Ok,

So I'm about to start my last Semester of High School, and I already know, when I go to college Next fall, I won't be able to use my truck as a Daily Driver, like I'm doing now. I lost my job (Dealer I detailed cars at shutdown) But between working with my uncle (how I afforded my truck in the first place) and the time I had working with the Dealer, I have saved up about $3,000 since I bought my truck.

Now, without a job, I'm struggling to pay for gas, and Insurance (which is outrageous on this thing for a 17 y/o). I've been Hauling loads of Scrap, and cutting and selling Firewood, so I use my truck to make what money I can, so I can't really sell it, and my Uncle I worked with passed away.

So I'm thinking, would it be better to just use the $3,000 to buy pos car and Keep the truck because I do haul things a lot in it, or just sell the truck and use the money I get from it, plus what I already have to get a fairly nice and reliable car for when I go to college.

If I do decide to get a car, or small SUV (I really need a 4x4 for where I live), what do you recommend? I've been looking at the 2002 or newer Explorers or Stratus R/T's (chick cars I know, but I've always kind of liked them), but that's only if I sell my truck first.

I really don't want to sell my truck, since It's what I've wanted since I was like 8 lol, but I really didn't know what I was getting into when I bought it when I was only 15. Don't get me wrong, it's a great truck, only has 103,000 Miles, and I haven't had to replace hardly anything on it since I bought it in April of 09.

So what vehicles would you recommend for under $3,000 that I could use as a DD?


Sorry for writing a Novel. lol

 

i bought a motorcycle, saves so much money in the summer and spring here in iowa, then later on bought a $600 cheap 1988 civic

 

I'm in Mo, If I bought a Motorcycle, I would only be able to ride it for like 3 months out of the year, and even then it would be off and on. lmao

 

have you thought about picking up a used motorcycle? I think if driven responsibly and in the right conditions with the right training etc.. it could be an alternative. maybe a nice smaller cc bike that is a couple years old or older so you could buy for 1500 drive it for a number of years and still sell it for 1500. also where I live a paid of motorcycle requires no insurance. you could keep the truck to use for bad weather, making money etc. all while keeping the miles down and saving on fuel.

 

sorry, was typing while those posts showed up.

 

Find a cheap car, dare I say foriegn.....less than 1k or close to it then if something happens to it you have leftover money

 

+1 Yup, can't go wrong with a 4 banger'. Definitely foreign.

 

My sister had a 4 cylinder I could burn the tires off it through 3rd gear. Then it got put run over a hill into a ditch.

 

My step dad had an '01 Hyundai Accent, little 2 door, manual tranny, 4 banger. When he passed away in '08 my mom asked me if I wanted it or if not, to try to sell it for her. I had that thing up for sale for a good 6 months. Drove it a good bit while I was trying to move it.
For seven years old, it was mint, only had 43k miles on it and got me a solid 32 mpg, around 38 on the interstate. Good pep too, thanks to the manual tranny. I contemplated giving my mom KBB for it, but refused to give up my daily driver which is my Grand Cherokee and no way did I need three vehicles.
Problem was, it stickered for only $7995 new, and he got it for about $7300. Depreciation over seven years had KBB FULL RETAIL at only $2800 even with the super low mileage.
I finally ended up getting $2500 for it from an in-home nurse who was logging about 150 miles a day on her V8 Buick and I had to teach her to drive a stick at that!

Seems to me you can find a little 4 banger in good shape for around what you got to spend and be able to keep your truck...

 

I agree with all these guys. Cant go wrong with a Civic or Corolla, maybe even a Sentra. Get a 5 speed. They are all front wheel drive, which will be fine in the snow.