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

[williamlv282]

Honda
Subaru
Toyota

Any Model
Any Year
Any Style

Everything else? Crap shoot.

I'd add Nissan to this list, but some models like the Pathfinder and the Rogue had transmission problems when they first came out. Just make sure you're buying a model built after 2008 or so and you should be fine for the most part with any Japanese brand.

Honda's reliability in some models hasn't been up to par. I'd definitely do your due diligence researching the particular Honda model before you buy one.
The Honda Fit is a pretty good example of this. The first gen is plagued with quality control problems such as the roof leaking during rains.
The Honda Odyssey and the Accord both had a lot of problems around 2005 and 2008 respectively. My parents used to have a 2001 Odyssey with no problems, but we knew other families that wished they had purchased a Toyota instead.

OP, check carcomplaints.com to view how owners of the vehicles have rated the Model and Year that you're thinking about and you'll see how many problems they have or don't. They even rate them as "Clunker, Avoid" or "Great Buy!" things like that. It's not a review site, just a database of reported problems for each model. It's fairly accurate.

My personal advice would be to keep your current vehicle and build more equity. Refinancing may be an option but we don't know all the details so I'd do a lot of research before you even consider something like that.
Trading down to older vehicles in my opinion will definitely NOT save you money in the long run. You will regret it.

 

[Volley]

Well I agree with others in that:
1. You should not make any large (car) purchases up to 12 months before buying a house.
2. If all you need to save is $150-200, cutting back on pleasure items will do this easily.
3. I've learned the hard way with previous homes, don't be house rich and pocket poor. Be patient and find a home you love in a budget you're comfortable with.
4. If you must make a move, my first step would be to refinance the 4runner.
5. If you must downgrade my suggestions would bein this order 4th Gen 4runner, Toyota Rav4, 3rd Gen 4runner, Honda CRV, Subaru Outback or Forester.

Goodluck with your decision!

Volley

 

[Mikey01]

Just get in on this roof top tent group buy and keep the 4 runner. I just saved you 200k I will take 10% thanks

 

[philsey]

If you have to sell your vehicle in order to buy a bigger house you are living beyond your means. Period.

Where do you think the negative equity in your 4Runner is going to go, just magically disappear? No. You will overpay for a cheaper, more worn out vehicle in order to lower your monthly payments but in the end you will actually end up spending more. You own that negative equity. A dealer is not going to give it back to you out of the goodness of their heart.

If you buy a car around the monthly payments, you are doing it completely backwards.

Sorry. I cannot help you because you are missing the basic rules of financing, spending and not living beyond your means. And most of what you listed is there for a reason - because they are cheap used. There is a reason why. ;-)

^^^ Absolute best post of the thread. @OP. Listen up, you want advice, this is it.

 

[Antman]

Wifey HAD to have a Buick Enclave- think it was a 2008.

Under warranty- 2 steering racks, 4 front struts, replaced remote start electronics (it backfired every time it remote started, lol) windshield wiper motor, windshield wiper fluid heater recall, A/C compressor, A/C control electronics- all within a year and a half.

She finally agreed to let it go when it went into "limp home mode" in rush hour traffic on the interstate. She could only go 15 MPH and nobody would let her get to the shoulder. Finally the Safety Patrol Truck blocked traffic to get her off the highway. Dealer said the engine was protecting itself because the "heads lost all oil pressure due to the wrong cam shims being installed from the factory".

I told the guy the piece of sh!t should have self destructed and done us all a favor.
Sold it 2 days after it was fixed for a Honda Odyssey.

 

[stir_fry_boy]

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.

I agree with keeping the 4Runner and not getting any of these junk buckets except maybe the CrossTour or EX35. Hondas unfortunately have a far from stellar transmission reputation, Nissan even worse since the CVTs came out. Infinitis are just expensive to repair. They add a premium because it's an Infiniti. More stuff to go wrong.

4Runners are extremely reliable, I read an article recently that at auction, they have the fewest problems out of ANY OTHER vehicle with over 100,000 miles and a reliability score of over 92% (over 92 out of 100 don't need any work done). I have a 2002 (see below) and I love it. I don't think I'll ever sell it.

You have lots of options, you just have to decide what your priorities are. I find it's rarely worth it to sell a vehicle and buy another to get ahead. You know what's been done to your 12' but don't know what life the other vehicle has had. To me, that's huge. When I buy used, I expect there is always something that needs to be done on a used vehicle unless certified.

