“How Can I Keep It?” lays out a practical five-step approach for keeping a vehicle longer and saving money, starting with a full evaluation and turning it into a prioritized maintenance/repair list. The host emphasizes that “mileage does not matter maintenance matters,” and explains how to budget for “now,” “near future,” and “distant future” work so urgent issues don’t snowball. Along the way, they share real-world examples—from diagnosing an axle oil leak to a Jeep rebuild driven by cooling neglect.
Many vehicle owners want to keep their current vehicle longer, but they're.not always sure where to start. In today's.Motormouth Morning Drive, I share the same 5-step vehicle evaluation process I use when assessing vehicles for customers, purchases, and resale.
We'll cover:
✅ Step 1: Start with a complete and honest vehicle evaluation.
✅ Step 2: Create a list of all required
✅ Step 3: Organize those needs into "Now", "Near Future", and "Distant Future" categories
✅ Step 4: Build a realistic budget for each category before small problems become expensive repairs.
✅ Step 5: Schedule future maintenance and repairs so nothing gets forgotten.
A good plan removes uncertainty and helps you avoid costly surprises. Whether your goal is to save money, avoid monthly payments, or simply get more life out of your vehicle, it starts with a proper evaluation and a clear roadmap.
Get started today and put your vehicle on a path toward greater reliability, lower ownership costs, and fewer unexpected breakdowns.
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"start with a full evaluation that's the starting point book your car in with Joe the technician ... so again as I mentioned you know need to I know I need to drop 15 20 pounds"
A “full evaluation” is a thorough check of your car to figure out what’s in good shape and what needs attention. The idea is to start with facts so you can plan repairs instead of guessing.
A “full evaluation” here means a comprehensive inspection of the vehicle’s current condition to identify what’s good, bad, and urgent. The host treats it as the foundation for building a realistic maintenance/repair plan so you can keep the car longer and avoid surprises.
"number two now we need to create a list of services repairs and maintenance so everything is going to go on that list okay so from the evaluation we're going to create a list of all the services repairs and maintenance those are three separate things"
They want you to write down everything your car needs, broken into routine upkeep and actual fixes. That way you can plan what to do first and avoid spending money on the wrong things at the wrong time.
The host’s “list of services, repairs and maintenance” is a prioritized action plan derived from the evaluation. They explicitly separate maintenance (routine upkeep) from repairs (fixing problems) and “services” (other scheduled work), so the owner can budget and tackle items in the right order.
"number three we're going to make do what I call list finesse so now and this is what I do if I purchase a vehicle and I'm going to go through it for somebody"
“List finesse” is their method for refining your to-do list for the car—figuring out what really matters and what can wait. It’s meant to help you decide if the car is still worth keeping.
“List finesse” is the host’s name for the next step after making the service/repair/maintenance list—using it to decide what to do, what to delay, and whether the vehicle is worth keeping. It’s presented as a practical decision-making workflow based on the car’s condition and likely future costs.
"so I hope to see you there you'll be able to come and see the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser Sun Fusion Yellow it's going to be 20 years old next month"
This is a 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser, a rugged SUV that’s built to handle rough roads. “Sun Fusion Yellow” is the car’s paint color, which can be important if you need repairs so the car looks right afterward.
The Toyota FJ Cruiser (2007) is a retro-styled off-road SUV known for its rugged body-on-frame construction and classic “FJ” design cues. The “Sun Fusion Yellow” part is a specific exterior color, which matters for matching paint and sourcing correct touch-up materials when you’re planning repairs and maintenance.
Term
in front
"don't push that off to the side we want to get that out in front again and we want to have how much is that the distant service repairs and maintenance going to be"
They’re saying don’t wait until the problem is right in front of you. Plan ahead for future repairs so you can budget and avoid expensive surprises.
In this context, “getting it in front” means planning future repairs and maintenance early instead of waiting until problems become urgent. That planning helps you budget and prevents small issues from turning into bigger, more expensive work.
Concept
roadmap
"plan for it and get it on the roadmap because this is the part you're really going to like"
A “roadmap” is just a plan for what repairs and maintenance you’ll need later. It helps you budget instead of getting hit with surprise bills.
A “roadmap” here means a planned schedule of upcoming maintenance and repairs. Treating maintenance like a timeline helps you avoid last-minute spending and keeps the car from slipping into deferred maintenance.
"you're still going to have to even if when you're paying interest and principal and it's out of warranty the wear and tear stuff is still yours"
Being “in warranty” means repairs may be paid for under the car’s coverage rules. After the warranty ends, you usually have to pay for more repairs yourself.
“In warranty” refers to the period when the manufacturer (or seller) covers certain repairs under the warranty terms. Once you’re out of warranty, you’re typically responsible for more wear-and-tear repairs and maintenance costs.
