Advice on buying a small truck?

I completely disagree. Most domestic trucks I've had have held up just fine. The chevy 350 is freaking bullet proof tough motor, nearly impossible to kill. the Ford 7.3 will go well over 300-400,000 miles. My Ranger's little 2.5 Lima is at 150,000 so far without so much as a cough.

Don't fall for the overpriced Toyota hype!

[QUOTE=calliemoonbeam;3699933]

Mine has the smaller V6, and I get 20-21 mpg overall, QUOTE]

this is amazing, I had a 95 Blazer, 4door, 4x4 a few years back. It had the
v-6 vortec (basically a 350 block, with two cylinders cut off). The thing was a powerful little workhorse, but I never got above 18mpg with it. and only averages like 16-17.

I had a 86 Toyota pickup 4cyl. auto. best of 18 mpg. that was a pos. at the time my dad had a 88 s-10 4 cyl 5 speed that got 25 - 27 mpg. and would run circles around the toy so i vote for a older s-10. I now have a 99 GMC 1/2 ton 4.3, 5 speed that gets 18 -23 mpg. When loaded down with 6,000 lbs behind it i still get 15 mpg. I say get a s-10 or newer full size GMC /Chevy The people i talk to about there new full size Toyota's are very un happy with mpg.

I agree a friend has a newer toy full size that has about 120,000 miles on it and has had the cam shaft replaced and 3 sets of brakes on it.

Just to give you more to think about.

I would look at a new Dodge Dakota if you're set on new, quite a bit bigger cab. I would also look at full sized 1/2 ton pickups possibly short wheel based. The mileage might not be much different but the larger bed and cab is a big plus, also increased towing ability and stopping ability with a load.

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100% correct. I have owned or driven company trucks from nearly every company that offers trucks in the USA. MOST Toyotas are nearly bulletproof. BUT, they have has some real screw-ups over the years from 4-runners with failing rear springs, frames on Tacomas that literally rot in half, to one of the worst v-6s ever built. They are also grossly overpriced on the used market and they start rusting out about five minutes after they leave the assembly line. I just trade a 2003 Ranger in for a newer Silverado. The Ranger was a 2wd/3.0 v-6. It was one of the most reliable, dependable vehicles I ever owned. 2wd rangers are IMHO the best buy on the used truck market. Cheap to buy, maintain, and fuel and they are about as reliable as a hammer. Can't say the same for the 4.0 motor or the 4wds, but I would buy a 2wd Ranger in a minute if I needed one. I stongly disagree on your theory that a new one would be a better buy. I just paid 47% of the cost of a new Chevy and got a 2 year old one in nearly perfect condition with 29K miles on it. That 47% number is based on the out the door price on the same truck (but a 2009 model) at invoice, less rebates. So this truck was $14,700 less than a new one. Don't look for me in a new car any time soon. I can't waste my hard earned cash on something that loses 50% of it's value in 2-3 years.

Well, I have to tell you that what ever you decide on, if you have some money, now is the time.
I asked about left over 2008's Ford trucks, with every thing I wanted on it, they gave me a deal I couldn't turn down.

One thing to consider, if every one is driving big trucks, could be a reason for it.
Any friends around that has a smaller one?

Equipment/Trim pkg's, sometimes the 4X4 has to come with all sorts of trim options, bigger trucks are used as work trucks alot.

Example: some stripped down Ford F-150's cost less than a fancy smaller truck, especially 4 X 4's.
I guess I'm not a fan of the small trucks, had a Toyota years ago, liked it but the body rusted off.
You going to have it a long time, don't get caught buying a small truck now, then wish you would have gone bigger a couple of years down the road.

BTW, I don't have any preferance so to make, Ford, Chevy, Dodge, have owned all over the years, just looked for the equipment I wanted and let the dealer fight over me.

I have a 1998 Dodge Ram...love it and no problems thus far with over 100k miles. Granted we only drive it about twice a week, but it is a good truck

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Kat
www.KatsKardsnKrafts.etsy.com
Out to move a mountain...

DH says every time he's had a small truck, he's needed a full size bed or more power.
Gas mileage on the small trucks really isn't much better than the full size trucks from about 93 onward. If it were him, DH says he'd just buy a full size truck for the same money he was going to spend on the small truck and be able to haul himself and a sack lunch without having mustard on his elbow (hehe!)

[QUOTE=Goatguy;3700191]Calliemoonbeam has a 4.3L v6 [90 degree vee made from a v8] as the smaller 60 degree 2.8 stopped being used by '92 [except the 3.4L version in Camaros] so any 2nd generation s10/T15 or Blazer/Jimmy came w/ the 4.3L v6 - or a 4 cyl in the 4x2 pickups. My '93 Jimmy gets 21MPH highway hauling stuff to college, 18 local/commuting.

I used to watch a few S10 chat boards and some people do get over 22MPG w/ the 4.3's mostly pickups as the blazer/jimmy is heavier...more tailgate, more roof, back seat w/ foldown mechanism all add weight VRS a pickup.

