I'm in the market for a used truck. This will also be my daily driver, but will be used fairly frequently for hauling lumber and other basic homeowner tasks.

Musts:
Crew cab (4 door)
V6 (would consider a V8 if it got good mileage)
Don't want smaller trucks like S10, base tacoma's, etc.
Reliable (daily driver)

I'm not opposed to something around a 2006-2008 with ~100K miles...I'll drive this for a few years then trade/sell for a newer one I'm hoping.

My dream truck is a newish Tacoma, but they're so freaking expensive. If you had $17k, what truck would you be looking at?

6/22/2014 3:41:05 PM

the V8 models will get as good as or better MPG than the V6 models. the only difference is the V8 will be better for towing.

in other words, stay away from the V6 models, except maybe the tacoma.

but i would go full size. i got a 2006 sierra extended cab for $15k a couple years ago. i think it had about 110k on it then. they're solid trucks and easy to maintain.

6/22/2014 4:40:42 PM

What kinda mileage you getting with that?

6/22/2014 4:42:32 PM

17 mixed

[Edited on June 22, 2014 at 4:59 PM. Reason : but that's a 4x4. my dad had a crew cab 2wd and got nearly 20 mpg]

[Edited on June 22, 2014 at 5:00 PM. Reason : i can do about 20 on the highway]

i had a 1998 dakota 4x4 with a V6. got 16 no matter what. wouldn't pull the proverbial greasy string from the cat's anus.

[Edited on June 22, 2014 at 5:01 PM. Reason : dfsa]

6/22/2014 4:59:07 PM

Obviously I'm partial as I drive a 4DR Tacoma but it's still what I would suggest.

Also I will agree with NRR about a LS motor GM trucks, hard to go wrong with them.

6/22/2014 6:36:35 PM

Whatchya'll think about this guy? CLEANNNN lookin 2005 Z71.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/4518443258.html

6/22/2014 7:05:26 PM

Doesn't want small trucks like S10s or tacomas....


Only posts about Colorados and Tacomas....

6/22/2014 7:34:16 PM

06+ f250 PSD
avoid lower mileage 03-early 05

6/22/2014 9:18:04 PM

fuck a colorado

6/22/2014 11:54:48 PM

We have colorados in our work truck fleet and I know I am fairly vocal that I don't like Chevys but.....

Even trying to reduce that natural anti-Chevy.... I'd rather drive a 10 year old s-10 then the Colorado.

They accelerate like shit
They brake like shit
Steering... Shit...

This is from a guy who regularly drives classics.

Now I can only speek for the i5 trucks but wiki says the 5.3 ls motor is availible and I'm thinking it's in some special sport truck or something but having in ls in our truck frightens me. The thing wanders more than my thunderbird with a 57 year old steering box and the particular truck in question was just aligned at fleet services... It sucked going in and sucked coming out. I thought maybe they don't know what they'redoing but it's one of the big fancy digital setups thay I think you'd have to try to fuck up but to be honest I have no idea what it takes to use.

Maybe it's a lemon or something but I watched that "tuned" episode with the turbo Colorado and kinda wanted one.... Until I started driving this pos to Zebulon once a week.

[Edited on June 23, 2014 at 5:54 AM. Reason : .]

6/23/2014 5:49:17 AM

the newest gm 1500 model you can afford.

6/23/2014 6:40:11 AM

I'm going to agree with that.

Chevy 1500 with 5.3. I don't know how much the 4wds might hurt mileage, but my 2wd work trucks could knock down 20 mpg when driven fairly conservatively.

6/23/2014 8:21:02 AM

i also owned a Colorado and also hated it

6/23/2014 8:46:38 AM

my 2008 silverado 4x4 gets 20mpg highway, probably 18+mpg usually when including city driving. it's the 5.3 v8.

6/23/2014 2:58:17 PM

^same here, but mine was a 2010 and had that system that cut out 4 cylinders when not needed.

I also have a 2007 colorado, manual, 4 banger that also gets 20 mpg.

[Edited on June 23, 2014 at 3:07 PM. Reason : .]

6/23/2014 3:06:52 PM

I come across sub $10K 2007-2008 model Silverado trucks sometimes... I am sure with 17 grand you would have no problem.

6/24/2014 2:15:12 PM

I really appreciate the feedback guys.

When I said I didnt want something small like an S10 or base Tacoma, I meant these:






Dont exactly want a huge truck either. I wasnt aware the Colorado's were so shitty. I'll add the 1500 to my list. Just wanted to make sure they were reliable. I've always heard bad things about both Chevy's and Fords. Been looking mainly at the Tacoma and Frontier.

What's the difference between the Colorado, Silverado, Sierra?

[Edited on June 24, 2014 at 3:40 PM. Reason : .]

6/24/2014 3:39:30 PM

my brothers late model Ford Ranger was a lot more comfortable than my Colorado and felt quicker and the transmission shifted a lot smoother and with more confidence. if i could go back in time i would have bought a ranger over the Colorado.

6/24/2014 3:56:41 PM

the colorado is what replaced the S10. it's not a full size pickup.

the silverado and sierra are the same thing. silverado = chevy. sierra = GMC. they are full size pickups.

Quote :

"I've always heard bad things about both Chevy's and Fords"

that's just because every dickhead with a chevy talks shit about fords and every ford-driving ricky talks shit about chevys. both companies have made junk. both companies have made good vehicles. the GM 1500 and the F150 are both good trucks. the GMs seem to be better bang for the buck, imo.

