Car repossession question

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by speede5

Every situation is different, what is stupid to one person makes sense to another. I still can't wrap my head around accepting depreciation in a new car buy, yet when I get in a new car I wonder if I'm missing out a bit driving beaters all the time.

I sometimes think that too, but honestly every time I test drive or sit in a new car, I'm never particularly impressed. Yes, there are more gadgets now, but I find the general move to screens instead of buttons to be counter-intuitive (and a future maintenance nightmare).

Also the driving experience itself is getting worse in many cars, since everyone seems to be moving towards smaller high-compression engines and/or turbos due to environmental regulations. Many cars have lost their level of refinement and feel quite buzzy. The NA inline-6 in my crappy 2003 3-series is a great driving and sounding engine, but you can't get anything like it from BMW any more. My wife's XC70 has a great 6-cylinder turbo that has plenty of power reserve and pulls like a freight train....now you can't get a 6-cylinder in any Volvo, and people complain of the loss of refinement...despite them being 70-90K.

I test drove a new Tacoma, and apart from it being pretty under powered, the 3.6L engine sounded like a bucket of bolts smashing around. Much worse than the previous gen 4.0L (which thankfully is still found in the 4Runner...for now). Even the manual transmission felt pretty meh.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Sliver

A Gladiator, eh? That surprises me about you in the same way you were surprised when Troutman bought the Challenger.

Ha, yeah, I didn't see myself in one either. But we had a Wranger rental in Colorado last summer and I was surprised how much I liked that thing. It just had a lot of personality you dont get in a lot of cars. Kids went ape#### over it too with all the folding panels and manual (gasp!) windows.

But yeah, the prices of them are pretty insane...which is why I shy away. I don't think they are selling that well to be honest. The hardcore guys who were demanding a Jeep truck bought one already...and there doesn't seem to be a ton of others left.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Ha, yeah, I didn't see myself in one either. But we had a Wranger rental in Colorado last summer and I was surprised how much I liked that thing. It just had a lot of personality you dont get in a lot of cars. Kids went ape#### over it too with all the folding panels and manual (gasp!) windows.

But yeah, the prices of them are pretty insane...which is why I shy away. I don't think they are selling that well to be honest. The hardcore guys who were demanding a Jeep truck bought one already...and there doesn't seem to be a ton of others left.

Were you on vacation when you drove the Wrangler by chance?

I had a fata up five or so years ago. Was on vacation, got a bee in my bonnet about how fun Jeeps were and bought one that was a couple years old. Had so much fun for the last few days of my vacation, the kids and wife loved it, but when Monday rolled around and I drove it to work, I had that sinking I've made a huge mistake feeling. They drive so crappy and are so slow. Tassels and straps hanging around everywhere just kind of annoying you. Terrible vehicles for just normal driving around.

Ended up returning the vehicle to Jeep and getting my old car back. They were really cool about it and I gave the sales dude $1,000 for his trouble because I felt pretty bad.

As a second car I still think they'd be fun. 4x4 in the winter and for trails, convertible in the summer (even though the top is hopelessly cumbersome). I do like them, but they're not for me it turns out and they're definitely not good as your daily driver.

[burn_this_city]

The older JKs with the 3.8 liter 197 hp minivan engine were complete piles of ####. I think anything with the newer pentastar would be a decent daily. I rented one a couple years ago and it was fun, but it's definitely not a great drivers car.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I think Jeep overestimated how many people would pay real truck money for something that is mostly for show.

The utility of a truck with the fun/cool factor of a convertible Jeep seems like a slam dunk in theory. You're right, it can only be the price that is preventing these from getting popular.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Were you on vacation when you drove the Wrangler by chance?

Totally. I think that vacation experience/fantasy is pretty much what drives 50% of Jeep sales. And then reality sets in...

The Gladiator, with the longer wheelbase, does drive better than the Wrangler on the highway though... although still feels pretty heavy and trucky. I have a very short commute (and if the weather is decent, I bike), but it's all inner city and the Gladiator is quite long, so probably would be a pain in the ass to street park.

As soon as I hopped into the 4Runner, it just felt like an old-friend. Still trucky, but a much more natural driving experience for me. Also the 50-60K value proposition there is more justified.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Totally. I think that vacation experience/fantasy is pretty much what drives 50% of Jeep sales. And then reality sets in...

The Gladiator, with the longer wheelbase, does drive better than the Wrangler on the highway though... although still feels pretty heavy and trucky. I have a very short commute (and if the weather is decent, I bike), but it's all inner city and the Gladiator is quite long, so probably would be a pain in the ass to street park.

As soon as I hopped into the 4Runner, it just felt like an old-friend. Still trucky, but a much more natural driving experience for me.

Yeah I've found myself spending a lot of time in Toyota dealerships for work over the past week and even though I don't generally like SUVs, the 4Runner is impossible not to like.

[Table 5]

I generally dislike SUVs too, but I think it's mostly because they are all fakes now. The 4Runner is still an old school body-on-frame SUV that doesn't try to be something it's not, which I respect. It also feels better put together than the other Toyota models (maybe because it's still built in Japan?).

[Fuzz]

I saw a Gladiator on the street a few days ago, and man, I dunno . It looked so weird. The body is quite narrow, but all the flairs make it look wide. Plus it's a Jeep, so probably going to have front end issues, and it's a first gen. I'd stay away. Plus they are balls expensive.


I really wish Nissan would update the Frontier. It's a nice size truck, and you can get it with a 6 foot bed and extended cab. Just perfect. Of Course the update will probably make it 5% smaller than the Titan with a crew cab and 4 foot bed.

[bagofpucks]

I had a frontier for a rental a while back and man, what a fun little truck. I thought I would hate it, but I really did enjoy driving it. Agreed, it needs an update.

