Should I get the cheapest SR5 4x4 I can find?

Yep pretty much. And although I'm a contractor there's some stuff I still can't and will not do.

Figure these people aren't usually buying new houses which in all fairness is probably good. I've worked in new construction homes. They're built like complete shit. But take an older house. Say your furnace goes. What's that going to cost? Close to $5000 probably. Or what if something goes wrong on your vehicle maybe $2000? Do you really have space in your budget to get by.

Besides those people are always stressing about money and work afraid if they aren't working. We all worry obviously but them more than others. And they obviously don't get to live the nicest. Can't afford to buy the better steak, can't afford to go to the movies every so often, basically can't have any luxuries.

One of the guys I used to hunt with won't even come anymore cause he can't even budget ammo and the fuel up to where we go. Maybe for some they have no other choice and that really sucks but I know some that choose to be in that position and no clue why.

 

Yeah, it sounds like a drag. I don't like the idea of being house poor. All my friends who have houses, it seems like they're always doing something to them or having something fixed. Weekend plans are usually "naw man, can't make it, I have to do _______ to the house". I'd rather be out in the woods on my mountainbike than painting trim or landscaping. And the costs...my parents just spent 7k on a new front porch, and are going to spend another 4k on a new driveway. 11k GONE, and on such not - fun things. It's not like they're well off and that's pocket change. Takes ME a long goddamn time to save up 11k. Then if something big goes like the furnace or something that can't wait, BANG there's a huge charge on a CC to be paying off for years. Then there's bank interest, and property taxes....4k a year, after 10 years you've pissed away 40k on literally NOTHING. Unless you buy low after a bubble bursts, seems to me they're just money pits.

 

Good luck man, I got ten years on you and the math still isn't working for me.

Stay in school, kids!

 

HA! Hey, that's just like, your opinion, man.

It's a great car, it was exactly what I wanted at the time. 2012, gas was still high, I wanted an SUV type vehicle w/out SUV mileage to replace my trusty '97 Grand Cherokee (it still ran great, but body was falling apart) It's an '07 XC70 wagon. It's got a shit ton of room inside for my 29er MTB and camping gear, AWD so awesome in the snow, and enough height to go into the woods if it's not too gnarly. Been driving the wheels off it, it's at 195k now and still runs great. Been pretty reliable, too.

I wouldn't buy it NOW, but it was a good fit back then. I still drive a ton, but mileage is less of a concern, which is why I'm going back and forth on another Jeep (JKU), or a Taco DC.

 

Fuck I know. We did our driveway last year. Was 7500.

Kitchen 2 years ago was close to 17k for the cabinets and new appliances and all material. They saved a bunch since I did all the drywall electrical and flooring and one of my friends for the plumbing for next to nothing. Hell electrical alone if I was pricing that as a side job would've easily been 1800 which they saved. Add in the cost for flooring etc. They likely saved close to 10k.

Imagine for those buying homes that aren't mechanically inclined?

Even small things. Computer breaks theres an easy $800 for a decent one.

Not to mention I pay the internet and TV bill that's another 140 a month on top of the phone. Gas, water, electricity. All of it adds up.

I'm this city it's hard for anyone young. Harder than previous generations at times. I somewhat feel bad for those going to school and still not finding jobs. Most places want you to have so much experience when you just start out too.

I'd leave the city but all the work is here.

 

Right on.

 

Buy the truck

 

School payments are part of the math. haha

 

Not to brag about myself, but I have 2 kids a wife that stays home. I make way less than 6 figures. I am a manager but still do a lot of the manual labor in a sheet metal shop. No education past high school. I sometimes feel I don't provide enough for my family because we have a modest home, but it's in a safe neighborhood. I live in south west Virginia though. Our cost of living is fairly low compared to most of the country. A lot of people who stay where their parents bought a house can't afford one because that area blew up and became expensive. It helps to move to a cheap part of the country if that is an option.

 

Unfortunately, I live in a fairly cheap place to live and its still difficult to budget enough to look seriously at a home. I work in IT and have taken a long time to finish school so college loans are really going to take a toll. Additionally, I'm stuck working at my current employer do to some tuition assistance that I'd have to pay back if I left.

 

Good god this blew up haha. I've been a part of many forums, you guys are definitely the livliest bunch.

Update:
So many of you had so much to say about property, I took a deep look at the current housing market. I know someone in real estate, called up the guy and had a good long convo. Pretty much said the same thing as most of you. At our current rates, he said to just wait it out. So I suppose no home for some time. I live in California, the state of overpriced everything.

As for the car/truck thing, man I hate that car. So I decided to post it for sale on Craigslist. I really wanted to save some money but I suppose there's a certain type of unhappy that really eats you up.