"it's out of warranty the wear and tear stuff is still yours anywhere anyway so you're still going to have to do repairs and maintenance"
“Wear and tear” describes parts and systems that naturally degrade with use over time, like many suspension, braking, and other consumable components. For long-term ownership, budgeting for wear-and-tear items is key because they’re generally not covered once you’re out of warranty.
"home with the trailer and I smelt gear oil at the one axle I'm going I sniff a seal starting to leak"
Gear oil is the special oil used inside the drivetrain (like the differential/axle) to keep gears from wearing out. If you smell it, it can be a sign something is leaking.
Gear oil is the lubricant used in differentials and other driveline components. It’s thicker than engine oil and is designed to handle high loads and sliding contact inside the axle.
"well I've got it backed in the shop I got to do a rear brake service and they're looking real good"
A rear brake service means checking and fixing the brakes on the back wheels. It’s the kind of work you do to make sure the car is safe before you drive it again.
A rear brake service is maintenance focused on the rear braking system—typically inspecting and servicing components like brake pads/shoes, calipers/wheel cylinders, and related hardware. It’s mentioned here because the vehicle is being prepared for use while a leak is addressed.
"my diagnoses I've got to do an axle seal but we need to use it for the weekend so I'll do a service"
An axle seal is a rubber/metal seal that stops oil from leaking where the axle connects. If it starts leaking, you’ll usually notice oil around that wheel area and you’ll need to replace the seal.
An axle seal is the seal that keeps gear oil from leaking out around a vehicle’s axle assembly. When it fails, you often smell or see gear oil near the axle/hub area, and the fix is replacing the seal.
"number four now create a budget to start with the stuff now and then the list and pricing for near future repair service and maintenance"
Creating a budget means estimating what repairs will cost and when you’ll need to do them. It helps you plan ahead instead of paying for sudden breakdowns.
Creating a budget here means assigning costs to repairs and maintenance in time buckets (now, near future, distant future). That helps spread spending out and avoid emergency repairs that are usually more expensive.
"...cing on what it took to uh to put that 97 Jeep TJ Wrangler back together it's I'm just waiting for some some..."
The Jeep Wrangler is a type of SUV built for off-road driving. A 1997 Wrangler TJ is an older version, and the podcast is talking about putting one back together after repairs. That usually means fixing parts so the truck can work properly again.
The Jeep Wrangler is a rugged, off-road-focused SUV known for its simple, durable design and strong aftermarket support. In the context of rebuilding a 1997 Wrangler TJ, the discussion likely centers on restoring the vehicle’s core components so it can run reliably again. It’s a common topic because Wranglers are often kept for a long time and frequently repaired or upgraded by owners.
"and you can see all that on the youtube channel was so badly blown up because of the cooling system
[2537.0s] neglect even my rebuilder said dial he says even at cost he goes"
They’re saying the Jeep’s cooling system wasn’t taken care of. If an engine runs too hot for too long, it can get badly damaged, and that’s what led to the engine failure they’re describing.
“Cooling system neglect” means the vehicle’s engine-cooling components weren’t maintained (like coolant level, hoses, radiator condition, or the fan/thermostat). When that happens, the engine can overheat and suffer severe internal damage—exactly the kind of failure described here as the engine being “exploded beyond repair.”
"you've got to watch the videos on that because those are going to be what we call uh evergreen
[2560.0s] videos that will be up on our youtube channel for decades to come"
“Evergreen videos” are videos that keep being useful long after they’re posted. They’re calling their rebuild series evergreen because people can learn from it for years.
“Evergreen videos” are content that stays relevant and useful over a long period, rather than being tied to a short-lived news moment. Here, the host frames the rebuild series as evergreen because it documents a repeatable repair-and-restoration learning process.
"but it has to have that bracket put on the control arm and custom exhaust and then it's
[2589.2s] it's ready to go down the road everything works everything"
The control arm is part of the suspension that helps hold the wheel in the right position. They had to add a bracket to it so the suspension would be set up correctly before the vehicle could drive.
A control arm is a suspension link that connects the wheel to the vehicle’s chassis and helps control wheel movement and alignment. In this story, they mention installing a bracket on the control arm, which implies suspension geometry or fitment needed to be corrected before the Jeep could be driven safely.
"but it has to have that bracket put on the control arm and custom exhaust and then it's
[2589.2s] it's ready to go down the road everything works everything"
Custom exhaust means the exhaust pipes were made or modified to fit that specific Jeep. They did it so the car could be finished and drive properly.
A custom exhaust is an aftermarket exhaust system built or modified to fit a specific vehicle and/or desired sound/flow characteristics. In a restoration context, it often means the original exhaust was damaged or missing, and the builder fabricated a replacement that clears the chassis and works with the engine.
