(10-04-2017, 07:53 PM)Caldrac Wrote: Appreciate all the tips and advice. I have been hunting around on Carmax online here and there. I am really looking for a mid size type of vehicle. Something that can fit up to maybe six to eight people. But I don't want the soccer van vehicle. Thinking family ride at this point nearing thirty and aiming for a kid or two soon.

I drive a 2007 Kia Spectra. I can't complain. I am barely over 110,000 miles on it. But it feels like it's time to upgrade. Right now though I am waiting on my wife to finish up school in November to see if she can hopefully get a good job here and start helping out with her car payment. We had to trade her old 2001 Honda Passport in last year. Got a good deal on a 2013 Toyota Corrola.

Deep down I would want a Ford Raptor or F-150. Or a Toyota Tundra or Tacoma. I was a fan of the GMC Canyon growing up as well. Toyota has this really cool FJ Cruiser that I keep circling back on when I think family mid size but not soccer van style. More modern looking. We'll see. Patience is key here I am sure. I always look at these things as long term investments. I don't want to be in and out of a car every two to four years. I prefer to ride something into the dirt.

I actually plan on keeping the Kia I have. Too much invested into it to trade away.

Regarding the part in bold, I was a bit older than you are right now when I finally learned that lesson.  Eventually after saving money over the years I am able to be at a point in my life where I can purchase a vehicle and not have to finance it.  I owned my last truck for 12 years and the truck before that for right around 10 years.  Our "family" vehicle right now is a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder which was the last vehicle that I financed.  It's been paid off for nearly two years.  Prior to that we had a Jeep Grand Cherokee for pretty close to 10 years.

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