New Truck Choices

S

Shann

Joined
Sep 2, 2004
Messages
5,250
Reading CM's post got me to thinking. I have an 02 Ranger FX4 Five speed manual 4WD with a 4.0 liter V6. I'm up to about 180K and on the way to 200K. Since I tend to keep my vehicles 10 years, I was wondering about new trucks. The Ranger suited my purposes but there don't seem to be many smaller pick up trucks these days. I'm thinking of a full size Chevy or Ford. About the only absolute need is 4WD but I'd like to hear what to look for as far as drive train and cab\bed configuration.

I don't tow and the only thing heavy at all that is hauled is an occasional load of crushed stone for the driveway but I'm always tossing the lawn mower, tools, etc. in the bed so a pick up is an actual need.

Is the six cylinder false economy? I'd like to get decent mileage (for a truck). I really don't have any "need" for the power of an 8 but long term reliability is a concern. Is there any need for a top of the line engine other than if I was going to tow (I'm not a fast driver).

What about cabin configuration? 90% of my driving is by myself. Kid is out of the house so no carting people around except in very rare cases. I prefer the looks of an extended cab (suicide doors) but is a full 4 door crew worth the added cost and probable shorter bed?

Tell me everything!
 
The Ranger suited my purposes but there don't seem to be many smaller pick up trucks these days. I'm thinking of a full size Chevy or Ford. About the only absolute need is 4WD but I'd like to hear what to look for as far as drive train and cab\bed configuration.
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The new F150 trucks are smaller than they used to be, although they're still larger than a Ranger. FYI, the Ranger is still sold new in Australia and other places overseas with new styling that looks great. Guess Ford didn't want Ranger cutting into their F150 sales in the States...

2014 Ford Ranger:
2014-Ford-Ranger-side-view.jpg


These look really nice, inside and out. Reliability may not be on par with the Hi-Lux, but it's close. Styling and comfort are certainly better than the HiLux...

But you can't have one. :p

What about cabin configuration? 90% of my driving is by myself. Kid is out of the house so no carting people around except in very rare cases. I prefer the looks of an extended cab (suicide doors) but is a full 4 door crew worth the added cost and probable shorter bed?
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I prefer the look of a standard cab or supercab, that is if I didn't have a family and large dog. Now I'm looking for a crew cab...

The F150 with 4-door crew cab seems to be the most common around here. Unfortunately the bed on those is only 5-1/2 feet long, but for most people that's enough. If you want a supercab or crew cab with a 'regular' sized pickup bed nowadays, those are only available in the SuperDuty work trucks. Even my F250 lacks a full 8' bed, but at least it has the full 4' between wheel wells, and I can get the 8' easily by dropping the tailgate.
I think you can order a SuperDuty crew cab with a full 8' bed. But dang, it'd be like driving a school bus and forget about city parking lots.

Ford also charges a crap-ton extra for the supercab / crew cab options...

Is the six cylinder false economy? I'd like to get decent mileage (for a truck). I really don't have any "need" for the power of an 8 but long term reliability is a concern. Is there any need for a top of the line engine other than if I was going to tow (I'm not a fast driver).
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Resale might be an issue. Might be enough to offset the initial price difference?

I don't know if you'll see any fuel savings between the V6 and V8. Probably depends on your driving habits and local driving conditions. Speed limit, elevation, hills, amount of stop-and-go traffic, and how much you like to "get on it" from a stopsign. :) The engines also have so much more power than they used to. I bet a new V6 F150 has more power than the 1990s V8.

In the SuperDuty trucks, the new V8 engines are more powerful than my V10, and get better mileage.
 
Whatever you do, consider buying slightly pre-owned with low mileage, so some other poor sucker will eat the $8K in depreciation that occurs in the first 5 seconds after you drive it off the lot. And if you can find a good car broker or middleman - the guy who supplies the dealerships with used cars - you can get an even better deal. That's the only way we were able to afford a Suburban. Otherwise, maybe pre-owned straight from the first owner. Just something to consider. You can buy a lot of knives with that $8K.
 
If I didn't have two child seats I would be driving a single cab. Combine that with not needing to tow anything and I would be buying a V6 powered single cab half ton. Most of the V8's now have the active fuel management system which can get mileage down to near V6 levels. To me, since the V6 doesn't need that system then it will be cheaper and less complicated, so less stuff to break, right?

I drive a 2011 Ram crew cab 4wd half ton with a V8 and I have been extremely happy with it. My only gripe would be the lack of bed space, so no tool box for me. If I were in your shoes I would be getting a Ram single cab half ton with the Pentastar V6. But, since Ram isn't one of your preferred choices, Ford and GM both have good V6's.
 
powernoodle said:
Whatever you do, consider buying slightly pre-owned with low mileage, so some other poor sucker will eat the $8K in depreciation that occurs in the first 5 seconds after you drive it off the lot. And if you can find a good car broker or middleman - the guy who supplies the dealerships with used cars - you can get an even better deal. That's the only way we were able to afford a Suburban. Otherwise, maybe pre-owned straight from the first owner. Just something to consider. You can buy a lot of knives with that $8K.
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If I can get a 5 seconds old F150 for 8K off sign me up! Around here used trucks are like gold, and priced accordingly.
 
F150 Supercrew has plenty of backseat leg room for adults. It's much bigger than my brother's Dodge. I have 4 kids so Supercrew was a requirement but if you don't need the space..... The 5.5 ft. bed kind of sucks but you can get a 6.5 bed as an option. I drove a new f150 with the 3.7 v6. I do think it is more powerful than some of the older v8s but I didn't care for it. It did ok but you really have to wind it up. I guess I'm used to my Ecoboost. I read about issues with the Ecoboost and still took the risk and purchased one and I've been very happy. I'm not super impressed with my mpg but it's still been good for a truck. I mostly wanted the power.
 
