What IF. . .Hypothetically speaking

[wadle5]

So have been doing some research and car looking for my mother in law. Reason for a new daily driver is she is trying to keep miles off her 2006 Yukon with 126k miles. This is her belated husbands last vehicle and is used to tow a whale of a boat(6200 lbs with trailer).
Dilema: The Yukon is more consistently throwing codes/lights and is getting up there in age. So she is wondering about possibly a 2nd vehicle to keep the miles off the tow pig(I dont know where she got this idea from?!(as my 4runner sits in the garage and I daily drive an old subaru))

The issues at hand have proposed the following "options"

-Loves the new 4runner, can you justify a 2nd SUV that eventually when the Yukon dies out this vehicle can not tow her boat.
-Doesn't want a car as they sit too low to the ground and test driving the new Subaru Outbacks she came to appreciate what a great vehicle it is (bonus:we get VIP pricing on all new Subarus).

Obviously no replacement vehicle can tow her boat. So would you get the 4runner that you/SHE have always wanted, or for the same price get a fully loaded Subaru that gets twice the gas mileage knowingly accepting eventually(hopefully not) the tow vehicle for the boat will eventually die and will have to get a vehicle later to tow the boat.



While I know this a 4runner forum, I also do know there are some intelligent individuals who would logically way the pros and cons.
The argument about getting another Yukon/Tahoe she doesn't like the idea of spending $60,000.00+ on a damn vehicle!
So either she could keep the miles off the tow vehicle with either of these new vehicles and hopefully prolong the Yukons life, so eventually if/and when she is around to see it die she understands she would probably buy a cheaper tow vehicle and/or trade in her daily driver with the Yukon and going back to one daily driving gas guzzler?

Have been going back and forth for months so just looking for other input/opinions on the matter.
2015 Limited Subaru Outback
2015 sr5 premium/trail 4Runner.

:help:

EDIT:
-Boat is one season old so the option of trading down is out. The price depreciation on that is quicker than the damn anchor attached to the boat.
-Doesn't like size/feel of 4th gen v8 also she doesn't want to deal with maintenance which is why she is looking at new warrantied vehicles.
-New sequoia is pricey and old ones she doesn't want to deal with maintenance which is why she is looking at new warrantied vehicles.

As stated she doesn't know what she wants, but she does know what she doesn't want.

 

[frm_808]

Get a smaller boat??



.

 

[wadle5]

Get a smaller boat??



.

I have tried this argument, but I guess I should have mentioned . . .she just bought it last year new. Probably one of the only other items that depreciates quicker than a new automobile. Not trading that guy in for a while.

And have corrected my initial post. I do appreciate the input though

 

[SKP-4R]

I wouldn't tow with a 5th gen with that much weight.

What about a V8 4th gen?

 

[wadle5]

I wouldn't tow with a 5th gen with that much weight.

What about a V8 4th gen?

Right I actually researched the 5th gen tow capacity and this does exceed it. I also called two local custom tow companies that manufacture hitch receivers and there is still nothing out on the market aftermarket wise to assist this.

4th gen v8 we have looked at but she didn't like driving mine and thought it was too small.? She doesn't know what she wants, but she does know what she DOESN'T want. haha


And for clarification I don't want people to believe I am dismissing everything they propose, I have tried these options, it just seems these last 2 items at hand(outback/5th gen) are what she has "decided" on. For lack of better term.

Thanks in advance!

 

[02SE]

New or lightly used Sequoia?

 

[wadle5]

New or lightly used Sequoia?

Even I love Toyota's, but we went and drove/priced them out and they costs just as much as a new Yukon. She thought they were okay, but almost as big as a suburban and liked the "perfect" size of the 4runner not feeling to overbearing on the road or in the parking lot.

 

[tigger]

You have pretty much answered your own question. The 4Runner can't tow the boat in the future, so not sure why it's being looked at for that reason.
So it comes down to mileage being an issue. It doesn't sound like money is a problem for her so the MPG of the Subaru may not matter.

So does she like the Subaru better or the 4Runner. Just take towing the boat out of the equation and give her that choice.

 

[1engineer]

Let her pick. Either is a good choice.