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Good morning Niagara! You're tuned to Car Connection where the coffee's hot
tools are ready. Talk is always tuned up. I'm your host Nile MotorMouth Jenkins
coming to you straight from the Car Connection workshop where we mix a
little humor, a little know-how, and a whole lot of horsepower. Here it's not
just about fixing cars, it's about keeping you rolling and saving you money,
giving you the confidence to understand what's under that hood. From the
classics to the commuters, the weird noises, and those what the heck moments
we've got you covered. So grab your coffee, sit back, join the crew because
this is Car Connection, your Monday through Saturday morning pit stop. For
stories, smarts, few good laughs, I'm Nile MotorMouth Jenkins and we are
shifting into drive this morning with the MotorMouth's Morning Drive 8 a.m. Monday
through Saturday. We have Q&A coming up. That's question and answer program. That's
a one-hour program on Saturday mornings and I answer your questions. So here's
how it works. We get this out there right away because we're on Thursday. Yeah,
the weekend is in sight. Absolutely. So hang in there. We're on the downward
slide. You have to have your questions in by noon on Friday. MotorMouth.jankins
at gmail.com. So we're like, we're getting close. So if you have a question, put it
forward. We put you in the pile and I sift through them myself. I select three
of the best, what I think are three of the best that would help a lot of people.
And so don't be shy. You can, you know, give yourselves some kind of different
name if you don't want me to know that. It's okay. I'm not gonna mention names
other than a first name. I usually say question one, question two, question three.
Who it's brought to us by. So I can have a reference. So by noon on Fridays, that's
the cutoff. So if you don't get your questions in by then, I will set them
aside for the following week. So Fun Friday, that's tomorrow. Q&A Saturday.
We've got to have our morning swiggy together. So if you're just scooting
through the drive through, get your order, double check it, flip, double check it to
join us in just a couple of minutes here for our morning swiggy. And let's
welcome those who are brand new to our car connection workshop podcast, the
motormouth morning drive here for you Monday through Saturday. All the
podcasts can be found on all the platforms. So the Biggies, Spotify, Apple,
Amazon, Podbean, all the platforms where you pull your podcast from just search
car connection workshop. You'll find us there. Also all our podcasts populate
over to our YouTube channel. So the homepage of our website at carconnectionbusinessnetwork.com.
I know that's a lot. CCBUSisnsamnet.com. Everything is on our homepage. If you'd
like to follow the build, the repair work we do and connect with our program
partners, everything is there for you. Just click on their logo and their
profile page will open. And we need our program partners just as much as we need
you to help support us. So be sure to like, subscribe, follow, share, ring the
notification bell so you don't miss any automotive tips whatsoever. We are on
Facebook, Instagram, Stevensville on the web. We are listed as automotive experts
there. Thank you to our videographers Skippy put that site together. She lives in
Stevensville. My parents live in Stevensville. There's a lot of people in
Stevensville and a lot of amazing family owned and operated businesses. So you get
a chance to go there. That's where you'll find the big draw Safari Niagara. So if
you haven't gotten tickets to take the grandkids or the kids there, that's a
great outing. So check it out. Check it out. No, they don't pay for the for a
commercial spot here, but that is the really big draw in Stevensville is the
Safari Niagara and they do have seasons tickets available for you. So you'll want
to go back more than once to Stevensville. My favorite eatery in Stevensville all
time for many years, Scuttlebutts. So if you get a chance to try that out, make
sure you say hi to Christie and the team there, they really work their tails off
to bring you a great menu. And I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal
there whatsoever. Not at all had lots of laughs, but not a bad meal. So a little
plug for them. Our I heart icon is also in the top right hand corner of our
homepage and our online store. So we've been getting asked a lot. Do you have
merch? Yes, we do. It's all put together by Freedom Expressions. Our store and
they've done a great job of it. They create all those products on the Total
Freedom Addiction Campus in Darien Center, New York. So whatever you order, you
order it, they make it, they ship it directly to you and all the proceeds.
Skippy and I have a passion to help those who are suffering with addiction. So
that's where one of the campuses where new lives are created. So every dollar
you spend in our store goes directly back to Total Freedom Addiction
campuses, Canada and US. So say hi to Rick and Robin, the facilitators out in
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doing a bang up job out there as well. So just reminder that when you grab some
motormouth merch, you're standing with Skippy and I and the crew to help get
those who have decided today's the day to deal with the addiction once and for
all and say goodbye to it. Let's change a life one at a time. How about it? All
right, let's jump in this morning. You should have your morning beverage all
lined up, whatever that is. And we have to make sure that we say thank you to our
program partners because why? Without them, there wouldn't be a podcast. It's
that simple. It really is just that simple. So thank you to City Auto Sales
and Leasing with Earl and Louise Grant. Great couple. If you were someone you
know is looking for a pre-owned automobile, they don't need to go
anywhere else. They can buy with confidence and be treated with nothing
but honesty and integrity. Earl and Louise are car guys for over 20. I think
they've been in business now 25 years. They've got the resources to find that
vehicle you're looking for if they don't have it. And Earl doesn't drag any junk
back to their dealership. He does not. Just check them out online. You'll see the
vehicles. They have a bunch of them inside the dealership and outside. They're
spotless. They look like brand new. So low mileage quality vehicles at fair prices.