When I installed the 3.4L crate engine [based on the camaro version w/ a high torque cam] in my '88 pickup, the gas mileage was better! The 2.8L was 150HP while the 3.4L was 197 [205 ft Lbs torque] and I was able to maintain highway speeds w/ out downshifting on grades, unlike the old 2.hate...Loaded one way to Gettysburg I did 24mpg w/ the 3.4 but I sold it as the rust got ahead of me, but it is still on the road a year later...

I am on my second dodge dakota with no issues. my current one has 150,000+ miles and is the 3.9 liter 6 cyl.

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LOVE, love love our Tacoma! Bought it used 12/05-its a '02. Change the oil & it will run forever. 110,000 so far & I'm sure we'll get 3 Xs that.

Patty

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Most of our neighbors have big farms and use their big trucks to haul a lot of equipment around. We don't have a lot of land or equipment, but do want to stop stuffing everything into our Matrix (we can get 8 ft boards or 10 rolls of fencing in it) plus have the option of getting a small trailer.

deb
in wi

All I'm saying is to check around and price whats out there, both the little trucks and the bigger trucks, before you make a desision.
You might find out the pricing and milage doesn't vary much.

You might not think that you need a bigger truck at this time, but if you have land/homestead, you might be sorry later.
Only cost a little more to go first class.
In either case, prices are really good right now, if you have the where with all.
Good luck, I just bought a truck, not that I need one right now,,but couldn't pass up the deal.....................

I am very sad to say that my 91 S 10 just bit the dust. It was a great truck! 2.8 motor gets 24 mpg. The power train is still in good shape but problems (not the truck's fault) have caused me to look for a replacement. The used S 10s and Rangers are selling kind of high around here unless they have a million miles on them. The Colorado is bigger than the S 10 and you have to buy a package of things to get what I want. The package has a lot that I don't want to pay for. Both the Colorado and Ranger do not get much better gas mileage than the bigger models and are close to the same price as the bigger truck. I looked really hard for a small used truck but ended up buying a new F150 a couple of weeks ago. I'm really going to miss my S 10. Over the years, it taught 3 teenagers to drive a stick and it has hauled some heavy loads. Motor, original clutch, tranny, and rear end still ready to keep going. I'm going to miss that old truck!

I've owned one chrysler product in my life. That will not happen again, I vote with my feet.

When I sold mine the engine was the only part of the drivetrain to be replaced, I did service the Diff @ 250,000 when I replaced the rear brakes w/ new hardwear & oil seals. Since it was a 4x2 and I greased it regurlarly, it even had the original ball joints. The BW T-5 transmission had the rear seal replaced 2x and had no issues even though younger guys were grinding them up tryijng to race 'em. In fact when I picked up the rebuilt trans for my '93 ranger I asked the guy how reliable they were as I had just turned in a '96 trans so this is at least the 3rd one in my ranger. He said it depended on how you drive and when I told him I had over 300K on the T-5 he just said you will be alright...

Daddy wouldn't let me buy a Chrysler and after having a Willys Jeep, I was real sad when they bought the Jeep marque.

I had an old Toyota. It was used and on its last leg, but it was a great truck.
When I went to look for another (used) I found a Ranger extended cab and a Tacoma for about the same price (we could afford) both "97's both 4 cylinder.
My wife realy wanted the extended cab, so we could put groceries or luggage behind the seat. So we got it.

My old Toyota truck would carry more weight than my full size Chevy Scottsdale . My newer ranger is a piece of junk..the only thing good about it is the Mazda engine. Little (and expensive) things are always breaking. First the brake release handle (requires the whole assembly to be replaced) next the dome light wouldn't turn off (required a computer module) then the a/c went out (didn't fix that) now the heat wont come on ( haven't had time to locate the problem yet) Replaced the timing belt ( necessary on any overhead cam engine) but in the Ranger one better replace the water pump at the same time, because it will go out within a month or two of replacing the timming belt. The 4 clyinder Mazda engine (good engine) has 8 spark plugs, 6 of which are difficult to get to.

My opinion... if you are going to keep the truck past the warranty don't even think of anything but the Toyota.

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Moving to that big black hole in the night satellite photo. (also the hole in cell phone coverage )

What did you get?

The small dealerships near my house have cut their hours so getting in for a test drive is almost impossible.

We have Dr appts in the city one day this week and I set up them up so we will have time to test drive some trucks in between the appts.

Thanks
Deb
in wi

I have had all makes, when your dealing with used vehicles the older they are the more it matters how the previous person took care of the vehicle than the make. Only a few cars have stood out with the same problems over and over again, GM 3.1 v-6s and their head gasket troubles, Ford Taurus transmission troubles, and Toyota Tercels and their blown engines. I guess everyone has luck with different makes, but in my experience with dealing with Toyotas (I owned a Toyota truck myself and have had a few friends that owned them) is that they break down like anything else and rust worst than anything else (Mazda trucks coming in at a close 2nd).

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Well, it wasn't a small truck, was looking for something to pull a 5-wheel, and they made me a good deal on a left over, new, discounted 2008.

I don't think I will get a better deal, unless they start giving them away.
(actually they should as we have already paid for them, through the bail out)



When you go look, ask about discounted last years models, good deal if they have what you want.