Unbiased Opinions on Possible Vehicle Decision

[Diamondpilot]

I thought you said you have only had the 1 major issue with a chevy blazer and everything else has run flawless, including your fords? LOL

Nothing major with any of them but it added up. Window regulators, ball joints, caddy converter, tie rods, rack and pinion, batteries, sun roof rebuild, neutral safety switch, ect.

They were both GM's....

 

[two_bit_score]

We tried to buy a car back that was totaled, virtually no damage. No insurance company I called would touch it. The VIN was flagged as salvaged and they simply didn't want the liability.

A vehicle with a "salvage" title would indicate that it's still in the wrecked or totaled condition. A vehicle with a brand of "Rebuilt Salvage" is completely different and in most states is insurable and routinely used on the roads by many people.

Properly rebuilding insurance company salvaged vehicles for sale to the public is a pretty thriving business.


TBS

 

[handirifle]

I used to think this also but the reality is Avis will deliver a car to my home or office for $135 per week.

I agree with this. A beater will beat 2 ways, your time and your money. If something breaks you have to fix it, or else no sense in having it in the first place. The OP's choice of a Taco for a third vehicle is a good one, BUT to replace the Ford with an OLDER Taco isn't not a good idea, in my opinion. Sell the Ford and get a Tacoma with the 22K. It will outlast the Ford (OR GM OR Dodge) by a lot of years.

I bought a 2006 Tundra new and that truck NEVER had to go back to the dealer, in the 8 years I owned it. I only got rid of it to get a GMC diesel to tow with. Solid, reliable, well built and RELIABLE. Drive it sensibly on the rough roads and you are set for many years. You could easily get a first gen Tundra (get an '06, it was the year of most improvements) and still tow up to 7,000lbs if desired, that's if you just HAVE to get rid of the "good deal Ford".

 

[RickB]

A vehicle with a "salvage" title would indicate that it's still in the wrecked or totaled condition. A vehicle with a brand of "Rebuilt Salvage" is completely different


TBS

The number and types of vehicle titles will vary from state to state.

 

[MF283]

As the other's stated, save & buy a beater would be your best bet. My 05 Dodge Hemi transfer case decided to let go 3 years ago on the Interstate, taking out the complete drive line from front to rear. With 285,000 miles on it, still ran as good as the day i bought it with regular maintenance until that dreaded evening. Trying to find all the part's to replace was more expensive than i was willing to spend, so "as is" & found a 95 F150 with 1117,000 miles on it for $2400.00, decided i'd drive it for a year, 3 years later i'm still driving it & have less than $1000 in repairs, not bad for a 22 year old vehicle.
My wife asked the other day when i was going to buy another truck, told her this one wasn't costing us nothing, may just drive it for a few more years or until the right 97 F250 Powerstroke (dream truck) shows up in m life.
There are good beaters out there if you take the time to look, it took me 3 months to find the 95, taking turns driving wifes or kids vehicles til then.

Ronnie

 

[LD1]

I actually like the multi-vehicle idea. Its how I have always done it. I disagree about every day driving a paid for vehicle is making you money. Because another way to look at it.....if you dont plan on keeping the vehicle til the wheels fall off.....every mile you put on it is costing you money by lowering its value.

I have a dodge 3500 for plowing and pulling and hauling. And drive a 01 saturn for my work car. I commute ~30 miles one way, and saturns are very easy maintenance and fuel efficient. Bought it in 09 with 95k miles for $3k. It now has 195k and had minimal maintenance. I'd say it has more than paid for itself. And my 05 dodge 3500 diesel has 94k miles on it right now. My alternative would be to have that truck and nothing else, and be sitting on a 195k mile truck. I drive the car all I can. The truck gets driven when I need a truck.

Same with the wife. 08 nissan sentra "work" car. bought new and now has 155k miles. Aint worth ~$2500 to trade or sell now. But keeps the miles low on her Ram 1500 hemi, which is only used in the winter, or to haul more than just us and the kids comfortably.

For just commuting back and forth to work, with good road conditions, I think its silly to run the miles up on a nice vehicle. I aint out to impress anyone. I am about getting from point A to point B as efficiently as possible.

But given what you are looking to do, I would have to agree to just keep the truck, save up the $5-$6k and just buy the tacoma outright. But if the Ford isnt really what you "want" for a nice vehicle, then by all means get what you want.

 

[Olympus]

That is a good point about not having any payments. For those of us that normally have a car payment of some kind, not having one would seem like you're saving $500/month (random number for car payment). But the flip side of that coin is every year you keep that vehicle, you're losing money on depreciation. Some vehicles lose it faster than others and the more miles you put on, the faster it drops.

 

[Turbys_1700]

The number and types of vehicle titles will vary from state to state.

When I sold my F350 2-1/2 years ago I bought an 07 Chevy 2500 HD with a "true miles unknown" title. When the truck was titled the odometer mileage was "supposedly" not recorded correctly to the title. The truck was showing 92K miles on the odometer and at 7 years old seemed to be reflective of the age of the truck. They had it priced wholesale and I bought it. I know that if and when I trade it for another vehicle that will hurt the resale value.

Since I bought it I have replaced a window regulator, a catalytic converter, and a leaking manifold gasket. Having an excellent local mechanic has saved me a lot of $$$. From what I paid for it versus a new truck I am over 35K to the good. What works for me might not work for you. YMMV

 

[jack707]

I have three do Honda civic 2012
snow plow truck 2500hd4x4 chevy
Ranger 4x4 all paid for

 

[Shaneard]

I've owned almost every brand made and currently have 3 GMC's, all paid for. Every brand will give some trouble at some point. Buy what you can afford and be happy. A man told me when I was 16 "it's cheaper to fix what you have than buy new". There's a lot of truth in that and I have never owned a new vehicle and never will.