Let's say thank you to Earl and Louise Grant for bringing us our morning
swiggy together. We count it down on 321 and let's go. 32
one. Oh yeah, I'm up for that this morning. Absolutely. And I'll tell you, I am
Jonesen for a coffee right now. Really. Seriously.
Coffee after the show has something to do with your metabolism. Don't drink coffee
for an hour after you wake up. Yeah, seems to work. So I'm just gonna hang in
there with that. Also, let's jump in and let's see what we got for whether it's
been good this week. So I'm really encouraged that we're gonna get the
30 day fuel savings challenge, but I don't see any emails yet. No, I don't see
anyone poking the bear and saying I'm up for the 30 day fuel savings challenge. I
want to save $100 a month. We could really use that in our household. So when I
don't see any emails saying I want, I would like to really try to get that
$100 a month back in my bank account, I'm almost assuming that oh, nobody
really needs to save any money or make any money. Would I be safe to assume that?
Do you think? MotorMouth.jankins at gmail.com or Nile at ccbusnet.com and I
always put all that information, our online store. We now have a donation
page on buymeacoffee.com forward slash motormouth Nile Nile E. So if you want to
donate to or any of our programs and help us support it until we get
monetized, we're working there. We busted 400 subscribers this week. So I know a
lot of you are watching the videos and enjoying the podcast because I can see
where you're from and where you're to, but not everybody's subscribed. We're at
about 87%. We're up from 93%, but you know what that means for us? If that other
87% subscribed to our YouTube channel, Skippy would probably have a puppy and
her long-time puppy just passed away last week. So sad day for Skippy. We took
Monday off for that and I give her a bit of a rest as well. You know, you got to
wrap your head around that stuff. If you're not a pet parent, you don't get it.
So yeah, you can help us out with that. So if you want to donate, I put that
information in there and it's safely done. I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize
anyone. So it is solid. It's absolutely solid because they have our banking
information and everything so that the donations get directly deposited to car
connection. So thank you for that ahead of time. So help us out. Make sure you're
subscribed. Let's push us to a thousand, okay? We're on our way to 500. We got our
hours in and we need to get to the thousand and then the algorithm to go,
yeah, this guy's solid. Yeah, let's send them some to change and that will make a
huge difference for us folks here in the car connection workshop because we want
to be able to do and provide so much more, but the funds are very limited. If it
weren't for the four sponsors that came with us from radio, City Auto Sales,
Niagara Block, Kathy and Dave and Dan Grimo and Tony Mealy and Larry Tietro. If
it weren't for them, we would not have been able to pull this off. It's that
simple. So it's so important that we don't forget where we've been, where we've
come from and where we're going. So anything you can do to help us,
Skippy and I are so, so grateful. So thank you so much for all that you could do.
So it's a little thing. Subscribe, like, share, leave a comment. I see comments
coming in now, which is fantastic. The algorithms watch for that. And I mean,
we're working 80 plus hours a week to bring three videos every single week,
podcasts six days a week. We're in this for you. I want to see you win. Have an
automobile and not be upside down sideways in debt. You don't have to be.
And I've got five more things. So I've come up with this category, a series of
giving you the five things. And today's title of our podcast is How Can I Keep
It? That's the biggest question that I've been hearing the last while is,
yeah, I've got an older vehicle, but how do I keep this thing? So I've come up
with a five step pattern that makes it so easy for you to get started. You ever
notice, you know, you're a blob. Me too. I'm losing the weight now. I put, you know,
over the winter, you tend to put on about 15% because, you know, you're eating
bonbons and I don't sit still, but still my body type is like, I look at a donut,
I gained eight and a half pounds. I mean, but I'll eat it anyway. I might as well
because I got to work it off. So, you know, this is the time of year where you
go, Oh man, I got it's already June. The beach is coming. And I look like a blob.
Well, then you got to come up with a game plan. But you know, the hardest part is,
is it only me getting started? Like I got an M five, a max five trainer downstairs,
and I love the thing. But you know what? I just, I can't get myself back on it.
