Looking for a new mid-size pickup?

[Tallpine]

^^^ I have been cruising the local Craigslist for a while looking at the Tacomas, and I am amazed at how they apparently hold their value, based on the asking prices.

And it seems like when a Toyota or Honda does come up for sale used, there is something wrong with it. 

We almost bought the girls a 90-something 4runner with 4 cyl and 5 speed: cute little thing and it rode and drove like a dream.   On the second test drive it started overheating in 60 degree weather.  I suspect it had a bad head gasket.  I told the dealer "fix it and I'll buy it" but they never called us back 

My mom ended up buying them a Subaru and with all the problems that we had with that thing, I would have probably been better trying to bargain way down on the 4runner and fixing the gasket myself 

[Boomhauer]

I just remember Chevy selling the hell out of those S-10 pickups.  You saw them everywhere.  I don't notice the Colorado at all.  I guess that could be because it looks so much like the full size. 

They aren't nearly as popular as the Silveraydos...I see them mainly in fleet service (utility company meter readers, parts store runners, etc)

[dogmush]

I just remember Chevy selling the hell out of those S-10 pickups.  You saw them everywhere.  I don't notice the Colorado at all.  I guess that could be because it looks so much like the full size. 

They also aren't nearly as popular as the S-10 was.

They got a couple of years of left over S-10 love, then people figured out they suck.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Colorado#Yearly_American_sales

[dogmush]

What you guys want is to figure out the import laws to bring a couple of these in.  I 'borrowed' one from a coalition partner in 2009 to do some "Desert all-terrain driving practice" .  It's a sweet truck.

[Ben]

What you guys want is to figure out the import laws to bring a couple of these in.  I 'borrowed' one from a coalition partner in 2009 to do some "Desert all-terrain driving practice" .  It's a sweet truck.

[img]http://www.drivearabia.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2010-Toyota-Land-Cruiser-LC79-Pickup.jpg

There are some totally awesome Toyotas (and other manufacturers) trucks and 4xs that we'll never see in the US. It's really a shame, especially because many of them, especially the diesels, seemed to have been partially designed for fuel economy and less environmental impact to meet environmental needs of other countries, while our country's EPA is keeping them out "for the environment".

[41magsnub]

What you guys want is to figure out the import laws to bring a couple of these in.  I 'borrowed' one from a coalition partner in 2009 to do some "Desert all-terrain driving practice" .  It's a sweet truck.

I love the 70 series trucks.  If I ever roll my 80 series LC (and live to tell about it and it is salvagable) I'd love to buy it back from my insurance and chop it into a pickup.

[Tallpine]

They also aren't nearly as popular as the S-10 was.

They got a couple of years of left over S-10 love, then people figured out they suck.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Colorado#Yearly_American_sales

Yeah, back in the 1980s and 1990s the S-10 variants were everywhere.  But gas was still "cheap" enough that I never took an interest in them at that time.  They might have been pretty good mechanically but based on the few used ones that I have looked at, the body and interior is pretty crappy    I still wouldn't mind finding one with a four banger, though ....

Our best friends' niece died in one back in 1995.  She apparently fell asleep or was distracted and drove under a semi-trailer.  That was a really sad funeral 

[Balog]

The Baja just did not look right at all. Besides, I don't have enough leg hair to drive a Subaru, nor do I wear Birkenstocks....

And a Subaru Brat? We'll call you Joy...



'Nuff said.

Pretty sure guys having hairy legs is not some weird hippy thing there man... 

[Boomhauer]

Pretty sure guys having hairy legs is not some weird hippy thing there man...  Kiss

But it takes a lot to make a Subaru crank...and I just don't have enough...this woman though, she has a hell of a lot more...

[MechAg94]

Yeah, back in the 1980s and 1990s the S-10 variants were everywhere.  But gas was still "cheap" enough that I never took an interest in them at that time.  They might have been pretty good mechanically but based on the few used ones that I have looked at, the body and interior is pretty crappy    I still wouldn't mind finding one with a four banger, though ....

Our best friends' niece died in one back in 1995.  She apparently fell asleep or was distracted and drove under a semi-trailer.  That was a really sad funeral 

But the S-10 was cheap, especially in the cut down version.  I think I remember an older guy who had one as a commuter truck with no power steering.  I also remember the those small Toyota trucks that everyone liked also.  I knew a lot people that drove the hell out of them for years.

It just seems to me that they would sell a small truck that is designed for fuel economy and cost rather tow capacity and power.  Those last two are expected in the bigger trucks.

[Tallpine]

But the S-10 was cheap, especially in the cut down version.  I think I remember an older guy who had one as a commuter truck with no power steering.  I also remember the those small Toyota trucks that everyone liked also.  I knew a lot people that drove the hell out of them for years.