[Edited on June 24, 2014 at 6:42 PM. Reason : dafs]

6/24/2014 6:40:47 PM

I don't hate the colorado, but for the gas mileage sucks compared to a 1500 since it's such a smaller truck and yet you still get the same mileage. The ride was a bit rough; it did replace the S10 and is quite a bit larger than the S10 as well. I enjoyed my 2 colorados, with one now at 233,xxx miles, as you've seen. Not a great truck, but not the worst I'd imagine. Sierra & silverados are nearly equivalent, the biggest differences being some different styling, sometimes more options on the sierras, and I've heard (not confirmed) a smoother suspension on the sierras. I think sierras are typically a bit more expensive.

6/24/2014 6:53:45 PM

rangers are tiny and severely overpriced for what they are

6/24/2014 7:18:32 PM

I'm telling ya, those yotas and shit look cute and promising

Until you go to buy an ECSB 4x4 taco and learn that they are the same if not more cost than a 1500 of any of the big 3 and get the same (or worse) fuel economy.

Quote :

"that's just because every dickhead with a chevy talks shit about fords and every ford-driving ricky talks shit about chevys. both companies have made junk. both companies have made good vehicles. the GM 1500 and the F150 are both good trucks. the GMs seem to be better bang for the buck, imo."

This about sums it up. But, if you're a real dick swinging man - you'd pony up for some Mopar and tell everyone else to

6/25/2014 7:07:16 AM

I was never a chevy fanboy whatsoever, but that is what my company owns so ive spent a lot of seat time over the past few years in 1500 silverados. my previous '07 had 200k with absolutely nothing done to it other than maintenance. Overall our fleet is dead nuts reliable and it really opened my eyes to how long these trucks last. If you asked me that 7 years ago i would have said toyota all the way.

I guess it boils down to what you want. If you want a smaller truck there is nothing wrong with what that you posted, but they probably wont be much(any) more reliable than anything else, and wont get any more MPG, but will have size limitations.

6/25/2014 7:50:09 AM

I'm selling two of my cars (2001 Camry and a 2003 325i) and will put that towards my truck purchase. Probably gonna get about $5-6K total from both. Everything else will need to be financed. So, I would ideally love to be as cheap as possible, but since this is a daily driver, I dont want to buy an old shitbox either. $17K was just my upper limit I set for myself.

I think I've decided on a GM...just gotta find a good one now haha. I honestly prefer the looks of the 1500's compared to any other truck that's not a Toyota.

6/25/2014 10:44:30 AM

updates?

6/26/2014 4:03:18 PM

I had chicken wings for lunch.

6/26/2014 5:25:11 PM

haha as I was reading this thread I was thinking
"god damn I thought Colorados were terrible..."


http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/4529651053.html
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/4487851530.html
http://greensboro.craigslist.org/cto/4512578398.html

seems like all the 1500's at that price range have 120k+ miles

6/26/2014 8:15:15 PM

there's a reason those nissans are so much cheaper when they have comparable age and miles....

6/26/2014 8:21:10 PM

Are the Nissan's really shitty in comparison?

I'm kinda leaning towards the Tacoma again since I've just had my heart set on one for the last few years, but probably gonna just get a 2005-2006 model with 110-120K miles on it in the $14K range. Seems like it'd still be a good daily driver and have plenty of life left in it.

[Edited on June 26, 2014 at 9:14 PM. Reason : .]

6/26/2014 9:13:59 PM

^^because they're not big, cavernous, 1/2 ton trucks with huge towing capabilities?

http://www.edmunds.com/nissan/frontier/2008/consumer-reviews.html
http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/silverado-1500/2008/consumer-reviews.html
don't pay attention to the stars, read the reviews.

Quote :

"hauling lumber and other basic homeowner tasks"

[Edited on June 26, 2014 at 9:35 PM. Reason : ]

6/26/2014 9:29:43 PM

the 1999-2006 generation of GM pickups is not that much bigger than the newest nissan frontiers. they're definitely not big enough to cause issues in parking lots or anything like that. they are certainly more capable. and there are chevys/GMs out there that meet his criteria, including price.

the newest gen of GMs is too fucking big for a half ton, imo

[Edited on June 26, 2014 at 10:56 PM. Reason : adfs]

6/26/2014 10:55:58 PM

I've had a 2000 ext cab z71 1500, 2003 ext cab z71 and 2012 crew cab SLT z71. All had 5.3 which have been improved over time. Good trucks. I also had a 2005 Dodge 1500 4x4 quad cab. I liked the exterior and motor of that truck the best. Interior the least.

I don't think you'll really go wrong with any of the trucks mentioned (except the Nissan). My dad bought a frontier for around the house stuff. I borrowed it a couple of weekends and hated it.

He's now looking for a crew cab long bed Tacoma. I test drove one for him and it rode like a crew cab 3/4 ton from the 90s. So much frame bounce. But they hold their value. You can get a much newer Tundra for the same money.

If you're most concerned about fuel economy get a Silverado/Sierra. Resale value Tacoma. Most truck for the money Tundra.

But since you originally asked what I would look at, probably an older duramax. I think they are most car like of the current diesel trucks. The new body style just came out so you can maybe find a deal.


Oh I also have a 2000 4.3l v6 standard cab long bed Silverado that I forgot about. So far it's been a dead reliable shop truck. Not enough power though.

[Edited on June 26, 2014 at 11:37 PM. Reason : 4.3l truck]

6/26/2014 11:32:02 PM

if you're talking a '98-04 era Frontier (both 4 and 6 cylinder), I'd agree. I owned a '00 4 cylinder Frontier and it couldn't run away from a Prius

I'd imagine the 4.0L 265hp '05-and-up models are better by leaps and bounds

6/26/2014 11:57:09 PM