Good truck for a young guy

Andrew · #1 06-01-2013, 06:39 PM

so Ive been driving for a while now and my little sedan just isnt cutting anymore, and i want to jump up to my first truck. Im a student with a part time job, so im looking for something pretty good on gas, real reliable and affordable enough.

So far, ive had my eyes mostly on:

GMC Canyon/Chev Colorado
Ford Ranger
Mazda B3000
Nissan Frontiers and Toyota Tacomas (But its a stretch that i could afford one)

Does anybody have any experience with these trucks? average gas mileage, reliability? that kind of stuff.

Thanks alot for any help!

Andrew

Bulltrout52 · #2 06-01-2013, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

so Ive been driving for a while now and my little sedan just isnt cutting anymore, and i want to jump up to my first truck. Im a student with a part time job, so im looking for something pretty good on gas, real reliable and affordable enough.

So far, ive had my eyes mostly on:

GMC Canyon/Chev Colorado
Ford Ranger
Mazda B3000
Nissan Frontiers and Toyota Tacomas (But its a stretch that i could afford one)

Does anybody have any experience with these trucks? average gas mileage, reliability? that kind of stuff.

Thanks alot for any help!

Andrew

Id go with the ranger, iv owned a few over the years. great trucks and normally cheap to fix when needed. also got me into some nasty roads to my hunting spot

4thredneck · #3 06-01-2013, 06:41 PM

I have a 2011 Ford Ranger, not very good on gas. Averages less than 20 mpg. Only has 50 thousand kms on it so can't comment on reliability.

CheeseBurger · #4 06-01-2013, 06:44 PM

How about a Dodge Dakota?

pophouseman · #5 06-01-2013, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulltrout52

Id go with the ranger, iv owned a few over the years. great trucks and normally cheap to fix when needed. also got me into some nasty roads to my hunting spot

X2

chadyaz · #6 06-01-2013, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulltrout52

Id go with the ranger, iv owned a few over the years. great trucks and normally cheap to fix when needed. also got me into some nasty roads to my hunting spot

X3

Andrew · #7 06-01-2013, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheeseBurger

How about a Dodge Dakota?

Heard horror stories about the gas mileage, and was born into a GMC/Chev family by the grace of God

Andrew · #8 06-01-2013, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4thredneck

I have a 2011 Ford Ranger, not very good on gas. Averages less than 20 mpg. Only has 50 thousand kms on it so can't comment on reliability.

Averages less than 20mpg in city or all hwighway? cuz 20mpg city would work for me quite well.

Guess another thing i forgot to add is no RWD trucks, which basically means no 4cyls.

walking buffalo · #9 06-01-2013, 07:12 PM

The answer could vary with what you can afford. What price range are you looking at?

BGSH · #10 06-01-2013, 07:18 PM

I had a ford enter they are Greg trucks. I loved my lowered ranger. I had a 95. Loved it bit don't get rwd

lannie · #11 06-01-2013, 07:18 PM

I believe the Tacoma would be the best bet as cost of ownership in the long haul would be lowest. The Mazda or Nissan are better choices than any of the three North American vehicles. The North American models you mention are much less expensive for a reason. They don't hold resale well and need to be replaced more often. Read as many reviews as possible and look at other forums that deal specifically in the markets you are looking into.

megadodge · #12 06-01-2013, 07:19 PM

Stay away from the I-5 in the Canyon/Colorado. Pitiful fuel economy, especially for the minimal power and there have been numerous reliability issues.

CheeseBurger · #13 06-01-2013, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

Heard horror stories about the gas mileage, and was born into a GMC/Chev family by the grace of God

I have a Dakota with the 3.9L V6, it's not bad on gas, mine would be better if I had smaller tires.

Andrew · #14 06-01-2013, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

The answer could vary with what you can afford. What price range are you looking at?

I wouldnt be spending much much more than 10k.

MegaDodge, really hey? cause a I5 was kindof top of my list right now because it seemed to be that perfect balance of power and economy.

honda450 · #15 06-01-2013, 07:57 PM

You interested in a 2008 F350, extended cab, 4 x4. 6.4 liter diesel. 215,000 km's, excellent truck. Little more than 10 though.

Aim Low · #16 06-01-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

I wouldnt be spending much much more than 10k.

MegaDodge, really hey? cause a I5 was kindof top of my list right now because it seemed to be that perfect balance of power and economy.

Last November I just sold my 2008 Colorado Z71 that I bought new. I was happy to see it go. The I5 is an absolute turd. I never had any reliability problems but the mileage was horrible and it was a very weak engine. Right now my 2012 silverado with a 5.3 gets better mileage with only 5,000km. Go full size if you can.

pri · #17 06-01-2013, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGSH

I had a ford enter they are Greg trucks. I loved my lowered ranger. I had a 95. Loved it bit don't get rwd

Update your 'What are you drinking tonight?' thread.

laker1 · #18 06-01-2013, 08:27 PM

I have a 04 canyon crew cab with the 3.5 L, 5 cylinder engine and I like it. I am getting about 22 mpg and it hauls my friends with the fishing boat behind it no problem. Enough power for my my needs. I sometimes wish I had got a full size half ton cause I wish it had more room in the box and the cab.

