I admit it, I love new things. I don't shop at Thrift Stores because of that very problem. I like the smell, the feel, the experience of all things new and fresh and untouched. But new, doesn't always mean better. In the 10 years that I've been driving, I have been in used trucks as well as new trucks. And I've realized, even with trucks, new doesn't always mean better.
With Interstate, we started out with a used truck. It had been taken care of so it was in good shape. The only big issue we had was the transmission. But it was getting old and things were starting to wear out. So we were issued a new truck. Or fairly new - only 1 other team had it but only put 30,000 miles on it. It was in fairly good condition with a little wear and tear on the inside. (I figured they must have cooked their meals in it, which we don't do.) This new truck, however, had a constant problem with the electrical system, and we were always having to get it repaired in the shop. Also we had a AC system in the bunk that needed constant shop work.
Then last fall we got our 2nd brand new truck - only 2,000 miles on it, just the mileage to get it from Mexico to Tacoma. It had that nice, new truck smell, everything clean and pristine. In the 8 months that we had it we started out with an oil filter blow out, grinding brakes that never got resolved, and an overheated brake the sent us to the shop; also, fuel filter problems and a exhaust system problem that resulted in being towed to a shop.
And then the infamous refrigerator malfunction with the exploding milk carton. But that's another story.
Onto the 3rd new truck just issued, now a month old. Yay, another pristine, sweet smelling, clean, and problem free truck. Wrong. We had only been on it a week and the air conditioning went out. By the time we got it back to the shop in Tacoma at the end of that first week, we had 8 things on the repair and please-check-this-problem list.
So, go ahead and give me new trucks: after all it nice to start clean and fresh, but don't be fooled by the idea that new means trouble free, because it just ain't so.
