So since the cav is on it's last leg, I've recently been looking at small trucks. My requirements:
Must be extended or super-cab.
Must be V-6
Must be 4x4
The main one's I've been looking at are S-10, Ranger, and Dakota. Does anyone have a comparison between the three? Any additional suggestions?
I love the Bravada.
Only problems ever were the fuel pump went out and a bad brake line.
Ranger.
my dads s10 once it hit 120,000 miles was going through front wheel bearings like they were candy in a daycare. i seemed like it was a constant battle with that truck.
Dakota will get crappy economy for a midsize truck. My brother inlaw get slightly better economy out of his Ram than he did with his Dakota (it was a V8 but the v6 is known to be a slug in them). If I had to choose I would go with a S-10. the 4.3 is a damn good engine, transmissions are decent (NVG 3500 is a very good trans), and if properly maintained (including using quality parts) will be on the road for a long time.
I am slighlty biased as I have a 96 K1500 with a 4.3 and NVG 3500.
I had a 1999 4.0L 4x4 ranger with a 5 speed and I was only getting 18 miles a gallon on the highway. Bought a 1/2 ton gmc sierra with a 327ci (5.3) and I get 20-22 miles a gallon and its twice the truck.
Quote:
I am slighlty biased as I have a 96 K1500 with a 4.3 and NVG 3500.
i Have a 96 C1500, not sure if its the same trans or not. Very solid truck for the abuse I have put it through. 160K and its still running decent
I bought a Blazer with a misfire (4.3L) that has 250K on it. Everything is working fine otherwise. It had a trans rebuild at like 225K (the guy did the U-Joints and T-Case at the same time). I still havent figured out the misfire (cause its not a simple problem apparently, and I dont NEED the truck yet so I havent spent more than say 2 hours looking for the problem).
IDK If ford puts the 4.0 in rangers (as the 3.0 is terribly powerless), but also I have had 2 4.0OHC motors blow up on me (my family really).
Out of what you have been looking at I would say S10 hands down.
However, my GF just got through looking for a truck (lol ended up with an F250 Superduty 7.3L turbodiesel: I kinda pushed for it though
) We were able to find a few Canyon/Colorados that were just slightly higher in price than S10's. I know theyre not v-6's, but I would prefer one of those over an S10.
"A car just isn't a car without a little blood, sweat, and beers." -- Shadowfire
I've been looking at this one:
http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/1761974570.html
Seems a bit pricey though, and the tint would need to be removed because it's very, very illegal, lol.
Edit: Here's an even cheaper one. Not the supercab, but extended works too.
Link
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Wednesday, June 23, 2010 7:50 AM
if either one of those trucks is the 4.3 do it
z yaaaa wrote:other than the nasty hood dent, steelies, 4X4 ride heidt, crooked front license plate, body color b pillar covers, 2200, lack of tint, and overall boringness of the car id say she's perfect!
As far as I know all T trucks came with a V6.
i miss my dakota. it had a 318 and 5 speed, and damn it was so fun to drive. easily the best vehicle i've ever had the pleasure of owning. gas mileage was subpar (15-18), but that thing got up and took off in no time.
obviously i vote dakota.
Check out my build thread!
I love my Trailblazer... gas mileage is something a little less desirable tho..
Out of the3 listed I'd say s10.
For a small truck I'd opt for a tacoma they are more expensive but are the best small trucks IMO
On the other hand a 99+ extended cab z71 get about the same mileage, has more room, more power, can tow more, haul more, etc, for about the same money and would be my choice over any small truck.
tacoma they are more expensive but are the best small trucks IMO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INujD8kuc5s
1 Ask your self are you going to to do any heavy towing?
2 How many miles do you put a year on it?
3 If you could lease for a vey low monthly payment would you?
i check on leasecompare.com if you put down 2100 and lease for 6 years you can get a 23000 dollar compact truck for 296 a month
I think mfger want to push 1500s more then compacts you can probaly 4x4 work truck for 374 a month with 2100 down
4 can you live with a regular cab? regular cabs are less popular so if wait till the end of the year and dont care what color you will be able to save money
Truck are trucks so they get abused, a used one might be to beat to want to use it as a daily Driver.
i bought my ranger with 65,000 miles at a payment of 202.00 a month. its a 4.0l extended cab 4:10 limited 4x4 check link
pictures
carnivorous mouse wrote:tacoma they are more expensive but are the best small trucks IMO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INujD8kuc5s
1 Ask your self are you going to to do any heavy towing?
Nope. Just hauling around stuff like bricks, quads, etc.
