What's a single mom to do?

[fiercefoxie]

Hi all! I am currently selling my '01 Toyota Sequoia because I wanted to go smaller. I am a single mom to an 11 yr old so I don't need such a huge car anymore and frankly the Sequoia is a beast on gas and I really want to get a 4-runner...again.

My main concern is that I want something easier on mpgs. The Sequoia is 12/16 and it kills me to drive it around town. However; I am not a little sedan gal. I have always been an SUV person. I had a '97 4runner that was totaled 9 yrs ago that put me into the sequoia. So, I am not looking for a little corolla or camry to save on mpgs that way. I know I want a 4-runner.

I am hoping to get 8k for the sequoia and then I am pretty sure I am interested in getting a 3rd gen 4runner. What model would be best for me? I don't off-road but I would like 4x4 for occasional camping trips or snow trips. I guess I was thinking of maybe spending 6k on a runner and then using the leftover for repairs like a new radiator etc. to avoid the "milkshake".

Commuting is also going to be a concern for me. Starting Fall 2014, I will be driving 86 miles a day for school and I currently drive my son 300 miles round trip one weekend a month to his dad's and there are a few months in which I have to do that twice, so 600 miles that particular month. You can only imagine how much gas this would run me in the sequoia.

Suggestions?

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Hi all! I am currently selling my '01 Toyota Sequoia because I wanted to go smaller. I am a single mom to an 11 yr old and frankly the Sequoia is a beast on gas and I really want to get a 4-runner...again.

My main concern is that I want something easier on mpgs. The Sequoia is 12/16 and it kills me to drive it around town. However; I am not a little sedan gal. I have always been an SUV person. I had a '97 4runner that was totaled 9 yrs ago that put me into the sequoia. So, I am not looking for a little corolla or camry to save on mpgs that way. I know I want a 4-runner.

I am hoping to get 8k for the sequoia and then I am pretty sure I am interested in getting a 3rd gen 4runner. What model would be best for me? I don't off-road but I would like 4x4 for occasional camping trips or snow trips.

Commuting is also going to be a concern for me. Starting Fall 2014, I will be driving 86 miles a day for school and I currently drive my son 300 miles round trip one weekend a month to his dad's and there are a few months in which I have to do that twice, so 600 miles that particular month. You can only imagine how much gas this would run me in the sequoia.

Suggestions?

Welcome!

So what exactly is the question? It seems as if you already know what you want.

I average 19-20mpgs in my supercharged 97. Not the greatest but it's not my daily driver.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I don't know that you'll see that much of a difference between the Sequoia & 4Runner to justify making the move. 3rd Gen 4Runners really aren't good on gas at all. I'd keep the Sequoia.

 

[fiercefoxie]

Welcome!

So what exactly is the question? It seems as if you already know what you want.

I average 19-20mpgs in my supercharged 97. Not the greatest but it's not my daily driver.

I guess my question has to do with perhaps which year would be the best for someone looking to commute but not really to off-road per se and a 4cyl vs a V6?

 

[fiercefoxie]

I don't know that you'll see that much of a difference between the Sequoia & 4Runner to justify making the move. 3rd Gen 4Runners really aren't good on gas at all. I'd keep the Sequoia.

Well, after I did the math, I would be getting about 80 miles more a week on gas by making the switch. 80x4 = 320 miles per month, which for me is about how many miles I get from one fill up on the Sequoia so it's roughly a savings of $70 a month on gas. Not to mention those few months where I have to drive my son to his dad's twice in one month.

 

[nissanh]

4x2 4cylinder probably will help you to save some gas.

1997 6 cylinder (4X4) is about 14/18 city/highway. I wish mine is 4cylinder 4x4.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Well, after I did the math, I would be getting about 80 miles more a week on gas by making the switch. 80x4 = 320 miles per month, which for me is about how many miles I get from one fill up on the Sequoia so it's roughly a savings of $70 a month on gas. Not to mention those few months where I have to drive my son to his dad's twice in one month.

What MPG figures are you using to calculate that though? People tend to greatly exaggerate their MPG numbers when selling. Not trying to give you a hard time at all, just trying to help you out.

 

[Dawg4Runner]

Hi all! I am currently selling my '01 Toyota Sequoia because I wanted to go smaller. I am a single mom to an 11 yr old so I don't need such a huge car anymore and frankly the Sequoia is a beast on gas and I really want to get a 4-runner...again.

My main concern is that I want something easier on mpgs. The Sequoia is 12/16 and it kills me to drive it around town. However; I am not a little sedan gal. I have always been an SUV person. I had a '97 4runner that was totaled 9 yrs ago that put me into the sequoia. So, I am not looking for a little corolla or camry to save on mpgs that way. I know I want a 4-runner.

I am hoping to get 8k for the sequoia and then I am pretty sure I am interested in getting a 3rd gen 4runner. What model would be best for me? I don't off-road but I would like 4x4 for occasional camping trips or snow trips. I guess I was thinking of maybe spending 6k on a runner and then using the leftover for repairs like a new radiator etc. to avoid the "milkshake".

