Aint No Right

I've had a company car (2014 Ford Escape) and gas card for the last two years that I've been able to use for commuting and unlimited personal use. My company is going away from that. Soon we'll have pool cars available in the yard. Since they're going away from my initial agreement, I'm going to be given a bump in my salary and a car allowance (likely pretty low since we'll have the pool cars available to us. I'm hearing somewhere around $550/mo). This will probably all take effect first of the year.

Initially I was thinking about a Crosstrek or similar AWD Subaru. I have some friends who have had poor experiences with CVT transmissions so I'm thinking now I want to stay away from the Subaru. I do want something with AWD or 4WD so I can get up to my place in the mountains though.

Right now I'm thinking a 4WD crew cab Tacoma or a 4WD Explorer. I think I'd prefer a Toyota, but after talking with purchasing agents from my company I've found that I could get fleet purchase pricing and 0 or no financing for going with Ford (since my company uses Ford for most all of our trucks and cars.)

My price point is probably right around 30k.

Thoughts?????

You should have posted this in the Deep Thoughts by Etty thread to get more views.

Everybody's Friend wrote:You should have posted this in the Deep Thoughts by Etty thread to get more views.

ya probably.

an explorer will probably run you about 40k for 4wd. you should go used. i have an explorer and they are pretty reliable.

i also have an audi a4 avant (wagon). that is my favorite of the two because it's fast, awd and better on gas mileage. it can get me up to tahoe no problem and good for going around town.

go to carmax and drive a bunch of vehicles. you could get something pretty nice a couple years old for under 30k.

i like the mazda cx3 or cx5 if you want a awd crossover. you could get either one for under 30K new

cx3



cx5

I need a truck soon. I'd love one that runs..... other than that I'm not too picky.

I'm jonesing for a '93 Chevy Silverado 90,000 miles. My budget is 3-4k, I think I can get it for $2,500.

A little concerned about a money pit though. Can a good mechanic tell if there are imminent issues, or is it just the luck of the draw?

Concerned about ignition coil map sensor- EGR valve- IAC valve Cluster Radiator Fuel pump Idler arm Pitman arms Upper coolant hose 2 x thermostats Intake manifold gasket Master cylinder 4 rear shock absorbers Exhaust flange gasket Water pump 3 rear shocks leaf springs and the muffler.

I've only had one used SUV and sold it about 2 years after I bought it.

mockbee wrote:I need a truck soon. I'd love one that runs..... other than that I'm not too picky.

I'm jonesing for a '93 Chevy Silverado 90,000 miles. My budget is 3-4k, I think I can get it for $2,500.

I've only had one used SUV and sold it about 2 years after I bought it.

i want to sell my explorer and get an old pickup with a lumber rack. i can fit a lot in the suv but i can't fit long lumber or sheets of plywood or drywall.

i do like the suv though since it's only $10 at the dump and a pickup truck is $20. i go to the dump a lot.

creep wrote:

mockbee wrote:I need a truck soon. I'd love one that runs..... other than that I'm not too picky.

I'm jonesing for a '93 Chevy Silverado 90,000 miles. My budget is 3-4k, I think I can get it for $2,500.

I've only had one used SUV and sold it about 2 years after I bought it.

i want to sell my explorer and get an old pickup with a lumber rack. i can fit a lot in the suv but i can't fit long lumber or sheets of plywood or drywall.

i do like the suv though since it's only $10 at the dump and a pickup truck is $20. i go to the dump a lot.

Yes, I need a rack and a decent sized bed. Have you looked at any trucks in particular? I just found the silverado in the parking lot of my mother-in-laws condo, wouldn't even have to move it. ha. I think I probably want something newer though since about 20 years out that's about the time everything probably fails.

The dump will kill ya. They don't do it by weight at your dump?

Metal runs are always fun though.

what about a Honda Pilot?
Everyone I know that has one loves them!

Romeo wrote:what about a Honda Pilot?
Everyone I know that has one loves them!

good cars but they are ugly. they look like a minivan

I loved my Nissan Murano company car a few years back. It was very comfortable, had a great sound system, and I felt like the car didn't advertise anything in particular. My wife made the most recent decision on cars since I don't have a company car anymore. I thought she'd be doing way more driving than me, but that ended up not being the case. Anyway, we've got a Scion XB, which she loves, but I feel like it looks like a clown car even though it's roomy on the inside.

creep wrote:an explorer will probably run you about 40k for 4wd. you should go used. i have an explorer and they are pretty reliable.

i also have an audi a4 avant (wagon). that is my favorite of the two because it's fast, awd and better on gas mileage. it can get me up to tahoe no problem and good for going around town.

go to carmax and drive a bunch of vehicles. you could get something pretty nice a couple years old for under 30k.

i like the mazda cx3 or cx5 if you want a awd crossover. you could get either one for under 30K new

cx3



cx5

That Cx3 looks sharp. I think i'll check those out this weekend.

Romeo wrote:what about a Honda Pilot?
Everyone I know that has one loves them!

I always hear that Hondas are good cars, but I've never thought they looked that sharp. I don't know how to describe it other than they look "plain."

blackcoffee wrote:I loved my Nissan Murano company car a few years back. It was very comfortable, had a great sound system, and I felt like the car didn't advertise anything in particular. My wife made the most recent decision on cars since I don't have a company car anymore. I thought she'd be doing way more driving than me, but that ended up not being the case. Anyway, we've got a Scion XB, which she loves, but I feel like it looks like a clown car even though it's roomy on the inside.

that looks like a similar body and style to the escape I have. I think i'll go test drive one of those.

You buy anything? I drive a Subaru kinda and can attest that in the snow it is a damned beast. I drive a Saab 9-2x Aero, which is a WRX Wagon made for Saab for only 2 years (2005-2006). That being said I'd stay away from that CRT bullshit. I still got my muscle cars though too, but they're going to be on the way out sooner than later to fund a house.

ended up getting the 4runner.

love it so far. can't wait to get it up to the snow.

just read my initial post... solid 10k over my "price point." nice.

sinep wrote:

ended up getting the 4runner.

love it so far. can't wait to get it up to the snow.

I bet you look like a real moron driving that shit.

Larry B. wrote:

sinep wrote:

ended up getting the 4runner.

love it so far. can't wait to get it up to the snow.

I bet you look like a real moron driving that shit.

i live in a prosperous first world country where lots of people drive nice cars.

bus? soviet era jeep? donkey? How is it customary for people in your country to travel from village to village?

What, Scotland?

Bandit72 wrote:What, Scotland?

damn, that's right he's not in chile anymore...

hmmmmmm. i'm not really sure what to say now.

how did you decide to move to Scotland by the way????

sinep wrote:

Bandit72 wrote:What, Scotland?

damn, that's right he's not in chile anymore...

hmmmmmm. i'm not really sure what to say now.

beam me up Larry?

sinep wrote:how did you decide to move to Scotland by the way????

I needed more ginger people in my life. They are super awesome.