Daily Driver Dilemma: To Upgrade Or Not To Upgrade

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The beauty(?) shot.

There is no disputing that all of us reading this are classic car enthusiasts. Most of us have, or least want to have a classic car or truck that can be built to reflect our individual personality. But if there is one thing that is certain, we all need a daily driver. Whatever that mode of transportation might be, to a car guy, it is usually also styled as an extension of the owner’s personality.

For some, the daily driver is a car, while for others, a truck is the requirement. But one thing is certain, what constitutes that type of vehicle morphs over time. Take for instance your first car. It probably didn’t cost very much, possibly needed to be worked on often so you could drive it, and in all reality, dependability was probably hit or miss. Regardless, it was your car, and at the time, you thought it was great. But as we get older, priorities change. That means that what we want or need as a daily driver can — and usually does change with those priorities.

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Might not be fancy, but it’s functional.

Currently, my daily driver is a ’79 Chevy Cheyenne. As far as I am concerned, it is a nice truck. It looks good, and is – relatively speaking, dependable. But, my daily also serves as my “toy” for going to cruise nights and such. Lately though, I’ve been realizing something. I might not be growing up, but I am definitely getting older, and that has got me thinking about a few things. One of those thoughts revolves around deciding if I should update my daily driver to something that was at least built during this – or at at least the last decade. Sure, the Cheyenne has air conditioning, cruise control, and a great sounding stereo – as far as I am concerned. But it’s still my “old Chevy.” Since my truck was originally built, there has been a lot of progress made in the area of vehicle design and construction, and sometimes I think it might actually be nice to drive a truck that delivers more “comfort.”

During one of those times when I was actually putting some serious thought into this situation, I stopped in at a couple of local Chevrolet dealerships to see what they might have in stock. I found one or two trucks that were nice, but I just couldn’t pull the trigger.

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Yes dear, this would be nice.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like new(er) vehicles, I just really like my C10. While a newer truck can boast amenities that my ’79 might not have: power seats, heated mirrors, powr adjustable mirrors, and fuel injection, there is just something “comfortable” about driving my old Chevy. I know every sound that it makes when it’s running, and I understand its cold-start habits. I just know what to expect when I get behind the wheel. Again, I understand that a newer truck might ride nicer, and I’ll even admit that a newer vehicle might even be a little more reliable. But for some reason, I still enjoy getting into my 38-year-old truck every day.

I am certain that the aforementioned fact that I am getting older has caused me to understand that I like things that are simple. Take for instance; if something is ailing my old truck, I know I can fix it with relative ease. Just diagnosing an issue doesn’t require connecting a computer to an OBD port under the dash. You will not find a CAN bus connector anywhere. And as far as power accessories, it does have power steering and brakes, but other than that, the ole girl is pretty basic.

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I just have to force myself to decide if I really need a new or at least newer truck that might offer more in regards to creature comforts and reliability? I will concede that it would be nice to have a truck with air conditioning, cruise control, and a radio that plays more than just AM stations. Wait a minute, my current jitney already has those qualities, but is missing one major item that is the primary concern for my updating my classic Chevy – a monthly payment.

So as much as I really like the new Silverado – in 3/4-ton trim with a Duramax diesel (that’s a hint incase my wife, Paula, is reading this), I think I’ll keep the Cheyenne around for a while longer. Who knows, maybe someday it will have a new friend in the driveway and get the well-deserved “weekend duty” easy life that it’s earned.

About the author

Randy Bolig

Randy Bolig has been working on cars and has been involved in the hobby ever since he bought his first car when he was only 14 years old. His passion for performance got him noticed by many locals, and he began helping them modify their vehicles.
Read My Articles

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