It just seems to me that they would sell a small truck that is designed for fuel economy and cost rather tow capacity and power.  Those last two are expected in the bigger trucks.

I had the hots for a 4wd S-10 that we looked at while shopping for a car for the kids.  It had a cast iron iFour that looked like a tractor engine.     But the interior was all beat to hell.  It would have made a good short haul firewood truck.

I had a buddy back in the late 1970s in Alaska that had a 2wd Toy pickup.  He had a steel rack on it and hauled quite a load of 16' house logs on top    (he died of a sudden heart attack about 10 years ago  )

[Hutch]

I'm considering a 2WD 4 cyl extended cab Frontier as my next truck (not to replace my Silverado but to supplement it). They don't have the um, inflated value of the Tacomas, despite being great trucks on their own right.

Boom', I had an 04 Frontier of the type you describe.  Unburdened, small town commuting, it got 24mpg, consistently.  Wouldn't pull an enclosed trailer up (and down) the Ozarks, so it gave way to a well-used F250.  Was a great little truck.  I think you'll be pleased.

[Balog]

My dad, one brother, and several folks I knew as a younger man had the little 2wd Toyotas they made in the 80's before they had model names. I love those trucks and wish they made a more modern example. The existing ones are expensive, beat to hell, or converted for rock crawling.

[Tallpine]

[Boomhauer]

My dad, one brother, and several folks I knew as a younger man had the little 2wd Toyotas they made in the 80's before they had model names. I love those trucks and wish they made a more modern example. The existing ones are expensive, beat to hell, or converted for rock crawling.

The prices on the '80s Tacomas, even in poor condition, are absolutely ridiculous.

 

[dogmush]

It should be pointed out, that even if they brought what you're talking about here, it likely wouldn't be cheap.

The Colorado is only like $5k less than a full size Chevy, and is pretty much crap.

A base Tacoma is $5k less than a base F150.

That Toyota I posted up there is $33,000 base price!


I'd bet that the real reason we don't have those smaller, tough trucks over here is that for what they'd cost, Americans would just buy a bigger one.  The same reason we don't have the nice compact cars of Europe and Asia.

My first truck was an 82 Datsun, then I went to a '94 Toyota SR5.  Both were 4wd.  I drove both in AK, towing and hauling.  Both were good, capable trucks, that were reliable and ran well.  Neither had ANYTHING like the ride comfort, cabin, or options that appear to be desirable to American buyers these days. and neither got particularly good gas mileage. Assuming that the current 70 series trucks are just as tough and capable as my  SR5 was, and looking at what they cost, and having actually driven one.......I'd buy an F150 FX4 all day long.  They are cool though.  If they could make one with some options for ~$22k it'd be a contender.

[Boomhauer]

It should be pointed out, that even if they brought what you're talking about here, it likely wouldn't be cheap.

The Colorado is only like $5k less than a full size Chevy, and is pretty much crap.

A base Tacoma is $5k less than a base F150.

That Toyota I posted up there is $33,000 base price!


I'd bet that the real reason we don't have those smaller, tough trucks over here is that for what they'd cost, Americans would just buy a bigger one.  The same reason we don't have the nice compact cars of Europe and Asia.

My first truck was an 82 Datsun, then I went to a '94 Toyota SR5.  Both were 4wd.  I drove both in AK, towing and hauling.  Both were good, capable trucks, that were reliable and ran well.  Neither had ANYTHING like the ride comfort, cabin, or options that appear to be desirable to American buyers these days. and neither got particularly good gas mileage. Assuming that the current 70 series trucks are just as tough and capable as my  SR5 was, and looking at what they cost, and having actually driven one.......I'd buy an F150 FX4 all day long.  They are cool though.  If they could make one with some options for ~$22k it'd be a contender.

Plus the advances in the fullsize trucks are rendering the smaller trucks pointless as far as MPG goes. Ford Ecoboost and the Dodge 1500 with the 3.0 diesel, for example. Even the trucks without that are starting to get MPGs up into the 20s.

[Tallpine]

Plus the advances in the fullsize trucks are rendering the smaller trucks pointless as far as MPG goes. Ford Ecoboost and the Dodge 1500 with the 3.0 diesel, for example. Even the trucks without that are starting to get MPGs up into the 20s.

Yeah, that's why I've never gotten too interested in a small/mid-size pickup/SUV.  Still trying to decided between a used Cherokee or another used Suburban/pickup. 

The newer full size seem to be awfully over-sized to me.  I drove a brand new 2008  (two of them, actually - 80 mile ferry each way) and while it was wonderful on the highway, the visibility in town was lacking IMO.  It felt more like driving a semi.  It didn't help that I was scared to death to scratch it.  I have to wonder if it would be able to get in and out where I have been getting firewood.

The 1988-1998 Chevy pickups were almost mid-sized by comparison.  My 1989 is about six inches narrower than my 1976.