Should I get rid of the truck for a car?

[truckin88 104]

If some of you remember last year I picked up a real nice 2010 nissan titan king cab 4wd pickup, it is a beast of a truck. Issue is it gets 14mpg... now this is not just about the horrible gas prices. My job locations has changed (same company) and I am thankful to have a decent job. The thing is my commute is now 100 miles a day. Timing for this change stinks, especially with gas prices, but at least I am working. The Titan is killing me between $100-140 to fill up a week. I am considering trading it in on a Civic, it will also lower my car payment by about $75-$100 per month, and the civic gets 30mpg all day. I have had the titan for 11 months and currently have 22,000 miles on it....So whatever I drive I am going to kill. I love having a truck around, but it is becoming impractical and financially destructive. I might take a bath on the truck not sure yet.

And I can always borrow my Dad's (DODGE RAM) or Father in laws (GMC SIERRA) pickups if needed.

[bell 11]

That is a decision that only you can make...

With that said, I traded my 2001 Chevy Avalanche (14mpg) for a 2006 Dodge Magnum R/T (22mpg, if you drive sensibly) and haven't regretted it one bit. The benefit of the Magnum is that it is QUITE the hauler and it still gets great mileage. I put a reese hitch on it and it does trailer duty all the time. (the 5.7 Hemi helps with that)

So, don't be afraid to broaden your search for something different, there's a lot of VERY capable "cars" out there, that do very good as a hauler and still get great mileage.

[Ken B 3,202]

I don't think its a real bad idea Will. It would mostly depend on if it's a bath that is going too last forever or just for a short time till you start seeing some savings.

I know you are not a little guy, make sure the Honda isn't going to kill yer ass or legs on that long commute. My wife has a Subaru WRX. I can't stand to drive that car for any period of time. It kills my butt and the seats are kinda small for my back. I'd much rather be pimpin along in my Grand Cherokee where the seats are nice and comfy. For me its all about driver comfort.

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,590]

Will,

My cousin just got a job that he is going to spent a lot of windshield time and he did a ton of research on the best commuter type car. He ended up getting the 2011 hyundai elantra. I would check that car out. I have seen it and he raves about it. I think he gets about 40mpg !! He is pretty anal about his things and if he likes it then I am convinced. It is a really sproty little car.

In terms of taking a bath on your Nissan, give big Jim a call he can explain how that works as he has been there and done that many times Shoot he may even buy that truck from you....

Question is how long before he sees this post and responds call calls me :thumbs:

[VinsRJ 723]

I just aquired a long commute also..... running about 80 miles per day. I would love to have a full size truck of some sort but, its just not in the cards for a multiple of reasons. A nice alternative to the truck is a good utility trailer. I've got a high quality one which is 4x8, strong enough to haul serious stuff but, light enough to be pulled by a compact. Not to mention property tax is low, registration is low, no need to carry specific "insurance" and no need to add additional fuel.

[Jim_M 179]

All I know is, the first car company to make a 1/2 ton truck with a 200 hp turbo diesel is going to own the market.

[rmaynard 16,561]

You have to do what is the most economical for you. I would suspect that gas prices are only going to go up, so go for the highest mileage car you can afford.

If you can get a decent price for the Nissan, sell it now. Trucks like it will be a dime-a-dozen if you need one at a later date.

[Shuboxlover 482]

Two years ago we had a super nice crew cab Chevy HD pickup (which got 12 mpg) I also commute to work each day, and when gas prices got over $3 the first time around two years ago it would cost me $25/day just to drive it back and forth to work. THAT REALLY SUCKED!!!!!!!!!!! I traded it for a Nissan Altima and although the car seems to be an o.k. car, I REALLY miss the pickup but I guess that's part of growing up) making sacrifices, and doing what you have to do to insure your family's well being. It is great you have a good job, and that is more to be thankful for than a nice rig in my opinion. You can always get a different pickup later (At least that's what I've been telling myself for the past couple years) :thumbs:

[wheelhorse656 20]

my grandpa and grandma bought a ford focus because before that they only had my grandpas truck about 14mpg and there suv about 17 mpg they bought the focus and that has been the primary driver for log distances. when my grandma goes to work she drives the car. when the go out of town the car when we go to tractor shows we drive the truck it is nice to have a truck to drive and a car. the focus gets 34mpg. i think they paid 15,000 for it but they got a discount because my uncle used to work for ford. if can afford your truck and a small car i would go for it and keep the truck and get a car. the amount you would save on gas would probly take care of your car payment. if not i would sell the truck and get a car since you have a truck avalible for u to use when u need to. but it is up to u do what you think is better for you. :thumbs:

[SALTYWRIGHT 861]

HI..........WHEN I GOT RID OF MY PICK UP I WENT FOR A GOOD TRAILER AND IT HAS WORKED OUT VERY GOOD. I TOW WITH A TOYOTA WITH 230 H/P AND GET 32 M.P.G. I TOW ABOUT 2000 PLUS MILES A YEAR. RUSS :thumbs:

[truckin88 104]

guys, thanks for the advice, a 5x8 is in the cards for my dad and I to share. My wife has a CRV which will get a hitch....and no she will not trade cars, she has a 25 mile commute each way...welcome to the NY/NJ/CT commuter life style I guess.

Also 2 cars won't work, truck is to much a month to have sit there and insurance etc. I am expecting a $1-2K bath on the truck, but savings of gas and a lower car payment will run about $400-500 a month so I would recoupe in about 6 months.

[hm12460 53]

Hey 88, you probably will take a bath on your Nissan, but the higher gas gets the bigger the bath will be. I agree 100% with Jim. If Ford or GM made a truck the size of a Dakota with a 4 cyl. turbo diesel, it would sell very well. I'd be all over it. Let us know what you get!

