Car advice

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Shann

Joined
Sep 2, 2004
Messages
5,250
I have a 13 year old Ranger with 202,000 miles on it. I bought it new. Still runs good but very rusty.

Would like better mileage but need a small truck. I have a couple rental houses and routinely have lawn equipment, trash, etc. to haul. A couple times a year I need a small load of stone for driveways.

Should I buy a new car for the gas mileage and nicer handling or a new small truck?

A new truck will set me back 30K probably at least, while a new car probably a little less. I don't want a real small car as I'm a kind of big guy with arthritis and a metal hip. Ease of entry is important. I also have a Neapolitan Mastiff that I don't think could jump up into the new full size trucks. I can barely get into them climbing on the running board.

I'm in VT so 4WD or AWD is preferred and a necessity on a truck.

I've looked for used cars and trucks but I have a hard time seeing several year old vehicles with 60-80 thousand miles going for two thirds of what a new one would cost. Looked at a 5 year old Tacoma with 89,000 on it they wanted $18,995. That was pre haggle price of course but I didn't bother negotiating because I didn't like the mileage.

Any advice is welcome. Particularly from anyone with a newer small truck (Canyon, Taco, Frontier).
 
Tacomas are beast, and the four cylinder gets decent mpg. Properly maintained they last forever. You can probably find a used one for a decent price. One of my professors has a Tacoma with over 400k miles on it and it's still running strong.
 
Hello Shann,

Form my personal experience, Toyota Tacoma is the gold standard for SMALL pick ups, especially if you're buying used. High quality, rugged & reliable. Many trim & cab options to choose from. The new for 2014 & 2015 Chevrolet Colorados & GMC Canyons are suppose to be nice, but I only know what I know from reading about them. No first hand experience.

Here's a couple of links that might help:

http://special-reports.pickuptrucks.com/2012/01/2012-midsize-shootout-results.html

http://www.autotrader.com/research/...861/6-best-used-pickup-trucks-under-15000.jsp

Also, if you're not adverse to it, consider buying long distance. In this day & age, it's really not that big a deal. Just make sure you do all of your research and ask every question that you want to know the answer to. Obviously, the wider your search parameters are, the more vehicles become available. You can then really pick & choose colors & options as opposed to being limited to what's near you.

I hope that helps a bit. Good luck in your search.
 
Hey Shann, Longtime Toyota driver here. I've had two of them since 1990, with my current one being the second one I bought in 2001. It currently has 138,000 on the clock, and I just towed a large 12 foot dual axel U-Haul trailer to Georgetown Texas. My first one was bought in 1990, and I drove it unit 2001 when I had my right rotator cuff undergo a massive rebuilding. I couldn't drive a stick after that, so I sold my truck to a guy down the road and bought a new one, that is my current truck. The guy I sold my first one to is still driving it as his second car and weekend chore truck, and it's past 250,000 miles. ONly stuff he's replaced has been expendable stuff like brakes, battery, and exhaust system.

Since 2001, I"ve been driving my Tacoma as my everyday truck, and I didn't even think a bout what I was going to buy when my shoulder got torn up. There was no question at all in my mind that I was gong to just go get another Toyota, only with a auto tranny. As a senior citizen, I now appreciate the auto. Since I drove it off the dealers lot in 2001, it's only needed the same basic expendable stuff any car needs; brakes, new battery every 5 years, one exhaust system. It's been a very very trouble free truck. Driving down here last week towing a U-Haul with all my sister in laws stuff from Norfolk Virginia, it was a little slow on the highway, but it got here in a two day drive.

If I got T-boned tomorrow, I have no daunts at all that I am not going to waste any time looking at any other vehicle. I'm just going to go buy another Toyota Tacoma. That's how sure I am of the company. I'm a Toyota man for life.

Tacoma; the truck you buy when you absolutely don't have any patience for problems with your ride.
 
I have 242,000 on a 2002 Chevrolet S-10. It's been a good little truck. It needs a front suspension rebuild, but life is hard in the potholes of South Louisiana. Not too hard or expensive.....

I think for you finding a car that doesn't live in the Rustbelt is an option unless you buy new.

I'm really liking the new Colorados, but they aren't too cheap for a 4X4 version.
 
I think it's a good time to save some cash and wait. Used car sales are way up right now. The market should correct in the next year or two. I'm in the same boat, but the timing doesn't feel right.
 
I'm also looking to get a tacoma, if possible a 4runner.
Used prices for these vehicles are steep for a reason.
 
Don't buy new! Save $$ by buying used with good maintenance history. I do that with cars. Both cars and trucks of high initial quality will last 200k+ miles with proper care, but do lots of research up front!
 
fishface5 said:
Don't buy new! Save $$ by buying used with good maintenance history. I do that with cars. Both cars and trucks of high initial quality will last 200k+ miles with proper care, but do lots of research up front!
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Honestly, I've never had any luck with used cars. I know that financially its the smart thing to do, but that's not my plan right now.
 
