Might lose Big Iron

[S.A. Boggs]

Did pretty good with the insurance, more then I expected. Due to damage, Big Iron will go directly to a salvage yard nothing I can do short of not turning him loose. Will have a tow truck come after him on Thursday, so tomorrow I will take my stuff out. Looking @ 3 vehicles, Jeep Compass-2 Nissan 4 door trucks-Ford 4 door 150. All trucks are 4x4 or not considering due to the need of 4x4. Which one, that is easy...the one that will pass my garages OK and I can make the best deal on. If I cannot take the vehicle to my garage for a complete inspection I will walk away. Wish my bride and I luck as it has been awhile on making a deal on a truck. Last one I got the guy to knock 1/5th off his asking price, which was way below KBB. I have found that having cash on hand works in dealing. I have already thoroughly checked out on each vehicle including CARFAX where possible.
Sam

[Allen]

A 4x4 may be handy in the snow. Every man needs a truck. I think the Jeep Compass has gotten some bad reviews. Most all of the later Fords have one sparkplug that is hard (and very costly) to get to on the V8's. Your mechanic can advise you much better.

Good luck. Keep us advised.

[JB White]

Sam, I can't be of very much help but I wish you the best. It's always tough to put an old dog down. I too have heard less-than-stellar about the Compass. My daughter bought one not too long ago (2017) and she is pleased with hers. Mind you, all she's done is primarily city driving and it's her first new car. You get the picture. Given all that, no complaints at all.

The inner me says "go Ford..go Ford". Never mind me. You've been around the block and know your needs.

[JohnMOhio]

I suggest that some of you should sit down and actually read your auto policies. For instance, Mr. White, when you drove your son's auto, your policy provided coverage while driving your son's might not be true. Was your car not available? Was it a temporary substitute vehicle? Such as a rental vehicle while yours was in for repairs or service. Some policies have conditions such as this. Also, if you policy extended coverage for you to drive your sons car, it did not extend coverage to your son as owner of the car. As for you son driving your car, most policies extend coverage when you give permission. If he is not a resident of your household or not a listed driver on your policy, permission to drive you car could apply. You as owner are still protected. However, if he does not have an acceptable driving record, regardless if your are aware of it or not, and you gave him permission, you as owner could be held liable for any serious damages or injuries over and above the limits of your policy. I say this because to many folks think they know what is in their policy. They have never read it. Same with your homeowners policy. Read it.

[S.A. Boggs]

After a two day wait the truck came and got him, I couldn't watch so my daughter took care of the paperwork for me. I did buy a pickup, an 06 Ford F150 4x4 with rear folding seats. It was a company truck [installed T.V. satellite dishes] so there is a carrier on the back. I am taking off the ladder holder attachment as I have no need for it and it whistles like crazy. Ii has two side locking boxes and the tailgate open into the box itself. Won't have to worry about anything being stolen and I can still haul what I need to. I bought it from the garage that has done all my repair work and he did the maintance on the F-150 as well so no worries. It will be Monday before I can take title and new plates, the price was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay below book so I am pleased. Up to the last minute I toyed with the idea of repair on my Jeep, financially it wasn't practical as more issues surfaced then I first realized...just too much hidden damage and age/mileage deterioration. Oh well, nothing lasts forever except taxes!
Sam

[Allen]

Again with 376K miles on the old jeep many problems were due (overdue) to come up shortly. Sounds like you made a good choice and you have a truck now to haul stuff with and still have a rear seat to boot.

Thanks for the update.

[S.A. Boggs]

I folded up the rear seats and put Wolfs pillow [my wife made it for her] and Wolf enjoys it. Rear doors are easy to open and what I and the wife like is NO CARPET to have to clean just rubber mat. We are going to put on seat covers as my wife doesn't like the color of the seats and I am placing water holding mats as well...much to do.
Sam

[dryheat]

Wolf is a female? That kind of ruins it for me.

[S.A. Boggs]

Wolf is a female? That kind of ruins it for me.

Wolf is very protective of me regarding me as the leader of her "pack" and acting accordingly. She always sits with her back to me watching, listening, guarding. If I leave the room she goes with me to take care of me. Right now I am in my recliner and she is only two feet away sleeping, if I get up she watches to see where, what I am doing. She has been my constant companion since she was two months old which is kinda nice. She is also my taste tester, @ McDonalds I have to order extra bacon so she can "test" a part of every piece.
Sam

[Allen]

I have found that female dogs are more aggressive and more protective but eat more and more apt to bite the crap out of you if you have to move their food dish while they are eating. They bark more and tend to get fatter than the males in later life. Some people prefer them when it comes to watch dogs.

Males tend to be more docile and like to play. They are more easily trained and it is usually the males that like to catch Frisbee's. They bark but not nearly so much and they aren't as aggressive. The male dogs that I've had have never even growled when moving or taking their food away. Males seem to be less apt to bite strangers.

Having them fixed in their youth (both sexes) tends to change their personalities a little also and make them a little more loyal.

Sex and breeds make a lot of difference on dogs. The one I have now (my daughters dog) has white fur, the skin is fair also, don't know it this makes a difference but he doesn't even smell like a dog. He gets a bath once a week and stays in the house except for his walks. Coming into my home, you would never know I had a dog living here due to no smell, no hair/shedding, and no fleas. As you know you get extremely attached to them regardless of what kind they are. They quickly become a "who" rather than a "what". Worse thing about any dog is they don't live near long enough.

[JB White]

Male dogs can mark their perimeter every day and you wouldn't know it. Females will squat and soak thus ruining an otherwise well kept lawn. Eat food-pee acid.

Worse thing about any dog is they don't live near long enough.

Isn't that the truth! Had two females that lived to 18 and 16 years. Both Shepherd mutts that outlived several "siblings". The rest departed way too soon.

[S.A. Boggs]

Wolf is a hybrid of Arctic Wolf and Alaskan Husky with who knows what else, some Lab I think. The American Kennel Club states there is no Husky bred due to being so mixed, that is true. Wolf barks, growls deeply and is very aggressive, I have the scars on my arms to prove it. I had a pair of leather wrist cuffs made when I play with her, as well as leather gloves. She will stand on her hind legs to come at you to play so I have to be careful. She only weighs about 60 pounds but that is pure muscle! Running is her thing and that she loves to do, I have an electronic collar on her to call her back or her circles just keep getting bigger and bigger. At our church we have a few acres side lot inside the fence, she can circle on full tilt in no time. She snarled @me one time in aggression and it cost her big time. Her collar is quite "stunning" to say the least, I stood back letting her think that she had won pointing my right hand at her I hit the control with my left. The control is in my pocket and was on max so it rolled her quickly. I did it twice and she just laid there, not moving just watching me as I stood there with my arm extended to her. I just have to point my finger at her and she sits/lays down quickly with no protest. She understands, as does our 120 pound American Square Head Black Lab who is top dog. Honestly, with patience on my part, proper repetitive training and positive rewards both dogs were easy to train. In public they are only on a leash due to the nervous nellies in society and are better behaving then many kids. I have had restaurant managers/store managers tell me how well behaved Wolf is and to come back.
Sam

[Former Cav]

We had a female Great Pyrenees that was great. didn't bark hardly at all, was not aggressive but was a darned good watch dog and she KNEW if someone was BAD or up to something!!