Honestly I'd get a 4wd van. Keeps your stuff out of the elements and away from sticky fingers. If it must be a truck I'd opt for a toyota hilux. Those things are hard to kill as seen in this video clip from top gear. [video=youtube;xnWKz7Cthkk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWKz7Cthkk[/video]
 
sideways said:
If it must be a truck I'd opt for a toyota hilux. Those things are hard to kill as seen in this video clip from top gear. [video=youtube;xnWKz7Cthkk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWKz7Cthkk[/video]
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Those aren't available in the USA.
 
The Tacoma is available here. My 4 Runner that I traded in for my Ram was a 1997 and it had 230,000 miles when I traded it in 2011. I had no major problems with it and it was very reliable. Little bit bigger than the Ranger. Didn't look like the OP was looking at any foreign auto makers, though.
 
My first truck was an 01 Ford Ranger Edge 4x4 supercab. It was a very nice truck until the frame/body started rusting out. Then I got a Chevy Colorado LS extended cab and I love it. Much better than the Ranger. The 3.5L V5 engine is a bit better on gas than the 4.0 V6 my ranger had as well. For my next truck, I may try a Tacoma. :)
 
I've had 2 tacomas, an 01 and my current 09. They are both great trucks, the 01 went to 200,000 before I traded it in and the only reason I got rid of t was it was too small for my needs. My 09 is a double cab 6 cylinder, great power and I get 20 mpg's all day long. If you don't need a full size why not get the best mid size available ?
 
Its really too bad that toyota never found a market for the hilux and landcruiser pickups in north america. Although from having been in and around a few now, I know why. There is no replacement for displacement, and no one would pay a premium for an underpowered truck. The tacoma is a different breed of truck all together. As far as I understand it the Ford Ranger here in australia is not the same truck as the NA one, but maybe now that they are not just Mazda BT50s they are? No idea.

I would just test drive everything you can get into, Nissan, Toy, Dodge, whatever, and see what you like the ride of best. If you are going to keep it for 10 years, you might as well pick one you like, a year difference can be huge.
 
As far as I understand it the Ford Ranger here in australia is not the same truck as the NA one, but maybe now that they are not just Mazda BT50s they are?
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I believe the Ford Ranger in the US and Aussie-Land were the same until recently: A couple years ago the Ranger got a really nice update in Australia, and at the same time was discontinued completely in The States.
 
The last ranger I got up close and personal to was in canada when they were the same as the mazda truck, right before mazda split. So I'm not sure. I've been told by guys here that all fords in austraila are unique. But its all innuendo and hearsay. So I could very much be wrong on most counts. I have an allergy to blue ovals :D
 
V-6's don't get better fuel economy IF you use your pickup as a pickup. My BIG V-8 lopes along while a similar V-6 is working hard.

Get an 8 foot bed. When you need it, you really need it.

Personally, I find ext cab and a half's offer the best compromise for interior volume space and seatng versus overall length.
 
I drive a 2006 ford ranger 4cyl 2wd regular cab, aka the danger ranger :D

I've beat the crap out of my truck, ran trails with it, mudding, towing full size VW's sedan's up a snow covered grass hill, hauling wood, camping gear, and friends.
 
No offense but the "use your pickup as a pickup" line is too over used. Not everybody has the same needs, one person might need to transport furniture, another firewood or motorcycles. Not everybody tows. Some people might need a truck that is also a daily driver. Others might only need it for work. My point is that you cannot make a blanket statement that is true.
 
I have a super cab 150. My nephew has crew cab 250 diesel. he regularly carts his wife and 4 kids around with him in the truck and when he is working he pulls a 10000# trailer.
Very rarely do I take more than my wife with me. Unless you are packing a full load up hills all the time a v6 should be fine but weigh the cost/benefit of opting out of the v8.
 
amflud said:
If I didn't have two child seats I would be driving a single cab. Combine that with not needing to tow anything and I would be buying a V6 powered single cab half ton. Most of the V8's now have the active fuel management system which can get mileage down to near V6 levels. To me, since the V6 doesn't need that system then it will be cheaper and less complicated, so less stuff to break, right?

I drive a 2011 Ram crew cab 4wd half ton with a V8 and I have been extremely happy with it. My only gripe would be the lack of bed space, so no tool box for me. If I were in your shoes I would be getting a Ram single cab half ton with the Pentastar V6. But, since Ram isn't one of your preferred choices, Ford and GM both have good V6's.
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I'm in my second Ram couldn't be happier my first was a 2000 reg cab that I got 375K mi.traded her for a 4 door 8ft bed with the long wheel base she rides like a Caddy and hauls like a dream.
 
amflud said:
If I didn't have two child seats I would be driving a single cab. Combine that with not needing to tow anything and I would be buying a V6 powered single cab half ton. Most of the V8's now have the active fuel management system which can get mileage down to near V6 levels. To me, since the V6 doesn't need that system then it will be cheaper and less complicated, so less stuff to break, right?

I drive a 2011 Ram crew cab 4wd half ton with a V8 and I have been extremely happy with it. My only gripe would be the lack of bed space, so no tool box for me. If I were in your shoes I would be getting a Ram single cab half ton with the Pentastar V6. But, since Ram isn't one of your preferred choices, Ford and GM both have good V6's.
Click to expand...

I'm in my second Ram couldn't be happier my first was a 2000 reg cab that I got 375K mi.traded her for a 4 door 8ft bed with the long wheel base she rides like a Caddy and hauls like a dream.
 
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