[Puptent21]

Well this is a sad, sad day...I'm trading in my 05 GT for a different car or truck. I've got a kid on the way and I just bought a new house so a Mustang isn't in the cards anymore (actually the payment/insurance isn't in the cards). Having to keep a winter car insured and running along with the Mustang and all the other bills are just going to be too much for a while. I LOVED my Mustang and I don't have one bad word to say about them and a few years down the road I'll deffinatly pick another one up but for now I need some advice on a replacement car/truck. Here are my goals:

1) price between $9,000-$12,000
2) Nothing that would have higher insurance than a Mustang
3) Something that I can drive year round (Minnesota winters can be brutal)
4) Reliable, Reliable, Reliable!!!!

It can be a car or truck (as long as I get an extended cab) so fire away people with your suggestions!! Thanks

[NewPonyGuy]

Sorry to hear that. Any chance of refinancing to get lower payments?

If not, I guess you could go with a late 80s F150?

[JoeJP]

mid-size or full-size SUV. It seems you could get some decent 2000-2002 Explorers, Expeditions, Durangos, Grand Cherokees, Tahoes, Trailblazers or Suburbans for that price with decent milage (60-80,000) on them. All of them should be cheaper to insure than a Mustang and have 4 wheel drive.

[Vandil]

I traded my winter beater tacoma in on a Jeep Grand Cherokee about a month back. 2001 85k on the JGC, was $8.5k.

Just the 6cyl with the 4wd select trac but it tows my boat fine. Fits the German Shepherd in the back and plenty of room for car seats ect.

Miss the 30+ mpg the tacoma had though, the jeeps kind of a pig in comparison.

[wmutkelaw]

Sorry to hear about your loss. Someone will likely buy a really nice used GT.

With that said, I would say that a 2004 or 2005 Taurus/Sable could be obtained, with under 15,000 miles, for about the money you want to spend.

Those cars seem to be backing up on the dealers "down" here in Michigan, kinda funny to say down in reference to Michigan. But, beware of those cars, b/c a lot of them were "Program cars." Which could mean company cars, or it could mean rental...so beware!

Good luck!