6+ Passenger Vehicles

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

Without seat belts and roll protection, chair restraints it's also mildly illegal for highway use

Not in Oregon. If all seat belts are in use, extra passengers can ride in the bed.

[freebeard]

Jump Seats
Although the BRAT could fairly be called a truck, the plastic seats in the cargo bed allowed Subaru to classify the BRAT as a passenger car. North American and Canadian BRAT models featured carpeting, in addition to welded-in, rear-facing jump seats in the cargo area. The seats were a tariff-avoidance ploy,[3][4][5] serving actually to circumvent a tariff known as the Chicken tax,[6] as the plastic seats in the cargo bed allowed Subaru to classify the BRAT as a passenger car, rather than as a light truck. This significantly reduced the costs of importing BRATS to North America, as passenger cars were charged a 2.5% import tariff, while light trucks were charged a substantially higher 25% import tariff. They were discontinued after the 1986 model year.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_BRAT

IIRC it was illegal to remove those seats while the vehicle was under warranty.

[Piotrsko]

No it wasn't illegal, it just voided the warranty unless the dealership removed them. Also made a vendor of mine have to buy commercial truck plates because they were registered as cars in Cali. Without the seats, Cali decided they were trucks

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I'm quite the liberal person; more liberal that most.

That said, I am leaning towards the Sienna due to assumed reliability, fuel efficiency, and 8-seat option. It's $40k though, and used examples are still expensive.

When I said conservative, it was from a technical standpoint, not political. You know, Toyota became a safe/conservative choice for most.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

When I said conservative, it was from a technical standpoint, not political. You know, Toyota became a safe/conservative choice for most.

I know, just shaking the box a little.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

OK. Back on topic: would anything like that, to be implemented in a Tacoma, be at least barely legal there?
https://carryboyminibus.com/

[redpoint5]

Last time I purchased a vehicle was the 2012 Prius plug-in in 2015. Sold that to a friend, so the next newest purchase is my 2006 Acura TSX purchased in 2010...

Well I'm getting pressured now to either pick a vehicle on the company menu, or purchase my own vehicle and be reimbursed $500/mo.

The menu has delivered something I want;

Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD
Toyota bZ4X
Toyota Venza LE AWD

I'd be fine with the Pacifica or the Tesla (would still have to buy a minivan in that case).

Leaning towards buying my own vehicle and letting the company pay for it. Haven't finished the spreadsheet yet, but this is what's on the radar at the moment.

Kia EV9 $56,395
Sienna LE $38,580
Model X $83,500
Cybertruck $69,000
Pacifica Hybrid $51,000
R1S
Kia Sorento PHEV $51,315
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

I'm probably going to be deciding between Pacifica plug-in, or Sienna. Thoughts?

[freebeard]

I'd be fine with the Pacifica or the Tesla
....
Model X $83,500
Cybertruck $69,000

Which one?

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Which one?

You didn't read my mind where I assumed I had sufficiently explained internal thoughts?

I meant to say that I could get the Model 3 "on menu" as my vehicle, and then separately buy a minivan for kid hauling.

Here's the rub, the company doesn't reimburse electricity costs for any vehicle "on menu", so there's no incentive to plug in (gas is paid for on the company gas card). For me to have any incentive to plug in, I need to own the vehicle and be responsible for fuel (electricity) costs.

All signs point to me purchasing a vehicle and accepting the ~$500/mo company financial assistance.

[JSH]

I can't see you paying $60,000 - $80,000 for a vehicle even if your company is going to pitch in $500 a month. ($80K is a $1,100 a month payment)

You won't actually get a Cybertruck, R1S, or EV9 this year.

Personally I would take the $500 a month if you expect to be working for this company for a few years - let them buy you a car that you keep after you quit.

If you want an EV:

Hyundai is leasing the Ioniq 6 for $349 a month with $5000 down. (So really $430 a month.) The SEL is $14 more a month. You will have to carry an adapter to use superchargers.

https://www.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/veh...c=aw.ds#offers

A Model 3 2WD is $40K but doesn't get the $7500 tax credit if you buy. Tesla says you can lease it for $329 a month with $4500 down ($455 a month)

A Model 3 LR AWD is $40K right now after the $7500 tax credit taken as a point of sale rebate. That is a $585 a month car payment.

Dollars and cents

You want a minivan and $500 a month will just about pay for the Sienna. Why not let your company buy you a minivan. (Of course that assumes you are going to be working for this company and getting a car stipend for 8 years - I'm assuming you are going to max the loan term as you like using other people's money) Also - as I understand it gas is free but you pay for electricity out of pocket even when travelling for work.