Advice requested:$35K budget, what are you buying and why?

[Mrbad]

I have a $35k budget and looking to get into something that will last me around 5-10 years for myself, wife, my son (and future kiddos), and two dogs. It will be a commuter 98% of the time while the rest will be used for camping, fishing, hunting, etc. I love the utility of a truck but trucks are darn expensive right now.

We’re in VA but want to make the move to CO.

So what should I be looking at?

Update: Lots of great advice, tips, and suggestions. We will be getting my wife the family road tripper ie Tahoe,sequoia. Although I’m not opposed to a SUV either it’s just whenever I needed a truck in the past few years, I never had one lol

 

[86scotty]

Define growing family.

What part of the country are you in? (mountains/cold?)

 

[Mrbad]

Define growing family.

What part of the country are you in? (mountains/cold?)

My wife and I have one child but will have more, not mention we have two mid-sized doggos!

We’re in VA but want to make the move to CO.

Edit: added to main body.

 

[4runnerteq]

What are you in now? $35k leaves a ton of opportunity's. Heck find a $15k 4th gen 4Runner Limited with the 4.7. All wheel drive. Bulletproof drivetrain. Use the rest of the money for mods or the move. 1st gen Sequoia pretty hard to beat. Or any for that matter. 2nd gen Sequoia works also.5th gen 4Runner works, not as much room or power though. Frankly I'd soon have the 4th gen Limited over any 5th gen. They can be had for way less money right now. Folks are starting to catch onto though. How many miles on commute? None of these are mileage getters. Maybe a grocery getter $4k corolla or prius and put the other in the 2% rig. I commute 75 miles one way 5 days a week. Said I'd never own one, but the prius is pretty sweet. Keeps miles and wear & tear of our play 4runner. Even on the weekends, the mt bike trails are 30 miles from home, I can go Saturday and Sunday for less than half the cost of fuel for the runner for one day. Maybe, you hang on to your $35k and just stay in what you have?

 

[MotoDave]

Well ... do you want a truck? Or a SUV?

You're in the Toyota forum ... pretty easy to recommend a 3-5 year old Tacoma/4runner in that price range.

In my opinion the Tacoma double cab rear seat is pretty tight for a rear facing car seat. The kids will be in those for 2-3 years, then they get turned around and it should be a non issue in any of the options.

The 4runner (I only have experience in the 5th gen 2010+ model) has a larger rear seat, and I think can slide the seat forward and back (at least you can in my 2010 GX460 which is the same platform).

When I was looking 2 years ago I found I could get a used Lexus GX460 for less than the same year 4runner - kind of crazy given it has a V8 and all the creature comforts. I specifically wanted a 3rd row which not all the 4runners have, some people find the 3rd row a drawback. I haul 3 adults, 2 kids (age 5 and 9) and a dog in a crate pretty regularly, with luggage up top in a roof top box.

Previously I had a 2012 Tundra Double Cab. The tundra rear set was cramped when sitting an adult in the back with 2 car seats, but worked fine with 2 adults in front and 2 kids in back. The CrewMax would have been nice too, but at some point the bed just becomes so small it doesn't seem that useful to me.


Edit: Think about MPG for commuting. My Tundra (on 34" AT tires) and the GX (on 32" AT tires) both get around 14 mpg on my commute which is 75% city. It sucks, I thought the GX would do better but its almost as heavy as the Tundra and has the same V8, my fault

The new Tacoma/4runner with the I-4 turbo looks to be a significant improvement on mpg. But you won't get into either for $35k I think.

 

[Todd780]

Define growing family.

My wife and I have one child but will have more, not mention we have two mid-sized doggos!

More as in 1 more? 2 more? 8 more?

2 or more kids plus 2 dogs, I'd say SUV. Kids in the middle row and doggos in the 3rd.

We travelled in a two row SUV with two kids and medium sized dog.

Young kids take up a lot of room as they need to bring stuff to keep them from getting bored.

I don't know who was more annoyed, the kids or the dog. Made for long trips.

Switched to a 3 row SUV and it was much better.

So, I suggest a SUV with a trailer. Something like a Sequoia if you want to stick with Toyota.

Expeditions L or Suburban would work as well.

You can see doggos attitude changed from when he was crammed in the backseat with our 2 daughters:



Vs when we all got out and he had the entire vehicle to himself:

 

[beef tits]

Avoid a 4R/GX. They are great, but small.

I’d get a Sequoia or Tundra with that many liabilities to tote around + gear.

 

[Mrbad]

What are you in now? $35k leaves a ton of opportunity's. Heck find a $15k 4th gen 4Runner Limited with the 4.7. All wheel drive. Bulletproof drivetrain. Use the rest of the money for mods or the move. 1st gen Sequoia pretty hard to beat. Or any for that matter. 2nd gen Sequoia works also.5th gen 4Runner works, not as much room or power though. Frankly I'd soon have the 4th gen Limited over any 5th gen. They can be had for way less money right now. Folks are starting to catch onto though. How many miles on commute? None of these are mileage getters. Maybe a grocery getter $4k corolla or prius and put the other in the 2% rig. I commute 75 miles one way 5 days a week. Said I'd never own one, but the prius is pretty sweet. Keeps miles and wear & tear of our play 4runner. Even on the weekends, the mt bike trails are 30 miles from home, I can go Saturday and Sunday for less than half the cost of fuel for the runner for one day. Maybe, you hang on to your $35k and just stay in what you have?

