Keep or trade

[BigChuckO]

My wife and I will be purchasing a 2012 pilot ex in the next few weeks. Right now we have a 2000 camry(185k miles) and 2009 civic hybrid(55k miles). My commute is about 80 miles round trip and almost all highway. My question is should we keep the camry or trade it in?
If we trade it in we'll probably get around 2k for it and only have 2 cars to maintain. If we keep it, I can use it to commute instead of the HCH and spare it the wear and tear until the camry breaks down. However we would then have to maintain 3 vehicles (insurance, general maintenance, registration... I think that's it). The camry has been solid. We have had no issues with it.
I'm leaning towards keeping it, I think it is much more valuable to us than 2k trade in.
Any advice would be appreciated.

[macphanatic]

It sounds like you can afford to not trade it. If this is the case, I would keep it to use as your commuter car. IMO, it's always nice to have a spare car.

[1YESfan]

If you don't need to purchase the Pilot now why do so? The Camry certainly holds more value to you than anyone else. Drive it to the end or when you've decided that you are finished with it nickling and diming you.

Let's also be honest about car donations. For the most part (if the vehicle is in good running condition), the deduction won't affect your taxes one bit ( for the majority of us) but might make you feel better. You deserve a new vehicle to replace the Toyota which has served you well all these years. Find an organization you like or maybe a family member you could help out.

[BigChuckO]

Thanks for the replies.

We need to get a family car, otherwise we would stick with the 2 cars we have.

Thinking about it a little bit more, the extra costs to keeping the camry are only registration and insurance. Those are pretty cheap since it's a 2000. I have to drive something so gas, tires, other maintenance, etc. aren't really extra barring any major problems.

[megatron]

Originally Posted by BigChuckO

Thanks for the replies.

We need to get a family car, otherwise we would stick with the 2 cars we have.

Thinking about it a little bit more, the extra costs to keeping the camry are only registration and insurance. Those are pretty cheap since it's a 2000. I have to drive something so gas, tires, other maintenance, etc. aren't really extra barring any major problems.

Just be careful with this line of thinking... I have gone through this same dilemma 3 times before. Guess how many cars I have now?? 5!!

By the time I want to get rid of a car, it's worth so little that it doesn't get me any more than $2K and for that price, and the fact that I baby my cars so they are like new, made me decide to keep it each time. I totally agree with your thinking, but just warning you that it may get out of hand like in my case.

[BigChuckO]

Originally Posted by megatron

Just be careful with this line of thinking... I have gone through this same dilemma 3 times before. Guess how many cars I have now?? 5!!

By the time I want to get rid of a car, it's worth so little that it doesn't get me any more than $2K and for that price, and the fact that I baby my cars so they are like new, made me decide to keep it each time. I totally agree with your thinking, but just warning you that it may get out of hand like in my case.

5? Haha, wow.
Well we picked up an EX this weekend and kept the camry. I think that was the best decision, no reason to give a solid reliable car away to a dealer. Feels weird though owning 3 cars.
Thanks for all the input.

[rocky]

Keep it post pot purchase for 6 months max, then make the keep or sell decision.