For context, that’s my 2013 Ranger 800 Crew out near Joshua Tree. It’s been a great machine but it’s not street legal, so every single trip means borrowing my buddy’s truck and trailer, loading it, driving 2 hours, unloading. By the time we’re actually riding half the morning is gone.

I want to sell it and get one vehicle I can drive to work Monday and take straight into the desert Saturday without a trailer.

Budget is around $40k. Used is fine, new if the math works.

What it needs to do:

Seat 4 adults without anyone’s knees in their chest. The whole point of the Crew was bringing people along

Deep sand, washes, some rocky climbs. Not doing anything crazy, no Hammers-type stuff

Not miserable on the freeway. Commute is about 35 miles each way, mostly highway

Somewhere to throw a cooler, a shovel and recovery boards

Ideally better than 15 mpg but I’m realistic

Stuff I’m looking at: 4Runner TRD Off Road, Tacoma, Bronco 4 door. Wrangler is basically out because my brother in law’s has been in the shop three times since March and he will not stop texting me about it.

Leaning 4Runner because it seems like it’ll last forever, the price works cos I got lucky on stake, but the Bronco looks way more fun and I keep going back and forth on the price difference once you add a lift and tires.

Also the canopy on the Ranger has been zip tied at the front corner since a Joshua tree branch won an argument with it, so if anyone in SoCal wants a project, DM me I guess.

Main thing I can’t figure out is whether a 4Runner on stock tires is going to bog down in the soft stuff the Ranger just floats over, or if airing down solves that

So I’m 28 years old, expenses are very low right now (moved home to live for free), $30k in bank account, no job yet, working on my mental health, hoping to get a job soon so I can save. I was able to save $35k while working at a Carwash and paying rent on my own so I could save even more without having to fork out the $1k a month for rent. I am terrified of buying cars. Anxiety through the roof when it comes to cars. It’s always been a trigger for me with anxiety about possible mechanical problems or repairs. Now I’ve been looking at a brand new Camry that would run me around $33k OTD. I only have $30k and no credit because I never had a credit card or tried to build credit. Anyways, I see these used cars for $15k, $20k and I’m just terrified to even consider buying one. At the end of the day I don’t want a car payment. It would be around $400+ as well as $150-$200 insurance. All the cars I’ve bought before have been like $5k cars with high mileage and were nightmares so I’m just scared but I know that’s not the same as buying a $15-$20k car that’s been taken care of and looked over.

TLDR: moved home, dealing with mental health, no rent payments, unemployed, $30k in account, scared to buy a used car so looking at new even though I don’t want car payment.

Looking at replacing my current daily ('17 Ram 1500) with a 1960s Amphicar. I live in Naples FL and my commute is about 20 minutes by road over the summer, but during the winter/'season' it takes over an hour due to snowbirds and tourists. I could potentially cut that down by taking the canals.

There's a boat ramp about 3 minutes out of my way leaving the house, and another just a block from my office downtown, so logistically it seems pretty straightforward. I'm a little concerned about getting wet, but I bought a poncho from Walmart that fits over my suit, so I think I've addressed that.

Anyone here daily one? Curious about reliability, maintenance costs, and whether 43 hp is enough for days I don't feel like taking the water.

I'd ideally like to get 10 to 15 years out of it.

Not interested in financing. Thanks.

My trusty old Rav4 has finally started to giving me trouble after 12 years. Looking to buy a SUV to replace it. The Mazda and Sorento Hybrid look nice, deciding between those. The Honda Passport would be ideal but those almost never have 0 apr. any interest buy down would work too.

PS: thank you for taking the time to reply

This is a continuation to my first post where I was asking for suggestions for my second car after the Golf MK7 I had for 6 years. Special thank you to u/mgobla. In short I'm looking for something with decent reliability, not too expensive to maintain (yearly inspections and so on), and a general good bang for the buck (I guess that might be a jab at premium brands offering less for more money). The car could also be fully electric as my country (Lithuania/Europe) offers 5k euros back when buying EV. My budget initially was 30-40k euros, but I upped it to 45k at the upper range (or 50k for fully electric).

