Question about buying a new vehicle

[Luck e 1]

I am looking to buy a new vehicle. I tow occasionally (95% of the time I am driving highway).

The question I have is...would it be better to buy a small suv, or buy a fuel efficient car and then buy a cheap old truck to insure only during the summer months when I do my towing?

Any done this? I wonder if it would cost more or less to have the two vehicles over the one?

[SteveWilson]

You'll have to figure out the costs for yourself. You may want to ask your insurance company about insuring for 1/2 a year. Instead of droping insurance you might look into changing the coverage from winter to summer. In addition to the insurance costs you'll have physical storage costs as well as the costs associated with putting a vehical away for a period of time. Figure a grand more or less for insurance, storage, and increased maintenance. So what's the yearly difference between a small SUV and a car in running expense? A grand? Work it out for yourself and see if it make sense for you.

[SpecialK]

I am actually in the same situation. My thought is that I am going to try find the cheap truck as that will allow me to haul Ice Fishing stuff in the winter as well. If it goes through the ice I won't be out too much except the cost to have it pulled out of the lake.

[fishing tech]

I have a throw away car I bought to do all my running around. $1500 for the car, $390 a year insurance and 23-30mpg. I have my truck for pleasure. ie camping and fishing year round.

[fivebucks]

The main thing I would consider is if you go the cheap truck route make sure it is reliable. Nothing worse than driving to the lake and have the truck break down.

[Fishin4Life]

Yeah I guess I would say depending on your budget, you could go mid line on both vehicles. Buy a nice used truck and a nice used car. I know I found a 02 galant with only 50K on it for 6500 when the girlfriend was looking, and that was a year ago. Just an idea.

[ChuckN]

You bet. My truck is only used for hauling, towing and work.

I drive cheap cars to commute to work and go everywhere else around town.

There is no way I could afford to drive the truck everyday with the mileage I put on and poor fuel economy in the truck.

How much weight do you tow? If it's a small boat you can get by with owning a smaller SUV that will get 25 mpg or so. Or buy a truck, have it insured for "pleasure use only" with insurance (reduced rates) and only use it when you need it. There are a lot of good deals on nice used trucks that will fit your bill these days with the high gas prices.

[outdoor ran]

I saw that there was a dealer in two harbours that had a deal where you buy a truck you get a new little car with it. I didn't look into it but im sure its a high long payment since you'll be buying 2 both. Just a thought

[Fishin4Life]

Quote:

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I saw that there was a dealer in two harbours that had a deal where you buy a truck you get a new little car with it. I didn't look into it but im sure its a high long payment since you'll be buying 2 both. Just a thought

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Hey I heard of this too! But when I heard it you would buy a suburban and get a free 2 year lease on a little car... You wouldn't own the little car, and had to give it back in the end of two years I guess...

[luckey]

Quite by accident, I ended up with two (Ranger and F150) trucks. Long story made short, almost 2 years ago my father in law gave me his van for driving him to Arizona. On the way back I made it to the middle of the desert before it blew up. I traded it in on the Ranger. The Ranger goes about twice a far on a gallon as the F150. Needless to say I only use the F150 for hunting and fishing and run the heck out of the Ranger. This equates to a gas savings of $1600 per year. Subtract 500 for insurance and 100 for oil etc and that leaves around a thousand.

The real savings will be apparent when the F150 lasts for 25 years instead of 10.

[Luck e 1]

Thanks guys for the advice.

I probably won't be towing that much...smaller boats/lighter loads. I may end up going with a midsize or small suv (but I will make sure it can handle some towing).

The problem is...the demand for those is so high it is almost cheaper to buy an Explorer than it is an Escape. With the savings buying the Explorer it could offset some of the cost of the gas.

[Luck e 1]

Thanks guys for the advice.

I probably won't be towing that much...smaller boats/lighter loads. I may end up going with a midsize or small suv (but I will make sure it can handle some towing).

The problem is...the demand for those is so high it is almost cheaper to buy an Explorer than it is an Escape (just an example). With the savings buying the Explorer it could offset some of the cost of the gas.