To jump or not to jump

I did entertain the whole third car thing, I’m super hesitant about buying somebody else’s problem ever since I bought a used Subaru that was garbage after a week then proceeded to be in the shop weekly for six months until it was fixed, I was super lucky the dealer owner had a partner that felt obligated to do the right thing(some without the owner knowing) because the owner of the dealership was done with me after two weeks… maybe it’s time

 

Used Subaru is a different ball game. They are one of the least reliable Japanese cars. Most mechanics don't enjoy working on that boxer engine. I'm a mechanic and love it when a Toyota rolls in for service. With a good inspection, don't be afraid of the right used Toyota.

My 01 Land Cruiser is AWD all the time. Easy as pie to drive in the rain/snow. 100 series LC can be had for a reasonable price, they are a great value. I've owned GX470, V8 4runner, Tacoma they are all amazing vehicles and I would buy again.

 

Sounds like you don’t need a truck.

 

too much going on here

 

OP, what do you feel like you want? Set aside briefly the money, the house, the 4runner, beginner drivers, vermont, logic and reason.

The civic could be pretty sweet. I'm pretty sure the aftermarket is way way better compared with corolla. Is it the 2.0?!? I'm biased against it though, it's too big, I don't like blue or turbos.

I noticed in your post you have some use for a bed, so, a trailer for the 4runner would be more cumbersome for small loads there.

 

Haha I think I might get to have both, I found a super clean second gen, original owner, low miles, like an hour away, waiting on when I can take a look at it

 

Keep the hondo

 

Had a hondo lease loved the LAKS system, the brake lock at stop lights and the 42mpg

 

jumping it

 

Life is short if you can afford it get what you want!
Gotta enjoy your ride!

my 18 has been good and I like it!

 

I got rid of a 22 Corolla for my 23 Tacoma. I love the Tacoma, but I really miss the fuel economy of the Corolla. Other than that it was a no brainer for me

 

I did the exact same. Had a 22 manual se upgrade in celestite. Traded it for a 23 manual pro in solar octane, love my tacoma but I sure do miss my corolla when I'm commuting. Especially since they got rid of the manual option.

But I popped a hole in the ac condenser on my corolla in 40 k km from rocks on the hwy, that didn't impress me at all.

I cross shopped civics when I bought my car and I heard nothing but bad things about those 1.5 turbos. That car is really nice looking though.

 

I feel like a lot of the dislikes are generally just things trucks do, which people don’t like. Like it’s slow and handles like a truck, which I feel like is expected at least to me. The gear hunting is kinda over blown unless you drive hard and a manual solves that. The seats aren't that comfortable - I’ll agree to that

 

I came back to a Tacoma after not having one for a few years and love it. I would say if you can afford it, go for it! Show us pics when you get it please.

 

I also live in VT and had a new Civic Si that I was able to trade in at the height of covid-craszy-resale-prices and leased a 2021 Tacoma TRD-Offroad instead. I have had zero regrets nearly 3 years later. In fact, I was going to buy out this truck but might instead get a brand new 2023 in the same configuration. THAT'S how much I love this truck.

 

Trying to do the math on spending $30k in order to save on fuel cost

 

You need to own the better-MPG car for 50 years.

 

Idk why people keep assuming that, I Never said the goal was saving money, I had looked at an electric vehicle which is more expensive, I wanted to use less gas since two of us were driving an hour each in two pigs (Tacoma and 4Runner) I decided against electric because infrastructure in my area sucks, however over the past year, renting and borrowing a trailer is a pain in the ass and I don’t want to look at one in my yard bad enough to buy one. I kept the 4Runner because it’s a better family vehicle than the Tacoma. That being said, I’m just going to get a used one for the utility and keep the civic as a daily driver, kills both issues. I can have the bed for hunt, fish, wood, yard stuff, etc and don’t have to drive the Tacoma daily. I honestly never considered a used one because of my past history with used vehicles biting me in the ass but if I only need it once or twice a month as a truck I can live with any potential reliability issue that may come up on my own time and the major depreciation has already taken place.

 

Hello fellow Vermonter!

I have a civic and bought a 2003 tacoma as a 3rd vehicle about 15 months ago. My commute is 70 miles round trip so the Honda does save quite a bit on gas, tho I do usually take the truck once or twice a week.

3 cars can be a hassle sometimes, but the extra set of wheels has come in handy and I feel much better driving over the mountain in the truck when the roads are bad. I do have snow tires on the civic but ground clearance leaves a lot to be desired.

 

Haha yes, I couldn’t get up the hill to get out of my town during the last snowstorm, and my road gets bad enough in the spring that they have ‘mud days’ sometimes , that would be another benefit haha, glad it worked out for ya, hoping for the same!!