Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: recurve shooter on May 30, 2011, 01:26:45 am
-
hey guys. I graduated highschool a month or so ago and collage is comeing up soon. been driveing my pawpaw's truck for a year or to, but its time to buy my own ride. dont have much to spend so its gota be old and cheap, like 5 grand and under kinda cheap. i wanted an old toyota tacoma 4x4, but they seem to be kinda hard to find and a little expensive for being so old. also thought maby a ranger or s10 4x4, maby a dodge dakota if they make thim in 4 wheel drive, heck even an old isuzu trooper, i think they come in 4 wheel. i guess you can see basicly what i want, small and 4x4, so i can get decent milage and still get where i need to get (ok fine probably just cuz mud is fun). is what have you guys owned in the past, what would you expect to pay for such things these days, and what do yall recomend or advise against? thanks guys!!
-
I'm a Jeep Cherokee guy myself. Mine gets 20-22 mpg and is a blast to drive, on road or off. They're easy to work on, parts are cheap and readily available, and there's tons of aftermarket support if you want to make modifications. The Jeep 4.0 liter straight six is an excellent engine. Many people get 300,000 miles out of em. Mine has 170,000 miles on it and runs like a top. For what you have to spend you should be able to find one in very good condition and still have money to fix it up.
-
I'm with Stretch, I drive a 96 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 when I'm hunting. Mine's also in the 170k odometer range, but i t doesn't get that good a mileage, about 17mpg most of the time. You have to work at it to get it stuck and I keep a luggage carrier on the hitch receiver all the time I'm hunting to have a place for critters. On most hog hunts lately it's been covered in mud. It has 3 osage logs on it right now.
For pickups, my favorite was a mazda b2000, but it was not 4wd. It got almost 30mpg though and was fun to drive. On the acreage I had a Ford F150 4x4 that we abused badly by hauling too much junk, but it never let us down. Sure drove like a truck though and got about 12mpg.
George
-
I owned a ford ranger several years ago. It was OK, but not much power. I currently have a Dodge Dakota with the V8 engine. It doesn't get very good mileage, but it has more power than I will ever need. It is a blast to drive. I got the quad cab because of my 2 kids. Adults can fit in the back seats with no problem.
-
Best all round truck was a mid eighties ford f150 manual tranny 300cubic inch in line six got about 16 miles per gallon indestructible and dependable as the sunrise. I abused this truck all to hell and back and she never once let me down. Drove it on road trips and the whole nine yards.Ron
-
Got a 98 Chevy Cheyenne 1500 4X4 has a 196,000 and just replaced the u-joints. We pull a 2 horse slant trailer with it. A good choice we made ;)
-
cracker you said what i was thinking there ;) ;D
ok lets see a good truck
well them jeeps aint bad,i owned
but they,like any other,have their problems like cherokee viscus couplers (big bucks to fix)
any jeep likes to have output shaft seals leak,minor repair but very repetative,u-joints can be an issue
older ones liek to have problems with vacuum leaks due to the intake/exhaust manifolds coming loose
coolant leaks
chevys are ok too,but also have issues same with the dodges
owned some of each
everyone knows i am partial to fords,working on them for the last 16 yrs now
i do think they are the better ones when it comes to making trucks,especially for work purposes
theres a reason they have been the number one selling truck for like 41 yrs or so
the ranger can be a gret truck with lots of power if you get the right engine
the ford 4x4 system is probably one of the most dependable
Ford also has the least issues (atlest in my years of working experience) witht their suspensions and front ends
but its like i tell folks
"their all junk,its just a matter of whos junk you want to be seen driving"
only you can decide whats a good truck for you
but i will tell you this,and i have seen it first hand
i have seen rangers/f150-f450/expeditions/explorers all with over 300k on them
we work on all brands at the dealership i work at
i cant recall seeing many if any other makes come in with that high of mileage on the original drivtrains
no matter what you decide on,have a good reputiable auto tech look it over
