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New Vehicle.

thelastsession

thelastsession

Monkey
Oct 24, 2006
170
0
I've been looking into new cars, either brand new or around or above 2005 models. Price range is under $25,000. So far I have looked at the 07 Chevy Silverados Regular cab. Can be 4x4 or 2wd, but 2wd must have posi-traction. I'm not sure if I want a truck, although that would be the most practical- I keep wanting a more sporty car (or truck) within the price range. Like a newer 06 used Nissan Maxima... with a manual transmission (more fun to drive) something along the lines of that? I also don't want to get f'ed on insurance.

There are just so many cars out there its hard to pin point exactly what it is that I'm looking for. I like the functionality of the truck but I am unsure of how much I will use it- I could use the passenger space of a nice sporty 4 door, but also could use the bed of a 2 door truck.

So any ideas? Help me out- I'll answer questions about how I'm going to use it more I just didn't want this post to get out of hand.
 
jimmydean

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
41,211
13,346
Portland, OR
What about a nice '95 Toyota Camary wagon with automatic? There are so many cool mods you could do to it...
 
R

renorider40

Monkey
Aug 22, 2005
426
0
Get a truck for sure. It just makes things so so much easier to do, like moving things around and what not. Plus having a bed helps a lot with bikes, saves me so much hassle. Maybe just look at a small truck, tacoma, nissan frontier, something along the lines of that. If you getting a big truck i like the nissan titans and the new tundra's. And the silverado's would be my next pic.
 
binary visions

binary visions

The voice of reason
Jun 13, 2002
22,100
1,150
NC
Unless you're pretty sure you'll be using the truck bed a lot, you may end up wishing you had more interior space. Trucks are awesome and I'd kill to have my old truck back but it was primarily because I went off-roading with it almost every day, so I was really using all that clearance and the bed.

If you aren't using it, you've just got a waste of gas and a lack of interior storage. Hauling groceries back from the store is a joy :p
 
thelastsession

thelastsession

Monkey
Oct 24, 2006
170
0
The interior space is my main problem right now. I have a 2000 Chevy S10, and its a regular cab. I'm 6' so a small pick up truck is way too small for me. It also has a leer lid on the back, which compacts my bed space to about 2 feet vertically. I can still fit my bike inside, but other hobbies like dirtbiking/snowmobiling force me to use a trailer which is not a bad option since I have a trailer.

I'm leaning more and more towards the truck now, but I am mostly second guessing myself because I haven't actually used the bed in my truck much besides things that can fit in it. I'm also not sure how much of the time I'm riding with more than one passenger because I haven't done much of that either- being limited by the space inside.

So I'm not exactly sure how much I will actually need, and the engine will be somewhat practical while still being powerful at a 4.8L V8 in the Chevy.

I've also looked into the Tundras/Tacomas but when I can get a full size Chevy for less than a mid size Tacoma I kind of scratch my head.

There's still the one part of me that wants to go fast, I've driven an inline 6 and that was fast, the 8 must haul ass. Maybe I will save up and buy a streetbike to quench the part of me that does not want to be practical. Ever seen a bike rack on a GSXR?
 
buildyourown

buildyourown

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2004
4,832
0
South Seattle
I just bought a Tacoma Doublecab last week and so far, I love it.
It's a prerunner so it gets 20+mpg easily.
It handles great for a truck. It hold 4 adults and 4 bikes. I got it loaded with the tow package and the TRD and it was $26k.
I'm buying a nice canopy for it so it can double as a camper as Whistler too.
Have you driven a Tacoma? They are pretty big inside without being stupid huge and hard to park.
 
jimmydean

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
41,211
13,346
Portland, OR
If I was going to get a full sized truck (I will buy one for my wife next year), it will be a Dodge quad cab diesel.

Otherwise, the Toyota Tacoma is about as good as it gets for a mid sized truck. I'm 6'4" and fit in the back seat, so there is enough room. Not a lot, but enough for most.

<edit> The new Silverados are nice, but get one that is 2 years old, so someone else eats the depreciation. Dodge diesels hold their value, Chevy and Ford do not.
 
TreeSaw

TreeSaw

Mama Monkey
Oct 30, 2003
17,670
1,855
Dancin' over rocks n' roots!
binary visions said:
Unless you're pretty sure you'll be using the truck bed a lot, you may end up wishing you had more interior space. Trucks are awesome and I'd kill to have my old truck back but it was primarily because I went off-roading with it almost every day, so I was really using all that clearance and the bed.

If you aren't using it, you've just got a waste of gas and a lack of interior storage. Hauling groceries back from the store is a joy :p
Click to expand...
:stupid: I ended up getting a Chevy Equinox and have had it for 2.5 years. It's great in all weather, has a hitch rack and a roof rack and LOTS of interior space for all of my gear and crap.
 