In the first post I got some good recommendations, like the C-HR+. Right now I have a short list of a few cars that I would want some additional information about, or maybe first hand experience why they could be a good option or whether I should remove them from the list. Maybe there is something you could recommend instead. There is a mix of suggestions I got from my first post, other posts online, suggestions from friends.

I don't really know much about cars, so again, any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

1. Toyota C-HR+ (Active or Executive)
2. Volkswagen ID.4 (rear wheel or AWD variants)
3. IONIQ 6 (63kwh or 84kwh)
4. IONIQ 5 (63kwh Comfort or 63kwh Style).
5. BMW iX1 (eDrive20 or xDrive30).

My first car has been a new lease vehicle which has done just over 4k miles in 3 years (I know). Coming to end of its contract I don't see getting another lease vehicle as being worth the money for the amount I drive.

Looking for some recommendations on some decent reliable cars that will get me from A to B with little to worry about in terms of something potentially going wrong with it.

Budget is around 6k. Maybe a little bit more if it's a car that will last me a decent amount of years.

Thanks in advance.

Hi so I currently have a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek And am looking to upgrade. Mostly looking at 2024/2025 used luxury with less than 45,000 kms (lease returns primarily) certified directly from the dealer.

The big debate is between compact and subcompact.

Subcompact:
Audi Q3
BMW X1
Volvo XC40 (unlikely)

Compact
Audi Q5
BMW X3
Volvo XC60

I understand that these luxury subcompact vehicles are already a huge upgrade from my current, and they are much heavier, so feel stable and more premium. Id save 8-10k vs the bigger versions. The size is in line with my current vehicle, which never feels too small. However, based on what I’ve read, many people say it’s worth it to go up a size even if you don’t need the space because with the larger vehicles, you get:

Real Luxury Chassis: Built on balanced, rear-wheel-drive-based platforms rather than economy hatchback frames.

Smoother over Rough Roads: A longer wheelbase and isolated multi-link suspension.

Planted Highway Stability: Extra width and curb weight keep the vehicle anchored and tracking straight in winter slush and heavy crosswinds.

Quieter Cabin: Double-pane acoustic glass and heavier insulation block out road noise and wind drone at 110 km/h.

So what I’m looking to get feedback on is:

from your experience, is a compact usually a huge upgrade vs a subcompact OR will a same size luxury upgrade be enough that I won’t notice the above differences.

Hello,

I just got my license a day ago yippee and trying to get my first car (second hand). I need this car to last about 3 to 4 years before buying a proper brand new one. All the cars are automatic and I am 19.

Things I considered when looking:

• Maximum 160,000km mileage
• Screen and reverse camera (was going to fit this myself after buying if not present around $400-500)
• Maximum budget of 6000

I know that doesn't leave me the best options but I need a car for going around to see friends/driving 2 hours to the beach and back and going to the shops so nothing crazy. I live in Australia and all cars I've considred are road worthy safe and hasnt been written off.

Top 3 options are

• Light Pink 2007 Suzuki Swift with apple carplay, tinted windows and reverse camera $5200 and 143000kms
• Blue 2012 Hyundai i30 hatchback with apple carplay, cruise control but no camera but has mild front hood sun damage $4999 and 143000kms (has had two owners)
• Blue 2015 Hyundai i30 $6000 and 148000kms

All cars have been serviced and also have a logbook and cost about 1.5K maximum to insure. At the moment I am leaning towards the suzuki swift because its cute, pink and also has a screen and reverse camera but other general consensus from friends and family are a no.

197,000 miles

⁠ I started off with a 2016 Honda Civic LX that ended up getting totaled, I had a 2020 Corolla LE that I drove across the country and ended up trading in for a 2019 RAV4 XLE. During Covid, I drove across the country again and traded that for a 2019 Civic sport, which I had the longest, but the engine ended up going at 150K. After the civic, I had a 2013 Tiguan, which I loved, and I put about 20,000 miles on it but sold it at 110,000. My most recent car was a 2020 Corolla SE had nothing but issues. Engine was fine, but here in Utah you could tell it definitely struggled at higher elevations. For some reason, the control arms and bushings and links just kept crapping out, and I think it's because it's tuned so stiffly with those 18 inch tires with thin rubber. I sold it at 103,000 miles because I was tired of fixing it all the time. For the most part, I have enjoyed the two Hondas and three Toyotas that I've had, but the most fun was the Tiguan, even though it was over a decade old. I'm looking at getting a 2024 to 2026 Jetta. I do drive quite a lot, so I'd want to get either CPO or brand new just to have some sort of warranty on it. And I've heard horror stories about Volkswagen reliability, but I think they are super fun to drive. I think I'll be disappointed about are the speakers because I listen to a lot of music.

