John Van Nostrand: My lamentations of car shopping

Apr. 23—I'm glad I haven't sold it, because I haven't found something I want and it's something I won't settle for.

The past couple of months I've tried to sell my light pickup. The truck goes back to the first Obama administration and has enough miles on it to get to Saturn. I bought it used and have put plenty of money into it to keep it going. That money also goes toward the gas stations. It's not great on gas, which is the fundamental reason why I am looking for something else.

I listed it on Facebook Marketplace and in the pages of the CNA. I knew my price was high considering (I was hoping to get some of my repair money back). If someone would have taken my offer, I would have been scrambling as I have not decided what I want to replace it with. I have a list of likes and interests, but have not found "the one." One of those blessings in disguise.

I don't want to settle as I think any vehicle purchase, new or used, is a significant financial decision.

The pickup was paid off years ago. I really don't need a pickup for what they are intended. I don't haul stuff for other people on a regular basis although it has been used to move kids in and out of college dorm rooms. Should I get rid of my pickup, I still have access to another pickup if I am asked to help move something.

My motive is to find something with better gas mileage. Occasional trips to our sibling papers in Greenfield, Osceola and helping with Creston sports from Bondurant to Clarinda would make those trips more cost effective. Newer models of light pickups today do get better miles per gallon than what I have now. I'm not opposed to another pickup because of that, but I still circle back to knowing I don't need a pickup for what it is.

I've owned a light pickup before, but that was before kids and when gasoline prices were less than $1.50 a gallon where I lived. That purchase is still one of the best car-buying experiences I've had. I saw it listed in a used dealer's ad in a shopper publication. I called the place, which was hours from where I lived. The owner said he was planning on passing my area in a few days he would gladly bring it and let me test it for a day. Then he'd come back and pick it up and see if I was interested.

If my motive is gas mileage, I have been looking at typical, four-cylinder gas engines. I am not interested in an electric vehicle. I have nothing against them. I just don't want to spend more to install an adequate charger in my house (and be encouraged to not park the car in a garage). I don't want to wait up to 20 minutes at charging station and may still not be at full charge.

I am grateful and overwhelmed for the websites dedicated to owners of certain makes and models. The reading is fascinating as owners compare notes and advice with peers. I'm taking all of the information as truth since it is input by people who have legitimate experience with these cars. I have learned that not every four-cylinder engine from the same make is the same and am noting the ones to avoid purely based on these people's experiences.

A funny description I've heard for some makes and models with certain four-cylinder engines is, "You will get great gas mileage but you will never beat another yellow light again." No loss as I wasn't beating yellow lights in the pickup.

The online owner sites are a lot. You read about a person who owns make and model A and doesn't like it because of this and that. Then another person who also owns make and model A love theirs and wouldn't drive anything else. Interesting to see how manufacturers change the same model over the years as some certain years seem more reliable than others.

I do have a budget to follow and seeing car loan interest rates is another factor to consider. It's nice not having a car loan payment, but I'm done with spending more than nickels and dimes on car repairs. Others have told me the joy of fewer gas fill ups is lost when making the car loan payment.

I'm not close to joy with any of this.