So I'm looking at small pickup trucks. Thoughts?

[Smigelski]

I'd like to get a small, 4 cylinder, 5 speed, regular cab pickup for second-car and home ownership duties (among using it for a club to which I belong).

Tops on my list is the Tacoma because it seems to offer everything I would like in a truck, and they actually seem available. I can still find a couple of new 2011 Rangers, but they are asking outrageous prices. Frontiers are a bit tricky; air conditioning is optional, and there's no regular cab version. I prefer the regular cab because I wouldn't need the extra seats, and having a smaller wheelbase truck is better for maneuverability.

The main choices are the Tacoma, Frontier, Ranger, and Colorado. I'd like to stay near-new or new unless it's a killer deal, but like all used cars right, used truck prices are crazy. I'm hoping to spend something in the $15k range, and it seems like there's a couple of Tacomas for that price around me.


EDIT: 4x2 is okay with me. Preferred even. It's less with which to deal.


So what does everyone think?







As an aside, here's the autotrader link for trucks near me:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...64594427&Log=0

[Sporin]

I really like the reg cab Tacoma, base 4x4, 4cyl,5spd, that truck will live forever and cost you peanuts to maintain.

With Toyota's (heck, with most cars lately) there is very little discount in buying slightly used, especially if you can get a great financing rate.

[1Point8TDan]

Aren't there any used Rangers? That would probably be the best bet. I would think the Tacoma would still be the most expensive.

I think the Frontier will have a longer bed compared to a manual Tacoma which only comes with short bed. The rear sliding is a nice feature especially for transporting baseboards. I think the Frontier will have it, but not sure on others. I never driven a 4 cyclinder truck.

[GruuvenNorth]

I had a z71 Colorado ext cab. I loved it, but gas prices forced me to sell it. It would get about 500 city km on a $70 fill up when it was $1.05. Now, gas has gone up to $1.35.

[roadtripper]

that is per liter, hypermilers.

if you can see yourself keeping the truck for a long, long time, get the tacoma.

[Snake Hips]

My little Mazda is a great truck. I've not treated it pleasantly but it's taken 250,000 miles with few hiccups. I have the 4.0-liter 6-cylinder, but I always get 19-21mpg; I can only imagine the 4-bangers are just fine as well. That said, I can't see why the Ranger would be any worse being the same truck, so my personal vote would be the Ranger or it's Japanese cousin.

But those Toyotas are tough sum's bi*ches.

[Bonanza]

Ranger. Design hasn't changed since the 90s... Its Armageddon proof.

[uncle_scott]

Ranger. Design hasn't changed since the 90s... Its Armageddon proof.

Honestly. I just bought a 1993 with 204,000 miles and it runs great. It was well taken care of, inexpensive, and has plenty of power for what I am doing with it. I have had Toyotas and I would have liked getting another one, but they seem overpriced.

[mouseOfMars]

I like the Tacoma a lot...but i just priced up a base model Frontier (2wd King Cab S) in Manual
flavor. Currently there is a $2500 rebate or 0% for 60 mos.



$16,763 + TTL.

Wow. Not bad.

[freedo84gti]

ive driven and worked on rangers and the tacomas, i like how the toyota drives more than the ranger, and the toyota seems to age better rust wise than the rangers, just my personal opinion and observation. and get manual transmission only

[x(why)z]

ive driven and worked on rangers and the tacomas, i like how the toyota drives more than the ranger, and the toyota seems to age better rust wise than the rangers, just my personal opinion and observation. and get manuel only

Link to a deal that comes with Manuel included? I could really use someone to help me around the house, and if they are just throwing him as part of deal, I'd jump right on it. Is this Manuel hispanic, or from Spain? I'd prefer someone from Latin America to be honest. The political situation in Spain right now has me leery of any Spaniards intentions.

[freedo84gti]

Link to a deal that comes with Manuel included? I could really use someone to help me around the house, and if they are just throwing him as part of deal, I'd jump right on it. Is this Manuel hispanic, or from Spain? I'd prefer someone from Latin America to be honest. The political situation in Spain right now has me leery of any Spaniards intentions.

point taken

[Heffernan]

I was doing this same search back in January. I didn't end up buying anything but if I did it woulda been a Taco.

[Señor Peligro]

Can't really go wrong with a Taco.

[roadtripper]

i'm in the market so i just searched every nissan dealer within 50 miles and ebay, and i did not see a single base model frontier available. they are all 25-30K+, with most of them at the high end. that 16,700 number you quote would indeed be an incredible offer, but doesn't include destination and some other 825 nissan wants to add, and i don't know if it's realistic. that rebate is only for dealer stock.

then again, i also did a quick check on tacomas. pricey.