So back to the truck, there's a post on here that said the TRD OR ended up being about $32 more a month.. in that case I would rather get the TRD OR.. makes sense?
I'll still be looking into an sr5 4x4 and TRD OR
I also considered used, Im not sure what anyone's paid for used but in California they literally cost the same as new or about 3k less with 20k miles.. even the second gens seem pricey at 20k with over 80k miles?

I also considered a 2 door wagnler... pretty cheap.. lol

 

I think I've just outgrown it. I bought it 8 years ago when I was 19, both my lifestyle and mentality are very different. But if I could pick out what I dislike the most is it's size. Pot holes in LA feel like the car is about to fall apart, I can't fit my dog, and the small trunk makes things dificult. I think I'm also tired of driving a manual trans. After 10 years I'm tired of it lol. Every time I get into an auto it's just nice to have the car go on it's own and now worry about anything else (stop and go traffic for an hour). My dad has a pickup, it's what I grew up with so I'm biased towards trucks. Every time I borrow it, it's just nice. Granted I don't need the bed, i suppose a Prius would be more than ok. So I figure a 2 door Wrangler might also be an option and my dog will fit if I remove the back seats.

 

Haha thanks, your advice has been great and much appreciate. You are the very reason why I love forums so much. Despite the car/truck, you get people from all walks of life, with different life experiences, different ages and different mindsets to create a community (as always, we hope for a positive community). So your not a Debby downer at all. Quite the contrary.

(Funny how life is, I'd probably tell my dad to quit being such a negative Nancy if he told me the same thing lol)

 

Buying a truck is not the problem. It is the financing game that kills you. Save up. Then, when you have the money in your account, you can decide whether to buy it or not with a clear head. And you will make a great decision...whether you buy it or not.

 

Especially with interest rates being as low as they still are. Dumping 30k cash into a depreciating asset seems foolish to me, unless one is very well off and that only amounts to a few months of saving.

 

I sold the Z! Woo!
Im not going to lie I was a little sad watching it go.. but, it quickly went away. Lol.

So on the poll, lots of people voted to keep the Z! And I really was. Lots of great advice on here and I took a lot of things into consideration. In the end, I was immensely unhappy, uncomfortable, and just completely loathed driving that thing. Great weekend car, terrible DD. (For me at least)

Im considering a few things, still not too keen on purchasing a new taco yet (at least not a TRD). A few people here mentioned used, but in California they hold their value waaay too good. Saw one with 100k miles for $20k, crazy! But as always, I'm open to a good deal if I find one. I am however, very seriously considering a small beater for now. Sub 10k, Honda Fit or such used cars. I'm thinking I can hold off for a year or two on the taco, maybe see what ford does with the bronco or ranger. In a year or two's time, Im thinking I can save up some money on the side and either keep the beater+taco or sell it. Depreciation shouldnt be as bad on something so cheap AND my pooch fits in it! I initially didn't want to sell my car to end up with another car, but my gf has a Miata, so transporting my pooch in the Z was just impossible (and dangerous). I Would've bought a bigger car initially but she was rescued as a 2 week old pup (long story for another day). I'm Actually very happy and almost relieved that I finally sold it lol.

Anywhoo, that's it for now. All comments are welcome!

 

Honda Fit. Very utilitarian, over priced because 'Honda'.

Toyota Matrix or Pontiac Vibe (same vehicle, different badging)

Subaru Outback, Forester or CrossTrek

A mid 2000's Highlander or RAV4

All reasonable choices with reliability and capacity. The Subies will be higher priced due to the same aurora that 'Tacoma' produces.

But the Vibe is only wanted by people who are smart enough to know the mechanicals are all Toyota. The uninformed think it's Pontiac, so no more parts.

 

Most of the issues with the 3rd gen have been with the automatic transmission, so, ponder that

There appears to be much less dissatisfaction with the manual trans versions.

But yes, living in the city with a manual trans as your DD can really be a chore.

Since it seems you have decided to wait a bit, maybe the auto trans issues will be fully resolved when you are ready to purchase.

PS: Smart move on the waiting.

We live in an "Instant Gratification" society where we "deserve" everything because we work so hard.

This mentality is what leads to the linked article about longer and longer loan rates due to people buying more than they can afford.

What's the old saying...

Buying things you don't need with money you don't have just to impress people you don't know.

 

Oooooo that's a good one! Very true!

 

I'll just leave this here:

http://www.theminimalists.com/fc/

"The things you own end up owning you"

I'm one of the "I deserve to buy a new truck," bought the truck last year as a 28 year old after having bought my house two years before. I had been driving my 1990 st185 celica for near ten years before that.

Trust me, payments are a bitch. I can't wait to pay it off.