Trade in - tough decision

Here's the short of it...bought my Tacoma about 2 years ago, fresh out of college and wanted a new truck because my car had 150k on it and was fairly weathered.

I went by a toyota dealership because I had always wanted a tacoma when I was younger and couldn't afford one but I let the dealer convince me that around here I really didn't need 4WD because the conditions aren't that bad, that I didn't need a certain color because it would takes months to come in, etc etc the same dealer crap but I listened because I didn't know any better.

To be fair usually the conditions aren't that bad unless you're in the mud / water, but in a year I'll be getting married...a year after that I will probably be buying a house. From what I've seen from coworkers / my father, this will probably be the last chance I have to get the truck I want ( I really wanted a titanium gray 4WD off road manaul trans ) as opposed to what the dealer had on the lot.

I just keep getting the feeling (and added pressure from the fiancee) that I need to be saving for a house and not buying toys. Anyone else here run into a decision like this? I've been torn for several weeks now

 

If you really want it trade it in now for what you want, the more you get involved the harder it'll get to get what you really want.

Ask for forgiveness later..

 

If u can afford it do it your money your choice ....

 

I think that you should get the truck of your dreams because as was said earlier, it will be harder to come by because of other obligations (home expenses, etc).

If you don't, you will always have that yearning and regret as you do now.

Perhaps if you explain it to her that you've been feeling this since you got the truck a couple of years back, she might understand. Love is all about sacrifices and I'm sure she would want you to be happy. It's not like you are taking away from the new house or the marriage, it's a truck. Something that will be used by the family. You will be trading in your old one right? So it's not like you are just "adding" a new vehicle, you are trading up. But if you are in a situation that using this money will cause a strain then financially you may not be ready for a house quite yet.

Good luck with your decision, I hope you are happy with what you do.

 

Why? (why 4wd, and Why would you even go with Off Road)
If it is "Just because" your fiance is right, save for a house with garage, install locker or some decent Limited Slipp to your pre-runner and if it is not enoguh then think about solid axle. If color is your problem I can only suggest get used to or make some modifications that will make you like that color.

Dream trucks are not bought they are build. People think they can buy their dream truck but usually few years later "dream car/truck" is just their another car. Then another few years and they trade in their "dream vehicle" for cheap to get another "dream vehicle"

 

You'll get hosed on the trade... In the end it's your decision obviously but financially it doesn't make much sense unless you got a great deal when you bought it. What's more important, taking a hit and buying a truck and potentially putting off buying a house, or saving like mad and buying a house sooner or being able to afford a more expensive house? Right now, even if you financed for 5 years, you've got 3 years left. You could be walking into your house in 2 years with one year of truck payments left if you keep your current truck (or you may even own it outright by then). If you NEED 4wd, that's a different story. You're young, 2 years out of college leaves you plenty of time to have toys and 'dream trucks'. It does get harder as other things tie you down but you'll find that your priorities change also.

 

Why do you need a 4x4 off road?

I drive off-road pretty often and do it in my 2.7 AC 5-lug 4.2 no problems at all. I dont go rock crawling however.

Weight the costs of ownership of a new truck vs getting something used and economical.

 

I do go camping (not camping with a plug / bathroom right next by just to clarify) fairly often although not as much as I would like now that I have a full time job, also I'm not from the South but a lot of my coworkers have been trying to get me into hunting so eventually I will be doing some back country mud slogging. That being said...right now I don't need 4WD, most camp sites are easily accessible by 2WD and with good tires I can climb some impressive hills. I'm just looking down the road toward hunting / backwoods camping / possibly towing a boat with muddy boat ramps ahead of me, and more than anything I am concerned that one day I will get stuck and I won't have a buddy with a tow strap close by.

Pugga basically said what my conscience has been telling me...and my timeline for the future seems to be : in one year I will be married , in another year I will more than likely have a mortgage, and given that my then wife will be 26 I will probably have 2-3 more years before kids (hopefully).

I appreciate the differing views, it helps balance out both sides of the argument. Right now I keep telling myself that I'll need a 4WD soon...but should I bet telling myself that I'll be needing a house soon instead? Questions I have to answer with a lot of thought Thanks for the help!

 

buy the truck you want now,if you don't, I guarantee a year or 2 down the road you'll be trading in the truck you bought, for the one you really wanted.

 

Get what you want.don't listen to the wife.they will never understand "toys".once you get the house,15-30 years of mortgage,than you have to fix the house here and there. Do it before the house.your always going to have bills.I'd rather have 4wd and never use it than wish I would have gotten it when I'm stuck in a hole in the middle of no where.

 

House with garage you can work on your truck is > then a newer better truck.
Money that you would spend on "better" truck can be put into better house (aka better garage) and tools. Then you can turn your truck into anything you want including KOH ready buggy
With Garage you can save money on car maintenance and repairs it will be enough to buy you another truck soon after.

 

Buy the truck you want now so in two years you only have 3 yrs left to pay on it. Been where you are right now, I made it. I got the truck I wanted at the time and it has been a awesome truck for 11 yrs. I'm now looking for the new truck. 09 or 10 taco dclb in mag gray 4x4. It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I do hunt (duck) and have had numerous boats. I've been in the nasty with the truck. Did I need the 4x4? Who knows but it was slippery as hell and it was engaged...so....the answer is I planned for the future when I got it and it paid off. I say go for it!! I'm now married with a 16 y/o step-daughter and a 3 y/o son. Sometimes you just have to take the leap and go big or go home!!!!

Murph

 

Life is all about trade-offs, and only you can decide what trade-off makes sense for you. Personally I live by the edict "if I'm not sure, don't do it...", it's kept me grounded for quite some time and kept me from doing things that, in hind-sight, wouldn't have been best.

But, end-of-the day, only you can decide. You might want to check into trade-in values vs. cost to buy a new one. Never hurts to know the numbers, just don't allow yourself to make a deal on a spur of the moment. You can get a accurate idea of trade-in values by spending some time with a dealer, but I would work new values from something like Edmunds. Used values seem to vary depending on location, time-of-year, etc., but new actual values tend to be reflected on Edmunds pretty well, at least from my experience.

 

Unless you can get a great trade-in right now, then I would stick with what you have until you buy the house. Assuming the truck will be paid off in the next few years that will get you more cash to buy a house and better credit. After the house purchase is complete then go get the new truck. Tell her your plans now and she won't be able to go into a hissy about it when it happens...

 

asking for forgiveness is easier than asking for permission.

just do it man, its what you want!

 

Is it worth what you will lose (and you'll lose a lot) on the trade in to change colors and get 4WD?

I want 4WD but I'll just get it next time around...be patient.

When you base this decision on emotion instead of good ole fashion logic, you'll regret it later.

 

its been said. Its your money, and ask for forgiveness. The further down the road you go with this truck the harder it'll be turning back. Also the longer you have it the value goes down more and more with every mile. Think things through but dont let this turn into a "got a scolding from the wife" story.

 

Your'e going to have to pay rent or mortgage either or, anyways....and by the sounds of it you'll have some sort of car payment? Guestimate all monthly expenses and get the truck you can afford, ohh then make sure you buy something really nice for your girlfriend/wife to soften the blow!

 

Keep the 09, buy a used 4x4 cash. Buy a nice house and have a family without scrounging for cash cause you wrote more checks than you can cover. Live at or below your means! Life will be great.

 

X1,000,000