Commuting is also going to be a concern for me. Starting Fall 2014, I will be driving 86 miles a day for school and I currently drive my son 300 miles round trip one weekend a month to his dad's and there are a few months in which I have to do that twice, so 600 miles that particular month. You can only imagine how much gas this would run me in the sequoia.

Suggestions?

Sounds to me like a Corolla would be the way to go if you're looking at it from an MPG point of view and you don't need the room of an SUV. But I totally understand "wanting" a 4Runner, just because. Unfortunately the mpg's won't be much better then the Sequoia. Maybe consider compromising somewhere in between like a crossover. Have you given much thought to a Rav4 or Highlander? I believe Rav4's get somewhere around 25/30 mpg. A three year old lease return with low mileage should give you years of trouble free service.

 

[fiercefoxie]

What MPG figures are you using to calculate that though? People tend to greatly exaggerate their MPG numbers when selling. Not trying to give you a hard time at all, just trying to help you out.

I was just basing it off of 18 gal x 16 mpg for my sequoia and I then I was plugging in the mile difference between my car and various 4-runners. Anyhow it's in the ballpark of 72-80ish miles difference, depending which model.

 

[fiercefoxie]

Sounds to me like a Corolla would be the way to go if you're looking at it from an MPG point of view and you don't need the room of an SUV. But I totally understand "wanting" a 4Runner, just because. Unfortunately the mpg's won't be much better then the Sequoia. Maybe consider compromising somewhere in between like a crossover. Have you given much thought to a Rav4 or Highlander? I believe Rav4's get somewhere around 25/30 mpg. A three year old lease return with low mileage should give you years of trouble free service.

Yea, I know logically getting a car would be the way to go but the Corolla is definitely out of the picture for me. I get carsick in Camry's as it is (my parents have one and it gets me every time when I have to ride in it for some reason). I don't really care for the look of the Highlander and the Rav4 is a bit too small. It does need to be about comfort for me as well since I am commuting so much. Those weekends where I drive my son to his dad's, I am literally in the car for 5.5-6 hours straight since I drive round trip in one evening.

 

[Jbot]

Well if you are dead set on a 4runner then i would suggest a 4 cylinder 99+.
I say 99+ since the mid gen upgrades are a nice extra for a tad more comfort and less hassle (ie the cup holders in a 98 and below are terrible). So if you dont want to do to many mods id go for a 99+.

I also suggest a 4 cylinder, but take into account your trips, whether there are large hills and whatnot. I have a 4 Cyl and its great, but as soon as you go up a steep incline it starts to work hard. Going up the grapevine for me is hard work and the MPGs you save by going with a 4 Cyl are kinda cancelled out. I only make that journey twice a year for college so i deal with it, but if you are traveling uphill periodically its a hassle. So if hills are a issue id go with a V6. The MPGs are too much of a difference between the two, but on longer journeys you will definitely notice a lower gas cost with a 4cyl.

That being said 4cyl in CA are hard to come by, in my experiences. I searched for 3 months until i found the one.

Hope this helps somewhat

-James

 

[fiercefoxie]

Well if you are dead set on a 4runner then i would suggest a 4 cylinder 99+.
I say 99+ since the mid gen upgrades are a nice extra for a tad more comfort and less hassle (ie the cup holders in a 98 and below are terrible). So if you dont want to do to many mods id go for a 99+.

I also suggest a 4 cylinder, but take into account your trips, whether there are large hills and whatnot. I have a 4 Cyl and its great, but as soon as you go up a steep incline it starts to work hard. Going up the grapevine for me is hard work and the MPGs you save by going with a 4 Cyl are kinda cancelled out. I only make that journey twice a year for college so i deal with it, but if you are traveling uphill periodically its a hassle. So if hills are a issue id go with a V6. The MPGs are too much of a difference between the two, but on longer journeys you will definitely notice a lower gas cost with a 4cyl.

That being said 4cyl in CA are hard to come by, in my experiences. I searched for 3 months until i found the one.

Hope this helps somewhat

-James

Thanks for the v6 and the 99+ suggestions, James! I live in the central valley and not too many hills except when we take off camping or when I have to take hwy 152 once a month.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I was just basing it off of 18 gal x 16 mpg for my sequoia and I then I was plugging in the mile difference between my car and various 4-runners. Anyhow it's in the ballpark of 72-80ish miles difference, depending which model.

So you're assuming about 22 MPG's out of the 4Runner. 18 gal x 22 MPG = 400 miles per tank vs. 18 gal x 16 MPG = 320 miles per tank in your Sequoia. Again, not trying to give you a hard time but under 20 MPG is a lot more realistic. Which means it'll save you maybe $30/month on gas, not $70.

You're better off giving the Sequoia a full tune up and making it as efficient as possible. At least IMO anyway. Whatever you decide though, good luck.