 

[grammatik2015]

Pay off you 4Runner, bam no more payments. Pay cash or don't buy especially if you already have something to drive. What would Dave Ramesy do?

please DO NOT I repeat DO NOT this!!!!!!! Never pay cash when rates are near 0%.

OP, not sure what your budget is but I agree with others here... it will cost you to get out of your current loan. But in the end it may be a good path for you. If you do not need a 3rd row, check out a Murano, great engine and great CVT. Very reliable and in the right trim very inexpensive AWD.

Its always a good idea to look for ways to save. I am amazed how much some people spend on cable,internet service, phone service (including land line!!!), coffee etc.
$180+/month, $2160/year cable bill??? $4/day morning coffee can end up costing $1000/year! $200+/month 'smartphone' bill!!!
Real examples here, this one guy was proud that he got all the premium channels....

 

[RainCityShecks]

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, and they all were very reliable.

Agreed - get rid of the 4runner and cash out an older Subaru.

 

[K9trainer]

please DO NOT I repeat DO NOT this!!!!!!! Never pay cash when rates are near 0%.

Near 0% for a used car? Prove it!

 

[rdswriter]

Near 0% for a used car? Prove it!

USAA members who use USAA's car buying service and auto-pay from their banking account can get a 0.99% APR 36mo rate on 2014, 2015 & 2016 cars... even if they are used.

Go to usaa.com -->our products --> auto loans, and see for yourself.

If you read the fine-print footnote, USAA estimates that "of approved applicants, 22% or more will qualify for the lowest APRs."

 

[K9trainer]

USAA members who use USAA's car buying service and auto-pay from their banking account can get a 0.99% APR 36mo rate on 2014, 2015 & 2016 cars... even if they are used.

Go to usaa.com -->our products --> auto loans, and see for yourself.

If you read the fine-print footnote, USAA estimates that "of approved applicants, 22% or more will qualify for the lowest APRs."

The 4Runner in question is a 2012
USAA 2013 and older refinance 2.75% APR

 

[Mikey01]

My 14 is 1.5% with GAP and 100k Bumper to bumper. It would be dumb of me to pay off my loan. I just have the money in my savings account and it comes out automatically. I think my savings account in 2% also?

 

[rdswriter]

My response was more to the "prove it that a used car can be near 0%" than the actual car in question.

For a used 2012 car, the best rate I'm finding from the institutions I work with is Achieva Credit Union with a rate of 1.90%. I haven't seen Achieva's latest model year rate schedule, but if it hasn't changed structure, 2012 model year should get this rate. Still very low...

 

[4Surfin]

and those rates are IF you have stellar credit.... used care is around 2.99% for 720 and below ratings

 

[WakeDreams]

Stick with a Toyota, that is my opinion but I own 2 of them.

Do the research for the averages of the upkeep, repairs, gas mileage and insurance per year for each. There is a reason people love Toyota, they run for a VERY long time and you won't waste a ton of money on up keep. The math is black and white and will give you definitive answers. Good luck!

 

[Jernik]

Slightly off topic and you didn't ask but I will share my thoughts anyways (because its the internet and I can :ranger

I am not a mortgage expert or financial adviser by any means but typically when applying for a mortgage you should not apply for new credit in the 6-12 months leading up to your mortgage application - I am assuming your trying to reduce your debt to income ratio however applying for new auto loans months prior to your mortgage application may do more harm then good and if you have already been approved could cause your mortgage application to get denied at closing as the bank typically runs your credit again prior to closing; having new loans and lines of credit pop up is a big red flag to the underwriter.

To the OP: My wife sold real estate for 5 years, and this is solid advice. If you're in the process of buying the house, don't do anything in regards to taking out loans until after closing! She has witnessed first hand buyers getting to closing to find out their new car purchase a few weeks prior caused their bank to deny funding of the house. She lost a sale because of it (she was representing the seller), but the buyers were humiliated and lost out on their dream home. The home purchasing process is enough of an emotional roller coaster ride as it is, don't add another big drop to it.

Review your finances now, and make a game plan for what you're going to do to get where you want to be, but don't start making any big changes until you're in the new home. Then, as others have stated, I would look into refinancing the 4Runner first. If that won't work, then start looking at other options.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Hellamatic]

Keep the 4Runner and refinance. If you're already upside down on it, you're just digging a deeper hole.

I'd recommend speaking to a financial advisor. Your bank should offer this service for free, if you've been a loyal customer. There is great advice in this thread, but it's probably not the best to take financial advice from a group that can't even agree on the merits of KDSS.