 

[Unner]

Maybe a new Taco? Not sure if a pickup would work but it should do better on gas than that Yukon, Toyota reliability, and I believe that boat would be inside the tow rating for the Tacoma. It's about the size of a 4Runner roughly, sits high, doesn't cost $60k, and is no where near as ugly as the new Tahoe/Yukon line (I seriously don't like the way the new ones look, but that's just an opinion...)

 

[LandCruiser]

My mom has had every model of Denali since they came out.

That 06 is NOT going to stop throwing codes and you have some really expensive failures to look forward to.

 

[hearno]

She doesn't know what she wants, but she does know what she DOESN'T want.

Typical woman. Maybe sell her on a 4th gen version of the GX/LX? The Lexus looks a little bigger to me, maybe it will to her as well? Got the V8 and some nice luxury stuff.

 

[Jernik]

How far, how often does she tow the boat? My thinking is if she tows often then money spent on a "grocery getter" is money wasted, as what she needs is a single, reliable vehicle that can lug the S.S. Minnow around and still fit in a single parking space.

If she only drags the boat around a couple times a year for short distances, then the Subie (since she seems to like it) makes more sense as the Tahoe can be kept until it becomes too expensive to fix, then maybe rent a truck the two times a year towing duties are needed.

 

[JayceeP]

Unless money is no issue, let her choose... but I'd say get the Subaru. In my experience, Seniors really prefer the practical aspects of newer vehicles and MPG is a big one.

 

[cashmoney]

Sell the tahoe and buy a newer one?

 

[GHARP57]

Sell the Tahoe and get a New Sequoia. Tows 10k lbs and is a great ride. The Sequoias are very low maintenance vehicles.

 

[Ron4RNevada]

You're dealing with a woman (there are a couple on this forum that are NOT TYPICAL) - - -

My daughter wanted a cool 4x4 - the best cool 4x4 - more money than common sense = She checked out the BMW X5 V8 ($85,000 !). I told here that there are a lot better rigs out there for less money........

She bought it anyway! For two years now it's in the shop a lot. (warranty fixes most things). It has left her stranded twice and had to be towed to dealer.

The 5#$*! run flat tires are worn out - She wanted to put on the same Toyo M/Ts that I have but the thing doesn't have anywhere to put a spare.

She can't follow me anywhere in it -

 

[philsey]

I'm with [MENTION=92049]LandCruiser[/MENTION]. An '06 Yukon, throwing codes, used as a DD/TV, with 126K on it sounds like trouble.

Buying a new DD and keeping the big boat is going to force her to put money into the Yukon, and, inevitably, if she keeps the big boat she is forced into replacing the TV.

So, she keeps the Yukon + license$ + insurance$ + upkeep$ .... what will that cost? I doubt that just sitting through the winter is going to prolong its life.

I submit that the cost of the Yukon over the next few years, will not be much worse than the hit on downsizing the boat. So she keeps it, it craps out, now what? She still has a big boat, and now has a new-ish DD.

I own a boat that size. Is she skilled at boat handling? Does she need a boat that big? Is she skilled towing that size (it's got to be dual axle)? Is it launched or slipped?

I vote for a smaller boat, and one vehicle suited to tow it.

ps: any chance there's a dry stack marina where she boats?

 

[wadle5]

Thanks guys and I agree about the dependability of GMC and most other domestic brands, as I worked for them. But I cannot fathom being the last belonging of her husband and telling her to ditch it. I guess as you guys pointed out the towing boat is of no importance in this matter between these two vehicles so I guess it, and the original vehicle dont matter
And to out basically ask her . .again. Yota or Subi? I guess it really is that simple.
As someone said let her pick, I am. She doesn't know which one. She has always liked the Runners, which was the reason for that choice, but she also likes the Subaru. So I guess my question I should have asked should have been moreso. If you guys already had a 4runner. Would you buy another for your family or would you buy a subaru outback. And as hard as this is to say. . .pretend the 4runner will never be modded or off roaded to its full potential.

 

[philsey]

If it's really between the Subie and a 4R, personally I think you should see to it that she gets around for plenty of test drives, and leave the decision to her. I've made car decisions for women before, which is precisely why I don't do it any more.