Knowing a vehicle and how it works has always been my plan. My two trucks, an 88' 4runner and my 93' f350 are by no means pretty vehicles to look at, but they have never stranded me. I can fix most anything on them aside from a major breakage and even then they both seem to be able to limp home when something has happened. I think a lot of that has to do with lack of electronics and computers. They are also bone stock with crank windows and manual transmissions. Even if i had a bigger budget for a new vehicle I would stick with what I have that has been tried and true and very well tested. The 7.3 IDI in my ford that carries the Grandby is by no means a super powerful modern diesel, but then again I don't need 400 HP and heated seats to go camping with my family. My priorities are reliability and a vehicle to deliver us to a new place to explore. (and gets 17 mpg hwy to boot)...
We decided to a huge leap into modern vehicles a couple years ago and purchased a low mileage 08' outback for our daily driver. We bought it based on reviews of reliability and how the wagon was layed out for a family. So far with religious maintainence done with the basic tools that have kept my other two trucks running for over 20 years of ownership, the subaru has been in the shop 4 times with problems that have even stumped the mechanics for extended periods. What this translates to me is that I can't really trust the thing let alone fix it on my own. Therefore it ends up sitting in the driveway more often than not while the old 4runner happily goes on a two week trip creeping up on 300k miles on the odometer. I guess it all boils down to finding a good vehicle and what you're willing to spend on it. My 2 cents
We decided to a huge leap into modern vehicles a couple years ago and purchased a low mileage 08' outback for our daily driver. We bought it based on reviews of reliability and how the wagon was layed out for a family. So far with religious maintainence done with the basic tools that have kept my other two trucks running for over 20 years of ownership, the subaru has been in the shop 4 times with problems that have even stumped the mechanics for extended periods. What this translates to me is that I can't really trust the thing let alone fix it on my own. Therefore it ends up sitting in the driveway more often than not while the old 4runner happily goes on a two week trip creeping up on 300k miles on the odometer. I guess it all boils down to finding a good vehicle and what you're willing to spend on it. My 2 cents