I might have to sell...

[aaronrules]

It is with a heavy heart that I am considering selling my pimp ride. This isn't a for sale thread, more a venting/advice requesting thread. Here's the deal. I took a commission based job. Never have had one before and it requires a good deal of driving. Everyone has told me, and I am finding it to be true that the first year in the job is pretty rough. Money isn't coming in like it would be if I have a 9-5 or whatever. Long story short, unless something drastically changes really quick, I can't afford the $100/week gas bill this thing is going to cost.

I'd like to solicit some advice from you guys. I love my truck...I mean it as close to my dream vehicle as I have ever possibly driven. But the gas bill plus the fact that I am still paying on it will equal more than I can pay. Does it make sense to try to scrape enough together to find a cheap DD with good mileage? Or use that money for gas? But at 10-12 MPGS's even $2000 isn't going to go that far when I am going to be putting 50-100 miles a day on my truck easily.

Just want to see what you guys think. Giving up my truck for something less than capable and cool ride would kill me I think.

Thanks fellas!

 

[warpdriv]

Find a cheap beater and keep the cruiser.

 

[Motleyone]

It is with a heavy heart that I am considering selling my pimp ride. This isn't a for sale thread, more a venting/advice requesting thread. Here's the deal. I took a commission based job. Never have had one before and it requires a good deal of driving. Everyone has told me, and I am finding it to be true that the first year in the job is pretty rough. Money isn't coming in like it would be if I have a 9-5 or whatever. Long story short, unless something drastically changes really quick, I can't afford the $100/week gas bill this thing is going to cost.

I'd like to solicit some advice from you guys. I love my truck...I mean it as close to my dream vehicle as I have ever possibly driven. But the gas bill plus the fact that I am still paying on it will equal more than I can pay. Does it make sense to try to scrape enough together to find a cheap DD with good mileage? Or use that money for gas? But at 10-12 MPGS's even $2000 isn't going to go that far when I am going to be putting 50-100 miles a day on my truck easily.

Just want to see what you guys think. Giving up my truck for something less than capable and cool ride would kill me I think.

Thanks fellas!

I would get a cheap DD. You will regret selling.

 

[aaronrules]

The only other vehicle I would entertain trading for would be a Tacoma. I would instantly gain 6-10 MPGS's easily.

 

[TXLX100]

I don't think buying an additional car would save you money in the long run, even driving 100 miles a day. And racking up 25,000 miles a year in a $2,000 car is eventually going to cost in repairs to keep it on the road.

Get a 4 door Tacoma & camper shell or a 4runner for a compromise.

 

[aaronrules]

I don't think buying an additional car would save you money in the long run, even driving 100 miles a day. And racking up 25,000 miles a year in a $2,000 car is eventually going to cost in repairs to keep it on the road.

Get a 4 door Tacoma & camper shell or a 4runner for a compromise.

Yeah this is kinda what I was thinking. Even if I have to go up in price with a Taco I would be saving in the long run in fuel savings. And owning a Taco wouldn't upset me at all.

 

[aaronrules]

Trying to crunch the numbers and if I am conservatively thinking at 70 miles a day 5 days a week, and I get like 260 miles out of a tank. Each tank costs at least $70. It will be damn near $1000 a month to drive my truck with the loan payment added in! It will be very hard to justify that. And this is before I get to do anything fun that I bought the friggin thing for! Hard times in the ole Thorne household...first I have to miss 100's in the hills, now I might have to get rid of the pimp ride...

 

[Bloomer]

Aaron...sorry to hear this. Really, I understand. Had an 80 series that I loved and regretted selling, but had to let it go due to a 180 mile daily round trip commute to work (yup, not a misprint) at $4+ gallon. These are tough decisions we all have to make sometimes. My point, there will be other land cruisers. Do what's right for you and your family and what will simplify your life. With a new job, you don't need any added stress.

I've seen your land cruiser and got to visit with you and your son last year at HIH. You do have a very nice rig, but there will be others to come. And, you can use your experience with this one to build up the next.

Make your decision and don't look back. Hang in there.

 

[highonpottery]

I keep a 4th car so I can save on gas - I dd our 2001 corolla. Looked at selling it but they're only going for like $2500 so I decided to just keep and run till it dies. Perhaps something that may work for you if looking for cheap car that gets great mileage. My 2001 usually gets 37mpg hwy with a 5spd. I drive it 60 miles a day, has 209k, but it's reliable and gets the job done. Usually fill up around 370 miles/10 gal gas.

