Trade in for Taco, or keep 2 vehicles?

Hey TW,

I am currently in a 2018 Crosstrek. 1.5" lift, moved out to CO, getting into the off road scene. Not crazy rock crawling, but mtn passes, and backcountry camping. My subaru gets me alot of places. Its quite capable. However I'm wanting more out of it than it is capable of.
Also, since I drive a lot to visit places and do photography, I want something that can carry more gear, more easily.

My Crosstrek is paid off. and only has around 42k miles on it. A lot for a 2018. I drive a lot. 25k a year maybe.

The trade in value is estimated around 20k right now.

I'm having trouble deciding if I should eat the loss in depreciation and trade in the crosstrek to help pay for the tacoma.

I'll be getting a 2020 off road. I haven't owned a truck before but have driven them since they were always around in the family. I test drove a 20 the other week and really loved the powerband and feel of the MT. It drove very nicely but obviously different than my sports SUV.

My daily commute is an hour one way, all highway.
It snows for 5 months out of the year.

Should I keep the crosstrek longer and then trade it in? Trade it in sooner and get most money for it at the lowest miles? Should I keep two vehicles and have to pay for two registrations and insurances? Having two vehicles seems smart since I could daily the crosstrek and use the truck for its purpose, yet it also seems extravagant and excessive to me. I'm 28, and sharing my living space with my gf and she also has a 06 forester.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

if you are keeping the crosstrek you could always get a used older taco for the camping trips.

 

I've thought about this as well.
Though I'd rather get a newer tacoma. I could wait a year and purchase, or trade in now and get one now. Those are my options I'm considering. For some reason I am not interested in an older tacoma. Though financially it seems like the move that would save me the most.

 

Personally I’d trade it if it’s not meeting my needs/wants.

 

Commuting an hour in the snow is way more enjoyable in the awd subie. I’m in the two car camp.

 

I would use the crosstrek as a down payment, but don't trade it in. Private selling a crosstrek in your neck of the woods would yield the most money. Having a truck is nice for everything you want to do. My .02$

 

This is what I'm leaning towards.
Most of my wants/needs are met, but not all of them.

Good points, making it hard for me!

 

My vote is wait if you can, they aren’t going to be dealing on the 2020s yet. If you wait a year the depreciation would probably be less then you can save on deals. I looked at a 18 in late 2017 and they wanted 38 for a 4x4 off-road, come to September of 18 and I got it at 31.5

 

This was my original idea too. Selling privately and then getting a truck. Thing is I've never sold privately and almost don't want the hassle. But since I'm not in such a rush, I could get away with it.

 

Are you trying to be true to a budgetary approach or the want it anyway?

I got an old Honda beater when I was starting to look for a new truck in 2015. I ended up using it as my daily driver for two years including ski trips in the mountains and road trips before landing on my 17. It was not luxurious. During that time I saved more money. Looking back I have no regrets. Perhaps you live out a year with the Cross trek, then decide.

 

I'm trying to wait through winter. Since I won't be wheeling during the winter, I could drive the Subie for another 5 months and then look at selling it privately or trading it in. Then maybe there will be better deals out there. It's just getting difficult to wait!

 

put it for sale now private party if it happens it happens and it was meant to be!

 

I very much want a tacoma. I've been looking almost daily and the anticipation is exciting. However, I don't want to be stupid and regret a brash decision. Winter is here in CO and I won't be wheeling over winter so I have incentive to wait another 5 months....

 

Depends on you're life/financial situation. If you are single, no debt and have a MS in computer science from Stanford with 6 years work experience with Google; go for it. If you teach history at the local HS, have a stay at home wife, have a kid and another on the way; maybe consider running the current vehicle fleet into the ground.

Successful adulting is about the choices.

 

I did list it for sale on a subaru forum but haven't received any offers yet. I'll let it sit there and see if anything happens.

 

Thanks for this.
I'm trying to be as successful as I can at 28.
GF no wife, no kids, no debt, I only pay rent and for food. Getting a tacoma won't set me back so much as if I had a family but I don't want to be stupid about money either. Thanks

 

That would be my vote, Tacoma isn’t terrible in snow but the xvcrosstrek was a great car in the snow. We had one and it was a solid car. I think the 2020 is worth the wait over a 19 with additional features but I would hold out. Also it doesn’t hurt to hunt around. Depending on where in CO you may find good deals near by, I ended up getting mine out of CA for the lower price.

 

well financially the best thing would be to do nothing.
2nd financially best thing to do is buy a used taco.

all other choices are financially irresponsible.

 

I think this is what I'm going to do.
I found a great priced one in CO springs. 40k for 20 MT with all options. But not the color I want anyway, so I'm going to make sure every box is ticked so I don't feel like I rushed. I want this truck to be around for a while.

 

I understand.
I did watch a video recently comparing the used tacos and news and the pricing could be similar and might be worth getting new. But I'm thinking about waiting through winter and then looking for a slightly used (under 20k miles) for the 20. That could save me a few grand potentially...