Even it's only two 20 minute deals twice a week. That's all you need cardio to two
20 minute stints twice a week. However, you want to get it. Is it just me? You got
to get out of the gate, right? You got to get, you got to get started. So that's
what I'm going to help you with over the next little bit is the five step patterns
that will get you started. And once you're off and running and you see, start to see
results, you'll be encouraged and I will be your biggest cheerleader. Okay, send me
an email anytime. And my email, I put email in the description so you can follow along.
We can stay connected because that's the whole deal. That's the lane I've been
carving out for 32 years now talking to you out there. But now we're talking to
millions of people, not just circles like radio, you may have this circle and then
you're going to possibly people in this circle. No, we're going global like this
is 360 all the way around the earth's crust. So we're reaching more and more
people. I'm in your corner. And that's what it's all about keeping an eye what's
going on in the in the automotive industry and bringing that news to the
table. I'm not here to browbeat anybody or beat anybody up. But you know, people
make mistakes, companies make some really big ones. And you know what? As you sew,
so shall you reap. And that's what's happening with some of the car manufacturers
right now. They know what they done. And now they're seeing the results of the
things that they've asked the engineers to create. And now they're swimming in
their own cesspool. But the big deal is that you, the consumer average Joe doesn't
get caught up in their profitability nightmare because they've put profitability
ahead of providing the consumer with the best possible product on the market. So
now they're going to lose market share. That's where it really hurts for them.
You know, and I remember a musician, I've been a musician since I was 13 is, you
know, being backstage and you're nervous and you're waiting to go out and do your
gig. And this old fella, he said to me, never lose that you're pacing. He goes,
that's good. I go, why is that? I said, I feel like I'm going to wet my pants. He
goes, that's really good. Don't ever lose that because that's your edge. I said, I
just want to make sure that we give the audience not our best, but better than
best. He goes, you need to keep that in your heart to give the people that have
paid to come and see you. Give them not your best, but your best times your best
plus your best always. And that's where the car manufacturers have really slipped
up because I look at Mr. Green jeans and I had a friend in here the other day said,
wow, what do you got up there? And I go, that's Mr. Green jeans. Can I peak? So I
climbed up and lift the cover up. Oh my gosh, that's so nice. I go, yeah, it's still
here 1967. Would you say that's pretty decent product line? You can cop in Mr.
Green jeans. It's not going to be a, you know, a luxury ride to Florida, but you
could get to Florida and back without an issue. Positively. So I look at that and
I go, those were the days and I've heard some of the old timers that I hang out
with. Those are the days when they built stuff. That's what I hear. So anyways,
that's for another discussion, but I just thought I'd share that is that's the
reason behind what I do. People ask me, well, why do you, if you're not making
any money, why do you do that? I do it for you. I do it for those that say I need
some help here and I don't know what to do. Owning a car is stressing me right
out beyond, beyond therapy. Well, let's see if we can't help you out some this
morning. So the daily weather, we're at Thursday. It's looking good today. It's
really good looking good. Oh, you want me to tell you sunny conditions expected
around 6am wind gusts up to 13k. Let's go into a little further depth this
morning. See if we've got any pre sip on the radar. Nope, we're good. We're
clean. It's a zero 51 degrees right now. Cloudy wind is making it feel cooler
about 49 degrees sunny conditions from 6am to 10am with partly cloudy
conditions expected around 1pm today. Today's temperature range is going to
be 51 to 74 and it's going to feel more like with that 13k wind 47 to 70.
That's perfect for me today. I gotta go get some grunt work done out. I'm
heading out to the wood pile. Got about 35 humongous logs to split. Yeah, I'm
working on again a plan. The plan that we've been using because heat the
homestead with wood and I have full access to lots of wood and we have lots
of wood. It's a blessing. I'm not complaining. It's a blessing, but it
takes effort and you've got, you know, the plan that we've always had was, you
know, we get all the wood in by, you know, end of September, October and then
the weather can change on you and it did again in late 25 and it put us way off.
So we didn't have, we ran out of wood like the end of towards
March. So we needed quite a bit more in the pile to make it. So this year I said
we got to come up with another game plan. I don't want to be cutting wood in July.
It's bad for machinery. Heat is the enemy of all machinery. So anyways, long story
short, the game plan is get it in now while the temperatures are reasonable.
