Buying a third car?

Question

My husband and I own both of our cars - 01 toyota avalon and 04 toyota sienna (both bought used). We have a son who is 14 now as well as 2 other kids who all will be driving in a few years. My husband wants to buy a used Jeep Wagoneer '89 - 60k miles in good shape. We can buy it outright and keep it for when the kids learn to drive but also use for the winter when we have problems with the van in snow.

I am not sold on this because I am wondering about 1) gas and 2) age. My feeling if we are buying a 3rd car we should buy small. My husband likes this car because of its safety not so worried about gas prices. We are not wealthy and I think gas is a huge concern esp. by the time the kids learn to drive. Interested in others' thoughts.

Answer 1

Anyone who thinks that a vehicle is safe simply because of its size is completely ignorant of vehicle safety.  The jeep would be a toy for a child, not you son, but your husband.

Answer 2

I guess you should also check insurance quotes for the car before buying one, for example here: http://autoinsurance.hotusa.org

Young drivers usually have much higher rates than others. And it depends from car.

Answer 3

I don't think it is a bad idea to get the '89 Jeep at all if you really need it and have historically had issues with bad weather with your current vehicles.  

It would be the perfect vehicle for a new driver and you don't have to drive it unless you need to.

Sounds like you can get it for a real bargain and I am sure it will be inexpensive to insure compared with anything newer.

Who cares about the gas mileage?  Again, you will have to put gas in either of the other cars you are driving and there isn't that much difference, overall.

Plus, the price of gas will also deter you from letting your new driver (in a couple of years) go crazy with driving around all of the time.  The better the mileage, the more they are driving.

Answer 4

well lets look at it this way, 16 year old BOY 4x4 vehicle. having a truck when i was 16 i can tell you it had seen more mud holes and air than anything. i tore that truck up in 6 months, (BUT I DID BUY IT MY SELF)  i would think about a early 00's small car, the safety on them is far greater than that of an old 4x4. plus you have to consider the insurance too, and they look at a boy with a 4x4 like i just showed you.

Answer 5

good car for snow but TERRIBLE TERRIBLE gas milage. maybe look into some older toyota trucks 4wd