Choosing a pickup

Cornhusker · #1 08/14/08, 01:58 PM

Ok
I decided it's time to get a newer better pickup.
I don't use one a lot these days, maybe hauling a bit of lumber, feed, etc.
I do use a pickup as a daily driver. I need dependability, comfort and if possible, it needs to look good. (If I'm spending a wad of cash, it better look good.)
Here's the ones I narrowed it down to.

2005 Dodge Dakota quad cab. 4WD V6. AT, air, AM FM CD, nice comfy seats, but no cruise, really nice looking. 33,000 miles for $13,000

2002 GMC Sierra. All the bells and whistles, leather, 4WD AT. 93,000 miles for $11,500

2000 Ford F250 Powerstroke 4wd Diesel, AT air, cruise, electric windows, 140,000 miles for $11,900

They are all good looking and in good shape.
That's the 3 I'm looking at, which one do you think would be best?

Ramblin Wreck · #2 08/14/08, 02:15 PM

If diesel was closer to it's long term historical retail cost relative to gas (meaning cheaper in the warmer months and more expensive in the cooler months), I'd opt for the Ford. Given the current pricing structure though, I'd opt for the GMC. Some have had great success with Dodge, but I'm just not one of them. I gave my son a 99 V-6 2x2 Dakota last year and bought a GMC V8 4x4 work truck. The GMC is getting only about 1 MPG less than the Dodge, but it hauls/tows over twice as much. I've had good luck with Fords (except for the kids wrecking them) and Toyotas too.

FL.Boy · #3 08/14/08, 02:20 PM

I would stay clear of dodges they get awful mpg. and i have bought and sold a lot of cars and trucks and dodges never would move for me. I'm a big gm fan but that price seams high for a 2002 is it ext. cab? what motor? If those are the only 3 you got to chose from and doing a lot of heavy pulling i would have to take a good look at the ford. But all those price seam high to me around me you can't give a truck away with the high gas prices

foxtrapper · #4 08/14/08, 02:26 PM

I'd suggest you also consider a new truck. They are going new for the prices you're considering spending for used.

FL.Boy · #5 08/14/08, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxtrapper

I'd suggest you also consider a new truck. They are going new for the prices you're considering spending for used.

I don't know where your shopping for new but back in 2000 i was looking at trucks and a 2wd work truck was going for $20,000

cfabe · #6 08/14/08, 02:39 PM

I'd go with the GMC. You don't need a diesel and fuel prices don't make the mpg improvement worth it any more. I don't care for leather myself but if you like it great.

Cornhusker · #7 08/14/08, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfabe

I'd go with the GMC. You don't need a diesel and fuel prices don't make the mpg improvement worth it any more. I don't care for leather myself but if you like it great.

I really really like the GMC, but 90-some thousand miles kinda worries me.
It does seem in great shape though.

I like the Dodge too. I like the low miles and the ride.

I think it's between those two.
What kind of mileage does a V6 Dakota get?

Oh, the AC needs some work on the GMC.

Quint · #8 08/14/08, 03:10 PM

Out of those two I'd probably go with the GMC. The dodge may be a bit cheaper to runs, not much but a little, but the GMC would be more comfortable and be more capable.

Last time I priced a new truck to replace my 1/2 ton Chevrolet 4x4 it was over 36 grand.

Back when I bought my truck in 1989 a new top of the line 1/2 ton 4x4 would run you about 22,000. I priced one recently and for basically the same thing as I bought back then would run me 37,000. That's just a 1/2 ton 4x4 not a 3/4 or 1 ton. The prices on those are stratospheric.

No way I'm spending 37K on a truck. Even if I bought it free and clear I'd be crucified by the state in license and personal property tax. It would probably cost be 500 bucks a month just for insurance, tags and property tax on it.

crafty2002 · #9 08/14/08, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cornhusker

Ok
I decided it's time to get a newer better pickup.
I don't use one a lot these days, maybe hauling a bit of lumber, feed, etc.
I do use a pickup as a daily driver. I need dependability, comfort and if possible, it needs to look good. (If I'm spending a wad of cash, it better look good.)

Why do you need such a big truck to start with???? I like a small Ford Ranger. Even if you need to put a rack on top to haul lumber, (sometimes) They are a lot easier to drive, actually right much fun, and they get a lot better gas mileage.
A V-6 and 5 speed will pull what you need to with ease and did I say it get a lot better gas mileage??

Cornhusker · #10 08/14/08, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quint

Out of those two I'd probably go with the GMC. The dodge may be a bit cheaper to runs, not much but a little, but the GMC would be more comfortable and be more capable.

Last time I priced a new truck to replace my 1/2 ton Chevrolet 4x4 it was over 36 grand.

Back when I bought my truck in 1989 a new top of the line 1/2 ton 4x4 would run you about 22,000. I priced one recently and for basically the same thing as I bought back then would run me 37,000. That's just a 1/2 ton 4x4 not a 3/4 or 1 ton. The prices on those are stratospheric.

No way I'm spending 37K on a truck. Even if I bought it free and clear I'd be crucified by the state in license and personal property tax. It would probably cost be 500 bucks a month just for insurance, tags and property tax on it.

Yeah, no way could I swing a new pickup at this time.
I have an 89 Chevy 4x4 for the rugged jobs.
It's a good pickup, but it's getting a lot of age on it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crafty2002

Why do you need such a big truck to start with???? I like a small Ford Ranger. Even if you need to put a rack on top to haul lumber, (sometimes) They are a lot easier to drive, actually right much fun, and they get a lot better gas mileage.
A V-6 and 5 speed will pull what you need to with ease and did I say it get a lot better gas mileage??