I literally one day to make a decision and I am STILL completely torn between the 2027 Honda CR-V Hybrid Sport-L AWD and the 2027 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE AWD. I’ve test driven both, negotiated both, and somehow I’m no closer to deciding.

CR-V Hybrid Sport-L — $42,000 OTD
This is the one I’m personally leaning toward. I found the CR-V WAY more comfortable and spacious to be in. I prefer the overall look, and I really like that Honda still gives you physical buttons/controls for things like climate instead of putting everything behind a screen.
The interior also just feels and looks nicer to me. For basically the same (actually slightly lower) price as the RAV4 SE, I feel like I’m getting more comfort/features and a vehicle I genuinely enjoy being in more.

RAV4 Hybrid SE — $43,234 OTD
I actually preferred the way the RAV4 drove. It also gets better gas mileage, comes with a spare tire, and I like some of Toyota’s safety features. However,
the RAV4 felt noticeably smaller to me inside. I’m also not in love with the styling , it’s a little too sporty/rugged for my taste and for a $43k+ vehicle, the interior honestly feels kind of cheap to me. I’m also not a huge fan of having so many controls/functions on the screen.

My biggest hesitation with choosing the Honda is long-term reliability.

Toyota has been doing hybrids forever and has such a strong reputation for hybrid reliability. I keep reading about the CR-V head gasket issues, and Honda’s hybrid system obviously doesn’t have Toyota’s same long track record. My main priority is buying something I can keep for MANY years that will be reliable and reasonable cost to maintain.

So basically:

My preference says CR-V. More comfortable, more spacious, nicer interior IMO, better features for the money, physical controls, and I just like it more.

My practical/anxious side says RAV4. Toyota hybrid track record, reliability reputation, MPG, spare tire, safety features, and I preferred the way it drove.

If you were planning to keep the car for 10+ years, which would you choose?
And especially interested in hearing from CR-V Hybrid owners with higher mileage — have the head gasket concerns been overblown online, or is this something I should actually factor into my decision?

Please help !! I have a Toyota RAV 4 on reserve that I need to pick up tomorrow but I also was able to get a deal for 42k on a Honda and have no idea if they will honor it for long.

With Highlanders so expensive, I decided fuck it, I'll test drive a Pathfinder. And I was absolutely blown away by what I saw. Blown away in the sense that I had a certain idea in my head of what a Nissan should be like, and my expectations were exceeded in every way. Obviously I've seen the new body styles driving around, but I was so impressed by the interior, and just how... quality everything felt inside. And the way it drove felt extremely high-quality for the price point. I'm actually considering buying one now, especially with my local dealer offering a 0% incentive right now.

But Nissan just has... Such a bad reputation. I understand the new Pathfinders lack the infamous X-tronic CVT transmission. And they told me all about how Nissan basically went back to the drawing board with most their models in 2021 which is why I may not recognize it hardly at all.

Am I deluding myself into potentially wanting to buy a Nissan? Is Nissan... good now? Am I missing something or did they pull a LaGuardia Airport and totally reinvent themselves from something awful to something great?

If there's something I'm missing that would make me regret this purchase, I'm all ears. I would only purchase an SUV from them, their sedans look like total crap to me still.

I literally one day to make a decision and I am STILL completely torn between the 2027 Honda CR-V Hybrid Sport-L AWD and the 2027 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE AWD. I’ve test driven both, negotiated both, and somehow I’m no closer to deciding.

CR-V Hybrid Sport-L — $42,000 OTD
This is the one I’m personally leaning toward. I found the CR-V WAY more comfortable and spacious to be in. I prefer the overall look, and I really like that Honda still gives you physical buttons/controls for things like climate instead of putting everything behind a screen.
The interior also just feels and looks nicer to me. For basically the same (actually slightly lower) price as the RAV4 SE, I feel like I’m getting more comfort/features and a vehicle I genuinely enjoy being in more.

