What should I make my next car purchase?

Don't like corollas. Camry first preference with a car.

 

It depends. To some people a car is just something they use, gets them back and forth, out and about and that's it. For me, I don't want to drive anything I don't like. I would get a Tacoma hands down over a Camry - as in, no competition that's a 2 second decision.

As neverstuck mentioned if you can wait, I would. But sometimes the current situation means you really can't. Shop around, get a good price, really look at the features that you want and the others you can live without.

 

boom. off road ready

 

I dont necessarily need a truck its pretty much just a want. I sold the 06 recently. Thats why I'm in the search for a vehicle right now.

 

Well if you never used your bed in the truck, you don't see yourself needing one often, then this is definitely a want vs need discussion. Its gonna come down to your situation.

Do you have a stable job?
Are you gainfully employed?
Are you saving for if you suddenly don't have a job?

 

Honestly at 23 if you aren't outdoors all the time a Camry is going to be the more reasonable choice, good mileage, cheap to run and own, less desire to mod.. etc etc. I myself wouldn't be looking to spend the max on a vehicle at that age (*mid forty me speacing from experience- I spent all my 23yo grocery monies on my car!). Get something affordable, used, and Toyota, and have fun.

 

Yea I like driving something I do like and I would probably somehow end up going back to the Tacoma. And I have till the end of the month to find something.

 

Yea it is the smarter choice I just don't know if ill be happy with that choice

 

live a little. get a M1000RR.

 

Tarmac maybe.. You'd get farther with a gambler car;

 

Hi Rocio40
Lenders will let you borrow amounts which may not make sense for you... (This is how folks get in trouble).
If you are asking for insight on this topic on a message board, I gather that you may not have a lot of experience with large purchases... (Which is fine...).

These days, I would encourage a conservative approach and borrow as little as you can. Focus on making sure you set yourself-up in a good financial position so that in time, you become able to comfortably get the toys you want... I can assure you that if buying the Tacoma ends-up causing you financial stress - or distress, then having the Tacoma will not be a pleasant experience...

It is great that you've saved $8k as a down payment... Congratulations. The rate you've secured is great. However - the above comments still stand...

It is trendy these days to get all the toys one wants immediately, but this may not be the best approach. It seems your head is pushing you towards the Camry, while the rest of you might really want the Tacoma... (Understandable!). These are decisions we face every day... Once you get a car - you'll go to the next purchase decision...

Whatever you buy - Focus on the vehicles PRICE. - NOT on the monthly payment. Loan terms are so long these days that the dealers push the low monthly payment. Anything can be made to look affordable if you borrow over a super long time! - Some have found that their loans outlast their vehicle! (Stick to 36 month loan terms if possible.... 48 - maybe 60 month loan terms could be fine - but no longer.)

If you are considering the Camry, I assume that it may suit your practical purposes. Camrys are very reliable and you can get into one for a lot less than it takes to get into a Tacoma. Again, I get the impression that your head it pushing for this option. - I find that in these situations, following your head is the correct answer...

Vehicles are not an asset - they are an expense. (This is true even if the vehicles are revenue generating... I tend to want to borrow as little as possible for vehicles for that reason...). Use the Camry to save-up for a bigger down-payment on a future Tacoma (maybe a 4th gen?). You will likely enjoy it more if you are in a better position to avoid it causing you grief financially.

Those are my 2 cents... other will tell you life is short and you should get exactly what you want immediately and damn the torpedoes!... But life will seem much longer and less enjoyable if you are not having fun because of bad financial management!

Good luck!

 

Sounds to me like you have the "cool and impractical" bug, but arent quite willing to admit it to yourself.

Sticking with a toyota and your budget, that leaves either a new 86, or a very nicely equipped FJ. Go with the FJ.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that there will be several people here, along with in your life, who will tell you to be smart, get the car and move on. I was told something similar every time I was looking at a new vehicle, gender thing maybe? Yeah I'm a woman and I don't like driving cars. I don't want to be making payments on something that I hate to drive. You sound like you're probably in the same mind set. If you can afford it (as in comfortably and it's not going to stretch you thin) then why not get something you like? Can get an SR5 with 30k miles for well below your budget.

 

Lada Niva, the only true king of offroad

 

Pretty hard to beat a Camry for all around competence. Smooth, fast, plus great reliability and gas mileage.
Only you can really make that decision. Don't let social media make it for you.

 

That's pretty sweet

 

Man. All the people here telling you not to get a loan, but go out and spend money on drinking, hunting, fast food, cigarettes, the occasional Tuesday night stripper.. and who knows what else...oh... that’s right. Truck parts for their trucks lol...


Listen bud.
Life is short. If you have a stable job. Money in your savings and can afford a payment for a vehicle.

do it.

We slave most of our life away in our professions.


Work hard, play harder.

 

if you want a truck and can afford it get the taco. If you commute a ton/work/park/live in the city, it might make more sense to get a car.
But hey i'm not that practical and DD'd my taco averaging 13-14 mpgs lol. If you can afford it go for it. But as others have said, if it'd put you in a bad financial position its not worth it.

 

Get something in between... the Rav4 TRD Offroad.