Funny enough, my next vehicle purchase is based on timing of one of my buddies. He has a Tacoma that will be low mileage that he’ll be selling somewhat soon, but if my SUV dies before then I think I’m sold on a brand new 4Runner. At this point in my life, our family is in the buy new and drive for 8-12 years, but we used to be “buy used and flip out when it’s time.” Two things that haven’t been discussed too much is a)warranties for folks that put lots of mileage on vehicles is very important and b)if you have young children or toddlers the consequence of break down is much higher.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I really wish Nissan would update the Frontier. It's a nice size truck, and you can get it with a 6 foot bed and extended cab. Just perfect. Of Course the update will probably make it 5% smaller than the Titan with a crew cab and 4 foot bed.

A new Frontier will be announced this year. From what it sounds like it will be either an update of the current platform or maybe a shortened Titan platform. Hopefully it still stays to it's roots as opposed to ballooning into an expensive fatty.

It's a great simple truck, and like with the 4Runner/Tacoma sales have actually been really high again in the last few years, despite the fact that its a 16-year old platform. I guess some people still like a smaller, affordable truck.

[Table 5]

This article has some details:
https://www.autoblog.com/2020/01/14/...c08Vq69LqSlogm

Our dealer sources (with knowledge of the product via Nissan) tell us the design is completely new, retaining next to nothing of the current Frontier. We’re told to expect an interpretation of the Warrior design seen on the new Titan. It’ll be squared-off, much more masculine and Titan-esque — the folks who described the truck to us say they’ve seen it at various closed-door Nissan events. This macho design language matches what other manufacturers (and Nissan) have aimed for with new pickups.

A new powertrain is also along for the ride. Nissan still sells the Frontier with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and 4.0-liter V6 options. The four-cylinder can even be had with a five-speed manual transmission. A five-speed automatic is optional. None of this will make it into the 2021 Frontier. Instead, we’re told to expect a new 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 and nine-speed automatic transmission.

Bah.

This move upscale is also rumored to be the end of the line for the King Cab, as our sources tell us the Crew Cab might be the only truck available.

Sounds like your predictions will come true Fuzz.

[Fuzz]

Ugh. "Macho". "Upscale". Lame. Just make a small fricken work truck!



I might find myself in a Ford Transit Connect van. At least they are a reasonable size with loads of cargo space. Just makes moving my clay around a lot more manual.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I might find myself in a Ford Transit Connect van. At least they are a reasonable size with loads of cargo space. Just makes moving my clay around a lot more manual.

I had a chance to drive one of those a couple years ago (wagon, not cargo), and was pleasantly surprised. Really roomy inside, lots of glass so great visibility, and drove better than expected. If it had more towing capacity (and ideally a V6), I'd consider it for my next car. It's a solid little van.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Ugh. "Macho". "Upscale". Lame. Just make a small fricken work truck!



I might find myself in a Ford Transit Connect van. At least they are a reasonable size with loads of cargo space. Just makes moving my clay around a lot more manual.

I would absolutely buy a KEI style truck built for North America (left hand, with airbags, maybe a little more payload allowance, able to handle highways).

Example:

[topfiverecords]

There's a place in the SE that deals those and other similar models. I've contemplated getting one.

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Yeah I've found myself spending a lot of time in Toyota dealerships for work over the past week and even though I don't generally like SUVs, the 4Runner is impossible not to like.

I had a 4Runner for 18 years and 535k km's. I think it's still one of the only suv's with a back window that rolls down. That is so handy. You don't really notice it if you don't have it. But if you do have it you wonder how anyone lives without it. I bought a Rav4 just because it is about the same size as my old 4runner. They've really gotten a lot bigger.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Yeah I've found myself spending a lot of time in Toyota dealerships for work over the past week and even though I don't generally like SUVs, the 4Runner is impossible not to like.

Absolutely. It's the only SUV on the market that remembers what the U stands for

[monkeyman]

I really love the older 4 runners.

[stazzy33]

Since this thread has devolved into "How should I purchase my next car?", I figure I am going to throw my current situation to the hive-mind and see what you all think.

My current car is a 2014 Mazda 3 Sport with 165,000ish kilometers on it. My daily commute to and from work is 80 km round-trip and I take monthly trips from Edmonton to Calgary or the mountains. I've owned it since new and beyond oil changes I've put about $5,000 into it, including winter tires, some interior upgrades, roof crossbars, a refurbished alternator, and a new sunroof when mine exploded on the highway (thanks Mazda).

I would like to get into a CUV or SUV (mostly for the ride height and extra storage), and have been looking for a long time a vehicle that gets good fuel economy, has decent acceleration, all the new safety features that vehicles have these days (lane-keep assist, blind spot monitoring, radar cruise control, etc) and Apple Carplay/Android auto. My main contenders for quite some time have been the 2019 turbo charged Mazda CX-5 and a used Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

Recently though, Toyota announced the RAV4 Prime which looks to be a game changer. It is a PHEV that gets an estimated 30 miles on electricity alone, has 302 HP and a 0-60 less than 6.0 seconds, and gets wicked fuel economy. This vehicle is going to be a unicorn and is already in huge demand from the dealers I have talked to. The new RAV4 Hybrids have 6-8 month wait as it is.

So, CP, what should I do:

1. Buy the new RAV4 Prime when it comes out this summer and either a. finance it or b. lease it, at likely pretty high interest rates?

2. Buy a 2019 CX-5 turbo and either a. finance it or b. lease it, at 0% as there are still a few kicking around.

3. Look at buying a used Highlander Hybrid and pay for it in cash if I can get the right vehicle, I'll need to replace the stereo with one that has AA/CP.

There seems to be lots of experts in this thread, so I feel like you all can come up with the best solution.