Saw My First 6th Gen In Person

Registration is a silent killer too. Out here in California, a new $65-80k car will cost you probably a grand a year in just registration fees. Its like $140/year on my 2004. May not be a factor in other states, not sure.

I always 'assume' people buying $80k cars dont have to worry about costs like that, or at least shouldn't have to.

 

Same here in Maine. Vehicle excise tax disincentivizes new car purchases. It’s based off of MSRP and doesn’t level off until year six.

Year 1 = 2.4%
Year 2 = 1.75%
Year 3 = 1.35%
Year 4 = 1%
Year 5 = 0.65%
Year 6 and beyond = 0.4%

So year 1 on a $70,000 Pro = $1,680 plus fees for registration. Plus $3850 in sales tax (assuming no trade-in to offset).

 

Jesus, my estimates were way off and i thought a grand was ridiculous. Just proves the point even more.

 

Add in interest on a loan and you’re looking at $90-100k to drive a gen 6 Pro/Trailhunter with a 4 cylinder engine.

For that amount of $$ I’d be looking for something else.

 

I don’t know what you pay for gas but around here at under $3 it doesn’t make sense to have a separate commuter car. I did it 15 years ago when gas was $4 and a vehicle was half the price of what it is now. Today you’re going to lose money.

 

Gas prices vary between 3 to 6 dollars around the country, it's only part of the cost to commute. But even at 3 dollars, a 20mpg SUV costs you 2250 a year in gas to go 15k miles. a 40 mpg sedan costs half that, at 1125 dollars. That's over a grand of difference a year in gas alone. My entire registration and insurance on my 2025 MY car in California, is under 1200, I think closer to 1100, and that's a top side estimate since it's california, where the gas prices are routinely over 5 dollars.

Then add depreciation 15k a year puts on a 4Runner after say, 6 to 10 years, and other wear and tear that incurs on SUVs for commuting, and then number adds up pretty quick.

 

Good Grief, did the forum become a wealth management website and I missed the memo??

If we're running a "poor life choices" thread, none of above makes the first ten chapters. Envy those who think they make the first two volumes.

 

I agree. A few guys who think they are smarter than they really are and just love to hear each other talk so they can like each other's comments. And they say some really stupid things. Get a life guys.

 

What about the $5K needed a year for the car payment. I drive a lot and even though I get shitty mpgs I still only pay around $2500-3000 in gas. Cheaper than buying another car for commuting.

 

Then it is up to you to decide if piling on all those pavement miles exclusively on a rough and tumble 4Runner is worth it compared to say, buying a few year old lightly used sedan for the highway miles. You don't have to buy a brand new car as a run about or commuter. I see that you are focused on gas costs alone, and at the risk of repeating myself, once you add up the gas, maintenance, wear parts, depreciation, and other costs of running the 4runner, only you can decide what is worth it or not.

Personally, I drive smaller car that gets me 45 mpg on my commute and sitting in a crowded parking lot with lots of idiots, and I don't worry about flying rocks and debris on the freeway during commute hours, stop light fender benders, parking lot dings and such, while my 4Runners chill in my garage to be used for what they were designed for. YMMV.

 

I already have decided years ago. Why are you trying to tell me what to do?

 

I don't think you actually read what I wrote, and instead somehow taking the perspective I offered in a personal way.

Just to be clear, Turd Ferguson, only you can decide what you want to do.

 

talk about nitpicking

 

The production grille looks like Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V photoshop rendering laziness. It’s not a bad looking vehicle; I’m just kinda over the new vehicle market.

 

Has anyone ever really bought a 4 Runner for fuel economy or a smooth ride?

Last I looked this is "Merica" and we drive what we like, not what's practical....

 

You guys didn't come here looking for financial advice?

 

waiting for the thread lock since we have veered so far off course

 

Haha!

 

I drove "practical" for most of my driving years. In August of 2024, I bought a 2024 4Runner, a vehicle I've wanted since they first came out in the mid-80's.

Practicality is overrated.

 

Like everyone else, I go to the Fly Fishing forums for that.

Had no idea this many Schwab/JP Morgan execs roamed this forum.

 

The federal government and manufacturers are also interested in the small wins adding up over a fleet.

This isn't necessarily 4Runner specific but usually I see anecdotes of losing anywhere from 0 to 1 MPG when the air dam is removed. It doesn't sound like much but 1 MPG over a 16-20 MPG average is a few to several percentage points right there!

 

I'm only here to give and receive bad financial advice. I even warn people in the title of the Wisconsin thread on Tacomaworld.

 

A follower of R/Biz i see? Buy high, sell low, thats the motto.

 

Why do you care what people do with their money

 

So in other news I saw a black TRD Off-road on the road today. Looks kind of meh with all the matte black plastic parts.

 

I saw a greenish (I don't know the actual color name, honestly) TRD Off-Road in the local Lowes parking lot yesterday, two spaces away from an older FJ.

The color hides the ugly pretty well, I think.

I started to park in between them for a pic, just for kicks, but had to get on with the chorin'.

 

Sounds like some Little House on the Prairie hijinks to me!