Equal trade for my Tacoma....

[brelandt]

This last year I have placed about 40K miles on my Tacoma. I live 76 miles from work and I also run a few errands. I'm getting about 20 MPG. Which is fine but cost around 30 to 40 dollars each day just getting to and from work.
I love my truck but I really need something that does better in MPG and cheap to run.
Without getting into my personal business I can not afford to buy a car. I would need to do and even swap.
Two questions? Where could I find someone willing to do a swap. Also what car would be worth it?
My truck is a 2004 Toyota Tacoma Regular cab PreRunner SR5 with new Revo 2 LT 285/75-16 and 1" lift. 117,000 miles. No damages. According to Kelleys private party valve is $10,200.
Any ideas would be helpful, thanks!

 

[AlienBug]

Better off selling and taking the cash to go buy a car. Even swaps are just too tough to arrange. You would need to find someone that a) has the car you want, and b) wants the truck you have and c) the two vehicles are the same value.

 

[supton]

What is your risk tolerance? You could go Craigslist; or you could trade in at a dealer. Dealer means you lose money (get less car on your trade) as the dealer has to make a living. CL means who knows what you might get (then again, same goes on a dealers lot, but at least it'll be shiney).

What do you want to replace it with? I presume you had a truck for a reason. Would your car have to do the same things; or would it be strictly commuting?

 

[brelandt]

You right the whole finding someone willing to do this and have what I want is low and hard to do.
I have the truck cause in my heart I am a truck guy. However, I am a mini truck guy and not really into full size. I use the bed only about once a month and it comes in handy when I do use it, but I do not make my living with the truck and therefore it's not 100% necessary to have one.
I would like a 2001 to 2005 Civic or Corolla. I work on cars all day and these tend to be stone cold reliable. The Saturns are loud and unrefined. I had a Cavalier a few years back and I would rather walk than to drive another one, LOL!
I do work at a shop so my truck has been looked after. drives perfectly. Even as far as doing 3K oil changes with syn oil!

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: AlienBug
Better off selling and taking the cash to go buy a car. Even swaps are just too tough to arrange. You would need to find someone that a) has the car you want, and b) wants the truck you have and c) the two vehicles are the same value.


This. +1.

 

[wkcars]

Try checking carmax if there's one nearby, coworker sold his car there and got pretty good price for it, he also bought a car from them and traded in another car and they gave him a good trade in as well.

 

[addyguy]

Trucks are still valuable in the market, as you valuation attests to.

To make it 'simple' an even trade at a dealer will be your best bet, and I don't think you'll have a problem getting a 2002-2006 econo car for the value of your truck.

Carmax 'seems' to be doing right by people, I'd go talk to them about what you are after, they might just set you up in one fell swoop.

 

[supton]

Our '01 Civic wasn't too reliable (define reliable: needed a/c work every other year, and towards the end a complete exhaust system--I was counting on something more expensive real soon). But if your familar with it, all the more power to you. Can you swing buying the Civic/Corolla now, and sell the truck later? I'm thinking that, with a bit of shopping, you could get below 5k on the thing. If you're a mechanic you could probably swing a great deal, buying something with a couple of issues, fixing up on the side, and then selling the truck.

 

[johnachak]

You can probably two or three year old Ford Ranger for the 10k you would get for your big truck. That would give you a cargo bed, the small truck you want and decent mileage if you get the 4.

 

[95busa]

If I were you I would consider buying a motorcycle for cash. You can probably do it for about $1500-$2000 or 3-4K for a real nice used one. Then you get to keep the utility of your truck as well for hauling stuff or rainy/cold days.

 

[Dave Hess]

My dad has a 2005 Civic VP coupe (auto trans) and its hard to beat their reliability and gas mileage. You can find these cars dirt cheap on Craigslist. I've hit 45 MPG no problem.