The humidity is not there. The machines don't overheat and wear out. So you got
to rebuy them or rebuild them and we can get it done long before the really hot
weather gets here. So let's jump into this morning's topic and thank you to
our financial planner, certified financial planning professionals Tony Mielli and
Larry Tietro combined. They have 50 years experience and folks, the reason I'm
mentioning them right now is a lot of people are hurting with finances and I
was just yesterday working at the kitchen sink, putting my lunch together, came
down from the studio and it takes a lot of time to edit and create and do all
that to put videos up and even the podcast because there's a lot of material
that has to be covered that's not. It has to go in as you upload. So it's quite
a commitment. It's not a hobby. It's a commitment. These guys have helped me so
many times over 20 years that I've known them. No matter what your
circumstances are and I'm just going to quickly share this. This one particular
year found myself $11,000 in debt on my credit card and it was kind of it turned
into a panic situation that got out of control that need not have. If I'd
known Tony Mielli or Larry Tietro at that time this would not have happened. So I
had eight years left to go on a mortgage on a home that I had in Fisherville
Ontario. I had a nice little workshop there, a private workshop where I could
work on my own stuff and we're out in the country. Had eight years left on the
mortgage. Hold on to that. Told a financial planner that I was working with. I
had this $11,000 on my credit card and it was driving me crazy. Okay, you need to
go and see this guy. So we went to see out in the Brantford area a certified
general accountant and he goes now you need to go and see this lady at this
place. So go there and an hour later find myself. My credit cards got shredded
and my RSP got enveloped and I had no credit rating instantly and I was she
goes you're in bankruptcy now. I go pardon? She goes yeah I'll take care of
the creditors. But here's your bankruptcy payment every month was $632. So why
I remembered this yesterday making some lunch for somebody who's listening this
morning that's what I think. So anyways fast forward this lady puts us into
bankruptcy when I had eight years left on my mortgage and I talked to my bank
manager afterwards and she goes no we could have ghosted that. That would
have been gone. You like got great equity. We just flushed that away. She did what?
And I go well here's what happened. Went to this certified financial planner told
me to go here and went over to the accountant's office. The accountant sends
us to a bankruptcy attorney for $11,000. We walk out of there my RSP at that
time your investments weren't weren't protected gone. Gone. I had zero and I
still had to pay $632 into the bankruptcy every month for a whole year and that
year I got a $3,000 Christmas bonus and you if you make any additional money
you're only allowed to keep enough money to eat and keep the lights on the water
running. I had to fork it over. I got $200 out of it. So I say all that for
somebody this morning if you are in that position where you think you're going
down the drain you get with Tony Miele and Larry Tito and you hook up and get
that hour and a coffee discovery meeting whether it's issues with
investments debt estate planning your mortgage life insurance critical
illness insurance please folks do not hesitate. That lady knew exactly what she
was doing and the other people did not know what they were doing and didn't
even investigate anything and the bank manager said now we would have taken
care of that in about 10 minutes. See what happens when you don't go to the
right people so big plug for the guys because they know what to do put your
wallet away put your purse away ladies go get that one hour and a coffee
discovery meeting get that set up today and do not hesitate because that's what
happens and that's why I know. Alright let's kick into high gear now. I just
felt I needed to share that for somebody because I haven't thought about that for
decades and yesterday like I said I'm making lunch it popped into my head
and it was like I'm I stood there and I remember I was like in a trance I go on
yeah I like really remember that right now yeah it was awful that stays that
stays with you seven years yeah seven years. Alright number one this is your
five-step pattern this is how you're going to be able to keep that vehicle that
older vehicle long term mileage does not matter maintenance matters so whether
it's three years old and you own it and there's no warranty guess what you're
going to have to if you want to keep it you're going to have to maintain it
mileage doesn't mean anything it just tells you when your next oil changes
and that's the whole idea behind our maintenance schedule there's a whole
profile page on our maintenance fleet maintenance schedule is up on our
website and you can get an order form there get them while I have them because
I remember the one year we sent probably a thousand of those around the world
and I still hear from people going I still have my car connection maintenance
schedule I love that thing so there's special pricing if you're subscribed I'm
just saying but it's all available to you on our website start with a full
evaluation that's the starting point book your car in with Joe the technician
and you tell him I want to know the absolute condition of my vehicle I need
to know the good the bad and the ugly okay that's how you're getting started
so again as I mentioned you know need to I know I need to drop 15
20 pounds I've dropped a probably about six right now
pants are fitting better all the way around that's good that's good yeah and it's tough
getting started so I'm getting you started today this is how you're gonna keep your vehicle long
term and see if you can catch up to me with 400,000 kilometers all right I'm just on the
back door of that and the Honda the rocket is at 319, 1999 so start with a full evaluation
that is our foundation of getting you started on the right foot to take care of this vehicle
long term number two now we need to create a list of services repairs and maintenance so
everything is going to go on that list okay so from the evaluation we're going to create a list
of all the services repairs and maintenance those are three separate things now we're
number three step number three we're going to make do what I call list finesse
so now and this is what I do if I purchase a vehicle and I'm going to go through it for somebody