I'm in a GX470 but I've quickly come to realize it is aging for the worse and I don't have time anymore for these onesie/twosie repairs. The engine is fine no CEL etc, I'm just tired of fixing stuff lol
Tbh I think I'd rather go for a Tundra vs. sequoia given they are basically the same vehicle with exception to the bed. My commute right now is approx 20ish miles in Northern VA.

 

[Mrbad]

Well ... do you want a truck? Or a SUV?

You're in the Toyota forum ... pretty easy to recommend a 3-5 year old Tacoma/4runner in that price range.

In my opinion the Tacoma double cab rear seat is pretty tight for a rear facing car seat. The kids will be in those for 2-3 years, then they get turned around and it should be a non issue in any of the options.

The 4runner (I only have experience in the 5th gen 2010+ model) has a larger rear seat, and I think can slide the seat forward and back (at least you can in my 2010 GX460 which is the same platform).

When I was looking 2 years ago I found I could get a used Lexus GX460 for less than the same year 4runner - kind of crazy given it has a V8 and all the creature comforts. I specifically wanted a 3rd row which not all the 4runners have, some people find the 3rd row a drawback. I haul 3 adults, 2 kids (age 5 and 9) and a dog in a crate pretty regularly, with luggage up top in a roof top box.

Previously I had a 2012 Tundra Double Cab. The tundra rear set was cramped when sitting an adult in the back with 2 car seats, but worked fine with 2 adults in front and 2 kids in back. The CrewMax would have been nice too, but at some point the bed just becomes so small it doesn't seem that useful to me.


Edit: Think about MPG for commuting. My Tundra (on 34" AT tires) and the GX (on 32" AT tires) both get around 14 mpg on my commute which is 75% city. It sucks, I thought the GX would do better but its almost as heavy as the Tundra and has the same V8, my fault

The new Tacoma/4runner with the I-4 turbo looks to be a significant improvement on mpg. But you won't get into either for $35k I think.

I've always wanted a truck, although like you mentioned the Tacomas would be perfect for me i.e size, bed, fuel but anything more and it really starts to get uncomfortable with more people and longer trips. I'm in a 470 but like I mentioned previously I don't have time anymore for little repairs here and there, which makes me consider a 460 considering I love my 470 but maybe I should use this opportunity to get into a truck instead? I'm not sure.

 

[Mrbad]

More as in 1 more? 2 more? 8 more?

2 or more kids plus 2 dogs, I'd say SUV. Kids in the middle row and doggos in the 3rd.

We travelled in a two row SUV with two kids and medium sized dog.

Young kids take up a lot of room as they need to bring stuff to keep them from getting bored.

I don't know who was more annoyed, the kids or the dog. Made for long trips.

Switched to a 3 row SUV and it was much better.

So, I suggest a SUV with a trailer. Something like a Sequoia if you want to stick with Toyota.

Expeditions L or Suburban would work as well.

You can see doggos attitude changed from when he was crammed in the backseat with our 2 daughters:

View attachment 834399

Vs when we all got out and he had the entire vehicle to himself:

View attachment 834400

That is one happy doggo!

I think we plan on having atleast 1 more kid, but given that twins run in both families, we can't rule anything out. This is the 2nd reco for a sequoia! I'll have to look around atleast

 

[Mrbad]

Avoid a 4R/GX. They are great, but small.

I’d get a Sequoia or Tundra with that many liabilities to tote around + gear.

Love the 4R and I'm currently in an aging 470 and room is definitely a shortcoming. I think I'll look at the sequoias and Tundras and see which best fits my needs.

 

[bkg]

For $35k, I’m buying a $8k excursion, swapping in a 7.3 Godzilla/10-speed combo, 05+ axles and 35”-37” tires and enjoying.

 

[rruff]

4wd Tundras, <100k miles, <$25k. There are several at Chantilly, VA (dotcom auto).

https://www.cars.com/shopping/results/?dealer_id=&drivetrain_slugs[]=four_wheel_drive&include_shippable=true&keyword=&list_price_max=25000&list_price_min=&makes[]=toyota&maximum_distance=all&mileage_max=100000&models[]=toyota-tundra&monthly_payment=461&page_size=20&sort=best_deal&stock_type=all&year_max=&year_min=&zip=88355#vehicle-card-86b967b1-a714-4039-9acb-b2b77eabebda

 

[86scotty]

In a Toyota I'd go for a Tundra Crewmax or a Sequoia.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

For $35k, I’m buying a $8k excursion, swapping in a 7.3 Godzilla/10-speed combo, 05+ axles and 35”-37” tires and enjoying.

That’s a toy for someone with time and patience- not a do all family car.