 

[saberz]

Originally Posted By: 95busa
If I were you I would consider buying a motorcycle for cash. You can probably do it for about $1500-$2000 or 3-4K for a real nice used one. Then you get to keep the utility of your truck as well for hauling stuff or rainy/cold days.


Then you have the added expense of maintaining and insuring the vehicle.

 

[Dakota1820]

i need to let my saturn know she is just unrefined lol. jeeez. my saturn is quieter than any civic ive been in and more comfortable. trading even is an awful idea. either keep what you have because you know it or sell it and get something else. trading is usually tough shady business. with ten grand i would probably buy a newer hyundai elantra.

 

[95busa]

Originally Posted By: Anies
Originally Posted By: 95busa
If I were you I would consider buying a motorcycle for cash. You can probably do it for about $1500-$2000 or 3-4K for a real nice used one. Then you get to keep the utility of your truck as well for hauling stuff or rainy/cold days.


Then you have the added expense of maintaining and insuring the vehicle.

At 65MPG who cares? I pay $30 a month for insurance and service every 6 thousand miles. It's probably not gonna break him. Plus he would be getting 3 times the gs mileage...

 

[abycat]

Dont trade a regular joe. Ive seen soo many people get a raw deal.

Either sell it privately or to a dealer and use the cash to buy what you need. You can always get a versa. 10,000$ will get you a 2011-2010 with 50,000 or so on it or even less.

But anyway I dont think care and pride for a vehicle can really change the actual price you get for a vehicle. Say you see two exact same used cars in a lot. One could have been driven by miss daisy and the other could have been a stop light racing kid who bagged on it.

Hope whatever you do works out good for you. Also remember when you buy an older car you will have to put money into it very soon. Your truck or an equivelant newer car should be good to go for a while. Or even be under some warranty.

 

[4x4chevydude]

You really have a couple of options and that would be to list your truck on Craigslist for sale and try to get a bite for the blue book value and then take the money and go to car max and get yourself a car there or look on craigslist for something.

Two you could just go to a carmax or dealer and trade the truck and see whats on the lot for the same value as they will give you.

Some things to keep in mind....4 cylinder 5 speed S10-Rangers get 22-30 MPG ive owned one and so does my brother in law they are good trucks and get good MPG

If you would rather get the car check out Hyundai's they are nice cars for a good vaue the Elantra's ro Sonatas with 4 cylinders get 30-35 MPG and they are just nice cars.

Good luck!

 

[cptbarkey]

you are not going to find someone who will do an even trade, that is simply not going to happen. either you get screwed, or the other person will, and one of you will be [censored].

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: 95busa
If I were you I would consider buying a motorcycle for cash. You can probably do it for about $1500-$2000 or 3-4K for a real nice used one. Then you get to keep the utility of your truck as well for hauling stuff or rainy/cold days.


This!!

 

[bladecutter]

Originally Posted By: Anies
Then you have the added expense of maintaining and insuring the vehicle.


He would have the expense of maintaining and insuring whatever vehicle he buys, period.

For motorcycles, they can be extremely inexpensive to insure, if you get an older standard or touring type motorcycle. A Hawk GT or a SV650 would probably be less than $100 a year to insure for basic liability in most states.

As for maintenance, yes, that could be pricey. If you can do the work yourself, you save on labor, and then it just becomes tire and oil changes whenever needed, plus the occasional valve adjustment. If you have something fail on the bike, that would be an added expense, of course.

But, it is doable.
I've done it, and lots of other people do it all the time.

BC.

 

[wallyuwl]

Look at Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix. The engine is the same as in the Corolla (1.8). They are good cars. Bad paint. But otherwise good. You keep some of the hauling space, but get good mpg (30+ hwy at 75). It is also pretty high off the ground compared to a normal car.

A note about CarMax: I'd stay away. It is my understanding they are a "no haggle" dealership. But from everything I've seen they are expensive for new, and based off of their valuations of trade-ins they undervalue. That's probably why they have such big and fancy buildings.