Chad just turned 230,000!
“Chad” is the nickname bestowed upon our 2008 Honda CRV by our son Peter when he was in high school. We bought ol’ Chad in 2018, when it already had 181,000 miles under its (timing) belt. Peter needed a “daily driver” for school. Chad got passed down from Peter to Andrew, our youngest (Leah didn’t get her license until later), who also used it for high school. Rolling on, day after day, year after year.
And now, somehow, Chad has been passed UP to me. I have no idea how it happened. I guess “Daddy dibs” isn’t a thing in our house. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I can throw my bike in the back, or put my kayak on the roof rack… or both! It’s a beater, but it’s my beater.
We’ve pumped some cash into Chad over the past seven years. It averages out to about two car payments a year. Math isn’t my strong suit, but I’m pretty sure two car payments is cheaper than 12. And roughly $10K over seven years is a lot cheaper than a new car.
[Source: https://caredge.com/guides/new-car-price-trends-in-2025]
As chronicled in a December post, we barely got 110,000 miles out of our 2014 Passat. So we’re playing with house money.
Chad isn’t the smoothest ride, or the fastest, or the sexiest. But I’ll take dependable any day of the week. In fact, I DO take that every day of the week.
I’m not sure how much longer Chad will be with us. At some point, there’s bound to be a major issue that would cost more than Chad is worth. But until then, we’ll keep on rolling. And keep on saving.
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