Bought my son a 2014 Subaru Outback, I think, last year. He loves it. They are very popular in the Pacific Northwest.

Looking to go the Tacoma route, V6 with 2 dr. Ext. Cab... need the 6 foot bed.
Even if I were made of money I can't see spending for new so will be looking at recent year models.
Haven't been able to knock the recent Frontiers except for the somewhat odd looking front end.
Decisions, decisions....

2012 is too new to replace! Unfortunately, this year I had to let my 1999 Mustang go, but now I have the wife's 2006 SUV- its like having a new car.:-)

A 2012 vehicle is a 'new' vehicle in my eyes!

My MO has been to find a vehicle I REALLY like, buy and keep it for a very long time. I'm currently driving a year 2000 truck with nearly a quarter million miles on it. Still runs like new. So... the only advice I can offer is to keep it and fix what sounds like a minor issue.

That said... if Toyota was still making my truck I'd buy a new one today. Honestly, I don't much care for any of the new trucks. They're all bigger than I care for or smaller or seem cheap inside. Toyota too.

Until something different comes long... I'll be behind the wheel in my now 17 year old vehicle.

The only major issue over the 17 years was my sidekick... man I miss her.



My new sidekick is great too!

Another Tacoma owner here. My 3rd one.

Present model is a 2013 TRD Sport Double Cab purchased new in August 2013 and just turned 38,000 miles on it.

I traded in a 2009 TRD Off Road Double Cab purchased new December 24, 2009. In three and a half years I had put 75,000 miles on it, an average of about 21,000 miles a year. No problems with it, I just wanted a new vehicle.

The Tacoma that was traded in on the 2009 was a high-mileage 2000 Prerunner, 4 cyl automatic transmission. It was a good little truck, but the Access Cab was just a little small and it suffered trying to tow at highway speeds. I needed more room and more towing capability.

What I found to be interesting was that the gas mileage average for the 2000 Prerunner 4 cylinder and the 2009 Manual Transmission 4wd were virtually the same.

For those considering a Tacoma, check out Toyota Tacoma Forums - Tacoma World . Lots of good info there. As I am on the leading edge of the baby boomer generation, I think I’m the oldest guy on that forum


We are fortunate today to have many fine choices available to us for vehicles. Safer, more fuel efficient, and usually priced crazily high!

My daughter and her husband just traded in their 20 year old Honda Civic for a new Subaru Forester. They bought the Civic new and it served them well.

Other daughter has an older Civic and is still driving her grandmother’s 1995 Volvo sedan with over 250,000 miles on it.


If I were to trade off my 2012 Volvo XC60 R-Design, I’d probably get a new or newer 4Runner or possibly a Forester.

But the Tacoma is home to stay and it likely will be my last pickup before I’m hauled off to the old folk’s home.

Ok, I'll likely take some heat for this but...
Last year I bought a used ( but loaded) 2009 mini van to help keep the miles down on my Nissan Frontier Crew Cab. Ended up loving the ride, utility, towing advantage and massive dry storage of the mini van so much, I sold off the truck. No regrets. Full 8 ft bed to haul canoes/yaks, 275 horses, power doors/gate/roof and it handles great. Easy to get in and out of. Even the insurance was 1/2 of what I paid for the 4x4. A MV won't get you many envious looks but I find it is about the most useful and enjoyable ride I've had out of my last 4 trucks.

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Dave

I don't even know what to make of the car/truck market anymore. When I was in high school, you could buy a dependable vehicle for $500. I paid $ 800.00 for a like new (1993 Ford Thunderbird with 90k on it).

Now, even a daily driver seems to be about 4K-$7k. I can say one thing. I bought a new GMC Sierra truck last year...well I am not very happy with it. I have had one computer problem after the next.......and this is after paying $40K+. If I were to do it all over again....I'd try to find something in the $14K-$18K range with 70K miles or so and drive it till the tires fell off. More and more I think of my grandparents who viewed a vehicle like a tractor.....if it's paid for, just keep it going. My 2 cents as it were.

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Rather be outdoors

Drive either first. When I bought my Frontier in 07, I was convinced I needed the 6' bed AND the crew cab. Test drove both the Tacoma and Frontier in that configuration. One spin reveled they both had the maneuverability and turning radius of a school bus. Fine on the highway but a PITA around town and the woods. Went with the CC and short bed ( in the Frontier as my 01 Tacoma was disappointing) in the end. The short bed actually wasn't the hindrance I thought it would be and the handling 200% better.

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Dave

I bet if you asked 10 mechanics who made the best car, 7 of them would say Toyota, and I bought my first Toyota, a 2012 RAV4 and am really pleased with it. Their resale is also quite high which may not make them the best choice if you are going to buy used and keep a vehicle a long long time. Hyundai and Kia are now highly rated cars and come with a 100K mile warranty and can they bought used at great prices. I had a Nissan Titan pickup for 10 years and 265K miles and I spent almost nothing maintaining it and repairing it and it ran great the day I sold it.

Just purchased a 2014 Ram Laramie pick up, has the hemi in it an loaded down like my 300C and I'm loving it!

On your 300 have they looked at the transmission / park interlock?

Subaru is the most over rated vehicle on the planet; if you own one with the CVT and have problems with the transmission be prepared to spend roughly 8k to get a reman or go to the boneyard-no other choices.

Got that funky rattling sound-it probably is the exhaust shields. Take it to the dealer and they will use an astounding number of clamps to try and take care of the noise and it may even quiet things down for a few thousand miles. The only real fix is a new exhaust system-just 3 large for our pzev Outback.

Word is the oil consumption issue has been solved-'pity the fool' that bought m/y '12-'15 (?) they used almost as much oil as gas.

Think you got a good one?, avoid looking at the coolant overflow tank-if the level is dropping the juice has got to be going somewhat and most of the time its ending up in the engine oil.

Steering wheel shake of death at about 60-65mph anyone?

Of course then there is the mystery of headlight failures-we have replaced 4 on our '11 OB and about the same number of tail light/brake light bulbs.

If this isn't enough then how about the almost certain head gaskets at 120k or so??

Over the weekend we learned of VW's new 6/72k bumper to bumper, going to see if the dealer is stupid enough to take in our Subaru on trade.

Forgot to add: we have had six Suckbarus, two were bought back-only one did not show glycol , an '06 Forester XT: crazy fast and only had the steering wheel death shake.

Why did we keep buying you may ask?-because we are idiots, or rather WERE idiots.

Make that an '05 XT.

My gripe about new vehicles is they all look alike. Almost all compact sedans look alike. Most trucks look alike. More reason to keep my '10 Chrysler 300 as long as possible

Just bought a Ford Flex about a year ago; was a rental return with ~15K and a price about 40% off regular price. Third row down has a LOT of room and still room for 5 folks. Considering I used to drive a MINI, this thing is HUGE (and very comfy).

Have had Subarus and Toyotas in the past - all good and reliable.

a few months back. had an 01 grand cherokee i was glad to say bye to , terrible gas mileage . paid $6800 for the forester & have put in a few $ more for window tint , air conditioner leak , new headlight on passengers side & a couple of minor things. the dealer i got it from had already replaced the head gasket , common problem on a lot of subaru's .
it has the 4 cyl. boxer engine at 122,000 miles it runs like a raped ape.
gas mileage is fair , and i like the all wheel drive capability . like someone stated here already , it corners great !
this model forester was made entirely in japan . dont know if the new ones are or not but the quality of this car seems to be very good !

Wheels on the economy go 'round & 'round....

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NRA Benefactor