A girl and her truck: Do I sell my sweet, simple rig?

Hello fellow Taco lovers,

I bought my '02 Taco, SR5, 4WD, manual everything truck off the lot. It was my first love, my companion to take me to my remote field sites back in the day, and my true home insurance policy. It's never been in a wreck, but I'm becoming a wreck. You see, I haven't been able to drive it for a few months because I have a shoulder injury and won't be able to drive it for several more months. I typically drive it for pleasure in the more recent past. Just me and my truck. Alas, my husband needed to buy another vehicle for his business leaving us with an auto loan on our family minivan. Selling this thing would pay off the minivan. But, it's my baby Taco. You know?

Any words of advice other than the obvious which is, "to be an adult and sell it to cover your debt." Are much appreciated. And no, we don't have $7K lying around to pay off the minivan...

Your advice and free therapy service is much appreciated!

UPDATE: I just spoke with my hubby...I said "I'm not selling MY truck. We'll have to figure out another way to pay for the van." As I said in reply to another, "This is the last Taco Stand."

 

Welcome to TW

 

"Do I sell my sweet, simple rig?"

You do not.

 

Thanks lynyrd3. Nice to be back. I joined several years ago, went radio silent, and my username went bye-bye.
MeefZah. I'm hearing ya. And thank you!

 

No.

 

One does not simply sell their rig

 

Tough it out
Keep the Taco

 

Financial advice? You do what's best for the family.

Will selling your car put you in a one car household? That could be no big deal, but for us it wouldn't work.

Is it the interest you'll pay on the car note? Could save some cash by paying off long term.

Is it a monthly expense issue? Don't like being at $0 at the end of the month? Not able to save like you want to? Lots of reasons to do lots of things. Which one are you?

Selling a good car only to have to go back and buy another later could be a worse scenario than now. I don't know.

Think about what's important and necessary in your house and the consequences of those options and pick the one that best fits your house.

Edited...

 

If you sell it, then soon you won't have the money OR the truck. In my experience that can be regrettable. But..we do what we have to do at the time I guess.

 

i have been in this exact situation a couple times, just not about a Toyota, still about cars i built & loved.

my solution at the time wasn't perfect, because i really had to sell. so i set myself on a mission to find the right buyer, and i took the time to do it.

end of the day i sold 2 vehicles to 2 right buyers with a special appreciation for what they bought. it was more than the money, win-win and everyone's super happy. but if it's time to walk away, just be good to share it with someone who values it.

 

Welcome
advice keep the truck ! your shoulder will improve , multiple shoulder surgeries here , the range of motion you get shifting along with physical therapy exercises gets you back quicker, you are only going to out of commission short time don't sweat the mini v payment

 

I think your husband was the one that needed to be an adult and not buy trucks his business couldn’t afford.

BUT if its more important to have that truck than the Tacoma, sell the Tacoma. I just wouldn’t sell it if you are upset your husband over bought, because he’s the one that has to rise up and sell what he just bought.

Because it almost sounds like he ran off and bought something without really considering the consequences. At least thats how it seems like it was put. Sorry if I’m off base on that.

I think its great you want to trash the car debt though!

 

Everyone has different priorities. I was in a similar situation years ago. I was spending thousands on a swimming pool install and had a low mileage Teal 1993 Mustang Cobra SVT sitting in my garage. I sold it to help pay for the pool. The pool has lost its novelty and I miss having the mustang, also the mustang value rose. I will not make the same mistake and sell my 30K Mileage Tacoma purchased new by my grandfather.

 

I don't believe in debt besides a house payment but.... You've had your truck for 18 years and they don't make them like the first gens anymore. If its in good shape and will last another 18 years keep as long as its not putting you in a financial bind. I sure wish I had bought a 1st gen back in the day new off the lot and still had it.

 

Keep it. Especially since you already took out the loan, might as well get a good payment record out of it.

 

I did the same with a sports car I loved. Found the right buyer and he was as excited about owning the car as I had been. He was an enthusiast who did some really cool mods that I would have done had I had the money. He would even text me to get my opinion on wheels and such.
I do miss that car sometimes, but it was the best move from my family. Good luck OP.

 

In 2003 I sold a 74 VW westfalia bus for $2300. I used the money to pay for a study abroad semester. I think I could have found another way to pay that off. I havent seen a similar one to what I sold for less than $20k in the last couple years. Not that your Tacoma will increase that much in value, but it is worth really getting top dollar and taking your time if you plan to sell, unless you urgently need the money.

List it for top top dollar. Clean it up so it is as saleable as possible. Advertise it and wait for that certain someone who has to have it. Take your time if you can afford to. If you can't get an offer you just can't pass up, maybe you just keep it.

Here is my list of cars I regret selling:

1974 Westfalia in Sea Foam green with all original interior. Sold for $2300
1980 VW rabbit with 1.6l and first year of fuel injection. I drove it all over the country from Seattle to Chicago. Sold for $1000 because I couldnt diagnose mechanical fuel injection.
2003 VW GTI 1.8t with 41,000mi. Sold for $6000 in 2008. Got tired of the car payment- sold when I owed $3000 on the loan.
2002 VW Jetta 1.8t- wife hated it, didnt want a 2nd car in the drive. I loved it- sold to a friend. He hasnt made a single repair in 2 years, since I did it all before I sold it to him.
1991 VW jetta MK2 16v 2.0- sold for $1200. Havent seen one for less than $3k for years.
The list goes on...

Anyway, my point is, think it over. Get what you really think it's worth...

 

YOLO keep it.

 

Tough decision. One has to do things for family sometimes that we wish we didn't. On the other hand, your truck (assuming you're in a corrosion-free area) will be irreplaceable once it's gone.

I'd do everything I could to look for more options than selling the truck. But, in the end, it IS only sheet metal...

 

Just realized my whole list is VW's...haha.

Also had a lifted 1997 impreza wagon with WRX wheels that was awesome. Traded in for $1500 towards an 08 4runner. Maybe I just wish I had never sold any of my cars....haha