BG: What do you drive? (PICS)

[Ksandra]

It’s like anything when you work for a company you get to see the ugly side of things, so I get it. But yeah I don’t think many cars if any can survive being totaled with frame damage. I am probably overthinking it but that truck saved me from much bigger damage to myself, so I am forever grateful for that (and yeah I get that would probably be most trucks anyway due to their shapes).

But yeah, slowly more and more approved shops are coming as mechanics get trained in them. Last time was over a year ago (someone turned and hit the truck when my husband was driving). And that time he had to drive over an hour away to an approved place. This one was a 30 min drive.

I used to tell my students that wanted to be mechanics to get into the EV business, as more and more come out. They for sure have more internal stuff going on than a lot of ICE cars.

Keeping my fingers crossed that we don’t have to deal with getting another vehicle.

I am amazed how many people don’t seem to notice THE BRIGHT YELLOW THING on the road.

[Ksandra]

All in all though that storage space is no joke. It’s been amazing with our tent camping adventures. (Son is in cub scouts). That tunnel alone has been amazing. We store our camping chairs, fishing poles, etc. in there.

[Tyche]

Since Toyota can't get their shit together with the GX550/4Runner hybrids, I'm starting to really fall in love with the 2026 Palisade images that Hyundai released. Expected to have a hybrid model with 35ish mpg. Wish they'd do a PHEV, but I'll take this.

[arus2001]

With my dad gone and immediate aftermath stuff handled, we junked one out of commission car and got rid of the other neither she nor I liked but the old man stubbornly clung to even though he hadn't been able to drive it for years. While we had no problem getting used, I had to fight my mom to not get something too old that just would've been a lateral trade on time bomb maintenance. She eventually picked a 2020 Buick Encore with about 21k miles, and while not perfect, it was probably the best we could hope for locally even if a bit above initial budget. Downside? It was a fucking smoker's car. I've tried changing the cabin air filter, bombing it, baking soda, etc.. That stink just won't GTFO.

[archibaldcrane]

this may not work out. bleh.

Now considering leasing (with the intent to own), since you still get the federal tax credit with a lease (which makes zero sense) and the state credit works for leasing.

Hate trying to sift through lease terms though, way harder to clearly negoriate than a cash buy.

Also VW responded to losing the federal tax credit by putting out a great lease deal for the ID.4, but it's only on the standard trim and I want the Pro

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[Gredival]

Why does leasing make sense I thought your problem was with the selection of cars available?

[archibaldcrane]

Why does leasing make sense I thought your problem was with the selection of cars available?

Because leasing an EV allows you to access the federal tax credit whether or not it is on the list of approved vehicles.

Still have to abide by the sale price cap and dealership restrictions for the state credit, but yeah leasing opens up the options.

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[archibaldcrane]

Since Toyota can't get their shit together with the GX550/4Runner hybrids, I'm starting to really fall in love with the 2026 Palisade images that Hyundai released. Expected to have a hybrid model with 35ish mpg. Wish they'd do a PHEV, but I'll take this.

No interest in the EV9?

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[Ksandra]

My current crazy plan. Tell me what you think:

Current loans: $1400 a mo. for the truck and $500 a mo. for the trailer. $120 mo. for RV storage.

We can get a small class C RV for probably $700 a month. So sell TT and get a class C instead. Can park the RV on the side of the house (trailers are required to be hooked up, which is why we store it). Save up extra funds to decide what to purchase and/or pay off rv loan asap.

Mom is going to be selling her home real soon (currently getting rid of the mess my uncle left, then selling) to move in with us. So we can pay to have her car (Honda sedan) shipped to us to use as a back up. Hubby works from home.

Sounds like a big hassle, but makes a lot of financial sense.

And no, not just selling trailer without a replacement option. It’s created a lot of amazing memories for the family, and we still love using it.

Granted, we still don’t know if it’s totaled. But we are trying to come up with a plan of it is.

[archibaldcrane]

Current loans: $1400 a mo. for the truck and $500 a mo. for the trailer. $120 mo. for RV storage.

*screaming, crying, shaking in the corner*

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[Gredival]

I only paid $500/mo for my Civic, so seems crazy to me...

[Salodin]

1400 a month for a vehicle is crazy beans to me

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[Roranora]

Current loans: $1400 a mo. for the truck and $500 a mo. for the trailer. $120 mo. for RV storage.

sweet baby jesus on fire

[Roranora]

i have an ‘05 GMC 2500 Savana, and i don’t have to drive very much these days

it doesn’t beep or say shit about seat belts, reverse, or the surroundings. it’s got crank windows, manual locks, 74k miles, and i love it more and more with every damn rental car we experience at work

[Roranora]

this thread is 15 years old; if it were a car, i’d prolly give it a test drive

[Cantih]

1400 a month for a vehicle is crazy beans to me

My half of the rent, utilities, groceries, that's literally my monthly "keep living" expenses.

[Ksandra]

Don’t ever let anyone tell you video games are a waste of time!


Also, in fairness to my husband, I went through 3 cars while he was stuck with one. So when he got his new job that gave him a $50k a year raise I told him he could get what he wanted. Except a Tesla. And that’s what he wanted. lol


My cars:

First moved to CA I needed a vehicle, so leased a Volkswagen Bug convertible as it was my second dream car (first being the original vw van).

When I was pregnant with my daughter we were very tight on money. And you can’t fit a baby seat in the convertible. Also husband’s car at the time was a stick shift, which I can’t drive. So the lease happen to run out then and we got a Nissan Versa since they were hella cheap.

Then I had my son. My mom came to visit once and all 5 of us went into the Versa. In much more polite words she said “fuck this shit” and helped us pay for a Nissan Rogue. I can’t remember how long I had it but eventually my husband’s car started getting funky, and we had better finances. That’s when he got the Bolt.

With the Rivian, we sold our Rogue to his mom and I kept the Bolt.


But yeah, in theory if we did my above plan that would get cut down to $700 a month, where we can save up to put a down payment on a new car/truck. But it would require my husband having to randomly drive the RV for stupid reasons until we maybe got my mom’s car out here.

[Ksandra]

Amagad I just noticed the typo. It’s 1200 not 1400 a month btw.

Edit: I should add we budget in other ways. I am not pretending like we didn’t finally become financially stable or anything, but like I do calculate to make sure we don’t spend a lot on other things. Sounds stupid, but as an example, women who don’t get the nails done are few and far between where I am at. I am one of them. That alone is like $80 a month nowadays. You’d be surprised how much it costs women to do the stuff they do, and I mostly skip all that.

Not trying to be like, “not like other girls,” stupid shit. If I had the money, I’d glam the fuck up, but as it stands I’d rather spend it on other things.

[Roranora]

Amagad I just noticed the typo. It’s 1200 not 1400 a month btw.

Oooh. Okay then

[Roranora]

Current loans: $1200 a mo. for the truck and $500 a mo. for the trailer. $120 mo. for RV storage.

*screaming, crying, shaking in the corner*

1200 a month for a vehicle is crazy beans to me

sweet baby jesus on fire

Almost my half of the rent, utilities, groceries, that's literally my monthly "keep living" expenses.