I need an opinion guys.

[Gecko123]

Selling the 4runner because of gas, and then driving a v6 altima or v6 mustang? Are you sure it is because of gas? I don't buy it

It isn't the gas otherwise you would have mentioned a hybrid prius if you wanted the "savings" Any new car is really just a means between points A and B with the payment counter reset to zero.

Payoff is where you are really going to make a difference in how much you save. Is it really the gas prices or is this something else you aren't aware of yourself? Are you bored with the 4runner and you want a sporty car instead and you are blaming the gas prices? I'm not going to hide the fact that yes they suck but your formula just doesn't add up and it seems like you have your eyes on something else. Find out why or what it is. The end all say all is you are going to want to do what makes you happy. Have you figured out what that is yet?

he didnt mention Prius because it's not exactly a sporty looking car. At that age, they do want something sporty and not 100% practical. Technically, Mustang and Altima would get better gas mileage than his V8 4runner but is it worth it to sell it (or trade-in) at a lost and buy a V6 Mustang/Altima and not get a decent gas savings return, so you lose out in trade-in for a small gain in gas mileage.

Nowadays there are so many sporty and good-on-gas cars to choose from so one does not need to go to the extreme of getting a Prius. Sure a Prius saves a ton of gas but it sure doesnt look sporty in my opinion. Dont forget at his age, image is everything. All seriousness, sell the 4runner get a used Civic or alike (something sport) yet good on gas, get rid of your 4runner car payments and have some extra cash on hand for fun and savings.

 

[Patrick A]

My advice would be to keep the 4runner, and save up some extra cash to invest in a secondary vehicle further on down the road. Like just about everyone has said, it's going to take a good long time to make up for the cost of a newer car payment in gas mileage-- if it ever does-- and as much as I love those newer Altimas, if saving money is your goal then there are defintely better options out there. If you must do this unwise thing, then my preference is the Altima...

 

[emelianenkov]

I'm 17 and got an 05 Sport V6.

I work at Wendy's for my gas money, and if I drive sensibly, I can stretch a tank of gas over about a week and a half.

I own my own business, and bought my truck cash with 20K miles on it. Luck of the draw really..

I also wanted to get a mustang or a 64 ford f100 with a 302 stroker, hell, I still do! But thinking beyond my truck, I have to pay for insurance, and a 17 year old driving a mustang translates to $$$$$$$$$ for your insurance provider.

The 4Runner you have now will treat you well for years to come if you take care of it. A mustang is a ford, and lets face it, you and I both know you're just buying repair bills in a two-door form.

I'd keep your 4Runner. Straight up. A few mpg's isn't worth selling the car over, it REALLY isn't. Take it from a fellow 17 year old. .

 

[03_4x4Runner]

If you get a Mustang V6 make sure it is a 2011 or newer. The new ones have the 305 hp V6 and they are really quick. They also get around 30 mpg. 2010 and older use the old V6. They are slow and not to good of mpg. I test drove a 2011 Mustang V6 manual trans. It was as fast as the 2010 Mustang GT.

 

[CAN-03runner]

FORD??? (Found On Road Dead)!!!. Don't buy a mustang. I understand you're young, but don't waste your money on domestic. Stick with JDM. You're young, stick with a coupe, and the Altima coupe is pretty sick, IMO. With Nissan, at lease your depreciation value isn't going to go down to drain like any other domestic.

If I were you, and you want a change, I would look into the new Subaru BRZ. It's pretty sick, good power, coupe, and subaru's are know to be reliable. Not that you would have to care about reliability with a new warranty, but it's nice to know.

I would lease or finance something if I were in your shoes.

Haha. Funny you say that. In Italian we say Fatto Oggi Rotto Domaini, made today broken tomorrow.

Good friend of mine has a GT Mustang. He hasn't had a problem with it, and he drives it very hard.....but it is stored for the winter, like 6 months...If you're thinking about a V6 Mustang, for me only V8's are real Mustangs. The Nissan coupe, looks sorta nice, but it stops there. I had one on rental for a few weeks for work. Nothing fits in the trunk, and it needs a telegram to accelerate. When you press the gas, it doesn't react then when it does it sounds like a Vespa.