we can usualy find issues most other folks dont notice
personally i can drive a vehicle and pretty much tell you whats wrong before i even get it on a hoist
doing regular maintanence will make any vehicle last a lifetime or more
oil changes,tires rotates,brake jobs arent the only maintanence thats needed
fluids need to be changed regularily i.e differential fluids,trans fluid,coolant,even brake and power steering fluids
any clunks/rattles etc should be addresed right away as they are usually from the suspension systems
not to mention if your mechanic says this or that should be taken care,take care of it and you more than likely will never get stranded
ok ok enough of my ranting ;D
good luck on finding a truck
-
I've owned 9 Jeeps, starting with Willis' station wagons. When I sold my Cheerokee it had 870K miles on it. Only repaced the engine once and rebuilt the transmission twice. I've driven Ford pick-ups for 25 years at work, I've never had to pay for one but I've signed a lot of tickets for repairs and maintenance so I don't think I'd ever buy one. I like Jeeps ;D
-
I'm pretty partial to my 2000 Tacoma 4x4... I've never had a problem out of it. It was rather expensive when I bought it 5 years ago but it has also been a very dependable truck. :)
-
It is a gamble no matter what you buy. I had an S-15 with 500K and it was still running. I had another with 130K and it was garbage. Rather than shopping for the best truck, shop for the best previous owner. How it was treated means more than the name on the tag.
-
Good point Justin.
-
Good point Justin.
-
This may be unrelated to this discussion but I recently purchased from my company for the absorbatant sum of 750.00 dollars a 93 ford f250 manual tranny 7.3 normally aspired diesel which now has 300k on it I would not hesitate to hop in this old war horse and head for the west coast I like the old fords don't care to much for the 97 on up models. Ron
-
A few years ago I bought a F-150 manual no frills that was a little over 2 years old with 36K miles with a 100K warranty for $6000.Keep an eye out on autotrader for several months and be willing to drive a little for a good deal.Mine was 150 miles away.
I always shop on line.A few years ago I found a local car on autotrader with a price of $7995.00.I went to the dealer asking about it but didn't tell them I had seen it on line.The salesman asked $12,000.00 and came down to $10,000.00 after a bit of haggling. I told him I would think about it.I went home and offered the internet guy $6000.00 and bought the car.I also got him to replace the window seal.
-
When I was in college back in 88 I. Was given a Mazda b2000 for painting a guys living room. The truck must have been 8 years old and was rusted real bad. I drove that truck hard even jumped a levee and caught air. I broke the frame in half bought a welder put her back together and drove from Illinois to PA many times during grad school. I put over 200k on an engine that leaked like crazy and sold it when the door fell off because the hinges rusted through. I bought a new ford ranger 4x4 and sold a year later hated it. Drove s10 bad truck just junk for 9 year many repairs now bought a Toyota Tacoma and love it. It is a 2008 it cost a lot but worth every dime. Best truck for the money was the Mazda hands down. Now you are not likely to find one.
-
boy that was a sweet deal. ;D
-
Looks like one of our Company trucks. We have about twenty of them going to the auction, mostly 2006's.
-
I bought a Nissan Frontier in 2001. It now has about 200k on it, and has never had a wrench on it except to change the oil, brake pads, and the spark plugs once. By far the best truck I've ever owned, and I've had Fords, Chevies, Toyotas, Dodge, and pretty much everything else over the years.
-
Well
My best and only truck iv owned is my 94 Toyota pickup it was the last year they had them before the taco as came out and replaced it 22re 4banger it won't break a speed record but it's light and handles off road very well it only get 17mpg it now has 225k miles on it and it still runs as good as it was with 60k if you can find one that's newer and get it before the mexican wholesalers take it to Mexico you won't be disappointed il post a pic later if you want
-
Pity I sold my 87 Isuzu Trooper with 200,718 miles on it. I had it for 30,000 miles and it never failed to start in the coldest weather. Sold it back to the guy I bought it from and got back EVERTYING I PAID FOR IT!
