Finally a Taco Owner

Hey y'all, long time lurker, first time poster.....After a lonnngggg time I was able to get my dream truck. During the summer of 2015, I had saved up a ton of money and had my eyes set on a brand new 2015 TRD Off Road Taco. As soon as I finished AIT and was home on leave I went straight to the Toyota dealer in town and test drove the truck I thought I would be able to get, until they told me I had a credit beacon of 0......

After nearly two years and paying off two vehicles (2015 KIA Optima, and a loaded 2010 BMW 328i) and finally getting a credit card, I had built up my credit score enough to finally get the truck of my dreams. A 2017 Trd Off Road Tacoma, with Premium Tech pkg and JBL audio. I know it doesn't seem like much to some of you, but being a young soldier (22) and gear head this has always been a dream for me, and as an avid outdoorsman I finally have a vehicle that I can take to the lake and beach to go fly fishing, hiking, camping and possibly hunting at some point.

So glad to finally be a member of the Taco family! Thanks for having me!

 

We're honored to have such a sweet ride (and owner) in the family. You're doing us proud!

 

And thank you for your service!

 

From an old soldier, to a young soldier, don't waste your money on toys. All that sign on bonus money should be getting tossed in your TSP. If you don't know what a TSP is, you need to get that situated.

 

Beautiful truck....congrats! Thank you for your service!

 

I greatly appreciate the sentiment, and completely agree. I was able to finance for the same costs that I was paying on the BMW I owned previously. I financed my last car as a PFC so whatever else I make that doesn't go towards bills, goes into my TSP and I can still live relatively comfortably. Didn't get a signing bonus, but did just reenlist for another 4 (and should be picking up SGT within the or so hopefully), though my retention bonus is going into the TSP as well. I am pretty frugal with my money and seek to build credit as well.

In all honesty, after I finish my 8 years active, and finish my degree (Poli-Sci through Penn St), I plan on going officer in the Reserves to keep my pension when I am 60, and go to work as a govt. contractor as my MOS is fairly lucrative work in the private sector.

 

It is a true honor and privilege, thank you for yours as well!

 

Glad to hear you have a plan. Seen too many young soldiers piss away small fortunes on toys and girls.

 

Hahaha ain't that the truth? I love my job and my country but I always tell my friends and younger soldiers to have a plan whether they ETS or reenlist, because the Army doesn't last forever and you'll have to take off that uniform at some point, be it in two years or twenty. The Army demands a lot from their soldiers, so soldiers should use their benefits like TA and ability to train and obtain certain MOS's that will benefit them once they are on the outside.

 

Damn straight!!!

 

Thanks for your service, glad you got your dream truck, you deserve it!

 

Sweet truck man! And thank you for your service as well! I just bought a 2012 trd off-road myself! Can't wait to get mine out and see what it can do!

 

Congrats on your new Tacoma!

 

Welcome aboard