The Dakota isnt really a big pickup, it's a midsize, but I get what you are saying about the big ones. I do have bigger pickups for hauling and pulling heavy stuff, but as daily drivers and especially if we go somewhere, they just aren't dependable enough any more.
I could probably get by with a car, but I need 4WD and a little bit of hauling.
Who wants to drive a car anyway.

farmergirl · #11 08/14/08, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cornhusker

Yeah, no way could I swing a new pickup at this time.
I have an 89 Chevy 4x4 for the rugged jobs.
It's a good pickup, but it's getting a lot of age on it.

The Dakota isnt really a big pickup, it's a midsize, but I get what you are saying about the big ones. I do have bigger pickups for hauling and pulling heavy stuff, but as daily drivers and especially if we go somewhere, they just aren't dependable enough any more.
I could probably get by with a car, but I need 4WD and a little bit of hauling.
Who wants to drive a car anyway.

I LOVE Ford pickups, only kind of truck I have ever owned, but still I'm gonna say that with that mileage on it and the price , plus factoring in that you don't need a truck for heavy towing, I would pass on the Ford if I were you.
For what you've described, you could easily get away with a lighter duty 4 x 4, like a Nissan. Have you considered anything like that?

FL.Boy · #12 08/14/08, 04:02 PM

Imo i would stay away from the rangers and small trucks they can't do any real work and the newer gm v-8 full size trucks get the same mpg as the small trucks. I had a 86 Toyota pickup with the 22r 18mpg biggest piece of junk i have ever owned. i now have a 99 GMC Sierra with a v-6 5 speed that will out work the small trucks and gets 20 mpg.

Ramblin Wreck · #13 08/14/08, 04:18 PM

My short bed regular cab V-6 Dakota got 18-19 MPG on most tanks. The GMC long bed regular cab small V-8 4x4 gets 17-18 MPG on most tanks. The Dodge's engine/transmission held up fine, but it developed brake problems last year that several hundred dollars in repair bills couldn't fix. Again, I have several friends who have gotten great service from Dodge trucks, but my experience has been on the bad side. All trucks, either new or used, are selling for much less around here than they were last year. Some dealerships will not even take a truck or SUV in trade, but with gas prices easing, that may change.

65284 · #14 08/14/08, 04:19 PM

I've had several new pickups over the years. With two exceptions all were either GMC or Chevrolets and I never got a bad one. The 2 exceptions were both Dodges and both were CRAP!! It would be the GMC for me.

EarthSheltered · #15 08/14/08, 04:38 PM

He gets 18-19 mpg. DH did replace the oil with synthetic, giving him at least 1mpg more then average. I'm not sure which engine is in it, I'll ask when he gets home. I believe its a 2005, which we bought new for $17,000. If you wait till the end of the year, especially this year, they will really negotiate. Of course, you must be willing to take whatever color, package, options are left. For that kind of price, we don't care what is on the truck, as long as it has 4wd. They do always seem to be red

I will never own another Dodge. Enough said.

Friend owns a Ford F250, nice truck, hauls well, but I like the way the GMC/Chevy's handle better. I know she only gets 10-12 mpg, depending on her driving. Less then 8mpg while hauling horses, unfortunately. I think it has a fairly big engine in it.

The Chevy S-10s seem to go forever. We owned two of them, they were still going strong when we sold them at 150,000 miles. I just saw one of them around town yesterday, looks a bit rougher, but still chugging along

They were replaced by the Colorado, which also seems like a nice truck, but I have no experience with them.

Pizza Guy · #16 08/14/08, 04:46 PM

I'd keep looking. There are better deals out there. It's a buyer's market now for used trucks since everyone wants little cars now.

mnn2501 · #17 08/14/08, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL.Boy

I don't know where your shopping for new but back in 2000 i was looking at trucks and a 2wd work truck was going for $20,000

Back in 2000 Gas was 99 cents a gallon. Trucks and SUV's are cheap today. I'd never pay that much for used today with new prices so low. '08 Ford F150s start at $17,700 with $4500 cash back that makes a brand new base unit cost $13,200 (figures gotten from Fords website)

Scrounger · #18 08/14/08, 04:53 PM

For me it would be easy.....

I NEVER bother looking at GM or Dodge.....

FL.Boy · #19 08/14/08, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnn2501

Back in 2000 Gas was 99 cents a gallon. Trucks and SUV's are cheap today. I'd never pay that much for used today with new prices so low. '08 Ford F150s start at $17,700 with $4500 cash back that makes a brand new base unit cost $13,200 (figures gotten from Fords website)

Them numbers are always bull there just to get you in the door and then tell you it is not available on the truck or car you want. Just like the number game with your trade in. i have worked for a few car lots and can tell you that you get next to nothing for a trade in. if they tell you your getting $2,000 your getting more like $500.

Wayne02 · #20 08/14/08, 05:06 PM

- I would stay far away from the Dakota

- Don't fall into the 'smaller trucks like the ranger/dakota/S10 get better fuel mileage' business. Do your homework and you are likely to find that those type of trucks don't get very good mpg at all, especially compared to the later model full sized trucks and the much increased utility they bring with them.

- If you don't need towing capacity for long trips I'd stay away from the Ford diesel for the increased fuel costs and cost of replacement parts/maintenance.

- I have a 2000 gmc sierra 2500 with 80K and so far I can't complain as outside of regular maintenance stuff it has not had any problems, and I tow a pretty big load with it on semi-regular basis over that 80K. Having said that, there were some reports of "cold start knock" with some of these early 2000 model year gm trucks. Search for "GM truck cold start knock" and there should be some info.