u/Fair-Chocolate-4193

I don’t recall being sentimental about a vehicle before, but I think the realization that our time with our Tahoe is coming to an end has led to a lot of mixed feelings. She is a 2015 LTZ with 143k miles that somehow still has the original engine, lifters, and transmission. In short, the best, most dependable vehicle I have ever owned.

We initially bought her new for the extra room with managing car seats and a Labrador. The car seats and booster seats have now been outgrown, and the Labrador dutifully transferred her watch some years ago to our now Bernese Mountain Dog. The carpet floor just behind the center console has been lovingly worn out by these two keeping an eye on the world from between the captain’s chairs.

The years and the miles have started to lead to more issues, though. A trim piece here. Odd noises there. Resetting of fuses at times to restore function. Acceleration when merging in traffic is gone.

So when do you know? I’m trying to walk that line of getting every last ounce out of her while still trying to avoid a catastrophic repair.

I think some of the difficulty I’m having is also just accepting that I am getting older. My girls essentially grew up in that car, and our dog(s) would go everywhere with us. I am the dad chauffeur, so it was pre-K, school car lines, ballet practices/recitals, and softball and basketball practices and games. We were never left stranded.

I have started online car shopping recently and can’t seem to get too excited about what may come next. So who knows? Maybe I’m subliminally hoping I will be forced to replace the lifters and transmission and see if we can get another 143k miles out of her😉.