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Well, I think it is time for the Molester Van to go to another home :cry: mrsthang says she'd drive a pickup, but not my trusty old second home :-(
So the question is what kind of full size pickup would you suggest?
Edited 5/2 @ 10 AM
Please note the title of this post is USED as in - non-paying member of TCB
I'd get a Chevy! I've had a couple and ya just can't beat a 350!
Plus Sammm has a Ford, and he is evil! :batman: :razz:
Toyota! I've had a couple of chevy's and wasn't impressed. Way too many service visits, mostly due to Transmission troubles. I personally have a chip on my sholder against Dodge, but My brother and brother-in-law both drive Dodge Crew Cab Diesel's and they both are happy. I've also got freinds with Ford's, and they like them. But, If your going to buy it and keep it, a Toyota holds it's value better, and it's just plain built better.
Ford or an import.
I wouldn't drive no GM or Dodge. :ncool:
I'd say go for a full sized Toyota... those things are indestructable...
I say go Chevy.... (despite those above..)
I've got an 89 suburban that's indestructable.. Not to mention that parts for the thing are dirt cheap.
Example.. the bleeder screws were solid with the caliper, so they broke when I went to bleed the brakes.. A whole new loaded front caliper assembly was $20!
If she doesn't mind NON-Molester vans, I have a loaded 2000 MPV that I am readying to sell.
I got a feeling Onething is not going to be getting anything new, which will limit the full sized off shore offering available at low low prices! :razz:
I guess that depends on what onething considers low, low prices!Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Well, onething, what do you consider low, low price? 8)
Well he is a non-paying member of Team Cheap Bastard! :bigsmurf:Quote:
Originally Posted by Treibenschnell
I voted Ford (big shock I know). Like POS noted, any full-size import is going to be big bucks (even used). I wouldn't buy a Chevy or Dodge (new or used), but that's a personal choice. The Ford straight-6 will run forever will little trouble IMHO.
I think that POS may be on to something...
LINKIE
But I dig the first 4x4 for onething! It would give you that commanding view needed in DFW traffic.
used? Then I would run away from the Big Three, pay a little extra for Toyota! More upfront cost, but lower cost of ownership. I bought my very last (ever) used Chevy Truck in '99, it was a '97 model. That thing fell apart faster than I could fix it!:x I didn't want to, but had to sell it, as I couldn't afford to keep it.
I understand the consideration of imports, but I'm looking at the <$5k range if possible. (older truck)
Thanks for all the input and official 3Bean search linkies
Now that I have better defined my requirements, maybe you can better understand them.
I still haven't ruled out the small import segment, and have looked at a couple of Mazdas. Any input to that possiblity will be appreciated too.
I WANT IT!!!!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
I have lots of friends who have lots of miles on 90's full size chevy's. Go for a 95+ to get the vortec. I have also had a 2001 F150 that I liked a lot. 97+ F150's are plentiful and cheap.
Under five grand is going to limit your choices. I'd be tempted to stretch that figure a little bit, only because the more you can spend upfront, likely the less you'll need to spend on upkeep in the future.
Also, are you just going to use this as a commuter? Does it need to be able to tow, and if so, how much? 4wd or 2wd, or no preference? Short cab, extended cab, or crew cab?
I'd stay away from GM products, but only because I know more people that have had problems with full-size Chevys than full-size Fords (especially if you do any towing). The newer Dodge's are pretty nice, but I'd stay away from any Dodge you'd be able to find under that price cap.
For $5k, assuming nothing more than light duty (or no) towing, and a short or extended cab, here's what I'd recommend (in order):
1) Early '90s Toyota pickup, or a Tacoma, if you can afford one. The pre-'95 small trucks were just called Toyota trucks (no official name), after the '95 redesign they were called Tacomas. Both generations are available with your choice of 4-cylinder or 6-cylinder engines, 2wd or 4wd, short or extended cabs (you won't find a crew-cab Tacoma in that price range, since they only started making them in '01). These trucks are - quite literally - bulletproof, and with minimal maintenance will run nearly forever. Hundreds of thousands of third world militias and terrorists can't all be wrong. :wink:
2) Early '90s Nissan pickup, or a Frontier, if you can afford one. Same thing as the Toyotas, these trucks were available with your choice of 4-cyl and 6-cyl engines, 2wd, 4wd, short cab and extended cab. You might even be able to find a high-mileage 2wd crew cab Frontier under your price cap. Good, reliable trucks that are the functional equivalent of the Toyotas - they just didn't offer quite as much power, or the Toyota name, which means their resale value didn't hold up quite as well (which probably makes them a better used car buy, but I'm partial to Toyotas).
