What should I make my next car purchase?

I bought a Civic coupe in my early 20s and though I enjoyed it I much preferred trucks or SUVs. I traded the Civic for my Tacoma after I paid it off and the truck is much better. Like you I feel safer in a truck and all things considered a Civic coupe isn't the most practical car in a place where a meter of snowfall is common.

The truck helps in practical situations like renovations or yard work for myself and my mum's property but it also lets me get out and have fun. Most FSRs around here aren't terribly well maintained and I wouldn't trust taking a Civic down them at any rate.

 

When found in good condition here they command a good price, or asking price anyway. My son pointed one out to me a few years ago, maybe longer. I just remember seem to be expensive.

 

My advice is very simple because I am a simple man. Say you have 10k$ don’t go off buying a 40k$ car when you make 30k$ a year unless you want to be slaved to debt. If I had 10k$ Id be looking at a 3k$ car at max. Now the only reason to go over 25% of what you have is IF you will use it for work and you will make a profit.

 

Subaru Crosstrek is a nice practical little AWD vehicle.

 

You could probably find a Camry to rent for a few days.
Give you time to check it out and help you decide

 

You might feel safer but...

 

I consider the Tacoma safer as well. Just feel more comfortable driving it versus any car regardless of ratings. Those ratings easily can change depending on the environment you're in.

 

If I were to consider modding the Tacoma itll be when it starts looking outdated which a new one won't in years to come.

 

Yea 2 vehicles is a no go for me definitely not worth it

 

I'll back out. Sounds like you really know what you want, and trying to dispel misinformation on the internet is like sticking your finger in a hole in the dam, no matter what facts you provide. Good luck.

 

Do keep in mind that those ratings apply within the vehicle's class only. New Civics are safe cars, but the rating of a small car is not directly comparable to that of a midsize truck.

 

With the safety mind if thinking, a Tacoma is a no go, best get a f250 super duty.

OP wants a Tacoma, get a Tacoma.

 

Wenzel and Ross determined that SUVs are no safer for their drivers than the average midsize or large car and not much safer than many of the most popular compact and subcompact car models. Drivers of pickup trucks are at even greater risk than drivers of SUVs. When the combined risk is considered, SUVs and pickup trucks are revealed to be significantly more dangerous than just about any car.

https://www2.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/EETD-SUV-Safety.html

 

Welcome to the internet. In this place we like to ask a question and then reject any answer that doesn't justify what we were going to do anyway.

 

Lol he was bringing up a Civic..my question was regarding a camry or a Tacoma. I said I wasn't interested in Honda.

 

Yea im sure some vehicles are safer than others except a higher safety rating isn't the determing factor on what I decide on. Also they don't necessarily have poor ratings either jusr not as high as another vehicle per say

 

Well do what's best for you. Those two things serve vastly different purposes, which is why most people would be confused. They exist in different worlds. The tacoma is not a cheap vehicle and it is not cheap to maintain. It consumes a lot of gas and the big tires are expensive. It's not the biggest money suck, not by a long shot. But make no mistake, cost of ownership is high. It also isn't pleasurable to drive on the road. It isn't a fun commuter, it isn't a fun sport driver, it isn't the most comfortable long-distance hauler. It is a lot of fun off road, but what very few people will admit is that off road driving is expensive. Parts need repaired and replaced after bashing them on the rocks. If you are maxing out your income just to purchase one, the truck isn't for you. Especially if you have no need for truck bed.

If you were me and I were you, and I was waffling between my choice of Camry and Taco, in all seriousness my rankings from most desirable to least would be-

1 Civic hot hatch
2 Corolla hatchback
3 Rav4
4 4Runner
5 Camry
6 Tacoma

And this is simply going off of one logical conclusion. If those are my two choices of car then neither car will best serve my needs and enjoyment. It's like asking should i live in Los Angeles or Des Moines, and not wanting to research further when someone says "you know, I always liked Denver.". I hope that makes sense in a weird way. It's a very long winded method of saying that if your choices are that far apart, you shouldn't narrow it down to just those two.

 

I still say get a new Tacoma if that's what you really want. Just be responsible and don't over extend yourself in debt. Maybe you can't get a TRD Pro so what. Maybe you have to save a bigger down payment to make it work for you. Your profile says you have an 06 Tacoma. can you keep it a little bit longer?
Maybe look at other Toyota vehicle options too. Rav4 is pretty good and priced a little better. You can get all wheel drive if that's something you would like. It's still got some room for camping gear and can handle bike racks and kayaks if the outdoors is your thing. I would use less fuel, probably be more car like to drive for commuting and might be less to insure.
I had a Subaru and a Jeep suv before I got a truck they were good vehicles for the capabilities they had.

 

I didn't bring up the Civic. I was referencing this previous post. I'm pretty sure the Camry is just as safe.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...next-car-purchase.699193/page-8#post-24767410