[mookieblaylock]

I like the Tacoma a lot...but i just priced up a base model Frontier (2wd King Cab S) in Manual
flavor. Currently there is a $2500 rebate or 0% for 60 mos.



$16,763 + TTL.

Wow. Not bad.

that is the deal cuz good luck finding a used 4 cyl regular cab taco w/ 5 speed as most all are access cab auto. That being said taco is nicer than ranger, un truck like almost like a car

[justdrive88]

My Dad has had 2 Rangers. 98 4cyl w/5 speed manual. He put 150k+ miles on that thing and the only thing he ever had to fix was a dead starter (or maybe alternator, I don't remember I was a kid). My parents offered to sell it to me cheap when I was in high school. I wish I would have bought from them They ended up trading it in and currently has a v6 with the auto which is just as reliable but has a bit of a drinking problem. Another buddy has a Ranger as well and he hasn't had any problems outside of regular maintainability.

[mouseOfMars]

Edmunds Pricing shows $16,763 including destination (this is for Pittsburgh, PA).

But yeah....locating one may be harder than I thought. According to Edmunds inventory
feature, the closest base model Frontier with a manual for me is in Germantown, MD.

[Mabe]

What about a small trailer? Your Golf can tow more than a Taco can haul.

[adrew]

Don't get a Ranger.

I bought a brand new regular cab XLT 2.3/5-speed in 2010 and it was horrible. It was easy to drive and park and got good mileage (I averaged 24-25 MPG mixed and close to 26-27 on the highway) but it had no power (long grades required 3rd gear on the highway) tons of build issues and warranty claims, several recalls and was just built with loose tolerances and without care.

The whole time I had it I was kicking myself for not spending the extra $1500 on a Tacoma.

Ranger. Design hasn't changed since the 90s... Its Armageddon proof.

Everyone told me that, and I remembered them being awesome. But, to be honest, it felt like they had used all the time to gradually cheapen it out instead of working out the kinks.

[Smigelski]

What about a small trailer? Your Golf can tow more than a Taco can haul.

The Golf has been a great hauler for me, but most likely I'll be selling it/trading it in on a BRZ soon. Besides, the Golf, even with a trailer, isn't t very good at things like 2 cubic yards of mulch.

[Smigelski]

It looks like tonight I'm going to a dealer that has two new base Tacomas (listed at MSRP) and a 2008 Ranger with 28k on the lot (listed for $8,900). All three are 4x2, 5 speed, regular cab, 4 cylinder trucks.

[Sporin]

It looks like tonight I'm going to a dealer that has two new base Tacomas (listed at MSRP) and a 2008 Ranger with 28k on the lot (listed for $8,900). All three are 4x2, 5 speed, regular cab, 4 cylinder trucks.

Having driven most of the trucks in this class, the Ranger just feels crazy old to me. The new Tacomas are tough, last forever, hold their resale better then almost anything, and ride much nicer then an old Ranger does.

[Turbio!]

Having driven most of the trucks in this class, the Ranger just feels crazy old to me. The new Tacomas are tough, last forever, hold their resale better then almost anything, and ride much nicer then an old Ranger does.

And they're cramped as hell, if you're over 6'.

[x_GTI_x]

Id go with the Tacoma or Ranger.

I drove a Ranger XLT for years, it belonged to my Grandfather but he has had multiple surgeries on his hip and knee and his health was slowly getting worse so driving was a hassle/pain for him. I was kind of his personal driver/ errand runner for a while.

I loved that truck, and still see it driving around town once in a while, ive actually considered making the guy that bought it an offer just for sentimental reasons.

the option to swap from 4x2 to full 4x4 was awesome and definitely helped on mileage... 4x4 ripped through snow/mud/dirt with no issues... interior was rugged and stood up to everything we threw at it... decent size bed for hauling/moving bulky items.

I will say the back seats are a bit of a joke for anyone other than a child/SMALL adult though.

The only real problem i remember having was one of the front wheel bearings went out on it.

If i was in the market for a pick-up , personally id go with the ranger again, but that might be unique to me.

[Dr. Woo]

My father was faced with pretty much this exact requirement, and decided after perusing used listings that a new Tacoma was the best choice, considering used small truck prices. The only options he got were the auto transmission and the extended cab.

[Benkennedy11]

For what you're using it for, I don't see why you want to be buying new.

I bought a $500 1990 GMC S15, and it did everything you want your truck to do... and I never felt bad about tossing stuff in the back.

[rice is burning]

A buddy of mine had a worn out Ranger and was looking for a Taco- after about 3 months of looking for a deal, he finally realized that he was better off spending a little more and getting a used 1st gen Tundra. Dunno what his numbers looked like but he is literally the cheapest person that I know and the Tundra looked better for the money.

[Dr. Woo]

For what you're using it for, I don't see why you want to be buying new.

