YACT - Should I buy or not?

[harrkev]

I am moving almost 2000 miles from Florida to Colorado, and I am driving.

The company that I will be working for is offering me a rather generous lump-sum relocation package, so my wife decided that it would be easier to sell all of our junk furniture and move up there with just what we can fit in the van, and buy new furniture when we get there. Sooo, we have to haul a several boxes of junk. Grandmom is watching our two kids for a week and then they are flying out, so the kids don't have to handle the drive (this is a very good thing). It also leaves more space for hauling stuff.

Note that I also have about 7K (after taxes) bonus coming after one month that I am going to use exclusively for a vehicle. Also note my signature. My wife runs an internet business, so we will be boxing up our inventory and taking it with us. That alone will take up quite a bit of space.

Our current car situation -- I have the following vehicles:
2000 Caravan, base model (125,000 miles). Runs OK, but I need to sink about $300 into hoses, belts, fluid changes, etc. The transmission has been shifting a little rough lately.

1992 Chevy Cavalier (180,000 miles) -- Looks like crap. Runs OK. I am NOT taking this to Colorado. I am selling it or trading it in.

Note that I will be living by the mountains. I would like to go camping/hiking and maybe a little hunting. So a 4WD vehicle would be very nice to have. Also, being able to tow a small trailer would be a nice option.

Out Options
First option: Sell the Cavalier for a couple of hundred. Spend $300 on the van and drive it out. It will probably make it, but the transmission makes me just a little bit nervous. Use my $7,000 bonus to put a huge down payment on an almost-new used car. My wife gets the new one, and I drive the van to work.

Second option: Trade in the Cavalier and the Caravan on a car/truck here. It has to either have a bit of interior room to hold boxes, or be able to haul a trailer. My credit isn't the greatest, and I could only come up with about $1000 for a down payment now (my $7,000 bonus will be in about two months). The problem is that this new vehicle will be my wife's. I will still need to spend anoter $1000 or so on a clunker to haul my butt to work and back.

Third option: Something that I haven't thought of yet?

Also, what would you recommend for a new vehicle? I need something that can haul three adults and two small childres (in car seats). 4WD and being able to pull a trailer are strongly desired. It seems like I could get a relatively recent Hyundai Tuscon with 6-cylinder and auto-4WD for around $16,000. Any other suggestions?

*** UPDATE ***
See my post at the bottom.

 

[FoBoT]

first option is what i would do

 

[krunchykrome]

First option.

 

[malbojah]

First option. For the third option, have you looked into renting a moving truck that can tow your Caravan as well?

 

[harrkev]

Originally posted by: malbojah
First option. For the third option, have you looked into renting a moving truck that can tow your Caravan as well?

Renting a truck for that distance would cost at least $1,800 -- and that is for the smallest truck that I can find from the cheapest place that I can find. Plus, a trailer to haul the van would also be another couple of hundred. I could have the tranmission of the van completely rebuilt for about $1300 or so. Also, note to those who care: Penske is significantly cheaper than U-Haul.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'd get rid of both of those cars. Definitely get rid of the Caravan now if it's beginning to have transmission problems. Those things are notorious for having tranny trouble and if you're hauling a bunch of crap to Colorado in it I'd be surprised if it didn't crap out on you in the middle of freaking nowhere.

 

[erub]

Originally posted by: harrkev

Originally posted by: malbojah
First option. For the third option, have you looked into renting a moving truck that can tow your Caravan as well?

Renting a truck for that distance would cost at least $1,800 -- and that is for the smallest truck that I can find from the cheapest place that I can find. Plus, a trailer to haul the van would also be another couple of hundred. I could have the tranmission of the van completely rebuilt for about $1300 or so. Also, note to those who care: Penske is significantly cheaper than U-Haul.

and budget is much cheaper than them, i think i have a 15% discount code somewhere for budget, check out their prices and if you want it, PM me

 

[thomsbrain]

good lord, get rid of them both. you WILL need to replace the caravan's tranny soon. they are notoriously poor. the only exception would be if you guys REALLY need a minivan and can't afford a newer one. personally, i'd sell both cars, and buy a corolla and a used 1st-gen Honda Odessey. The first generation was basically a tall 4-cylinder Accord wagon and will therefore run forever. You could probably get both cars for less than $10K, and you'd have much nicer and more reliable transportation.

 

[harrkev]

Well, my wife actually found an 02 Taurus with 52K miles on it. Not my first choice, but it was definately within our budget and she likes it. Our mechanic checked it out, and it is in fine shape. It just needs a little routine fluid changes (tranny & radiator), and a new belt. Otherwise, good to go.

It is obviously not a 4wd and can't really haul much of a trailer, but I can probably blow $2K on a clunker of a pickup when I get there.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: harrkev
Well, my wife actually found an 02 Taurus with 52K miles on it. Not my first choice, but it was definately within our budget and she likes it. Our mechanic checked it out, and it is in fine shape. It just needs a little routine fluid changes (tranny & radiator), and a new belt. Otherwise, good to go.

It is obviously not a 4wd and can't really haul much of a trailer, but I can probably blow $2K on a clunker of a pickup when I get there.

Wow, that's super low mileage. Congrats! Should be a good solid car. Check the motor mounts though.