To jump or not to jump

Looking at possibly getting back into a Tacoma, have one lined up, negotiated a few grand off a basic dcsb off-road lunar rock only add on is led lights, rest is base or… would be leaving behind my mt civic hatchback which is a joy to drive when it’s nice out but not the easiest thing during winter and mud season in Vermont… the Tacoma offers practical uses however that are hard to overcome(get mulch and trees, move and store camping gear, move yard equipment/ house things, etc etc, you get the point) I traded my second taco to get better gas mileage due to an hour long commute for myself and the wife was driving 45mins… she now works 3 miles away now and I could drive the 4Runner2 days and the taco 3 days to keep mileage down… I have the contract sitting in my email ready to sign, I just can’t seem to make up my mind what to do. I had a basic quicksand Tacoma a while ago that’s I absolutely f’n loved then I had a loaded silver sport that was…. Eh, it was ok… the color was plain and had too much jazz going on inside, just worried about damaging it more than anything… I’m mostly just thinking out loud and this is a great community for info that I haven’t found replicated online across other brands and platforms, I will say, I’m not super excited about the new 4G one, improvements are underwhelming and prices overwhelming compared to the outgoing 3G… maybe this is me becoming an old man as I’m about to turn 35? I’m open to thoughts and opinions from complete strangers to stimulate thoughts and sound decision making haha. Thanks for listening

 

Was your previous a 3rd gen? If not, I assume you've looked into a few of the major issues with the Tacoma to look out for (i.e. search "dreaded")?

 

for where you live and what you describe in terms of how you could/would use a truck, jump.

 

Sell civic
(buy 4runner from your partner)
Buy 4runner

this is a lighthearted post

you might not wanna have two 4runners if the 2025 4runner is available with a clutch

 

Yea both third gen’s, peoples hate or gripes are overblown to me

 

Whatever you end up with, post the video of you jumping it

 

You have a 4runner. It will do as much as the truck. If worried about dirty work, a small trailer for those occasions is cheap.

Gas is not going to stay down as much as it goes up. So if MPG is a factor, you'd lose there.

Just some contrarian thoughts from an actual old man. One with kids years older than you.....

 

Perfect spec taco in my mind. Only thing better would be an AC version.

I’m in, go for it.

 

PS, make sure they are legit led… the full housing and not some plugins.

 

Do it, do it, do it!

Cars are absolutely useless.....

 

Unless the Taco is an MT; I would stay with the Civic - No question. But I would still think about it...

AANNNDD - with such a commute; Prudent financial advice says keep the civic.

To the point - Just keep the civic. Surely you can find better use for the $$... You have access to a T4R already anyway. It could be worse...

 

I hope this doesn't come across as dickish, I mean it in the best of ways as something for you to consider. If you needed to trade to get better fuel mileage because you and the wife could not afford the maintenance and fuel expense of a light truck, why would you go back and put yourself in a position where that could be an issue if the employment situation changes? I know financial situations change and trust things are better and you are in a better position. If so: GREAT! Go with it. If not: keep the civic that has treated you well and deal with Vermont winters. You're very close to work now.

 

I traded in my MT Civic for our Tacoma.

 

It wasnt an afford thing, gas was definitely the major benefit but I was also going to pay off this car for the kid to drive when he turns 16 in 3 years, I’m impatient and kind of second guessing putting him in a small front wheel drive car out here in the sticks during winter as a new driver… however, what you’re saying does make sense

 

I used to keep cars for an extremely short period of time and so I don’t really have any room to talk in this regard. But it looks like the civic is a 2023. Whatever you do maybe decide if you really want the Tacoma or not after having had two already. The taxes and dealer fees on the civic and now the new Tacoma purchase are probably outweighing any fuel savings from a short time with the civic

 

Yea, the more I’m thinking the more I’m sticking with the civic and paying it off and making a decision then without having to buy someone else’s problem for a teen driver. I’ll know the maintenance has been done and it’s safe for him to crash six months in lol

 

to be fair, the Tacoma is also a great vehicle to give him one day. I don’t know if you said how old your son is, but I’m sure he will appreciate either of these vehicles. Sounds like if I was in your shoes I would decide which one I really want and then go for it!

 

Thanks everybody for different perspectives, it helps!

 

As far as safety ... here is a story (not about the stupidity of the driver, but vehicle safety in small sedans) ...

I was driving along with a few thousand other drivers in 2-lane-construction-funnel ... pretty much limited to 20 MPH at best ... but then saw the person in a Civic-type car who thought any speedup meant 50 MPH and was ramping up to that in a gap of 30 ft ...

BANG ... plowed into the back of a vehicle ... engine compartment accordioned ... engine dove down/back as it was designed ... passenger cabin close enough to "no change" ...

Small sedan does not mean unsafe. Drivers make those cars unsafe.

 

2nd set of winter tires for the civic. Keep civic. Maybe add a 3rd vehicle, a used Tacoma. I have a Land Cruiser and a similar civic to yours. I drive the civic to work 9 times out of ten due to gas mileage. Then enjoy the Land Cruiser on the weekends.