 

[downpour11]

So you're assuming about 22 MPG's out of the 4Runner. 18 gal x 22 MPG = 400 miles per tank vs. 18 gal x 16 MPG = 320 miles per tank in your Sequoia. Again, not trying to give you a hard time but under 20 MPG is a lot more realistic. Which means it'll save you maybe $30/month on gas, not $70.

You're better off giving the Sequoia a full tune up and making it as efficient as possible. At least IMO anyway. Whatever you decide though, good luck.

welll sort of - the sequoia has a 26 gallon tank though. She'll be getting slightly better mileage with the 4runner.

That's pretty crap mileage from the sequoia though at 12mpg. 4runner does a little better.

 

[fiercefoxie]

So you're assuming about 22 MPG's out of the 4Runner. 18 gal x 22 MPG = 400 miles per tank vs. 18 gal x 16 MPG = 320 miles per tank in your Sequoia. Again, not trying to give you a hard time but under 20 MPG is a lot more realistic. Which means it'll save you maybe $30/month on gas, not $70.

You're better off giving the Sequoia a full tune up and making it as efficient as possible. At least IMO anyway. Whatever you decide though, good luck.

Ok, I can see you are a technical guy and since my math skills are not the best but have improved since I have taken 3 math classes in the past 2 semesters...heh, hopefuly I got this figured out. This was actually helpful for me to see for myself too.


18 gals x 16 mpg = 288 one fill up on the sequoia
compared to:
18 gals x 20 mpg = 360 4-runner

There is a difference of 72 miles on one fill up, which barely lasts me a week. 72x4 = 288 savings in miles per month. As I stated, to fill up my tank now which is 18 gals, it is $70. So it is a savings of $70 a month.

Not to mention the trips I have to drive 300-600 miles for my son to see his dad and then my school commute next year will be 86 miles per day. Someone already did the math for me on another forum and I will be traveling:

86 miles a day for commuting to classes x 20 days in a month = 1,720 miles
300 miles once a month = 300 miles
Occasional months for multiple visitations = 600 miles

= 2,620 / month

Roughly 31,500 miles a year

So.....
For the 4-runner it is:
31,500 miles per year / 20 mpg= 1,575 gals used 1,575 x $4.01 gas per gallon = $6315.75 in gas for 1 year

31,500 miles per year / 16 mpg = 1968.75 gals used x $4.01 pas per gallon = $7894.69 in gas for 1 year

$7894.69-$6315.75 = $1,578.94 savings per year

$1,578.94 x 2 years of college program = $3,157.88 savings while in school

Ok, so it may not seem like a huge savings to some but that is extra money I can pay off debt or put towards maintenance which would be needed on either my Sequoia if I kept it or a 4-runner.

Whew! Now my brain is exhausted and I still have homework to do!

 

[fiercefoxie]

welll sort of - the sequoia has a 26 gallon tank though. She'll be getting slightly better mileage with the 4runner.

That's pretty crap mileage from the sequoia though at 12mpg. 4runner does a little better.

Oh man! Now that just messed up my math calculations. How did I not know it was a 26 gal tank?? I have been thinking it was 18 this whole time! It can't be right. Unless my mpg do-hickey in my sequoia is wrong. I don't know what it is called but it tells me how many miles I have left in my tank and whenever I fill it up it doesn't go much over 300 miles. It has never said anything near 400 miles.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

It doesn't matter what it is. What matters is how much gas you use to go xxx distance.

 

[jmcn]

I agree with the above 4cyl suggestions. Mine is great and I average about 9.5l/100km (I think thats about 25 US mpg, isn't it?) The difference isn't huge between that and the V6, but any savings will add up for sure. Good luck on your search!

 

[downpour11]

Oh man! Now that just messed up my math calculations. How did I not know it was a 26 gal tank?? I have been thinking it was 18 this whole time! It can't be right. Unless my mpg do-hickey in my sequoia is wrong. I don't know what it is called but it tells me how many miles I have left in my tank and whenever I fill it up it doesn't go much over 300 miles. It has never said anything near 400 miles.

It doesn't matter what it is. What matters is how much gas you use to go xxx distance.

Yeah the math is still right. That's my bad too, I thought you said you were getting 320 a tank in the sequoia, which would mean 320 miles from a 26 gallon tank, meaning the 4runner would give you better mileage.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I was just basing it off of 18 gal x 16 mpg for my sequoia and I then I was plugging in the mile difference between my car and various 4-runners. Anyhow it's in the ballpark of 72-80ish miles difference, depending which model.

I think you hugely overestimated the gas you will be saving.

It is very very common for 96-02 4Runners to get 16 or 17 MPG average. Sure some people claim 19-20 MPG average but those tend to be super charged 4Runners or just people who over estimate their MPG. There are many sources for the data point of 16-17 average.

Also during the sale a d new purchase you will likely loose some cash due to taxes and losses from the sale.