Truck Purchase Advice

[bamafaninky]

I'm looking for a "New to me" (USED) truck. I need 2WD, 4 door. I'm looking in the neighborhood of $15,000. Under 50,000. What do you think, or would reccomend? US or Import OK, 1/2 ton or smaller.

[Bearcreek]

Do you have an age preference?

[Tripledigitride]

With the current fuel prices showing no slow down in the near future, I'd focus on fuel economy, unless money is no object. I'm also in the market for a truck, and I'd really like a full-size truck with a V-8, but the cost of fuel has changed my mind. Being a bigger guy, I probably won't be able to find a small truck with ample room, so I'm looking into a mid-size or full-size with a 6 cylinder. You can buy a brand new trucks for under $20,000. They may not have all the fancy options, but it will serve the purpose.

[ormandj]

Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma are good trucks. I'm not a fan of the smaller American trucks, simply because the engines aren't very efficient (at least, not on models you'll be picking up for that kind of $$$.) Out of those two, I'd suggest the newer model Frontiers (2005+ I believe) as the engines are awesome.

I'm personally waiting for diesels to become more mainstream over here, but if you need something now, you can pick up a decent v6 based truck for that amount of money which will get decent gas mileage and last quite well.

[Tally XD]

Just from recent knowledge of use, I would recommend one of the following:

- Chevrolet 1500 four door with the 5.3 V8. Plenty of power, nearly 20mpg if not pulling a load. Good interior room and relatively inexpensive.

- Nissan Titan. Lots of power for a mid sized truck (V8. good looks and good quality. Kind of expensive though. Decent fuel economy.

- Toyota Tundra. Great truck. Good looks. Decent room inside. V8 powerhouse, I mean really GOOD power too! Expensive little truck. Decent fuel economy.

[ormandj]

Originally Posted by Tally XD

Just from recent knowledge of use, I would recommend one of the following:

- Chevrolet 1500 four door with the 5.3 V8. Plenty of power, nearly 20mpg if not pulling a load. Good interior room and relatively inexpensive.

- Nissan Titan. Lots of power for a mid sized truck (V8. good looks and good quality. Kind of expensive though. Decent fuel economy.

- Toyota Tundra. Great truck. Good looks. Decent room inside. V8 powerhouse, I mean really GOOD power too! Expensive little truck. Decent fuel economy.

Your idea of "mid sized" and "little" are a lot different than mine! Anything larger than a Titan/Tundra == commercial in my books. What on earth are you using trucks larger than those for? Towing buildings?

[texas_rebel_1980]

my advice is, don't get a truck. gas is crazy. but if you get a truck, get a dodge quadcab, i love mine.

[jeepguy704]

get a jeep....if ya got to get a truck i would go with a toyota or something along them lines gas is a killer with plans of it going into 4 dollars./...get a smaller truck..

[Centerfire]

Not a recommendation, just FYI on comparisons...

I had a 2000 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner (2WD), V6. It got 15-17 MPG, didn't matter if it was around town or on the highway.

I traded it in for a 2003 Chevy Silverado Xtra-cab Z71 (4WD), 5.3L V8. I was amazed that on the highway I actually got better MPG with the full-size 4WD (19-21). Around town it gets 13-15.

Ironically, the little 2WD toyota did better off-road... Go figure...

I didn't abuse the trucks, but the Toyota was in the shop more in the 3 years I had it than the Chevy has been in the last 5.

~ Centerfire

[retired]

I traded it in for a 2003 Chevy Silverado Xtra-cab Z71 (4WD), 5.4L V8. I was amazed that on the highway I actually got better MPG with the full-size 4WD (19-21). Around town it gets 13-15.

I'm going to beat Brickboy to his own future post. He has a 05 Tundra with the V8. (mine is a 06). He has stated in numerous truck threads that he found some V8s actually get as good or better mileage than the midsize trucks with a V6. Plus, the full size truck has more room, can carry more and tow more.

As far as the Titan someone mentioned, someone in another thread said they come with a really skimpy Dana 40 or 44 (can't recall which) rear end and that's not real good for towing.