this is exactly what I do to be able to determine where it's at Spanky and is it worth keeping and
that's what we did for my friend in Watertown last summer on her mother's vehicle her parents vehicle
which is now my vehicle it was gonna if that thing had sat six more months it would have gone to the
junkyard and I just couldn't see that happen so I rescued it and I think I'm very thankful for it
because that we did it because the thing's amazing on fuel so I did the same thing with that vehicle
it had sat almost 11 months never been used is this exact pattern that I'm teaching you right now
start with a full evaluation create a list of services repairs and maintenance finesse the list
into things that need to be done now the near future and the distant future so distant future
stuff we don't just go later you know I'll just leave it for now because you know that never
happens right I'll just I'll just put this there for now then somebody else put something else there
I'm just going to put this there for now before you know it you got a pile of four nows so we
don't want to do that so we want to now list finesse and create the the services repairs
and maintenance that are needed now near future and the distant future now we kick over to step
number four now we create a budget to get started so where do we start we start with the now list
the stuff that can't wait it needs to be done now before it goes from that 200 dollar
repair to a 5000 dollar repair this is where the rubber meets the road is we need to take
a look at okay how much is the now stuff and can you spare the dollar bills to take care of the
stuff that needs to be done now and the reason I say that is if we get the emergency stuff that
needs to be done now then it's not going to escalate into what more money got it so we want to cut it
off right now before it gets to the next level costing you more money by putting it off so we
want to hit the now list and then get that taken care of but plan for the near future list right
away start getting get it in your crosshatch and on your radar and your compass to know what that
list looks like as well and the cost that comes with it so there's no surprises here it'll be a
stepping stone to get you there and at the end of the day wait for it number five is very important
that you plan another appointment for the near future services repairs and maintenance you don't
push it off to the just well for now I'll put it here for now because that's not going to get taken
care of and then it's your vehicle is going to slide backwards we're moving it forwards so that you
can win and how do I know I do it all the time come and look at the vehicles you know we're
going to have the FJ at the this week first fundraising event for the community is in Stevensville
Saturday June the 6th I'll be there from 10 to 4 they put me in the dunk tank I got my I've got my
gear already so you know I don't drown or anything I've got a plan for that except I don't have a
plan for how cold the firefighters make the dunk tank if you know what I'm saying I think there's
a little bit of camaraderie going on there we're going to make this guy turn into a giant goose
pimple so that's 10 10 to 4 on Saturday this coming Saturday that's at Memorial Hall downtown
Stevensville Ontario Canada come and visit I'll tell you they have so much stuff going on the
music is fantastic food vendors silent auction pancake breakfast early in the morning it's amazing
it's an amazing day for everyone so I hope to see you there you'll be able to come and see
the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser Sun Fusion Yellow it's going to be 20 years old next month
so plan the appointment for the near future repairs along with the estimade the price on
what it's going to take to to to knock all those near future repairs services and maintenance is out
and then what do you do next now you've got some distant future stuff that's up and coming
don't push that off to the side we want to get that out in front again and we want to have how
much is that the distant service repairs and maintenance going to be and plan for it and get
it on the roadmap because this is the part you're really going to like now you are on your way
to saving money by not making stupid vehicle payments with interest and principal and you're
still going to have to even if when you're paying interest and principal and it's out of warranty
the wear and tear stuff is still yours anywhere anyway so you're still going to have to do repairs
and maintenance on top of the making the car payment the interest and the principal and repairs
because if you don't repair it you're still making the payments and if there's nothing left to salvage
when you're finished the payments and this is where I've seen it over and again
it's definitely the definition of insanity is you'll get another car and you'll do exactly the
same pattern 100% every time because it takes 21 days to make or break a habit and that habit
I'll tell you right now you'll be trading time and money for the rest of your life but the
five-step pattern I just gave you if you own that vehicle is going to get you down the road
with money in your pocket because you have a vehicle you're not going out there killing yourself
trading time for money for a stupid car well not that stupid I think we're stupid for owning them
sometimes yeah because I just found another repair that has to be done on the FJ but I kind of
in the back of my mind one day I'm walking past the FJ and I just brought a load of heavy hardwood
home with the trailer and I smelt gear oil at the one axle I'm going I sniff a seal starting to leak
well I've got it backed in the shop I got to do a rear brake service and they're looking real good
and I've got an oil leak on the right rear so guess what the I was unfortunately I was correct in
my diagnoses I've got to do an axle seal but we need to use it for the weekend so I'll do a service
on the one side and prepare to change the seal next week on the right side at the back it's a
little bit of a gruesome thing it's like four hours return and maybe if we have time we'll shoot
it as a video if not I got to get this vehicle going because the trailer needs to get busy
I've made some promises that I got to keep so you follow one through five start with a full
evaluation create a list of services repairs and maintenance list list finesse of those
repairs service and maintenance items that are needed now near future distant future number four
now create a budget to start with the stuff now and then the list and pricing for near future
