You know the dilema I have been wrestling with for almost 2 years now. I have thought thru all of the angles you guys are all talking about. Knowing this day was coming at some point. For me to be able to afford a trip down once a month on my own , I need MPG. For a vehicle to be the best beach mobile I think an older extended cab 4x4 pickup with the room for a slide in camper would rule. But, then the MPG is not there. For it to be a good family truckster, I think Suburban or something similar, but they do not do well MPG wise either. Then I thought of the 1988 Bronco II I used to have, and it fills more of the parts of this equation than anything else I have thought of. That thing was an automatic and I got 20 -22 MPG on trips with it. But, that was before kids. However,, my wife is always commenting on how we should have 2 vehicles at the beach when we are all there so she can do her thing if she does not want to be on the beach as long as me and the boys.But then we are spending more gas money, and , it is no longer a family event.
