Looking to buy a small truck...

[foamypirate]

and need some input. Any of you guys who have owned a small truck (Frontier, Ranger, Tacoma, Colorado etc), please chime in with your experiences.

I'm primarily looking for 4-cyl, 5 speeds, as I need something fuel efficient (I'll be replacing my 07' V6-6 Accord with this). I will also be buying brand new (need to stay under 18.5k or so, however).

I already test drove an 08' Ranger. I know it's a truck, but the interior is awful. I'd be buying new, and to even get a CD player is a $250 option.

Right now, I'm leaning mostly towards the Tacoma based on price/features/build quality.

Let me know what you've got.

[crazymikey]

Modern smaller trucks are getting harder to find.

Depending how old you want to go;

1986-1993 Mazda B series; B2000, B2200, B2600, B2600i 4x4

1987-1995 Nissan Hardbody/Kingcab KA 2.4 or 3.0 V6

Any Toyota; T100, Tacoma, Tundra, Hilux, SR5

I recently owned a 2002 Mazda B4000 4x4 (rebadged Ford Ranger). Absolute best truck ever. My friend owns it now with 453 000km on the original engine, tranny and rear end. It's a pig with the 4.0 V6, but it's a great engine and a wicked little work truck.

Don't knock the Ranger off your list. It may be ancient, but it's a damn capable little truck.

[SOHC-FTW]

Can't go wrong with a yota or a taco, an more than likely it will hold its value quite well since it is a toyota truck.

[92smokeaccord]

hey man how about a chevy s-10..97 -2000...i had a 99 4 banger 5 speed and it was the shit...28mpg city and 35 highway.reg cab..paid like 2800 for mine....plenty of touqre for a 4 banger..easy as hell to find parts too..

juss sayin

[turbomaxx]

Ford Ranger. I had a 90. That fucker was INDESTRUCTIBLE. I'd buy one again in a heartbeat.

[Losiracer2]

hey man how about a chevy s-10..97 -2000...i had a 99 4 banger 5 speed and it was the shit...28mpg city and 35 highway.reg cab..paid like 2800 for mine....plenty of touqre for a 4 banger..easy as hell to find parts too..

juss sayin

no way in hell you can get 35 hwy in a truck lol

[Nizmo]

I had a 96 tacoma that was great. It was getting nearly 30mpg on the highway and ran like new with over 250k milage. Keep in mind it was a 2wd model though. I really like the newer tacoma x-runner.
I have drove the ranger and s-10, the tacoma is alot more powerful.

[Punkrampant]

I had, still miss, and am constantly looking for a k24 hardbody.

So much fun so cheap on fuel!


However these days, I am intrigued by the new base ranger. Rated at something like 36mpg highway, 13k + tax with incentives!

You can find amazing deal on 2011's once the 2012 come out!

[wed3k]

honestly, tacoma or ranger...

[deevergote]

Man, weren't you super excited about that AV6-6?

AccordWarrior can tell you all about Toyota trucks. Many of the newer ones have SERIOUS rust issues. I don't know if that'd be an issue where you are, though.

What about a Ridgeline? I have yet to hear anything bad about them... other than the fact that they look kinda funky.

[foamypirate]

Man, weren't you super excited about that AV6-6?

AccordWarrior can tell you all about Toyota trucks. Many of the newer ones have SERIOUS rust issues. I don't know if that'd be an issue where you are, though.

What about a Ridgeline? I have yet to hear anything bad about them... other than the fact that they look kinda funky.

Oh, I definitely love driving the AV6, but with my truck torn down for restoration, I still need something I can haul for stuff around the house (I tend to do more frequent hauling than the average joe). I just can't afford to pay for a house, 2 cars, a truck, AND a restoration, so the AV6 has to go to make room for the truck.

I'll definitely miss her if I end up getting rid of it.

I had thought about the Ridgeline, actually, but they are out of my price range, and the fuel economy isn't very good.

[deevergote]

Ah yes, very true.

Are you buying brand new? If so, are you expecting to keep this truck for a very long time?

[MikeW]

Id lose the restoration prjoect. Just sayin.

If not, Id go any 90s toyota. Ive contemplated a small pickup as well and if I dont go toyota, im looking at like a mid-late 90s s-10.

[deevergote]

He's got the space and money to pursue the restoration, so why not?

It's a shame the restoration isn't usable at the moment... it'd be nice to have a restoration project that would double as a stuff-hauler! I guess that answers my previous question... when the old truck is usable, it'll be the household hauler, and the new little truck will go bye bye. Am I right?

[PointBlank]

I love my '98 2.2L ext. cab S10. It gets really good gas mileage plus I can still haul both my four wheelers. Although it sounds like your looking to get something newer. I used to drive an '09 Colorado for work and those are really nice. The I5 it has makes decent power, yet still gets around 25 mpg on the highway. I used it to pull a 20' enclosed cargo trailer short distances (after installing air bags on the back).

I'm biased, but I say get a Chevy. Yotas are nice but even the late '80's to mid '90's are extremely pricey in good shape.