Need to trade our 12 4runner - need some suggestions for vehicles?

[aimcat]

My husband and I are buying a new home and need to really cut back on our vehicle payments. We currently have a 12 4runner limited and we absolutely love it but it has a pretty big payment with it because of some negative equity from another vehicle we traded. We have found a few vehicles which will lower our payments 150-200 dollars a month and still be able to eat up some of the negative equity we have in the 4runner. I KNOW this is a 4runner board but I need some good advice on these vehicles and which would be good or ones to stay away from - so here is what we found that will work:

2010-2011 Ford Expedition or Lincoln Navigator
2012 GMC Terrain
2008 or 2011 Buick Enclave
2011 Infiniti EX35
2011 Kia Sorento
2012 Honda Crosstour

These are all 4WD or AWD which is what we need. Good reliability, comfort and decent space are important for us.

 

[MLPbrian]

Toyota Venza is pretty decent

 

[hangman]

Not trying to be a jerk here, but there is a lot of garbage on that list. The terrain and the EX35 are both worthwhile--but why not a higher-mileage 4runner? I bought a 2011 in December and love it.

 

[aimcat]

That's why I want to know which is junk. Would you say the navigator or expedition are junk? We have never owned one so that's why I wonder - these offer obviously the most space. The ones I mentioned here are the ones we have deals offered and that will work for us to accomplish what we want and lower payments a decent amount.

 

[chmura]

Will you be taking out another loan to purchase the vehicle?

If so I would not recommend that. I would recommend you paying CASH for your next car even if its a very old one!

If money is tight get a 1998 Honda CRV AWD or Toyota RAV4 AWD. Something along those lines. They are reliable even with high mileage and easy to work on.

Selling your 4runner with negative equity and than taking out another loan to purchase another car is a big NO NO.

 

[Brogan25]

I would suggest with the cars you've looked at you have your own favorites go with your gut. Keep in mind that depending on the amount of negative equity you have your payment may not change as much as you think. I've actually worked as a car salesman for the past few years. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people come in wanting to lower their payment and leave with a way worse car than they had just to lower their payment $50. If you haven't been to a car lot yet go but be cautious that you will be pressured into buying. If you say no enough they'll eventually let you go. Of the cars you've picked I would go with the Honda or the Infiniti.

 

[chiz45]

A Subaru should be on that list. Depending on how much space you need, you can go from an Impreza to an Outback, with prices that will probably fit your range. My family has had 3 ('02 Outback, '02WRX, '06LGT), and they all were very reliable.

 

[aimcat]

Money is not tight we just need to downsize car payments. We don't have to, but we should because it would be smart on our behalf. Any of these would allow us to do that. Just need some opinions on the cars and not other things. I appreciate the help and advice but just need some real advice on these.

 

[Brogan25]

I would stay away from the Kia even though they've came a long way in the last few years there is a big difference from a Toyota Subaru or Honda with 50k miles than an a Kia or Hyundai with 50k. They start making weird noises and start to feel worn out at that point. The expeditions aren't terrible vehicles honestly I just hate Fords. As far as the terrain goes I'm not sure but Grandmother did have a Chevy Equinox that we had to put an engine in at 40k miles. Could have just been a fluke. My aunt has one of the Infiniti's and loves it and you can't go wrong with a Honda. The Buick isn't a car I would even think about lol.

 

[aimcat]

Someone told us the 5.4 engine has transmission problems is that true? Or would a one well taken care of be ok?

 

[Jayhawk5G]

Money is not tight we just need to downsize car payments. We don't have to, but we should because it would be smart on our behalf. Any of these would allow us to do that. Just need some opinions on the cars and not other things. I appreciate the help and advice but just need some real advice on these.

Your first sentence doesn't jive, either you are tight on money and need to downsize your car payment, or, you are not tight on money and want to downsize your car payment.

If you are going to finance your next vehicle, you would be better off to break down how underwater you are and try to make extra payments over a series of months to get rid of the negative equity before trading it in... otherwise it will roll over and keep your new payment from being as low as it could be.

I think the CR-V / RAV4 idea was a good one. Do it on a temporary basis until you figure out a budget and payment that would be comfortable and have the peace of mind that you will be able to sell it for close to what you buy it for.

 

[Lenny33]

If it were me, I would rather have an older 4Runner with higher mileage than anything on that list, but everyone has different tastes and different priorities.

 

[Pkniland]

Cut back on the home, keep the 4runner

 

[Drew1122]

Keep your current 4Runner and refinance it for a longer term. Every time you trade vehicles you will get further underwater.

 

[Americas High Five]

Personally i would consider Toyota, Honda or Subaru and stay away from the Korean autos. Not sure if you NEED an SUV but these would be great options with similar passenger/cargo space:

Highlander
Pilot
Odyssey
Sienna

 

[jicko]

Why don't you sell your 2012 and buy a 4th gen or a 3rd gen?

3rd and 4th gens are as reliable, as comfortable, and similar "space"..... best of all, you get to stay on this lovely forum!

Hey, my 18yrs old 3rd gen is still running and kicking! 270k miles and going....

:cheers:

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Here's a different concept....

I don't know you or your lifestyle, but for me and my family, many years ago, we thought of doing the same thing. Wanna know what we actually did?

We stopped going out for dinners and instead of fast food and other crap for lunches, we started taking home lunches with us! Know how much money that can save if you eat out regularly? Try this...

Open up your checking account and/or credit card(s) statements. Write down EVERY food purchase for lunch and dinner (not groceries, just restaurants). Add that up and see how scary it can be for a month's worth of eating out!

For us, it wasn't terribly bad, but we stopped all of that, started taking leftovers from the dinner before (making sure we made enough for the next day's lunch), and ended up saving close to 200 bucks every month! Just 2 dinners a month can add up to a hundred bucks if you're going out to places like Outback Steakhouse or Chili's!

Your vehicle may be an expensive payment each month, but buying a crappy car to replace it, then spending a hundred or two each month in servicing it doesn't make any sense either, and if you're going to buy a vehicle that's older than 2012, expect the bigger things to start coming up, such as timing belt service and other high-mileage services. In the end, you won't save much, if anything. Trim the fat in other places like going out to dinners/lunches, cut back on movies/entertainment, lower your trips around town and going to the mall, you'll save plenty enough to more than equal that payment reduction from a different car!

Most people don't want to do these things because it cuts into their quality of life, but if you can handle it, you'll find all sorts of extra cash to do other things! And, being that you're buying a house, you'll learn all about the many, MANY trips to Home Depot and Lowe's that you'll be making from here on out!

 

[st8rocks]

I bought my 99 Rav4, one owner with 135k for $4,000 3 years ago. Now has 180k and only maintenance has been oil changes.

BUY a car that you can afford with CASH. I don't understand people buying new cars they can't afford and that isn't including the insurance they can't afford either.

Look at early 2000s Ravs and Highlanders, they are cheaper than 3rd gen 4Runners that have a bigger following and more sought after.

 

[Greenamphibious]

the money you save on car payments you will pay out or exceed in repair bills with that list of jalopies

 

[aimcat]

We just cannot seem to find any Subarus that we like for some reason. What about the Honda Crosstour - anyone have any experience with them?