One Vehicle Only

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Zee09

Zee09

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One day I just may pull the trigger and have but one vehicle.
I'm tired of insurance and maintenance.
Have you ever thought what one new vehicle would suit your needs?
Of course many would say a pickup. But here you can rent one for the day for $50 unlimited mileage
So don't base your choice on occasional use.
 
I'm confused--you ask us what we would want to buy, then tell what we can't? I guess it's your thread so it's your rules.

But it's a 25 mile drive to the closest rental place for me, and I'm not sure if they have the same unlimited deal--and it's apt to not come with snow tires either.

I have yet to come across a do-all vehicle. Minivan would be nice but they don't do AWD to my liking (cheap that is). And after just shoveling 6" of packing snow today, and having to use 4WD to back my trailer around this past weekend, I'm not giving up 4WD either. Of course, at over 30k/year commuting, I need a cheapo beater to put miles onto.

21.gif


Closest thing would be a 4WD station wagon, diesel powered, manual transmission, that is somehow sold in large numbers so that parts are cheap. I only occasionally tow so I would only be occasionally be in need of 3,500lb towing--so it should be ok to exceed towing limits "occasionally" right?
 
Well, our pickup counts as my #1 tool. Gotta have it.
I guess if $$ got tight, I would go down to 1 vehicle.
Maybe a SUV, maybe our Tundra.
You're killing me!
 
Something mid-size with awd/4wd that would pull our pop-up. Don't know what that would be exactly but not a low sedan or wagon. Truck rental is good in theory but I bet would be annoying quickly, more so if you couldn't get a truck when you wanted it.

OP is this a wish list like the diesel 4wd manual wagon above or something currently on the market?
 
Being I'm out of work and the wife works from home, I'll be a one car family when February rolls around and my leased vehicle goes bye bye.
 
Small SUV or dare I say CUV. I hate CUVs, but if you have one vehicle for a normal person who doesn't need cargo room, that would be it. I really like the Chevy Trax, it's like a small minivan and you sit so high. You can also get closer to car MPG as opposed to a minivan with a larger engine (if so equipped). You could also get a wagon but I think the CUV segment is more competitive and you can get more for you dollar right now.

I find the old adage: Anything more than necessary is too much applies to many things, especially cars. If it makes financial sense to rent a truck when you need it, then you don't need anything more than a DD with some cargo capacity to give your vehicle some capabilities and versatility.

However, right now is the time to buy a newer used car before they become scarce on the used market.
 
2018 Toyota Land Cruiser 200. Built to last a lifetime, comfortable for long trips, able to tow, fits my family.
 
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I fully understand.
My rental place does not pick me up but I can drive there and they put my car in a fenced yard etc.
I was just saying for the guy who only needs a truck a few times here and there.
Me- I really need a truck often but I hate pleasure trips with a F350- I tend to be cheap when it comes to fuel.
Like others said a SUV since most CUV's can't tow very much
 
Originally Posted by Zee09
Have you ever thought what one new vehicle would suit your needs?
For the longest time, my 530i was my only vehicle that pretty much suited all my needs, short of needing to transport large items, but in those cases, I would just rent a van from HD or some such.

Then I had to go and screw it up by buying the SRT which does not make for a good winter car, so now I'm up to two cars, and my 530i has to sit outside, which means I have to clear snow and ice off it before I can drive it. Life was pretty simple before, so I had to make it more complicated. Ugh...
 
AZ you can take the thread anywhere you'd like.
Supton- All I was saying is, if I didn't say you could rent a PU- most answers would be my PU
MAX- a CUV would work but like some here most don't tow worth a hoot. Again rent something but
that gets old. I actually think the Nissan Pathfinder would work but with a CVT- No I don't think so.
Atlas Vr6-Durango-JL??????????

I got used to high mpg compacts for every day duty. And f350's for serious work
But neither is an all purpose vehicle
 
We have just one vehicle, the cx5. For 99% of our needs it is perfect. The one time I needed something bigger to haul some furniture I rented a utility van from Hertz for $19.95 plus the fuel.

Everyone's personal needs and situation cannot be accounted for on a interweb forum.
 
Originally Posted by Donald
At some point you buy a vehicle saying this will be last vehicle I buy. Not because you expect it to last a long time but because you are getting old.


Yeah that's true. Sadly that is a reality.
 
Originally Posted by Zee09
MAX- a CUV would work but like some here most don't tow worth a hoot. Again rent something but
that gets old. I actually think the Nissan Pathfinder would work but with a CVT- No I don't think so.
If OP was worried about towing a pickup or large SUV would be required. I'm sure a CUV can tow a small trailer with a trans cooler and upgraded brake pads if you want to go that far. One of those little trailers you can get at HF to haul stuff to the dump, gardening supplies, help people move etc. Modding a new vehicle might not fit the spirit of this thread, but OP never mentioned anything about towing. If they do tow, then renting the truck is a realistic option for them

Originally Posted by Zee09
I got used to high mpg compacts for every day duty. And f350's for serious work
But neither is an all purpose vehicle
There are no all purpose vehicles. Old pickup truck for working and getting dirty and a car or SUV for moving people and small amounts of cargo around is the best combination, but that is not an option in this scenario.

EDIT: Sorry, you are OP. Sounds like you know the drill, buy a new car and get a old regular cab truck for towing. Reg cab trucks are a lot cheaper than crew or extended models because they are fit for nothing but a work truck or looking pretty.
 
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I could probably give up cargo capacity as long as I could have decent towing. Have the space to park trailers. Ironically I prefer moving stuff using my small Camry with a small 4x8 utility trailer--low floor, and the trailer responds very quickly while backing up, so it can go many places easily. Then again, I don't have curbside pickup and so "having to" always back my trailer into the yard every weekend would get old, quick. And the Camry isn't going to move my trailer around in winter, snow tires or otherwise. A CUV might get old, quick, moving around the typical garbage cans into the back, assuming there is enough space and the cans aren't too dirty, but it might be the closest.
 
Best depends on your budget.

It i s hard to beat a Lexus if you can afford.

Volt will be really cheap soon, and they have been rather reliable.

Rod
 
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