 

[aaronrules]

Good points guys! I think the hard point that I have been trying not to think about is that I might have to let it go and drive only the crappy little car with good mileage for this first year until I can get my book of business built up enough. Then do what Bloomer said and go out and another one...maybe a 200 series!

 

[NWForester]

racking up 25,000 miles a year in a $2,000 car is eventually going to cost in repairs to keep it on the road.

Get a 4 door Tacoma & camper shell or a 4runner for a compromise.

There will be repairs necessary for any vehicle going 25k a year, unless it is close to being brand new. Being close to new means higher initial cost of course.

I don't think a truck or 4runner would be much improvement in mileage or overall maintenance costs (tires, fluids, dragging around a transfer case, etc).

If it were me, I would look for an inexpensive compact 4 cylinder manual trans car; something that should easily get 30-40 mpg. Beat the snot out of that thing and keep your truck for your personal driving.

.


...via IH8MUD app

 

[codertimt]

I'm with the beater daily driver crowd... The numbers never add up for trading up in vehicles for mileage to save money...well maybe if the vehicle is a Prius, but the Taco isn't going to get you the MPG increase you need, IMHO. Maybe stock, a 4WD(assuming) 4 door will pull 20MPG, but comparably outfitted like your 100(and if it's a long term thing, that's likely to be the case, right)... it's going to be lucky to get 18 on the road...So if you put 20K into it up front, you're looking at many years before you make that up in gas savings... I understand it's a day to day cost of operation thing and not an overall cost thing, but if you really like the 100...and it's really a short term need, throw a couple/few thousand at a compact car and drive it into the ground. In this case, you will make up the cost of purchase in gas in a year or so...then if those commissions are rolling in by that time you can start driving the cool vehicle again...if not...band-aid it together for as long as it's needed.

And does your LX really only get 13mpg on the highway? Does the extra weight from the bumper/armor suck it down that bad? My 2001 with 295s pulls 16 on the road...driven not terribly nicely...

So, 1500 miles/mo. $400 at 13mpg, $275 at 19mpg, $175 at 30mpg. So, a Taco could possibly save $125/mo in fuel...you will still have a payment, and probably for a longer period of time. You will eat up any fuel savings seen for the first year just in sales tax paid.... "In the long run", it will pay for itself in fuel savings in 12-15 years or so depending on purchase price...so the very long run. At $225 saved per month, a $2700 beater pays for itself in a year. Unless you just end up with a complete piece of crap, you should save enough coin to keep it running safely for quite a while...and you get to keep the cruiser...

 

[Landsharkman]

I agree

 

[aaronrules]

I'm with the beater daily driver crowd... The numbers never add up for trading up in vehicles for mileage to save money...well maybe if the vehicle is a Prius, but the Taco isn't going to get you the MPG increase you need, IMHO. Maybe stock, a 4WD(assuming) 4 door will pull 20MPG, but comparably outfitted like your 100(and if it's a long term thing, that's likely to be the case, right)... it's going to be lucky to get 18 on the road...So if you put 20K into it up front, you're looking at many years before you make that up in gas savings... I understand it's a day to day cost of operation thing and not an overall cost thing, but if you really like the 100...and it's really a short term need, throw a couple/few thousand at a compact car and drive it into the ground. In this case, you will make up the cost of purchase in gas in a year or so...then if those commissions are rolling in by that time you can start driving the cool vehicle again...if not...band-aid it together for as long as it's needed.

And does your LX really only get 13mpg on the highway? Does the extra weight from the bumper/armor suck it down that bad? My 2001 with 295s pulls 16 on the road...driven not terribly nicely...