2 How many miles do you put a year on it?
It'll be a DD. So probably about 20K~ a year
3 If you could lease for a vey low monthly payment would you?
Nope.
4 can you live with a regular cab? regular cabs are less popular so if wait till the end of the year and dont care what color you will be able to save money
As a last resort, yeah. My primary reason for wanting an extended cab is so I can install my system in the back. Can't live without the boom boom. 
Truck are trucks so they get abused, a used one might be to beat to want to use it as a daily Driver.
Thanks for the input this is a lot of good info to think about.
From the experience I have with trucks I would say:
Ranger 4.0 (former work truck for a construction company) -
-very torquey engine
-can be continuously punished, left idling for extended periods (like 4 hours or more), run low on oil, extended oil changes (one oil change went for 31,000miles as we could get the truck off the road and into the shop... hah!), driven at high rpms (4500+) pulling a load for more than 4 hours and literally not coming under 4500rpms for the entire time, and keeps coming back for more with little to no required matainance
-not very good on fuel as Matt mentioned
S10 4.3
-pretty reliable
-comfortable ride for a truck
-alright on fuel
-motor is torquey
Toyota Tacoma V6 (father owned one)
-motor is very torquey
-Toyota reliability
-Toyota resale
-alright on fuel
-ride is alright, it is very truck-like to say the least
-excellent offroad capabilities
My choices would be
1. Toyota Tacoma
2. Toss up between the Ranger and S10. Would depend on what I planned on doing with the truck, e.g. Offroading, street truck, etc
my dad's 99 s10 zr2 actually got worse milage than his 5.4l f150. trucks and fuel economy should not be in the same sentence. either you need a truck so you deal with the milage or if you want a commuter, then you should be getting a car. with my ranger i pull about 18 mpgs. the same as an f150 with a v8. by all means if you go the ranger route stay away from the 3.0 l and always check for the 4:10 gears. because they can be doggy with the smaller engines and gear.
A lot of things factor into economy.
My 96 K1500 used to pull 22 on the highway. Now its around 19 highway. If im lucky I can pull off 16 city, but I really only drive it in the winter now so that doesnt help much.
carnivorous mouse wrote:if you put down 2100 and lease for 6 years you can get a 23000 dollar compact truck for 296 a month
did you happen to do the math on any of that?
$296 x 72 months = $21,312
$2100 down + $21,312 = $23,412
So you're paying the cost of the truck in a lease, with nothing to show for it. ya makes sense to me
/sarcasm
I'm not expecting to get the same gas mileage that my cav gets. Just decent.
Looking around at some of the s10 forums has gotten the modding bug in me already, and I dont even own one yet. I'm in the middle of fixing a bunch of @!#$ with the cavalier, and preparing for a turbo miata build. This will not bode well for my wallet...
RuggedZ wrote:i miss my dakota. it had a 318 and 5 speed, and damn it was so fun to drive. easily the best vehicle i've ever had the pleasure of owning. gas mileage was subpar (15-18), but that thing got up and took off in no time.
obviously i vote dakota.
I miss my first gen Dak. I beat the piss out of it and she kept on running. Only got 14 mpg at best. But it was straight piped with no cats.
If I ever do buy another Dakota. It'll be a 318 5 speed.
Man i had a 1995 dodge Dakota had 250,000 miles on it got it up to 275,000 before i sold her the only thing i ever had to do was replace the radiator and that because i was a dumb ass and ramped some railroad tracks i wish all the time i had held onto it one of the best riding trucks ive ever driven.
Corey Piper wrote:Man i had a 1995 dodge Dakota had 250,000 miles on it got it up to 275,000 before i sold her the only thing i ever had to do was replace the radiator and that because i was a dumb ass and ramped some railroad tracks i wish all the time i had held onto it one of the best riding trucks ive ever driven.
LOL. Ramping RR tracks... Win.