Now is a good time to buy new if you're a cash buyer. It's a crap time to buy used, as prices reflect. You can lease a Chevy Cruze for like $130/mo with zero down. They can't give these cars away right now.
 
Two thoughts..

1. Well, a Ranger that old, with a lot of rust, and that high of mileage, you probably wont get much $ if you sell it or trade it in. I would keep the truck for the occasional rental house errands and put the lowest insurance you can on it since its the occasional driver. Maybe buy a newer, used car as your daily driver. Buy a basic car with a 4 banger that gets decent mileage and something that you fit in. My neighbor just bought a 2012 Chevy Malibu. Nothing special but he got it in the low teens. NOTE: Just an example, not endorsing a Malibu.

2. Can you get away with a smaller SUV? You might be able to find something you can fold down the backseat to haul stuff or remove the backseat all together. Gas mileage wont be great but be a way to cover all of your bases with one vehicle as to 1. above.
 
I love the Ford Ranger. I had one and I put in it 1] a K&N Air Filter and 2] a Tornado. Some people claim the Tornado does not work, but let me tell you some actual real life use. I have had one of these on 2 trucks and 2 SUV's. It gave me a good mileage increase in all vehicles, especially the Ranger and Explorer. When I added the K&N the combination gave a huge increase in both performance and fuel economy. My Ranger went from 18 mpg to 27 mpg on the highway. All of my friends use this combination and can tell you the same type stories.
 
gazz98 said:
Two thoughts..

1. Well, a Ranger that old, with a lot of rust, and that high of mileage, you probably wont get much $ if you sell it or trade it in. I would keep the truck for the occasional rental house errands and put the lowest insurance you can on it since its the occasional driver. Maybe buy a newer, used car as your daily driver. Buy a basic car with a 4 banger that gets decent mileage and something that you fit in. My neighbor just bought a 2012 Chevy Malibu. Nothing special but he got it in the low teens. NOTE: Just an example, not endorsing a Malibu.

2. Can you get away with a smaller SUV? You might be able to find something you can fold down the backseat to haul stuff or remove the backseat all together. Gas mileage wont be great but be a way to cover all of your bases with one vehicle as to 1. above.
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This is what my original plan was. The only worry is if the Ranger does die then I have to find another old truck to buy. I can't really use the SUV because of trash runs and stuff like that. My wife has a Forester and gets about 25-27 mpg with it, so mileage isn't too bad with those now.
 
I personally despise tacomas, I find them very uncomfortable and dislike the company in general.

Due to the mpg concern I would recommend a 4 cylinder ranger (used - I don't think the 4 cyl is an option any more), a Frontier, or Honda Ridgeline.

I drive a full size ford, but am considering a ridgeline for my wife.

An Explorer SportTrack might be a good option also.
 
I drive a 2007 Honda Ridgline and love it. When I got it, it had great fuel economy compared to the competition, now they're not really any better than the rest but the next generation due soon is promising to jump to the head of the class again. The height is perfect for ease of entry (I've got sciatic nerve damage in my hip) and the back seat flips up (70/30) and out of my 2 golden retrievers way for a comfortable ride so your big dog would have plenty of room. It has plenty of bed space for lawn equip etc. (properly secured I've hauled 16' boards). And a locking trunk for all the tools you can think of. (drain plug too so you can fill it up with ice and beer for camping). Ride is actually very similar to my Honda Accord, with a bit more body roll of course. And it has an AWD system with traction control that is the best I've experienced.
 
DanH45 said:
I personally despise tacomas, I find them very uncomfortable and dislike the company in general.

Due to the mpg concern I would recommend a 4 cylinder ranger (used - I don't think the 4 cyl is an option any more), a Frontier, or Honda Ridgeline.

I drive a full size ford, but am considering a ridgeline for my wife.

An Explorer SportTrack might be a good option also.
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Fascinating. I think Toyota is one of the best values for $$, overall. I agree with your other thoughts though, no doubt. I'd skip the Sport Track, and also skip the 4cyl Ranger. The MPG difference isn't enough of a difference between the 4 cyl and V8 to justify it, IMO. In terms of real-world MPG, most of those little 'econo box' trucks really don't make sense. Again, IMO. But as far as buying a 4 banger truck, the Toyota is the first one on my list. :) Before that, however, is an older Ford or Chevy truck. I don't much care for GM, but they made a great truck for many years.

Shann said:
If I can find a decent one I might.
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'06 with the EJ255 is the one to get, IMO. The turbo 2.5L.
 
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