3) '97+ Ford F-150. This is the truck that really started the full-size truck revolution. The 2wd versions ride as close to a car as any full-size truck is going to, and as Sammm already pointed out, the Ford inline 6s are pretty good. The modular V8s don't have quite as much grunt as the GM pushrod V8s do, but the rest of the drivetrain will hold up better in the long term. Under your price cap you're probably looking at a higher mileage, 2wd, short cab, I6 model, but I still think this would be your best choice in full-size trucks under your price cap.
Personally, I'd hunt out the best Toyota truck I could find that met my needs (V6 or I4, 2wd or 4wd, etc.). If I was given the choice of getting back any of the vehicles I've owned in the past, I'd take my '95 Tacoma in a heartbeat - it was a great truck.
I think some of you are missing a minor detail in the request here by suggesting a tacoma/Frontier...Quote:
Originally Posted by onething
What are the main uses you're looking for in this thing anyway? Hauling stuff? people? towing? Give us that and we'll have better suggestions...
FWIW, my 89 Suburban (what 2400 will get ya) was $2400.. It'll be a LONG time before I have to sink enough money into repairs to make up for the cost of a Japanese truck with a smaller motor.
Read the whole thread, Sparky... :tongue:Quote:
Originally Posted by rx7gslse
Quote:
Originally Posted by onething
What's that Suburban get in traffic, though... maybe 8mpg? :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by rx7gslse
I think your Suburban is a good choice if you're looking to carry a small army through a mud bog, or find a roomy tow vehicle on the cheap, or if you like spending a lot of money on gasoline. :mrgreen: However, if you're just looking for a commuter vehicle, I'd suggest one that is slightly easier on gas - and easier to park - than that battleship .
Then again, if she's just looking for a commuter vehicle, I'd suggest something other than a pickup anyway, unless you have another compelling reason that you need to have a truck around.
If it's anything like Onething's current Molester Van it will set in the driveway and go out on the street once in a blue moon. :tongue:Quote:
Originally Posted by rx7gslse
Another thing to consider - with a small truck comes a small bed. Can make hauling 2x4's or a sheet of plywood an adventure! :razz:Quote:
Originally Posted by onething
How about one of these?
http://www.qv500.com/lamborghinilmp6.php
http://www.qv500.com/Lamborghini%20LM%20P6%203.jpg
Oh heck no... I wouldn't suggest a suburban for commuting.. That's just insane! I got it for hauling half a dozen peopel and a boat to the lake.. But since he's replacing a van, I figured it's a valid suggestion.. And it gets about 11/14mpg thank you ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by altiain
Still waiting to hear what the use for his truck is... Daily driving with some hauling, or sitting and occaisionally haulin' when needed...
I'm with Altiain on this one... the best Toyoter ya can afford. As a [distant] second choice, I'd pick up a Ford.
You could go with a domestic but probably nickel and dime yourself on repairs in the long run...
Kids - kids - kids! No, that is not what I plan to haul, I'm just getting your attention.
What do most folks in the Metromess use a pickup for? To make people think they live in the country and need a truck! :grin:
- Third vehicle for commutes when needed
- Haulin antiques for mrsthang
- Hauling dirt, fertilizer, and yard stuff to the house
- Hauling dirt, tree limbs, old tires, etc. to Altiain's house
- Occassionally dragging a small trailer if the pile of tree limbs is too big to fit in the truck - trailer not yet spec'ed
Realistically, it will sit for long periods and not get much attention. The Molester Van gets 9 mpg and does OK. Just not handy for hauling trash, and the trailer I used to borrow is still in Athens.
Well, I actually bought the truck to pull a horse trailer and other country pursuits...Quote:
Originally Posted by onething
Dodge 2500 with the 6-speed manual and the Cummins 5.9L Turbo Diesel.
While it's probably more truck than you really want, the 20+mpg I get driving around unloaded is very very nice...