So, 1500 miles/mo. $400 at 13mpg, $275 at 19mpg, $175 at 30mpg. So, a Taco could possibly save $125/mo in fuel...you will still have a payment, and probably for a longer period of time. You will eat up any fuel savings seen for the first year just in sales tax paid.... "In the long run", it will pay for itself in fuel savings in 12-15 years or so depending on purchase price...so the very long run. At $225 saved per month, a $2700 beater pays for itself in a year. Unless you just end up with a complete piece of crap, you should save enough coin to keep it running safely for quite a while...and you get to keep the cruiser...[/QUOte

I've been waffling on keeping and doing a beater and getting rid of it and getting a beater and getting rid of it and getting something like a stock Taco, FJ, or 4Runner. We've spent the last 10 years trying to get out of debt only to put ourselves into more with vehicles and whatnot. It's wasn't a big deal until I took this job and the short term future is looking a little bleak. The smart move is to get rid of our almost $1000 a month worth of car payments and get a couple cars that will get by for the next year and be paid for so I can get my dream vehicle back. I really don't think it's very smart to pay for a truck that is going to sit for 80%-90% of the time.

And I would actually be happy to see 13MPG's. The highest I have seen since tracking for the last 6 months or so has 12.5, I am averaging 11.5 since I started keeping track. This might the start of a for sale thread of which I will place in the proper thread if that is what I decide...damn now I gotta get it all cleaned up!

 

[hankinid]

Talk to your or your company's tax person. Mileage for business should / will be deductible on your tax bill(s). Not sure what the IRS shows as a per/mile deduction...my outside sales days were quite a while ago. I would do that as required homework as soon as possible.

You may also be eligible for a deduction on a decent beater with stingy gas mileage including, possibly, depreciation.

Note that I am definitely not even close to a CPA or tax attorney, but if you're working outside the office and using your own vehicle, save ALL receipts however small...it all adds up at the end of the year. Same for an in-home office as well as any other legal deductions for expenses you incur incident to your job.

It may also be cheaper from your company's standpoint to lease a car for you...my deal with my last employer (late 1990's through mid-2000's) was a Suburban with unlimited mileage for about $1000/month for the lease. They took care of gas, repairs, and insurance. My W-2 showed income for assumed personal use for 20% of total yearly mileage. They did better tax-wise, and I had an almost free 'Burb every 2-1/2 to 3 years. Mileage total was ~50-60K a year.

hth

Steve

 

[CappyKD]

Buy a beater, you will be much happier. I sold my factory triple locked 80 in 2008 when gas was at the all time high. I regretted it for 3 years. Then I picked up a 100. Gas is killing me now, so I just switched to a dedicated DD.

 

[aaronrules]

Talk to your or your company's tax person. Mileage for business should / will be deductible on your tax bill(s). Not sure what the IRS shows as a per/mile deduction...my outside sales days were quite a while ago. I would do that as required homework as soon as possible.

You may also be eligible for a deduction on a decent beater with stingy gas mileage including, possibly, depreciation.

Note that I am definitely not even close to a CPA or tax attorney, but if you're working outside the office and using your own vehicle, save ALL receipts however small...it all adds up at the end of the year. Same for an in-home office as well as any other legal deductions for expenses you incur incident to your job.

It may also be cheaper from your company's standpoint to lease a car for you...my deal with my last employer (late 1990's through mid-2000's) was a Suburban with unlimited mileage for about $1000/month for the lease. They took care of gas, repairs, and insurance. My W-2 showed income for assumed personal use for 20% of total yearly mileage. They did better tax-wise, and I had an almost free 'Burb every 2-1/2 to 3 years. Mileage total was ~50-60K a year.

hth

Steve

Oh yeah, the receipts and stuff for sure. The tax stuff is a good thing, but doesn't help make payments and buy gas now. My company wont lease a vehicle either. I am a 1099 employee, which I might be also regretting...

It's the paying for a truck to sit most of the time that is hard to get over.

 

[Kofoed]

You also need to consider the cost of re-aquiring a 100/200 series, built in the same manner.......

 

[jjstahl3]

Was in the same boat earlier this year was putting over 400 a month in fuel in a land cruiser around tax time our guy recommended a electric vehicle we lease a nissan leaf at 199 a month and costs about 40 a month in electricity so about 250 a month to drive and in three years we will just give it back so we looked at it as a fuel trade off with gas prices over 4 a gallon now

 

[aaronrules]

Was in the same boat earlier this year was putting over 400 a month in fuel in a land cruiser around tax time our guy recommended a electric vehicle we lease a nissan leaf at 199 a month and costs about 40 a month in electricity so about 250 a month to drive and in three years we will just give it back so we looked at it as a fuel trade off with gas prices over 4 a gallon now

That might be worth a look into...just wish those things got more than like 200 miles per charge...