My car which I loved the most, I'm still sad I sold was an Acura RSX. Sort of like a glorified Civic Si with better suspension. Not the fastest thing out there, but I never though about fuel econonomy on the 2.0L. The iVtec fas total fun too. Go for something like that. Lots of sport, and it's a Honda, the engine will go on forever and the resale is high.

 

[tluu]

I just traded in my lexus is350 06 for an 06 4runner sport v8. keep the 4runner. the small cars are just small repairs after the repairs and i'll be you'll want to mod it.

 

[BOSMECH]

Listen here is what you do go buy a cheap used older Honda, Nissan, or Toyota 4 cylinder.
Put just liabilty insurance on it and then drive it conservetivly and keep the T4R or sell it.
You could even remove the insurance on and off the T4R when not driving it.
Now here is the biggest thing to do, you are young Go to College and then you can get a real good job and buy what the he!! you want like anougher T4R or a Aston Martin.
The big thing is school first it got me were I am today.

 

[MikeInNH]

Have you sat down and done the math??

Keeping your existing vehicle is almost ALWAYS the cheapest option.

Any savings you may get in gas mileage will be offset by how much you pay on car payments. You'd have to go from 15mpg to 40+ mpg, drive over 40k miles a year and then after 8-9 years you'll be financially ahead of the game. If you sell or buy another vehicle within those 8-9 years...you gained NOTHING. And being a 17yo...have you checked with how much insurance is going to cost you for a (sports car).

 

[knightsfs4]

Well I'm definitely not gonna buy another car, I'm 17 and I only need one. I can tell you guys are trying to say that maybe gas isnt the only reason, and its not. Yes gas mileage is a big deal, but you guys need to realize that I have to spend $70-$80 a week on gas which equates to 300-400 a month in gas alone PLUS car payments. I only make $400 a month. It's started to catch up and I just cant keep doing it. I want something that is nice in a luxury sense and not a badass sense. I love the 4Runner, but a Mustang or Altima Coupe would better fit me for my future.

Just think about it this way:
15,000 miles getting 15 MPGS= 50 Fill Ups. 50 Fill Ups at $3.50 a gallon=$3,500.

15,000 miles getting 21 MPGS= 44.6 Fill Ups. @ $3.50= $2,497.

That's me saving $1000 dollars a year. With rising gas prices, I just think it would make more sense. Of course I'm just asking opinions, but hey that's what I asked for.

If someone offered me a V6 W/ optional 4WD I'd take it in a heartbeat and forget it. The V8 is just too rich for my blood honestly.

 

[4runnerman09]

Did you take into consideration insurance prices? A mustang would make that go way up!!

 

[knightsfs4]

I called the insurance company, actually $100 cheaper per year with a V6 mustang. $400 cheaper with an Altima Coupe

 

[chaz]

not to sound like a jerk, & i realize you are only 17, but since you stated "the v8 4r is just too rich for your blood", isnt that something you should of taking into consideration before starting the payments on one & then spending extra $ on the mods you've done? seems like you may be leaning towards a mustang, then whats next, wheels, tires, stereo, etc. for it? my advice would be to get something you know for sure you can afford & maintain, even if its just a hoopdie, while saving up for what you may really want in a couple of years.

 

[knightsfs4]

Chaz, you make a good point. My Mom bought the car from a friend and I'm making payments to my Mom. It's just what I was given and lucky that it just so happen to be what I wanted.

 

[Gecko123]

Well I'm definitely not gonna buy another car, I'm 17 and I only need one. I can tell you guys are trying to say that maybe gas isnt the only reason, and its not. Yes gas mileage is a big deal, but you guys need to realize that I have to spend $70-$80 a week on gas which equates to 300-400 a month in gas alone PLUS car payments. I only make $400 a month. It's started to catch up and I just cant keep doing it. I want something that is nice in a luxury sense and not a badass sense. I love the 4Runner, but a Mustang or Altima Coupe would better fit me for my future.

Just think about it this way:
15,000 miles getting 15 MPGS= 50 Fill Ups. 50 Fill Ups at $3.50 a gallon=$3,500.