Oh yea, that tranny starts acting up get ready to throw another $2500 at it. I attempted the TCB route, ended up spending $2,000 on it, and had the same darn issue it had to begin with, then they told me it was the computer :banghead: and it would cost another $700. I sold it! When it was all said and done, I should have let the dealer do it, they quoted me $2500 installed. What really sucked was all it was doing was shifting really hard, so I wanted to get it fixed prior to pulling a sailboat to Arkansas, cause I didn't need a failure up in them hills (hey boss lemme do it, I always wanted to work on a transmission).Quote:
Originally Posted by rx7gslse
BTW, on my trip the damn torque converter blew a seal :rambo: , so I bought a couple of gallons of Tranny Fluid and drove home, stopping and re-filling every 50 miles. Man did it take a lot of cleaner to get that crap off my boat. The shop tried to get out of replacing the torque converter, as they said I drove on it too far. After some very HEATED words, they decided to cough up and pay for the new converter.
Granted some of my problem was with my shop, but at 50k miles a 1/2 ton truck should be able to pull a 2500# boat and not break!
- 84 1/2 ton Suburban - tranny @ 75k
- 99 1/2 ton Suburban - tranny @ 60k and ready for another at 100k
- 04 1/2 ton Suburban - tranny shot at 17k
Is there a pattern here?
I know lots of people who say the Suburban eats trannies, but not the pickups :???:
I can so see mrsthing driving your 2500 with the 6-speed...Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave04
Heck, my 99 AWD GMC SLT Surburban went 68K before I traded it in, and the only expense other than regular service was a Power Steering pump. The sucker was easy to drive on trips, got up to 20mpg, and the heated seats were a delight to my aging back. I averabed between 14 and 16 mpg in town. I loved the damn thing, and although it would pull my enclosed trailer, it struggled a bit. That was the big reason for trading it for the duramax. But as used trucks go, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Chevy/GMC with Vortech. I had always been a Dodge truck owner, and only switched to GM vehicles because working with GM car and truck engineers through a SCCA Corporate training program, I just felt guilty driving up in a Dodge, so I bought GM... Never had a Dodge leave me stranded, and I have owned at least three new Dodge trucks. Always pulled a trailer, the primary purpose of buying a truck to begin with, for me anyway, and never experienced tranny problems that so many complain about... So, that said, I could reccommend either of these two purely by my own experience....You could probably find a previous gen. Dodge, 94 to 97 or so in the price range you are looking for...
that's odd.. I know some have had issues with the 700R4 and heavy towing, but that seems a *bit* extreme.. I find it hard to believe that GM would regularly have to replace tranmissions on a 2004 at 17,00 miles.. How did this guy kill them so fast??Quote:
Originally Posted by onething
Mine has 172k and its still on it's 1st tranny.. a little slow to shift on cold mornings, but that's nothing..
Growing up we had a 79 suburban, an 86 suburban and a 91 suburban... All saw regular ski boat towing duty every summer and all lasted well over 100k (ok, well teh trannies did... the 91 didn't fare so well when my sister drive it ~40 miles after the waterpump went..)
I guess we've just had really good luck?
Wonder if all the Suburbans that Onething killed transmissions on all pulled the "training" trailer, it's a big pig?? ;-)Quote:
Originally Posted by rx7gslse
There is a late model Mazda extended cab down the street from me with a "For Sale" sign on it. Want me to get more info???????
Only pulled the "training" trailer with the new one. We have 3 company suburbans (leased) and the 99's all had tranny issues with no towing. One was on it's 3rd replacement. The 04's all have less than 30k and two have had issues.Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Well, I have yet to see any local Miata have tranny probs because of towing a race trailer... so here's the solution - pick up a stout NB and a nice flat bed trailer, and whammo, two birds with one stone. ;-):razz:Quote:
Originally Posted by onething
Sure if it is not too much trouble and you aren't mad about my post on LSMC :bigsmurf:Quote:
Originally Posted by MadMerv
man, that sucks...Quote:
Originally Posted by onething
Ok, that's it.. I'm keeping my old truck. :thumleft:
Anyway, I've yoinked this thread too far out of the way... Enough about GM trannies. Toyota makes good trucks, no doubt, but they're so expen$ive... I've had several friends in college with older Mazda ickups that ran forever and every with no issues as well, and for a *lot* cheaper than Toyotas... Although, they're the same as a Ranger, so take that with a grain of salt?
Could depend on whether they were towing in overdrive or not. I worked a corner with a guy at the last PCA event who was towing his track car with a 1/2-ton Chevy extended cab, and he also made the comment that the tranny was the weak link on those trucks, and that towing in overdrive just accellerated the problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing