Wow! so much for me to take in, i'll try and reply to every point you guys made. so I am also not into the "needs vs. wants" thing, I believe, that I only live once, so i should live it to the fullest and have the most fun possible! How many 18 year old kids have an 08, or 05 keep in mind thats the one i'll be getting if i get a loan not a lease, which is much more probable. right! so, back to it, how many 18 year old's drive 05-08 tacoma's, very few, but for me, if i were to not even get a loan and get a 2002, i could pay it off from my car, and drive it, saving money on insurance and i'd have extra money left over. but would i love the truck? Nope, so why get something i dont want, i'd end up getting another one in a few years anyways. better to buy nice than to buy twice, am i right? so, i've talked to alot of people, on the toyota forums, my family, and you guys, so it looks like a loan for a 2005 is the best bet, so how do i go about it, can i get some info on how a loan works and how to find a good one etc... i think thats it for now, thanks!

I've found the best rates through our credit unions on loans. Shop around definitely.

Like I said before, it looks like you've thought this through a lot. No one on here can tell you what's best for you so read over all of this and do what you think is right.

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-Crystal-
Our financial motto: Needs vs. Wants

^ Good advice.

if you get in debt at an early age you'll never recover

save your money and keep the car you have. When it stops running then you should have been able to save to pay cash for a new car.

I personally wouldn't spend that much on a vehicle at 18 because insurance is going to be brutal. Not to mention whenever a large amount of younger people gather, there is bound to be fender benders in parking lots, college campuses, bar parking lots etc. I think you could spend it wiser personally.

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Countrywide Home Loans | Direct Deposit

^ That's a very good point. I didn't even think of the insurance.

__________________
-Crystal-
Our financial motto: Needs vs. Wants

You asked. I'll pile on. Keep your truck put the 15k in the bank/mutual fund add the $350/month to that. by the time your 25 you'll have money to buy a house/bigger house. this is not the road you want to go down- no pun intended. Please dont be foolish. take it from me, I've taken my licks and vowed to help people avoid the dumb mistakes I made growing up.

Do me a favor, if you dont take this advice along with countless others, once you look back on this part of your life, do what I am doing and warn others not to do what we did.