Jeffsvdub · #19 06-01-2013, 08:33 PM

I would say go for the ranger/Mazda as they are the same truck and vary reliable and as stated cheeper to fix, you'll be happy with one

Andrew · #20 06-01-2013, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laker1

I have a 04 canyon crew cab with the 3.5 L, 5 cylinder engine and I like it. I am getting about 22 mpg and it hauls my friends with the fishing boat behind it no problem. Enough power for my my needs. I sometimes wish I had got a full size half ton cause I wish it had more room in the box and the cab.

Is this going highway or city? How long you been driving it?

bb356 · #21 06-01-2013, 09:27 PM

1991 -1998 1500 chev 1500 4x4 ... solid dependable truck's with decent gas milage and lotsa used part's !!!

TriggerHappyHippy · #22 06-01-2013, 09:44 PM

in my experience I would have to say not a Ranger, unless he is an experienced driver. I have seen a lot of Rangers come to our shop, as they are prone to roll. I myself would never give one to my kid.

TriggerHappyHippy · #23 06-01-2013, 09:46 PM

If i was buying a truck for my little guy, I would say a Dakota??

1bluZebec · #24 06-01-2013, 09:46 PM

The ranger is best by far all around. 2006+ 4.0 fx4 amazing small truck! Most capable offroad and an indestructible drivetrain. Not great on fuel mileage but goes great for only 207hp and 240ft/lb. Reason it hauls is cause the awesome five speed automatic and then the lightest weight of all of the others. I bought a 2009 FX4 Ranger that was 6months old at the time for $21,000 and the only other truck as capable and reliable is the Tacoma which is as good as the ranger in every way except one. PRICE! Why would someone pay $40,000 for a small truck?????? That's nearly double! It's definitely not worth that to me anyway. My 2011 Fx4 f150 was only $36,000 fully loaded with 38,000km. Ranger! Ranger!

winger7mm · #25 06-01-2013, 10:09 PM

IMO if you are into little trucks. Find yourself a nissan kingcab say about 1991-1995 with the 3L V6. I cant think of the package name off the top but there is a model that comes factory with 31X10.50 tires, thats the one you want. Great trucks excellent fuel economy, easy to fix and that baby will get you into places youll need a quad to pull you out if you get stuck! Been there done that. I would have one now but the wife is..... well long story short, poor mechanics and poor body work turned her off. BUT when shes outta school and working full time, I do have a guy im going to approach to see if he wants to sell his kingcab lol.

Anyways If you like the smaller trucks go with a nissan! yotas are okay but unless you NEED the solid axle, nissan gets my vote hands down. Stay away from the newer stuff. Fuel economy doesnt change much but ease of finding parts and being able to work on it does.

4thredneck · #26 06-02-2013, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1bluZebec

The ranger is best by far all around. 2006+ 4.0 fx4 amazing small truck! Most capable offroad and an indestructible drivetrain. Not great on fuel mileage but goes great for only 207hp and 240ft/lb. Reason it hauls is cause the awesome five speed automatic and then the lightest weight of all of the others. I bought a 2009 FX4 Ranger that was 6months old at the time for $21,000 and the only other truck as capable and reliable is the Tacoma which is as good as the ranger in every way except one. PRICE! Why would someone pay $40,000 for a small truck?????? That's nearly double! It's definitely not worth that to me anyway. My 2011 Fx4 f150 was only $36,000 fully loaded with 38,000km. Ranger! Ranger!

I paid under $21000 for my 2011 Ranger brand new! Not loaded but it was brand new.

Aim Low · #27 06-02-2013, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

Is this going highway or city? How long you been driving it?

To add to my previous comment, the best I ever got was 20mpg from the thing. The fact that I was running 31x10.5 R15 BFG All terrains likely didn't help.

I have a very mild driving style (most of the time), long slow stops, don't speed...only had 36,000km on the thing before traded it in. It didn't hold it's value very well either. I baby the hell out of my pickups as well too. It still had the plastic on the floor under the mats when I sold it.

During the time that I owned it I had numerous small issues with interior trim, rattles, HVAC system...etc. I had a "feeling" that something major was going to go on it within the next two years. One of the reasons why I dumped it.

Buy a ranger they are cheap, reliable and easy to find parts for at any wrecker.

dekker59 · #28 06-02-2013, 08:01 AM

Had a 98 ranger 3.0L 4x4 for several years, thing was great. Only problem ever was when the vacuum seal for the front hubs went, but it was an easy fix. Have a 04 chev 1500, and while it seems more finicky I pretty much get the same mileage (11-12l/100km in ranger, vs 12-13L/100km in chevy hwy, city is +1-2 on each)

Looking a trucks now I was thinking of going back to a 1/4ton or smaller sized truck, but it just seem for the $$ you're not getting much better mileage, and you get alot less truck.

Wild&Free · #29 06-02-2013, 10:11 AM

Buddy owns a '09 Ranger with a v6, 5 speed auto and gets the same mileage I do out of my 5.3l, v8, 3 speed Avalanche. My ex owned a 4 cylinder Colorado, 5 speed manual. It hauled her M6 up into the mountains without much issue (air bags are required) and got decent mileage.

I'd go with a full sized truck though. The extra fuel costs are less of a concern to me considering it does everything I want and need it to do.

fletcher · #30 06-02-2013, 11:48 AM

i would go by the year and mileage and condition and safety check. many years i was similar financial influence over what i wanted i think you will do better buying the best for the money than looking for certain models i bet you will buy what comes up unless you wait for a crappier deal on what you want