...what? You made a poor decision and now it's the fault of capitalism? Maybe you can find a better deal in China or North Korea.

You want to know what holds value? Personal integrity. Being your own man and owning your mistakes. Dealing with 'what is' and not 'what should be'.

Snowhite

I think someone lost his marbles...

Are you ok in your head bro?