Small Trucks?
Posted: 08 Mar 2019 23:52
So somebody killed the Buick land yacht I've been driving for most of the past couple decades.
I've been thinking about getting a truck but most of the standard ones are a bit large for apartment living, not to mention not exactly what I'd call affordable if you want 4 seats and something besides a 4 cylinder lawnmower engine... (Base price $25K, add six or eight cylinder engine $35K, add 4 seats $40K, add 4 doors $45K, add $700 extended range tank (OOPS requires additional options!) $50K....)
I don't need 4WD and the extra 5K or so in cost plus the lower gas mileage and the potential for added maintenance isn't exactly calling my name. I do want 4 doors and it would be nice to have decent gas mileage since this will be an everyday driver and my work commute is stupidly lengthy.
As for small trucks...
Ford has finally brought the Ranger back. Half the reviewers must be getting paid to say it's great while the other half must be paid by Chevy or Toyota. Apparently its got a 'new frame' for the U.S. market. It uses the 10 speed transmission Ford's been putting in most everything recently and the 4 cylinder engine out of the Mustang with a different tune but the same Aussie designed body that's been running around everywhere but the U.S. for the past 5 years. They are just starting to market them after dribbling them out since around January 1st. The local dealer had a total of 5 on the lot when I looked all of them in the most basic of trims and without much of anything in the way of options like a simple trailer hitch. They are new enough that options like a trailer hitch or bed cover are extremely limited on the secondary market although I expect that will pick up fast. Requires a spray in bedliner preferably aftermarket.
Chevy has been selling the Colorado/Canyon for the last 4 or 5 years seems like. I have to admit I was thinking about one of these until I sat in one and test drove it. It didn't call to me. For some reason the local Chevy dealer seems to put drop in bedliners in EVERYTHING.
Toyota has been selling Tacomas to everyone who has managed to wear out the seats in their old ones and decided it was worth buying another one since after 200000 to 400000 miles the old one is still going. The reviewers mostly like the truck buy pan the cockpit layout, the 'infotainment system', the lack of power front seats and sometimes the six speed gearbox and the fact that it rides like a truck. Comes with a composite bed which can apparently be replaced pretty easily.
The Nissan Frontier is still out there although the reviewers are mostly panning it as outdated since it hasn't been 'updated' inside or out in quite some time.
Then there's the Honda Ridgeline. Not exactly a truck but more of a car with a bucket on the back with a hidden ice chest that apparently doubles as a trunk under the bed and behind the double action tail gate. It rides like a car, is built like a car and mostly gets about the same gas mileage as the other mini trucks.
Other than the fact that I think the local Ford dealership royally torqued me off by trying out their 'standard deal' on me as if they thought I was either 'simple' or had dementia or was desperate and would take the first offer no matter how lame I haven't really made much headway looking in the past week.
Anybody have opinions?
I've been thinking about getting a truck but most of the standard ones are a bit large for apartment living, not to mention not exactly what I'd call affordable if you want 4 seats and something besides a 4 cylinder lawnmower engine... (Base price $25K, add six or eight cylinder engine $35K, add 4 seats $40K, add 4 doors $45K, add $700 extended range tank (OOPS requires additional options!) $50K....)
I don't need 4WD and the extra 5K or so in cost plus the lower gas mileage and the potential for added maintenance isn't exactly calling my name. I do want 4 doors and it would be nice to have decent gas mileage since this will be an everyday driver and my work commute is stupidly lengthy.
As for small trucks...
Ford has finally brought the Ranger back. Half the reviewers must be getting paid to say it's great while the other half must be paid by Chevy or Toyota. Apparently its got a 'new frame' for the U.S. market. It uses the 10 speed transmission Ford's been putting in most everything recently and the 4 cylinder engine out of the Mustang with a different tune but the same Aussie designed body that's been running around everywhere but the U.S. for the past 5 years. They are just starting to market them after dribbling them out since around January 1st. The local dealer had a total of 5 on the lot when I looked all of them in the most basic of trims and without much of anything in the way of options like a simple trailer hitch. They are new enough that options like a trailer hitch or bed cover are extremely limited on the secondary market although I expect that will pick up fast. Requires a spray in bedliner preferably aftermarket.
Chevy has been selling the Colorado/Canyon for the last 4 or 5 years seems like. I have to admit I was thinking about one of these until I sat in one and test drove it. It didn't call to me. For some reason the local Chevy dealer seems to put drop in bedliners in EVERYTHING.
Toyota has been selling Tacomas to everyone who has managed to wear out the seats in their old ones and decided it was worth buying another one since after 200000 to 400000 miles the old one is still going. The reviewers mostly like the truck buy pan the cockpit layout, the 'infotainment system', the lack of power front seats and sometimes the six speed gearbox and the fact that it rides like a truck. Comes with a composite bed which can apparently be replaced pretty easily.
The Nissan Frontier is still out there although the reviewers are mostly panning it as outdated since it hasn't been 'updated' inside or out in quite some time.
Then there's the Honda Ridgeline. Not exactly a truck but more of a car with a bucket on the back with a hidden ice chest that apparently doubles as a trunk under the bed and behind the double action tail gate. It rides like a car, is built like a car and mostly gets about the same gas mileage as the other mini trucks.
Other than the fact that I think the local Ford dealership royally torqued me off by trying out their 'standard deal' on me as if they thought I was either 'simple' or had dementia or was desperate and would take the first offer no matter how lame I haven't really made much headway looking in the past week.
Anybody have opinions?