F150 owner considering making the switch

I know, I used to do it too,,, for many years! Then one-day (waayyy too late in life) it dawned on me- I could have already paid my house off with the the money I wasted swapping out new vehicles every 2 years.

 

stay with what you have and save your money and invest it in real estate or the market...I love my tacoma but it is small and will be going the other way in a couple years...small when you have 4 adults in it and not the greatest on long trip with adults...

 

You know you want to...

 

Switched from an 1997 F150 extra cab to a 2020 SR Tacoma access cab. Yeah, a little less room but absolutely no regrets!

 

Do what I did... quit modifying it all at once and do it over time. I used to do stupid shit like you when I was a kid. I now buy a truck, drive it stock for a year, maybe then put wheels on it, drive it awhile, maybe then tint, etc. It works because now I freshen it up every year or so,.

 

How about a Ford Ranger? I like Toyotas, and everytime I see a 3rd gen I'm like yeah that's a good looking truck. Then I hear a voice asking if I want a 3rd gen.

 

OP: It sounds like it doesn't matter what you get as you will tinker with it until you get bored and then trade it off for something else. If you want a Tacoma, get one and modify it to your hearts content.

Personally, I don't see the logic in playing musical vehicles every year or two. I take the opposite approach, I buy a vehicle with the intention of owing it for a long time. That is why I bought a Tacoma, they have a strong history of reliability and if for some reason I should decide to sell (not likely), they have great residual value.

Many years ago a good friend of mine who was able to comfortably retire by the time he was in his very early 40's, told me that his approach was to buy things for the long haul. I remember that he had a '74 Chevy van that he used to service his rental properties. He bought it new in 1974 and kept it until he passed away a couple of years ago. I know he put a new transmission it it and he even had it repainted once. His theory was that it was far less expensive to maintain his vehicle properly and do repairs as necessary over buying a new, ever more expensive vehicle every few years.

I followed his advice and was able to retire early with a comfortable income that allows me the freedom to travel extensively and live pretty much anywhere I want to. Yeah I had to make a few sacrifices over satisfying my lust for new toys, but to me it was worth it. YMMV

 

I should add that switching to the Tacoma I found would cost me an additional 10 a month. Same term, interest, everything. Basically the increase in payment is due to taxes and fees (NY)

 

Just a suggestion, you may want to get a project vehicle (such as a Motorcycle, an older 4x4, VW, Hot Rod, whatever) you can tinker with or mod at will but still have a modern vehicle (F-150, Taco, etc) as your primary vehicle. I've been doing it this way since I was in my 20's. Bonus is I can take on some pretty major projects/mods and never have to worry about ruining my primary vehicle, although I tend to do less-invasive mods on those too. I actually drive my project vehicles (yeah, they've grown since my first one which is the brown Dune Buggy in my Albums) more than I drive my Taco (the Dune Buggy or one of my motorcycles are my after-work around town errand runners).

 

I respectfully disagree. I built up my diesel truck little by little over 5-6 years, the mods I did later in the cycle cost the same but I got much less use out of before selling it. My new strategy is to do any and all mods in the first 3 months of ownership so I can get maximum enjoyment while I’m driving it.

When I was young and broke I was always looking for the next project, as a mature adult who is financially responsible enough to buy decent stuff I don’t want to spend my weekends in the garage. I want to drive something I like that is reliable and easy. I want to park my daily driven vehicles in the garage and have less to maintain so I can go live life more. I spent many years allowing the things I owned to dictate where and how I lived. For most of the last 20 years we had 4-5 vehicles and a trailer for 2 people, plus a garage and shed full of tools, parts, and more. I also collect guns. On this past move I sold or got rid of all the vehicles and 50% of my crap. I still have too much stuff, but we’re down to 2 vehicles for 2 people. I am going to buy a new boat this year or next, living on Cape Cod boating will be my primary hobby. I’m buying new on the boat rather than fixing up an older one so I can hopefully just use it with basic maintenance for 6-10 years.

I was working with one of my mechanics this week, he was talking about the 70’s Camaro that’s been haunting his garage for a decade. He wants to buy this and that, and maybe it’ll be drivable in a couple more years, etc. I realize I used to be like that, too. Life is too short to work on shit all the time.

 

How tall are you? The Taco is not generous with headroom. Everything else is very good but even I (5'5") bump my head occasionally.

 

For the same amount of payments, or are you extending your loan too?
Car dealers make money on both sides, there's no even-Steven trading.


(I'm not trying to talk you in or out of this,,,, just being a voice of reason)

 

OP, go make your trade, make your mods, trade in a couple years for your next desire.

Until you hit $$ crunch or realize the $$ lost with frequent vehicle changes, you will continue on your path.

Life has a way of pulling a person up short with things like family, house, illness, loss of income, natural disaster, stock crash, ........... This is when the lessons of life happen. Until then, enjoy your desire and obsession.

Remember, its just a truck. Who cares what the buddies or the Jones's think.

 

I know the feeling my friend but impulse buying rarely works out for the best.

You appear to have a rare two year itch disease that needs to be stretch to a seven year itch.

Best of luck

 

Braking indeed. A very important aspect of driving let alone towing.

 

park Ur f150 beside a Tacoma U like or would like to own

many compare them ............... I dont get it !!!!

they are 2 totally DIFFERENT trucks

2 totally different sizes

2 totally different capabilities especially if U are a jobber/contractor

reasonable expectations in reality keeps disappointments away

 

Lol ---- I bought a new truck in April 2002 , new car in 2014 , almost new truck in 2016 and the Taco in 2018 . I told myself I have to keep this untill 2030 so I have a 7 year average . That's the plan .

 

damn straight.........................

 

Keep the F150! It's got the best ecoboost engine they make. You wont be happy with the drop in performance.

If you must change your rig, get a F150 with a 3.0 Diesel, as this would be an upgrade. When uncle joe gets gasoline to $7.per gallon, you'll really want that diesel.(IMO).

 

Meh...if you can afford it, I say keep them both.