Hi Scotty!
Love the channel and you're my first go-to when doing car research! I bought a 2011 4 Cylinder Tacoma Regular cab for $10k back in Feb 2023 when used trucks were the price of gold. I bought the truck as I had a side business doing handyman work after hours and the regular cab tacoma was perfect for that. My other car is a paid for 2015 Nissan Versa. Both are manual transmission. I just started a job making a lot more money so I'm ending the handyman business.
My question is, I want and sometimes need a truck but we live in the boonies so I also want to keep my versa with great fuel economy. I also have 2 children still in car seats so I want something with a back seat. Should I A) sell Both cars and finance a hybrid maverick? B) Fix up the Tacoma by getting a lift kit, new wheels and tires, new grill and headlights and other cosmetic updated in order to sell it for more than $10k? or C) update the tacoma over time and keep both vehicles?
My tacoma is a regular cab 2 wheel drive stick shift so I feel like the demand for the truck is low and I want to get your opinion on fixing it up to sell?
Thank you!
QH
Should I A) sell Both cars and finance a hybrid maverick?
We've been over this topic on this forum many times. Not a reliable vehicle over the long-term.
Fix up the Tacoma by getting a lift kit, new wheels and tires, new grill and headlights and other cosmetic updated in order to sell it for more than $10k?
Why? Trucks with mods don't appeal to all buyers, and you will never get back any mods you put into it. Engineers designed your truck to be stable at the truck's stock height. Lifting anything will just make it more prone to tipping over. The only thing I would change is the headlights if they're faded.
d keep both vehicles?
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it", applies to your situation, I think.
Agreed, if you lift a tacoma, especially a 2wd, you won't get a better price for it, maybe lower. Not as many people will want to buy it.
Thanks! After posting I saw all the posts about the maverick, I saw Scotty's initial video on the maverick and figured it would be a decent buy.
And I appreciate the feedback on the mods, that makes sense!
The Maverick is quite new, so nobody truly knows how it will be over the long term. Mavericks are Hencho en Mexico and they're among the cheapest unibody based trucks on the market. Given Ford's recent track record, especially regarding economy cars and the Maverick, it's a pretty good bet they won't last too long. My and my wife's Mustangs are 2017s and they keep having problems with the EVAP system. They're too cheaply made. My '99 Ranger has never tripped a check engine light since I bought it 4 years ago and is 292k miles on it. It still works, too.
Keep the Tacoma for sure, but get rid of the Nissan Versa.
2011 4 Cylinder Tacoma Regular
How many miles?
Feb 2023 when used trucks were the price of gold
If you sell it, how much will you lose?
my other car is a paid for 2015 Nissan Versa. Both are manual transmission.
Well, Nissans aren't great - but this one is manual and probably a naturally aspirated 1.6L so it's not too bad at all. I had that exact 1.6L in a Renault Meganè Classic and the engine was the only good thing in that pile of junk!
versa with great fuel economy
How much MPG are you getting?
Although CVT versa is decently efficient, the manual has gearing that makes it less efficient.
It has a 6th gear and has pretty "long gears" starting off so the manual Versas are usually less efficient...
I (...) sometimes need a truck (...) I want something with a back seat
Have you considered the European option of a small open trailer? That's what I do, if I need to transport something large I just hook up a trailer to my small car (with an even smaller 1.36L engine) and it tows it wonderfully. It might solve the truck needs.
A) sell Both cars and finance a hybrid maverick?
The Maverick is too new to know, but knowing Ford's previous attempts at creating a hybrid it might be quite troublesome.
B) Fix up the Tacoma by getting a lift kit, new wheels and tires, new grill and headlights and other cosmetic updated in order to sell it for more than $10k?
All of that is quite expensive, I do not think you'll get a decent return on investment.
C) update the tacoma over time and keep both vehicles?
Sounds reasonable, that's probably what I would do.
Thanks! 165k miles on the tacoma and 65k miles on the versa. If I sell the tacoma KBB says it could go in a private sale for about $7500 as is. The versa really has been great thus far but I'm not sure how they hold up approaching 100k miles, I change the oil regularly. The versa gets 36 mpg and the tacoma gets around 19 to 20 mpg.
It sounds like everyone else is a fan of option C lol. I guess I wanted validation that I didn't need to buy a newer truck!
Thank you!
I’m also a fan of option C, as you can see. I just added the alternative I use.
If you service the Versa well, it can go a pretty long time without major issues as it’s a manual and an old school engine.
You want to keep up with frequent engine oil replacement and eventually replace the manual transmission fluid as the 5 speed manual isn’t super reliable…
Also the Toyota, yeah it’s high mileage but if you’re mostly putting on millage on the Versa then it should probably be fine.