Posted: 3/29/2013 5:55:12 PM EDT
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Can any mechanics out there recommend a dependable used pick up? Half ton most likely. I really do not need a one ton. If the price was right a 3/4 ton would be okay. I would hate if this devolves into a brand A verses brand B thread. So if you are gonna do that please at least list why. And not only "cause brand x sux". I see this all the time in other places.
I would like someone with real world experiance with them. Brand loyal I am not. I have a decent on now. But it is beat to shit. Dented, high miles. Crushed rear bumper. Carpet is thread bare. I will not be getting rid of it anytime soon. Its just that I would not trust it for a state to state trip. It gets me back and forth to work and hauls me day to day. But I would not want to try and take it to Fla. I am thinking maybe another Toyota. But I don't care. As long as it runs and runs. I have to have a full size. Kids. Any advice would be good. I don't know if I want to try a diesel. I don't really tow. A diesel may be over kill. I don't know if I trust Consumer Reports and all the others. The Chevy Avalanche always gets high ratings. Still over all Chevy did not do so well. According to Consumer Reports. See what I mean? |
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Interested as well as I'm shopping around myself. I'm actually considering a Ford work van. There's a lot by me with a pretty big selection. I always thought four by four vans were pretty nice. Yeah that would be sweet. The place I stopped at had a large selection and can outfit them anyway you want (roof racks, interior tool boxes, etc). |
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Look for a private sale. That way you can check out the condition before a dealer's detail people get a hold of it. Preferably it would be one owner, an older person, and could either provide service records or tell you where they have it serviced so you can check it out.
I would say no more than 50,000 miles on it. Vehicles tend to last longer now than 20 years ago so 50,000 miles is less than half the vehicle life. Do not buy a vehicle that was made the first year they started using a new engine, transmission or the first year of a re-design. The first year they are still working problems out of them. Don't get any vehicle with any major modifications on it. You don't know if the modifications were done correctly or not. I have found that a stock vehicle is more reliable. Get a mechanic you trust to look it over and take it to a body shop too. Look for excessive or uneven tire wear. look for excessive wear on the driver's seat area. that will tell you if it was entered and exited a lot such as in a sales or delivery job. Otherwise it is pretty much just driving it and being aware of anything that doesn't seem right. |
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#1: Newest Toyota you can afford, great reliability, lots of product support in the aftermarket and dealer levels, and is one of the most capable stock vehicles around.
#2: 99-03 Chevy 1500. Tough, easy to work on, lots of them out there. #2: 04+ Ford 150. Cheap, easy to find, lots of support. #4: 99-02 Dodge 2500. It may look like shit, but will run forever, tow most anything, and is very easy to work on. #5: 1996-02 Ford F250, million of them out there, lots of parts, few quirks but will run great as long as you change the oil every 3-5k miles. I am not just some internet commando here, 10 years as a heavy equipment mechanic, 4 years as a fleet leadworker / Fire Equipment Mechanic. |
the 1996-1998 Chevy and GMC were the best trucks GM made. Much better then the shit they make today. solid 350 Vortec and nice interior that lasts. Last year I picked up a 1997 Sierra with 70,000 miles for $7,000 that is mint inside and out. Here is a picture but I added a Leer topper so I can lock up my gun stuff. I love it! My 1997 Tahow had 300,000 and was atill running great but sold it to get the bed on the Sierra.
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Pretty pleased with my 13 year old Tundra. Can't go wrong with an F150 either. Avoid any Fords if it's got a mid 2000s 5.4 V8 3V engine. avoid those unless you enjoy spending money on either specialty tools or shop labor. I say this as a Ford guy from a Ford family. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Pretty pleased with my 13 year old Tundra. Can't go wrong with an F150 either. Avoid any Fords if it's got a mid 2000s 5.4 V8 3V engine. avoid those unless you enjoy spending money on either specialty tools or shop labor. I say this as a Ford guy from a Ford family. Other than the special tool to remove broken spark plugs (which is like 70 dollars) what special tools do you need to wrench on the engine (and how much wrenching does the engine really need in the first place?) I just haven't seen anything that egregious or troublesome on my 07 F150. |
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Toyota or Nissan. I'm driving a Nissan Titan, and love it.
formerly an American truck guy, mostly dodge. just sold a chevy diesel. after the auto bailout I promised myself that I would never buy another American vehicle as long as I live. Detroit's motto: "you wouldn't buy our shitty vehicles, but we took your money anyway". taxpayers didn't have to prop up Toyota or Nissan. nuff said. |
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toyota. not too many issues with them like ford and chevys. Toyota full size trucks are junk........ 
Ford full size trucks are junk..... Gm full size trucks are junk..... Dodge full size trucks are junk..... Nissan full size trucks are junk..... Anyhow OP, were you looking for a true four door cab, or just an extended type cab? How big are your kids? Do you need a full size bed? How many miles do you put on a year? What kind of budget do you have to work with? |
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The Tundra is a great truck. My dad has a 2003. It's pushing 300k miles without a hiccup mechanically. His has a 4.7 I-force V8 and 4x4. I have a 2008 Tundra double cab with the 5.7 i-force and 4x4. It has 163k on the odo and seems to be doing extremely well. I bought it used so we'll see what kind of longevity I get out of it once all is said and done.
The truck is super roomy and extremely comfortable to drive in all kinds of traffic from interstate 75+ mph to city driving. I'm averaging between 14.5-16 mpg with a lot of town driving and short commutes. If you don't need room for 6 then get the captain seats, and I would recommend cloth seats not the vinyl/leather. The center console has tons of room and overall the truck has more storage than I could really ever use, although I am trying. Unless you tow a large boat or large camper you'll never max out the tow capacity on the truck either. |
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Toyota or Nissan. I'm driving a Nissan Titan, and love it. formerly an American truck guy, mostly dodge. just sold a chevy diesel. after the auto bailout I promised myself that I would never buy another American vehicle as long as I live. Detroit's motto: "you wouldn't buy our shitty vehicles, but we took your money anyway". taxpayers didn't have to prop up Toyota or Nissan. nuff said. Ford didnt take a bail out. Which is why after almost 35 yrs of GM loyalty, I switched to Honda and Ford. I want no part of Govt Motors. The earlier Toyota full size trucks sucked. Mainly bc they put a full size body on the mid size frame. I think the newer ones are ok but I would still buy a Ford F150 over it. |
