Question regarding a first chase vehicle.

[Drew Terril]

How the hell have you been so lucky LOL! I have lost a windshield almost every year since 2008. Luckily my insurance allows for one replacement per year. Positioning aside it is hard not to get hit at some point by a storm unless you remain way back.

Pretty sure I burn all my bad luck when off roading LOL! There's far more damage from trees and rocks off some barely visible forest trail deep in the Ozarks than there is from any kind of hail.

I'm pretty conservative in how I position myself though; big believer in the miracle of telephoto lenses.

If you got the moolah to spend on a late model car to chase in, go ahead with the Camry, but if you are using it as your daily driver as well as, I wouldn't chase with it.

You don't want to screw up a car you are still making payments on, so I'd buy an older car outright just for chasing.

I'd pick up another older Camry of some sort just to chase with (Toyotas are pretty much indestructible).

Lol you'd be surprised at the places my daily driver (and chase vehicle) has been. It's seen its share of farm duty (the main reason I bought a full size to begin with) with dents and dings from cattle, and I replace body panels almost every year that get damaged when following 4Runners on off road trails LOL.

 

[Jack R. Jester]

Pretty sure I burn all my bad luck when off roading LOL! There's far more damage from trees and rocks off some barely visible forest trail deep in the Ozarks than there is from any kind of hail.

I'm pretty conservative in how I position myself though; big believer in the miracle of telephoto lenses.



Lol you'd be surprised at the places my daily driver (and chase vehicle) has been. It's seen its share of farm duty (the main reason I bought a full size to begin with) with dents and dings from cattle, and I replace body panels almost every year that get damaged when following 4Runners on off road trails LOL.

Yea, I'm using my daily driver as a chase vehicle as well ('98 Suburban K1500) and I beat the hell out of it and it takes it.

It doesn't get that great of mileage, but its reliable. It money was no object, I'd chase in my '74 GMC if I got it all put together with a 292 I6 (which I have) and a 4 speed OD Transmission (Currently has a 3 on the tree). The body is a hack job, so I wouldn't care about hail, but I would install some sort of hail gaurd, since windshields are kinda expensive for it.

 

[Chase Handziak]

In all fairness, I've been chasing since 2006 and have yet to break glass due to hail. I simply don't have the desire to go diving through cores, and position myself accordingly.



The OP is in Michigan, so I don't think he'll have to deal with the muck that we deal with often.

I probably wouldn't chase in what I chase in if I didn't use my Titan for other things that have nothing to do with weather. And I'm to a point where I could probably downsize to a Frontier or Tacoma, but at only 136k miles (my first one went well over 300k miles), can't really justify getting rid of it unless I get a smoking deal on trade for something new. Plus I have it set up how I want it now and don't want to rework all that.

Thank you for your answer. I plan to start chasing in Michigan, but when I get my independent license in a few years I might go chase in the alley depending on how much money I have.

 

[Nic R.]

It really depends on your budget to include gas prices (currently on their way up under Biden). I chase in a leveled Toyota Tundra because I use dirt roads a lot more than most chasers. This allows me to avoid the crowds and get to the exact point I want to be at in relation to the rotation/hail/etc. The down side of this vehicle is gas mileage which might require stops during chases without prior planning.

It sounds like you are just starting out in chasing so I would keep to paved roads where you can. BUT having the option to escape on a DRY dirt road is something I would highly recommend. That means a vehicle with some 4WD capabilities or at least AWD with decent ground clearance. You could also go with experienced chasers which will really help you learn.

If you get a car it limits you while chasing IMO (a lot of people do chase in them) so I would recommend an SUV is you can get one. A lot of chasers use the Toyota 4 Runner for example and it seems like a great balance between chasing needs and MPG.

I think I saw your post in the Tundra's Forum a few days back about your truck seeing it's first tornado!

I also own a lifted Tundra and have chased in it. It is great for winter chasing and thick mud. But...spending $250 on gas during a 14hr chase kills a lot of the fun...

My vote would be for the Camry or a Subaru.

 

[James Wilson]

I also own a lifted Tundra and have chased in it. It is great for winter chasing and thick mud. But...spending $250 on gas during a 14hr chase kills a lot of the fun...

You are right you definitely do not buy a Tundra for the gas mileage. I like the 38 gallon tank on the limited which really helps while on a long chase too. My 2008 I had to stop during chases sometimes which is a buzz kill.

I decided to buy another Tundra due to the the ability to:
1. See above things like brushes while chasing. In a car you have to find more open spots.
2. Being able to go on almost any road allowing closer intercepts. (At least more than a car)
3. Water covered roads are not as high (pun intended) of a concern. With that said I do not advise driving through water.
4. Hitting a deer doesn't go threw your windshield being up high. Wrecked front end over deer as a passenger.
5. A sense, correct or not, that I will have a better chance to survive an accident.

There are probably more I like but that if off the top of my head. But for the OP I suggested an SUV or something like a 4Runner to get started. Those vehicles are at least better on gas.

 

[Ben Holcomb]

I've seen a bunch of tornadoes in my Camry. Thing seems to be pretty reliable. I don't particularly enjoy having a car full of people, but me or 1 other person isn't so bad, although I prefer to go solo.

No matter the car, you need good tires. Good tires are a necessity for what we do, and a lot of chasers neglect that.