Best Small Truck?

[eSDee]

Well since I have a job now it's finally time to retire the beast; an '85 Mercury Cougar which I call "Charlene". I am looking to get a truck now, one that I can take out camping and do yard work with, but one that is still cost efficient to drive the 40 mile commute to my job everyday. This eliminates any 8 cylinder truck. Here are my options:

Ford Ranger:
http://www.edmunds.com/edweb/editorial/mostwanted/photos/2000.Ford.Ranger.jpg
pros:
Cheap, anyone and their mother can work on a Ford
cons:
Cheap, Ford short for Found On Road Dead


Dodge Dakota:
http://www.auho.com/98cars/DodgeDakota.jpg
pros:
Nice looking, tough, Dark Fury has one
cons:
Don't know much, but I hear they are gas guzzlers(little help DF)


Toyota Tacoma:
http://www.womanmotorist.com/p/toyota/toyota-tacoma-2k.jpg

Good mpg(24/21), great warranty(6yr,100k), Toyotas last forever
cons:
expensive, expensive, expensive

Do any of you have small trucks or know people who do? If so can you share any stories you might have?

Thanks Apexers. You cool.

[xsiled2]

what no GM trucks or nissan

[DoPeY5007]

Dakota by far!!!...

[eSDee]

Oh yeah feel free to add any other small trucks you might think of. Thanks!

[xsiled2]

http://www.nissandriven.com/m/config/i/csx_720k_02_kv8.jpg
here (http://www.nissandriven.com/vehicles/Configurator/0,9442,20463|21711|1|,00.html)

[DoPeY5007]

I am looking to get a Dakota Quad Cab '03 or '04 with the 5.9 V8, yes it will eat gas but it will kick the crap outta any other compact truck... no others come with the V8

[xsiled2]

http://www.gmc.com/sonoma/main.html

[Ladogaboy]

I'd say the Tacoma or Ranger... If you want an equivalent to a Ranger, get a Mazada. Essentially, they are the same thing... Mileage is good for a truck (around 26), and you might be able to get a decent warranty. I'm driving one right now, and it is decent. Slightly under powered. But that's what you get for a truck with good mileage.

[DoPeY5007]

Originally posted by Ladogaboy
Slightly under powered.

that's why I say the Dakota ;)

[chrissy]

GMC have really good trucks. Donnie's s-15 has over 141,000 miles on it and still runs pretty strong. Yeah, I am scared to drive it out of town, but it's a 1990. I am sure it can make it to Reno and back. We did that last year in it and we had no issues. Just don't want to take too much life out of what is left :)

Dad swears by Dodge. I love the Dakota. Gas isn't bad in them either.

[DoPeY5007]

Originally posted by EsDeeLoco
Don't know much, but I hear they are gas guzzlers(little help DF)

DF wouldn't be able to help you on this one, he does have one BUT the V8 and you said you wanted the V6...

[IrishSS]

Toyotas... hands down. Your situation fits a Toyota perfectly. They get awesome mileage, they are cheap for maintence, cheap for repairs (especially if you do it yourself... They are so damn easy to work on), and, if you're not set on the 4x4, they arent that spendy. The Prerunner is a perfect choice for you. Its the same size as the 4x4 Tacomas, just minus the 4-wheel drive. Look here (http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicles/tacoma/specs/tacoma_specs.html) for a comparison. Starts @ $14,400. The lil 4x2 starts @ $12,400.

Now, my opinion... I have a 94 toyota 4x2. My dad has had 3 toyota trucks. All great machines that lasted (lasting) forever. Mine has 170k miles on it. I broke the timing chain two summers ago @ about 155k. Shop estimates: Anywhere from $1000-$2000 and two weeks. Took me about 12 hrs and $450 to fix. Runs great again. So simple, I, having zero auto experience, fixed it right up, with a lil guidance from dad. Havent had any major problems other than that. Dad has only had one major problem in three trucks, and that was with the diesel model in the early 90's. Maintence is a snap, and lil knickty knack parts (filters, sensors, etc.) are pretty dang cheap compared to some of my friends cars.

If you're getting a new one, you more than likely will have absolutely no problems with it for an extremely long time. It would be an easy choice for me...

[psycho-]

For one thing, I know the dakota has an extremely poor reliability rating.

[psycho-]

Wow...I was just pricing pickup trucks. They're expensive beasts these days when fully loaded. Why not just ditch it all and buy like a Lexus ES300 or a Passat GLX V-6. You get the leather, you get the wood, you get the good sound system. If you're really going AWD, what about an audi A4 Avant w/ Quattro

[Blu]

Originally posted by psycho-
Wow...I was just pricing pickup trucks. They're expensive beasts these days when fully loaded. Why not just ditch it all and buy like a Lexus ES300 or a Passat GLX V-6. You get the leather, you get the wood, you get the good sound system. If you're really going AWD, what about an audi A4 Avant w/ Quattro

Well you'll look pretty silly trying to get accross a construction site with a Quattro...

[Nanotech9]

its called "Elegance" (pronounced with a french accent) :heh:

[psycho-]

Originally posted by Blu


Well you'll look pretty silly trying to get accross a construction site with a Quattro...

Isn't that what the Benz G500 or Toyota Land Cruiser is for? :-)

[adowding]

Make sure you test drive a s-10 or ranger before you even think about purchasing one. I've had both and I'm only 6"1' and I was cramped as all hell all the time. Everytime I had to put the clutch in I would bang my knee off the steering wheel on the ranger.

[Ladogaboy]

Originally posted by adowding
Make sure you test drive a s-10 or ranger before you even think about purchasing one. I've had both and I'm only 6"1' and I was cramped as all hell all the time. Everytime I had to put the clutch in I would bang my knee off the steering wheel on the ranger.

I think it depends on what cab you get. If you just get the standard cab, yes, it will be cramped. If you got and extended cab, king cab, whatever the hell they call them now, there would be more than enough room. I'm just under 6', and when I put the seat back, I can bearly press the pedals down (this in an extended cab). As for the width, it is a little narrow, but livable.