[truckin88 104]

Guys I actually did ok, not a huge bath, it took a lot of shopping, but I ended up with a 2011 Honda CR-V EX 4wd for an amazing price, and got the exact trade in I wanted. I had to travel about 1 hour 30 minutes to a huge honda dealership in NJ. (1000 new Hondas, 100 CR-V's in stock). They are big volume. My parents bought a 2011 Crosstour 4wd, so buying 2 hondas in one day got us some smoking deals. I had looked at econoboxes, but my wife was worried about snow. And the CR-V really had the best ratings and retention of value. Also we have a 2007, so I knew what the real numbers were already.

I went to honda, subaru, and nissan about 25 dealers all together, but saved thousands compared to the other deals I was offered.

0.9% financing was a honda perk as well.

Did 200miles so far avg 25mpg....better than 13

[rydogg 186]

I am having the same problem...with the current gas prices the GMC Envoy XL V8 that gets 15-19 mpg has gotta go...I picked up a cheap truck for myself and I have a 4x10 trailer but the wife needs something for work we are going car shopping soon and set our spending limit at about $15,000 we like the Nissan Altima, Maxima, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and I just looked at a very nice Chevy Impala SS . Does anyone have any advice or suggestions we are a family of 5 so it needs to be big enough and get at least 30mpg.

[truckin88 104]

check out the hyundai elantra, it si a heck of a package for the price, the only reason I did not go for an econo box is snow, none of them are good in it, no matter tires, traction control, etc, they just do not have the weight. After this last winter, 4wd or AWD is necessary here, especially since I work for a railroad and which is open in all weather.

[hoppy 0]

want my fuel bill for the week????!!!!

2007 F350 diesel dually and 2004 Tahoe Z71. To top it all off the bass boat comes out soon and the wife starts showing horses soon. Both our hobbies just add to the fuel bills. Ohwell.....cant take it with you when your # is up right?

i recently sold my brother inlaw my '94 Ford escort. I was using it as a daily driver to work and what not and using one of the big rigs when needed. Filled it for $30-35 and would last all week. getting an easy 30 + MPG. I told him im buying it back when he sells it! we do also have a Yamaha Zuma 49cc scooter that gets like 100mpg! if gas hits $5 a gallon ill be putting in some seat time on that baby! my commute will take three times longer......but i can do it 1/4 of a gallon!!!!!

[truckin88 104]

Trucks are great, but you need the lifestyle to justify, I don't make money with a truck I am an IT guy, and my 500 mile commute a week is not truck friendly...while my hobbies will suffer, I can't justify "burning" money..

Hoppy at least your diesel won't lose the value like a gasser would...smaller dealers are afraid to take trucks in,the big ones don't care and were giving fair value.

[n1defan 47]

I would go with the the car, but an American car. That is just my opinion though.

[smoreau 658]

I would go with the the car, but an American car. That is just my opinion though.

I second that one :thumbs:

[truckin88 104]

I would go with the the car, but an American car. That is just my opinion though.

My Honda was built in Ohio, when I had my Nissan Titan it was built in Canton MS....yet my 2003 Ford Focus was built in Mexico and my 2006 Jeep Wrangler (the American Icon) built in Canada...this whole lets buy American cars stuff is just an old way of thinking at this point. Those companies are investing just as much here as GM is in asia. They are building plants and employing American workers.

[Buzz 502]

I would go with the the car, but an American car. That is just my opinion though.

I second that one

What exactly is an American car? Honda, Toyota, and Nissan have some of their cars built in the US while some Chevies are built in Mexico and Canada. Chrysler corp is foreign owned. With all of the mergers you need a scorecard to keep track. I own a Hyundai that was built in the good old US of A by American workers who spent their American dollars in american grocery stores, restaurants, and of course paying taxes. :drool:

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,590]

Congrats Will .. Maybe you can call big jim and work out a deal for your old trailer back :thumbs:

[whfan74 2,073]

Congratulations on your new purchase. I can understand the reasoning for doing it. I don't drive as far to work as you do but I have contemplated doing the same thing here recently. I love my truck and it has served me well but the stops at the gas pump are tough on the wallet. I drive a 2004 Ford F-150 Super Crew 4x4. My only saving grace is that my wife and I teach in the same school so we drive her car everyday to work. Now that I am finished with coaching we don't have two cars sitting in the same parking lot. My truck hasn't been started since last Saturday and it looks like it will only be driven tomorrow for the entire week. It is the only vehicle that will pull my dad's 7x18 enclosed trailer at the moment so it would be tough to get rid of it.

We all have to make sacrifices some where. Unfortunately our income doesn't change when the cost of gasoline changes.

Hope you enjoy your little extra financial freedom! :thumbs:

[6wheeler 669]

I am glad you found what you needed Will, maybe down the road you can find a truck(if you want one) as an xtra vehicle that you can buy outright. Then it won't bother you so much if it sits most of the time. Ryan, look into a used Volvo. Maybe a 10 year old one or something like that. They hold up well here in Mn. with all of our salting and they are bullet proof. I have an 88 740, it seats five comfortably and it gets around 30mpg. Plus it is a super safe car and I feel good when the kids drive it. My brother has a 05 Impala, all I can say is it isn't like the Impalas I remember. Alot of little problems with it.

[rydogg 186]

Pat...I actually just called about a 2009 Volvo S80 ($19,000) and an Acura RL AWD ($20,000) yesterday and am going to look at them this weekend the prices are little more than we are looking to pay but at least I can get a feel for them and how well they are built who knows maybe we'll make a deal, the Impala ($16,000) was nice but they seem to loose their value so much faster than most of the "Imports" and in my opinion they are a lower quality vehicle, we traded our 2008 Impala LT for the Envoy when we had our third child thinking we needed third row seating and now we don't use it anyways.