repair service and maintenance and then the distant future service repairs and maintenance
and number five now and create number four now create the budget to navigate your way through
those service repairs and maintenance items and number five plan your appointment for the next
group of service repairs and maintenance items now you're on your way to saving money by not
making vehicle payments plus repairs and on top of it all my friends you win you will win and I
know you can do it this is a five-step pattern that I use when I somebody brings me a vehicle or
I'm looking at one that I can buy super cheap and fix it up and sell it off to somebody
because you know what there's families out there that really need vehicles under 5000
dollars and I used to be able to pluck one here and there to help somebody out and we could bring
it into the shop and clean it up fix it up and shoot some videos and then sell it off for cost
it's it's almost impossible to do up here like south of the border I watch a young
young chap on YouTube's his channel is called car questions and I came across him a couple of years
back he runs a car lot he usually has about 80 vehicles there all under 5000
dollars and I'm like I'm glued to his channel a little bit because he talks about what's going
on in the sales part of things and dealers are hurting so they're flogging their used cars to try
and create some money because when you go buy a car dealership and you see all lines up the
lines of cars they're all bankrolled they're paying the bank the bank has bought them they're paying
one percent interest on all those vehicles sitting there every day that's right one percent every day
so if a vehicle doesn't sell it's one percent today tomorrow that's what they
pay the bank so they got a lot of vehicles sitting around so they're throwing their used cars to the
auction to generate some money because they got to pay the bank to have that platform of vehicles
that's how it works that's the math so but here I don't see anything and I got a friend here in
town has a small car lot he has nothing under five grand you can get into a decent pickup truck for
around 19 rust freeze bring them in from out west and that's helping out a lot of people because
you get a rust free pickup truck for uh 20 000 yeah take a look at them they're 72 000 and up
that's crazy money folks I'm buying some earth you know what I'm saying terra firma before I spend
that kind of money I can pull anything out of the you pull it yard and flip that thing around under
five grand I can tell you that right now wait till you see the pricing on what it took to uh to put
that 97 Jeep TJ Wrangler back together it's I'm just waiting for some some uh shackles to come in I
need to have a bracket welded on the front axle and it needs to be done it needs to be cut off with
a plasma cutter we don't have that here and it needs custom exhaust then then that I put all the
and do a little bit of body work to the floor weld a couple of small panels in and put all the
interior in and that thing is down the road and I can tell you it'd be down the road for the next
10 years without issue just regular maintenance wait till you see the price tag even some of my
friends are going I watch on your videos you must be putting a ton of money into that thing I said
I said I think I'm going to make it a contest and I close with this today I'll open it up
once I know exactly what it's cost to finish it completely because I got to buy a couple of body
panels to fix up the floor properly and I can weld those in myself without an issue but I don't
like welding inside the shop so I've waited to be able to do it outside so the nice weather's here
we can get that done but I need the the dollars to finish it off but at the end of the day I'm
going to let all of you and all the videos on that that was the first project we did when we started
our youtube channel and you can follow the whole process of going through and creating that list
and working through the list what's needed now near future and distant future all the service
repairs and maintenance that was required to put that Jeep back together and save it from the crusher
I'm going to let all of you have an opportunity to throw a number at what that cost but I will
share this much you're all going to be shocked and awed you really are that what it costs including
every nut and bolt I've gotten all written down because I wanted to what we wanted to originally
accomplish was bringing that back to life in 30 days we almost did it till we discovered
the what put it in the wrecking yard in its final destination to the crusher was the motor was
exploded beyond repair so and I couldn't find one so we just sat my buddies that are Jeepsters
said just sit tight somebody will have one somewhere because this engine was so blown up
and you can see all that on the youtube channel was so badly blown up because of the cooling system
neglect even my rebuilder said dial he says even at cost he goes I he said it's it would be dumb
wait it out find one so we waited six months and found one through the chain you got out you've
you've got to watch the videos on that because those are going to be what we call uh evergreen
videos that will be up on our youtube channel for decades to come and that's a learning experience
taking something from nothing and turning it back into something so we got it for nothing
and we've turned it into something I move it around almost every day hop in fire it up move it around
but it has to have that bracket put on the control arm and custom exhaust and then it's
it's ready to go down the road everything works everything so till tomorrow remember questions
in by noon motormouth dot jankins at gmail.com I only have time on a saturday q and a to cover
three questions and that's our one hour together on saturday morning so make it a great thursday
thanks for hanging out with me I really appreciate that and appreciate that you're supporting our
program partners because without them we simply would not be here thank you
for all of your support your comments liking subscribing buying some more merch in our youtube
in our online store and watching our youtube videos we'll see you tomorrow morning for another
motormouth morning drive it's fun friday tomorrow so um let's have some fun tomorrow
and have a few laughs happy healthy motoring to each and every one of you
peace patience and kindness always and we'll see you in the next one bye for now
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