Considering selling my truck, advice?

So I've had my 09 TRD offroad for about a year now after replacing my totaled 07. I put a lot of money into my 09 (bumpers, lift, sliders, skids, tires) and now i dont go wheeling anymore (old truck was rolled offroad and, i hate to say it, but im scared) so I am driving around this truck that gets 12mpg and isnt all that fun to drive on the road. So im tossing around the idea of selling it for something with better gas mileage and will make my daily commute a little more exciting (have an inside track on an RS4 that i could get almost straight trade for). Is there anyone here who stopped wheeling, sold their truck and missed it? Any elder members who could offer some wisdom that a young guy like me might not realize? Thanks for any help
Kevin

 

I went from a truck to a car once. I had to turn in my man card and was embarrassed to drive anywhere.

Make your truck more streetable and sell the parts you take off.

 

I love Audi, had a '97 A4 and have been around them forever. They have electronic problems (shared with VW). Key electronic parts are third world assembly and prone to failure. My pride and joy was a '07 A4 Avant. I bought it new. In 36 months it needed 5 clock springs, leveling ecu, intercooler, airbag harness with airbag ecu and seats harnesses and clear coat recall. When it ran, it was perfect, when it was off, it was way off. I spent to much time in the dealership.

I'm going back to Volvo when my cx9 is done. That will be in 10 years? My CX is made in Japan and at 40k shows zero issues. Best vehicle since my 850r wagon.

 

Nutshell: lease Audi, have vacation time for service.

 

For 24 months, I leased a '98 TT, my company car. It's sole purpose was track events at Sebring. I ragged it. I took stock 996 rims and mounted r1s. I beat that car, so did my friends. Stuffed it a few times in the tire walls. After 24 months, turned it in. I feel sorry for the guy that bought it.

 

So the general consensus is that I should stay away from Audi? Anyone have any other suggestions of AWD vehicles that I could get for 25-26k? My brain is screaming WRX but I am unsure about the interior, it was not a nice place to be when I test drove one.

 

At 20, go Subaru, at 40+ go Audi or Volvo.

I'm going back to Volvo since the divorce from ford is strong. I drove a xc90 at the car show here. I had it for 1 1/2 days up in the canyons. Superb handling and I flogged it. I was in park city without wife and I beat it hard. Not one hiccup. Would buy.

 

Thanks for the advice, did some more research on potential repair costs for an audi and i definitely do not have the funds to support a major mechanical issue with an audi, has anyone had issues with subaru reliability? I am looking at 2011-2014.

 

Find a used wrx that hasn't been beat hard then you have found a unicorn!

 

I traded my first truck for a Jeep. Traded the Jeep for a WRX and now I'm back in a truck. I hated the Jeep, loved the WRX but missed the utility and feel of a truck. For me, having a truck again is like being reunited with a dorm room sofa. It just feels right.

 

Sounds like when I sold my motorcycle way back when.

I regretted doing it - but after I'd racked it up, riding wasn't fun anymore and I just needed to acknowledge the fact.

So... sell it, and buy something more practical.

My advice: I wouldn't buy something too fast and racy; you don't wanna be tempted to go to fast, press the limit, and wrap it around a tree.

It may be time to buy a "grown up" car. Or perhaps channel your "must-modify-vehicle" energy into something relatively benign like car stereo equipment...

As always this is just advice, which is worth exactly what you paid for it.

 

One thing I did, was buy a convertible. A convertible with the top down always "feels" fast even when you're not going very fast.

 

Baby step back into wheeling. Keep your truck and get back into your hobby.

 

IMO buy a used Scion TC and supercharge it. You'll never look back.

 

If i was only using my truck to commute to work with i wouldn't own it.

 

I really think you summed it up! A few years ago I was without a truck for awhile, (played with some pretty nice cars), The truck (to me) is "comfort food" & although I don't do "off-road" infact I don't really drive it much, it is there when I want it, & it just looks great in the shed.

 

This

 

You sig says you are in Flag. That's prime truck country. You have good snow and mud and rain sometimes where the truck can excel. Like others have said modding back makes sense too. I think a stock tacoma is pretty nice and has less harsh ride non-modded. But we've all been bitten by the mod bug on this site. Lol
My friend has a Subaru outback , it's pretty nice and gets around pretty good on Forest roads and is AWD.

Good luck Az

 

The Subaru Crosstrek looks like a nice and capable car for your price range. I traded my Tacoma for a jeep but I'm still ALWAYS looking at this forum. I wouldn't mind getting back in another TACO though. I'm positive you will miss it.