15,000 miles getting 21 MPGS= 44.6 Fill Ups. @ $3.50= $2,497.

That's me saving $1000 dollars a year. With rising gas prices, I just think it would make more sense. Of course I'm just asking opinions, but hey that's what I asked for.

If someone offered me a V6 W/ optional 4WD I'd take it in a heartbeat and forget it. The V8 is just too rich for my blood honestly.

The V6 4runner doesnt save that much more gas than the V8. Only extra 1 mpg. Check out Fuel Economy

So would you make money if you sold your 4runner and bought a Mustang or do you still need to pay extra into it. For argument sake, let's say they do an even trade, you are now saving an extra $1000 per year on gas, which is extra 80 dollars a month. so you mean the extra 80 dollars a month is now going to put you in the good or better financial situation???. Technically, you are in a better financial situation, but not enough to make a difference. Either way, if you buy swap for a V6 4runner, V6 Mustang, etc, you are not going to be in a better financial situation from a realistic standpoint. an extra 1000 per year is not a big savings. How can going from not able to afford your V8 to an extra 80 per month all of a sudden you can afford it. So that extra 80, just tips the scale, so you would still be in a very rocky situation. It has to be a big enough gas savings to make a difference.


you have to really ask yourself what you CAN and CANNOT afford.

How does one define what he can and cannot afford? The average family can "afford" to buy a Mercedes but they would need to give up a lot (no soccer lessons, piano lessons, etc)? To me, if you can afford something, you shouldn't have to make huge sacrifice on other things.

 

[knightsfs4]

Thanks guys, I've got all the info I need.

 

[stanleybb50]

Well let us know what you do. Curious minds..


- Sent via Tapatalk for Android

 

[deedst4r]

Yeah, let me know if you are selling. I would like to buy some mods off of you if you're selling for sure.

 

[the550]

Well I'm definitely not gonna buy another car, I'm 17 and I only need one. I can tell you guys are trying to say that maybe gas isnt the only reason, and its not. Yes gas mileage is a big deal, but you guys need to realize that I have to spend $70-$80 a week on gas which equates to 300-400 a month in gas alone PLUS car payments. I only make $400 a month. It's started to catch up and I just cant keep doing it. I want something that is nice in a luxury sense and not a badass sense. I love the 4Runner, but a Mustang or Altima Coupe would better fit me for my future.

Just think about it this way:
15,000 miles getting 15 MPGS= 50 Fill Ups. 50 Fill Ups at $3.50 a gallon=$3,500.

15,000 miles getting 21 MPGS= 44.6 Fill Ups. @ $3.50= $2,497.

That's me saving $1000 dollars a year. With rising gas prices, I just think it would make more sense. Of course I'm just asking opinions, but hey that's what I asked for.

If someone offered me a V6 W/ optional 4WD I'd take it in a heartbeat and forget it. The V8 is just too rich for my blood honestly.

if you're only earning $400 a month, you don't need to have a car payment of any amount. why don't you just sell your 4R and buy a beater to get you through college? i don't know what your financial situation is, but a 2010 mustang or altima will come with a payment pretty close to your monthly income. i don't see how that's gonna work. but again, i don't know what your situation is.

as far as your math ^, you will be saving about $1000 a year, but that's only about $80 a month or $2 and some change per day... i think it'd be important to figure out the +/- change in car payment.

 

[Morals]

I say look into a Subaru Legacy GT Wagon (2006ish).

Ok, that's one of my fav. cars...but look into something at a lower price point if you're gonna sell your 4Runner.

If you're feeling the pinch because of your less than stellar cash position, then make a bold move. Sell the 4Runner (your job to determine asking price), and look for something about 5-8K below what you get for the 4Runner. Just get total peace of mind with money to spare.

It's basically how you view life at your age: Do you see it as you have plenty of time to make money and cover costs....or do you see it as you have plenty of time to have lifted 4Runners, etc etc.

Your gut is telling you to sell it, so you probably should. I say "one up" your gut and buy something VERY reasonable that is still fun to drive. For me, that would be the 5speed Subaru Legacy Wagon...if you're looking at cars, which it seems you are.

My $.02.