I bought a $500 1990 GMC S15, and it did everything you want your truck to do... and I never felt bad about tossing stuff in the back.

That's probably what I'll end up doing at some point. Maybe when the Focus lease is over, I'll buy a dirt-cheap old pickup and then something else (S2000?) for fair-weather flogging. Maybe by that point AP2s will be cheap enough.

[Roboturner913]

I had a Colorado crew cab, 5-cylinder for several years and really enjoyed it. With some very basic mods (intake and exhaust) I was getting around 280 HP and 305 lb/ft. Plenty of power for towing and shredding rear tires, and it sounded positively evil. I usually got around 21-22 mpg.

I'm not a fan of the Tacoma personally, it's gotten too big and ungainly (and expensive) for a "compact" truck, or midsize, or whatever they're calling it these days. For similar reasons I don't care for the Frontier - far as I know a standard cab is not offered and they are just as expensive as the Toyota.

If it were me this would come down to the Ranger and Colorado. I would highly recommend you at least test drive a Colorado, especially with your needs. They are very underappreciated, IMO.

[Sporin]

A $500 truck is fine if you want a yard beater but most folks want something they can drive around and use as a primary vehicle or second car when needed as well.

[Turbio!]

I'm not a fan of the Tacoma personally, it's gotten too big and ungainly (and expensive) for a "compact" truck, or midsize, or whatever they're calling it these days.

It's really not that much smaller than the Tacoma - and in any case, who has ever said they wished their utility vehicle was more cramped and had less room? And sure, it's expensive - you get what you pay for. Toyota trucks are, with justification, considered to be the most dependable utility vehicles on Earth. I fully expect my 4Runner to require nothing but replacement of common wear items, oil, and gas for the next decade or so. The same is not true of the Ranger or Colorado, and I say that as a GM booster.

[urbancynic]

Get the Tacoma. I've had a couple and loved every one of them.

One had the 4cyl with a 5 speed manual in a prerunner package so it had the 4x4 lift to it. It was a great truck and fuel economy was really good for a truck. I constantly saw mid 20's out of it. It could handle a lot too. Had no issues towing cars or boats around. Maintenance was easy and cheap too.

The other was a V6 prerunner with automatic. Much more power, fuel economy was lower of course, but still very good for a truck. I constantly saw low 20's out of it. It handled everything I threw at it and kept on going. I wish I still had it.

Both mine were the access cab models, so they had the extra cab space, but I wouldn't have minded the regular cab had the dealer had one available when I went looking at them.

My brother has a Ranger - it is slow and thirsty. Quite underpowered too. In regular cab form it is cramped. He constantly wants to trade it in for a Tacoma.

My experience with a Frontier I had was not a good one. Which is why it was traded in 44 days after I purchased it new for a new Tacoma. That was the last gen Frontier though. I'm not sure how the newer ones are holding up.

If I was looking to do a newer truck again I would buy a Tacoma hands down. They just can't be beat and they never quit.

[J.Knipl]

Having a Pickup is beyond awesome. You are going to love it . There is nothing you can't do with one. That said get a Tacoma if you can afford it, great truck and will hold resale value well. Chevy S10 or Ford Ranger are both excellent choices too. One thing I would advise you is to get an extended cab. There is so little inside storage in a standard pickup. Leg room is also an issue. Seats go much further back with extended cab.
Enjoy your new ride

[Smigelski]

For what you're using it for, I don't see why you want to be buying new.

I bought a $500 1990 GMC S15, and it did everything you want your truck to do... and I never felt bad about tossing stuff in the back.

I don't really want a beat pickup truck sitting outside my house that I have to look at every day. I don't mind an old truck, but most of them are beat.

A buddy of mine had a worn out Ranger and was looking for a Taco- after about 3 months of looking for a deal, he finally realized that he was better off spending a little more and getting a used 1st gen Tundra. Dunno what his numbers looked like but he is literally the cheapest person that I know and the Tundra looked better for the money.

I could probably do that, but the small size of the Tacomas and Rangers is what is appealing to me. I don't need a large truck, and it would be more difficult to maneuver.

Having a Pickup is beyond awesome. You are going to love it . There is nothing you can't do with one. That said get a Tacoma if you can afford it, great truck and will hold resale value well. Chevy S10 or Ford Ranger are both excellent choices too. One thing I would advise you is to get an extended cab. There is so little inside storage in a standard pickup. Leg room is also an issue. Seats go much further back with extended cab.
Enjoy your new ride

Thanks! I do appreciate the extra room an extended cab would have, but the Tacoma's adds 18" of wheel base and increases the turning circle from 36 feet to 42 feet. I'd actually give up the space (which I don't really see myself using anyway) for the smaller size.