Westy

Westy

the teste
Nov 22, 2002
54,442
20,248
Sleazattle
These threads are great. You should buy whatever car I have/want.

Just listen to Blue's advice, he is a super savvy car owner.
 
jacksonpt

jacksonpt

Turbo Monkey
Jul 22, 2002
6,791
59
Vestal, NY
I have a tacoma and the utility of it is amazing. That said, it's boring as ****. IMO, a mid-sized 4door truck (tacoma, frontier, colorado, etc) or a sport wagon (Mazda 3, Imprezza wagon, etc) are the best options. The truck will have a bit more versatility but the sport wagon will be more fun to drive. If you stay way from turbos (i.e. the WRX), insurance should stay pretty reasonable.

The mazda 3s are a blast to drive.
 
M

mert

Chimp
Jul 17, 2006
46
0
mass
umm, how about a brand new snowmobile, new motorbike, a couple of new mountain bikes, and keep driving what you have...keep a pic of all the toys for whenever someone questions your vehicle choice...:busted:
 
jimmydean

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
41,211
13,346
Portland, OR
BMXman said:
don't you just love all the "helpful" advice in this thread....D
Click to expand...
Well, when you spread the field with "I was looking at an '07 Silverado, then I thought about a 5 speed Altima...", you leave it pretty wide open at that point.

Most people have it narrowed down to at least a single vehicle "type", but you never know.
 
Toshi

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,319
7,744
Westy said:
These threads are great. You should buy whatever car I have/want.

Just listen to Blue's advice, he is a super savvy car owner.
Click to expand...
ditto. this one is the most worthless given the ridiculously vague request. however, i'm sure there will be a new contender for the title within the week.

my personal recommendation is to buy a donk.

:twitch:
 
Quo Fan

Quo Fan

don't make me kick your ass
Mar 31, 2006
5,909
36
Here. I'm just not sure where "here" is.
I have a Tacoma. My next vehicle will be another Tacoma, but with an extended cab and bucket, not a bench, seats. I like having the 4X4, because I have to drive in quarry's sometimes, and the roads can get steep and muddy.
 
thelastsession

thelastsession

Monkey
Oct 24, 2006
170
0
Well the point of the thread wasn't to throw out a ton of options from a car to a truck and back again without any sense of direction- I said two types of vehicles and was just wondering what else was out there. I realize it was very broad... but I thought I may be missing something.

I will have to look into the Tacomas. The last time I checked they were sitting at around $35,000 for the ones that were on the lot, but I only saw a couple and strayed away. As someone mentioned, the turning radius/parking it is a big key factor because I actually enjoy leaving the mall...

Also resale is not that much of a worry to me because I am going to be keeping the car for a while so I want something roomy, and practical, etc... and I just cant seem to find it in a single car.

I've looked at the FJ's too and those seemed out of my price range as well. I know I can haggle the price but probably not $6-7k.
 
buildyourown

buildyourown

Turbo Monkey
Feb 9, 2004
4,832
0
South Seattle
thelastsession said:
Well the point of the thread wasn't to throw out a ton of options from a car to a truck and back again without any sense of direction- I said two types of vehicles and was just wondering what else was out there. I realize it was very broad... but I thought I may be missing something.

I will have to look into the Tacomas. The last time I checked they were sitting at around $35,000 for the ones that were on the lot, but I only saw a couple and strayed away. As someone mentioned, the turning radius/parking it is a big key factor because I actually enjoy leaving the mall...

Also resale is not that much of a worry to me because I am going to be keeping the car for a while so I want something roomy, and practical, etc... and I just cant seem to find it in a single car.

I've looked at the FJ's too and those seemed out of my price range as well. I know I can haggle the price but probably not $6-7k.
Click to expand...

You should definitely look at the tacomas then. I was very surprised at how good the turning radius was. And how easy it is to park.
I tried the sport wagon thing. It lasted a year. I'm back to trucks.
As for the price, you can get them loaded with 4wd for 30k.
 
Repack

Repack

Turbo Monkey
Nov 29, 2001
1,889
0
Boston Area
thelastsession said:
... It also has a leer lid on the back, which compacts my bed space to about 2 feet vertically....
Click to expand...
So you want to sleep in it? A lot of SUV's have rear seats that pop right out giving you a ton of sleeping room. I drilled out the hinge pins in my Pathfinder and replaced them with bolts / wing nuts. The "sleeping" area went from ~5'6" (about 2" shorter than I am) to close to 7' with the front seats slid forward. I also have a 4x8 utility trailer, Thule roof box and a hitch-mount bike rack. I had been thinking about a pickup but not any more. Its nice having the interior space as well as the ability to easily haul 4 people and bike / camping gear, especially with gas prices being what they are.
 
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