RAV4 Hybrid SE — $43,234 OTD
I actually preferred the way the RAV4 drove. It also gets better gas mileage, comes with a spare tire, and I like some of Toyota’s safety features. However,
the RAV4 felt noticeably smaller to me inside. I’m also not in love with the styling , it’s a little too sporty/rugged for my taste and for a $43k+ vehicle, the interior honestly feels kind of cheap to me. I’m also not a huge fan of having so many controls/functions on the screen.

My biggest hesitation with choosing the Honda is long-term reliability.

Toyota has been doing hybrids forever and has such a strong reputation for hybrid reliability. I keep reading about the CR-V head gasket issues, and Honda’s hybrid system obviously doesn’t have Toyota’s same long track record. My main priority is buying something I can keep for MANY years that will be reliable and reasonable cost to maintain.

So basically:

My preference says CR-V. More comfortable, more spacious, nicer interior IMO, better features for the money, physical controls, and I just like it more.

My practical/anxious side says RAV4. Toyota hybrid track record, reliability reputation, MPG, spare tire, safety features, and I preferred the way it drove.

If you were planning to keep the car for 10+ years, which would you choose?
And especially interested in hearing from CR-V Hybrid owners with higher mileage — have the head gasket concerns been overblown online, or is this something I should actually factor into my decision?

Please help !! I have a Toyota RAV 4 on reserve that I need to pick up tomorrow but I also was able to get a deal for 42k on a Honda and have no idea if they will honor it for long.

Salve a tutti, cosa ne pensate di questa giulietta trovata a 12.000 euro con 60.000km? Chi la possiede o chi la conosce sa dirmi se é affidabile e gestibile da usare tutti i giorni come consumi e manutenzione? Grazie.

I’m deciding between a new 2026 RAV4 Hybrid and a used 2025 Highlander Hybrid, and I’d love to hear from people who’ve been through the 0 to 1 to 2 kid transition.

The situation: I’m planning for one kid soon, and a second a few years after that. Mypartner already has a 4Runner, so this would be my daily driver. The RAV4 suits my life best right now, and it’s the more budget-friendly choice. The Highlander is a limited edition features and an interior I love, and I know the third row and extra cargo space would make it easier once there are two kids.

What I’m weighing: Buy the RAV4 now and trade up to a Highlander (or something similar) when we have two kids, or just buy the Highlander now and not have to do it twice.

Questions for parents:

1. Was a RAV4 enough room for you from kid #1 through kid #2, or did you find yourself wishing for something bigger earlier than expected?
2. With a rear-facing infant seat, a stroller and kid gear, how was the space and the rear legroom for the front passenger? Did two car seats fit comfortably, and how did it feel by the time you had a toddler and a baby?
3. Since my husband has a 4Runner, would you keep a smaller car as the “easy daily driver” and use the 4Runner for the big hauls, or would you want a bigger car of your own? (I hear the 4runner isn't super carseat friendly)
4. For those who traded up, did you regret the second purchase, or was it worth it?

Thanks in advance!

I just recently got into a wreck, so now I’m on the prowl for a vehicle and I’m looking to finance it.

I’m currently looking at a 2021 Toyota Tacoma 3.5L V6, but I’m up for opposition if this truck has any problems.

What’s a good truck/SUV that’s reliable and has a good fuel economy at a decent price?

(Reciting opinions collected from others)

trucks are too big and overcompensating
and muscle cars are immature redneck kids with newer ones associated with slideshows and being a playboy. Luxury brands and exotic cars and german GT means your closeted gae because there the tools used to cheat on women
If your drive American besides the blue oval your equivalent are more dirty unsmart rednecks.

Stereotype review

Jdm=animae p hub
German= financially insecure and seeks attention from status
American luxury= trying to or coping with not being from overseas
American muscle= Loud redneck patriot maga
SUV/truck = you are only safe if you own small rig such as Ranger/ maverick / Datsun 720 but luxury equals overcompensating. Men with kei trucks and old tacomas are more useful and smart than any man with a superduty. Doesn’t matter if you actually want to feel safe on the road bigger truck = more selfish and aggressive sorry I didn’t make the rules

the woman have spoken. From birth buying a geo metro will result with you having a Whale Wee wee.