Thinking about switching to an SUV, who regrets it?

I'm at a cross roads of my life and need some guidance.

Not really, but my wife and I have been talking about getting a SUV. Only down fall is I DO use the truck bed on the Tacoma. Not doing anything right away, maybe this fall, or even next year.

I don't drive the Tacoma often. Its a 2013 with 36k miles on it. For a year and a half it was my only car. Now I have a Prius that I daily drive. I still drive the truck a few times a month, but the Prius is cheaper. That being said, my driver seat has always been somewhat uncomfortable to me and feels "off" compared to my coworkers Tacoma, so If I drive for extended periods I usually get grumpy.

I do buy lumber, and stuff for the yard quite often.

Reasoning for the SUV? We have two golden retrievers and they just don't fit in the truck. I'm always taking them everywhere in the Prius instead. If we are going to go anywhere to see the family, for the holidays, etc, we take the dogs, or end up loading up the Prius (if raining) or the truck bed if its nice out. We are both coming up to 30yrs young and dont have kids, yet. We expect we will in the next 3-4 years though.

So did you make the change? Or change back? Should I trade in and then pickup an old Tacoma for weekend work type of deal? Having both isnt really an option.

Currently own:
Tacoma
GTI (wifes)
Prius
Subaru Impreza (my autocross car)

What we are looking at:
4Runner (I like the truck aspect of it. I grew up in Wranglers)
Highlander
Jeep GC w/ Lifetime warranty
Subaru Ascent
VW Atlas

 

Buy a cover for the bed. Cheaper and then you have your SUV-ish vehicle.

 

in 05 I made the choice to get a Sienna van for cost reasons and kept the truck, Ex bought an Impreza AWD after and kept the van.

I only own trucks now.

why not get a Crew cab Tacoma?

 

I daily drive my tacoma. 2009 DCLB trd sport. I am 32, kids age 8 and 2. Plenty of room and we have a dog too.

I bought a 2016 Dodge Durango R/T for the wife. Fully loaded, 3 rows of seating, 2nd row buckets console, 5.7 Hemi 360 horse, 8 speed automatic, adaptive cruise, lifetime bumper to bumper etc....

I would say this...i love having the truck. I can carry stuff in the bed and its just more useful than a car. Plus i like sitting up nice and high, loading it up for camping, towing the boat or jetski, whatever...We had a 2014 ford fusion before the durango. good mileage, low maintenance etc...decided to go suv with the durango and we love it, no regrets here. If it were me i would can the prius, but thats just me. I would not however get rid of the truck.

 

I have a Tacoma DCSB which works for us and the two kids if we camp and the wife has the SUV (Acura MDX which has been great). Looking at what you listed the 4Runner would be your best compromise or a DC Tacoma.

 

+1 I use my Softopper all the time. Bought it cheap from a member on here. Moving oversized stuff on a nice day? Just load up the bed like a truck. On a long trip with stuff that can't get wet or would blow out? It takes 5 minutes to throw up the Softopper and I'm good to go. Taking dogs to the park? Put the top up and they can't get out while still getting plenty of airflow.

 

I'm in the same predicament. I have a '12 AC with a baby arriving late July. My truck is paid off and she gets a company car so we don't have a car payment. We're just starting to think about what we want to do as well. I use my bed all the time. My brother just picked up a new Durango and its pretty sweet. I like the 4Runners but I also tend to lean towards Yotas.

I offer no help to your situation but will be following for ideas.

 

Should point out I only owe 12k left on the truck. And its a DC (TX Baja package too.)

My father has a Tundra with a cap on it that I can always borrow, and have in the past for towing.

I am considering selling the Subaru. And my commute to work is on average 24 miles each way in traffic taking about 55 minutes.

 

If you actually use the bed you are going to hate yourself every time you need one and don't have it. Trade the "wifes" (I know who made that decision! ) GTI for the SUV and play musical cars to get what you need done.

I actually don't really understand the issue. The SUV will still be more expensive to run than your Prius, so you would still primarily use the Prius. The only thing that you seem to want to gain is being able to take your dogs in some kind of off road capable vehicle in crappy weather. If that is it, I'd say trade the wife's GTI for it. I don't know her and this is a bit of an assumption, but she would probably be more comfortable in a bigger vehicle anyway.

 

I carried my twins in my 99 AC, had to put one in rear jump eat and one in front seat that had to be removed daily. Tight fit but it worked for 5 years

The crew/quad cab made my life a lot easier with them kids seats

 

I don't think it's a bad choice. If you don't need to haul stuff, why deal with a truck. If I didn't need to haul stuff, I would have been looking at SUVs, no doubt about it. You do almost anything with an SUV you can with a truck really. Just can't throw a motorcycle in the back of it.

 

true. My Durango gets 24mpg hwy when we take it to havasu for 315 miles. Seats 6, tows up to 7,400 pounds. only thing i cant really do is offroad or throw a bike in the back.

 

Not being a jerk, but why do you own 4 cars to begin with? Financially doesn't make any sense to have four cars for only two people.

Do you only have the prius to save on your commute?

I would get rid of both the prius and the gti, then get something for the dogs.

 

I think if you are at all comfortable driving a Prius then you would be OK with an SUV. My wife has an '03 HIghlander and very often says it's the best car she's ever owned, and she's 73 and has owned quite a few...

 

All that space on the inside is nice too!

Funny, I borrowed my GF's Father's Durango for a camping trip. Really changed my mind about them.

 

you could also pick up a 5' x 10' single axle trailer for $1000, that can solve a lot of hauling needs.

 

With the things you haul.. can you get away with using a utility trailer behind an SUV?

I love Tacomas. Best truck on the market IMO. But lets face it, the short bed isn't really made for hauling anything more than small items. Finding a long bed Taco is like searching for the holy grail (at least in this area it is!). So if you think you'd be alright with a T4R and a utility trailer, go for it.

The camper idea mentioned above isn't bad either. I've thrown that idea around myself, because it gives me the ability to have an enclosed bed area, or take it off (if I really, really, really need to), and have an open bed.

 

Ive owned a 4th gen 4runner and a prius, lived them both but also ditched them both the 4runner was treated like a truck and we ruined it, we replaced it with my 1st gen i have now, we also had a 2016 rav4 which we also treated like a truck, ditched that for a 2015 tacoma so now we have a 1st gen and second gen tacoma. We have 3 dogs 2 goats and cow and my niece and nephew are basically my kids we are totaly happy with our trucks.

 

you don't get to rest much, do you?

Cows are super rough on SUV's!

 

Actually we sold my wifes 05 corolla because it was leaking oil, and she deserved a new car... She's into cars and either wanted a WRX or a GTI. I tried to get her to want the GLI since it was bigger but she picked the GTI... honestly lol. I tried to push her on an SUV, but she wont have it. Oddly she wont even drive the Tacoma. Says its too big. She likes her little cars, always has.

We bought our house in 2013 and I just had my Impreza. Quickly found out I needed a truck and bought the Tacoma. Im planning on selling my Subaru. Ive owned it for 11years and built it into a track car (STI drivetrain swap etc.) Just not practical anymore and I dont have time to enjoy it. And the Prius was inherited.