WWGRM decision on a vehicle truck or car

So I have an offer on my 2015 Toyota Tacoma Access cab. I started fielding offers, because I cannot fit a baby seat in it. If I take the offer, then I am not sure, if I want another truck or if I should look for a car. The truck Criteria Must be a true 4 door and fit a baby seat, manual transmission, no older than 10 years old, and 4x4.

Front Runners:

1. Nissan Frontier Crew Cab

2. Toyota Tacoma Crew Cab

Other Potential trucks

2. Dodge Dakota

Reason that I am looking at cars, is because the 5ft bed for the four doors is not ideal, I really prefer a 6ft bed and Nissan has them but they are a unicorn, especially as manual transmission. I included Dodge to the list because they have Manuals available and the Ram is wide enough to fit my kart perfectly in the bed and has more room for an infant seat. It is a dodge and not keen on the reliability. The gas MPG and Horsepower are better on the Nissan and Toyota

Front Runners

1. Mazdaspeed 3

2. Kia Forte SX Hatchback

3. BMW 325iX/330iX sedan or wagon

4. Subaru Impreza Hatchback

If I get a car I will need a trailer to haul a kart (it’s a pain to get a HF trailer titled in PA), it will either need awd or snow tires (I live in the snowiest city in the US, Seriously I do) Roof rack for ski’s and Kayaking, and hitch adapter for bikes. My wife already has a car, so I assume if I get a car she will want a SUV $$$.

Full-size or minivan? You can certainly fit a kart inside, as well as a baby seat.

I'd take a hard look at the minivans as well.

Can't do a minivan must have a manual transmission. Other negative is that when you put a kart in, only the two front seats are available. I had a Mazda 5 and it couldn't fit a kart.

Of all the things on your list, the Forte SX is going to give you the best combination of reliability, mpg, and value. It'll fit a baby seat easily. The other cars on your list are better sports cars, not that the Forte is "bad", but they'll cost more to operate. That's just me though, I'm a huge bang-for-the-buck kinda guy. You'd have to decide if you want to deal with the trailer thing.

trigun7469 wrote: Can't do a minivan must have a manual transmission. Other negative is that when you put a kart in, only the two front seats are available. I had a Mazda 5 and it couldn't fit a kart.

That's going to be the case with any car.
Find a clean turbo 5-speed minivan and really have some fun.
Sounds like you're looking at a full size van unless a manual trans is really a deal breaker.

In reply to DrBoost: not having a manual trans is a deal breaker. Turbo 5-speed minivan, is to old for my liking.

I owned a Forte SX coupe and really liked it. Just not sure if I want to deal with a trailer.

Honda Odyssey with Acura Type-S 6 spd conversion!

In reality, the widest cargo in a minivan can be is a smidge over 48". While karts are tiny compared to cars, they are bigger than they look. A quick bit of Google-fu shows maximum width at 55" and length at 84". That would not fit into my Grand Caravan easily.

Mazda5? That's a minivan with a manual, or close to it at least.

Quit acting like Erie gets a lot of snow. I escaped from that area in the late 80's (Harborcreek).

The beds on the compact trucks are useless. That's why I went with an Xterra over a frontier. I found the Frontier's bed useless for everything. You can fit a Kart in the back but it does use the rear seat.

I vote 4dr Taco or look at 4runners. I love my 4th gen

I didn't think you could get a 4 door, 4x4 manual frontier with a 6 ft bed, but I could be wrong.

In reply to Brokeback: They are available, but very rare there was one in cleveland, but the frame was completely rusted. I test drove it and liked, it but didn't have any leads on someone purchasing my truck at the time and the low balled me.

I can fit my autox kart (see profile pic) in my Town and County and have seating for 3. Fold rear seat into floor and then stow one 2nd row seat. I'm reluctant to tow anything with that van and have 2 kids who autocross now. I imagine the Toyota and Honda vans could do the same since they have their own fold flat feature. Unfortunately a manual is not an option with vans.