[fabsroman]

I think you guys might be looking at this the wrong way. Maybe his wife really wants the Highlander, and the rest is just a means to get the highlander.

As far as a Tercel or a 4 Runner being a safe car, I think you need to look at a lot of factors. What kind of speed do both cars have? I would guess not a lot. The Tercel is a little small, the 4 Runner is more prone to rolling over. If you really want your daughter to be safer on the road, give her some defensive driver lessons. In the end, bigger cars take longer to stop. If you want something in the mid size range, you can always trade in the Tercel and buy a used mid size car for not too much more.

If it was me, there is no way I would be going into debt so that my child could have a safer car. I am dying to finish paying off my truck and my wife's car next year. If I am at all lucky, I might be able to pay one off by the end of this year. Cars are just a waste of money, unless you really love your car, but if your wife loved her 4 Runner that much, she wouldn't be too quick to get rid of it.

I have a Taurus that is paid for and a 1989 Mustang that I paid off in one year after getting the loan. That Mustang barely ever gets driven because it was getting beat up pretty bad while I was attending the University of Maryland. If your wife is worried about beating a car up driving to work, wait until your daugther starts driving one of your cars to school where most students have crappy cars and they really do not care about them. After two months of attending the University of Maryland, I had three dings in the Mustang. That is when I decided to drive the Ford Fairmont for the next 8 years and then buy the Taurus when that car finally died. I will continue to drive the Taurus until I can no longer repair it or the cost of parts is just not worth it.

Say no to debt!!!!!!!!!!!! You can use the extra money to help pay your daughter's tuition, or better yet, plan your retirement.