Posts
2176
Joined
11/27/2015
Location
TX
US
Edited Date/Time
11/22/2020 4:44pm
My 17 yr old just totaled my Z71 (everyone safe) so it's time to shop. I live in North Dallas with a 25 mile (each way) 1hr commute to work and nearest track is 1 hr away. Occasionally I have to drive customers around for work and I need something nice. With the truck in stop and go traffic I burn through brakes and tires like crazy.
Been thinking about switching over to a decent car for the commute plus a cheap ($10-$15k) van fir the weekends. Plus with the van I can take bike to work and maybe slip a weekday practice in every now and then. I've also got my 2 kids bikes to carry.
Other option is $40-$50k into a decent 1500 and keep things simple.
Curious what yall think about that plan?
Been thinking about switching over to a decent car for the commute plus a cheap ($10-$15k) van fir the weekends. Plus with the van I can take bike to work and maybe slip a weekday practice in every now and then. I've also got my 2 kids bikes to carry.
Other option is $40-$50k into a decent 1500 and keep things simple.
Curious what yall think about that plan?
i have owned a truck, a trailer, a fun mover, etc. Van is the best of all worlds and can be used in ways other than moto.
I drive a mini cooper s to work and have a ford transit for adventures (moto, mountain bike, skiing, camping, etc.)
The Shop
To be clear, I love the 2 vehicle combination. Having my 6 speed manual, 350Z as a daily driver is awesome!
Having another vehicle to haul my toys makes it all possible.
Insurance, and it’s taking up space.
When I do only a van, I usually get tired of not being able to tow big boats and stuff, and hate having to back boats in to the ramp cause I can’t see shit. (I boat a lot)
I go threw a cycle where I have a van for 6-12 months, then switch to a truck, then go back to a van. Been doing this cycle for 10 years lol
Just pulled the trigger last night and trading my 2017 ram 2500
Diesel in on a 2018 Chevy express passenger 3500 with 6.0 engine. Hoping this van may be the ticket since I can see out all the windows when backing up trailers, and can also tow almost 10,000 pounds. With my transits, they were only rated for like 4-5k pounds.
Oh ya, and vans are way cheaper than trucks. This van with 40k miles is only $19,000 at a dealer delivered to my door. (Vroom.com)
Pit Row
I might have the opportunity to pick up a sprinter and i've wanted a van basically my entire adult life. My biggest questions is what commuter car would be best. I want something less than 10k, AWD (for snow), enough room for 4 people and some storage, and decent MPG, and most of all, not dorky for a 29 year old guy to drive!
Here's something I did when my kids were driving. I bought an $800 Toyota Camry and had my kids rated in that. It made my insurance really cheap compared to rating them in my 3 year old truck or my wife's brand new car. You don't even have to drive it or maybe let your son drive it as a cone of shame.
Sooooo much better than a pick-up.
The idea of a nice easy to commute in "car" & a nice used van makes A LOT of sense to me.
It does suck to have to pay insurance on a vehicle that sits all week, and sucks even more during the winter months when I am not riding. I sleep in the van on long race weekends and feel 100% comfortable leaving the bikes in the back over night. Hell, in the summers I leave it in there pretty much all the time besides doing oil changes and air filters. (Wash it at the track with a 35 gallon drum and pressure washer)
I could never go back to a truck after having a van. They really just are that good.
When I got my company car to commute with I called them up and had them switch my WRX to a pleasure vehicle as well. It saved me a whopping $1 a month by making that switch. Not sure how much of a difference it makes for other companies but Traveler's Insurance didn't do much for me with it.
Getting to the red light first doesn't make you a winner.
Post a reply to: Car + Moto van vs nice truck for commuter/weekend warrior Dad?