Had I known you were looking for something like this ride, I would have marked it up to double the price and sold it to you!!! (By the way, I paid a buck for it and Mikey paid me a buck to get it back). $1 for a working 4 wheel drive is a pretty good deal, right?
-
recurve shooter , you can tell from everyones relies that its like i said
only you can decide whats a good truck for you ;)
but its like i also said,
they are all junk its just a matter of whos junk you want to be seen driving in ;) ;D
every manufacturer can find stories that their vehicle has gone 500k miles or more
and most manufactureres have these documented as its a benefit to their company
but then on the other hand every manufacturer also hs made lemons that cant make it pst the sales floor without having problems
best advisewould be find a vehicle you like,then find its maintenance history on it
dont just go by the owners word of " i changed oil every 3k miles and never took it off road or got over 50 mph with it"
ask for reciepts etc to back up their claims,most folks whether they be profession car salemen or not will tell you what you want to hear
to sell their pile of crap to you ;)
good luck
-
I bought a Nissan Frontier in 2001. It now has about 200k on it, and has never had a wrench on it except to change the oil, brake pads, and the spark plugs once. By far the best truck I've ever owned, and I've had Fords, Chevies, Toyotas, Dodge, and pretty much everything else over the years.
I've got another 2001 Nissan Frontier. I have 130k on it and it is one good truck. I have yanked out stumps, dragged logs, pulled trailers full of gravel, hauled three sea kayaks at a time, slept in the camper and generally put it to work.
-
I have had a Datsun (former Nissan) and abused the crap out of it, and it never failed me, and hauled all manner of stuff, but it would get stuck in the dust on the road. Too light. I had about 300k on it before I sold it, and got a Datsun car, and sold that and got a very badly used Toyota corolla, and after getting a pumpkin from a u pull it, and then other repairs, and finally a transmission band adjustment, I sold it, and got an 86 Toyota 4runner. I sold it in 2005. Well over 500k on it. I absolutely loved that truck. If you were behind Farmer John, and there was intermittent traffic in the on coming lane, you were going to be a while, unless there was a looooong space between oncoming cars. It was not a speedy truck, but it was ABSOLUTELY dependable! It had the R22E engine, four cylinder . Not great milage, about 22 mpg. But it would go places I have seen big four by fours get stuck. The R22e was by far one of the best engines out there in the four banger class. Just not speedy. I now have a 03 Tundra, 4 X 4. I love it! The milage was terrible, about 18 hwy, and around 13 or so in town. Then I put the K & N filter and ram on it, and I have ten more horsepower, and I haven't figured out the milage on hwy yet, but before I put it in, I would use a 1/4 tank to get to my Girlfriend's house, and now, I use an 1/8 !! That's hwy driving. My Brother has a Jeep, and has done a lot of repairs on it. He takes very good care of it. He also has an F250 diesel, and he put the Air Raid system on his. It is almost the same thing as the K & N unit. I have a Friend of mine who builds custom cars in Jacksonville, and he absolutely hates Nissans. I would buy a Ford, if I could not have a Toyota. I don't like Chevy trucks, because I know too many people, including an older cousin, who have had the Transmissions go out, almost on the exp. date of the warranty. I also don't like their 4 X 4's because of the IDIOTIC Brake loop on the left side of the rear axle that hangs down begging to be snagged! In fact a friend had rented one to haul trash from his fathers yard, and took it out to the woods, and yep, a root snagged the braked loop, and ripped it off! I have friends who own dodges, in various models, and all have had transmission trouble, but love the engines. I have a Friend I worked with who drove an Isuzu, and loved it. Like Sailordad said, it all comes to eventually it will be junk, and you just have to find the junk that is the most suitable to your finances, and uses for it, and the current condition, and maintenance it had, and the maintenance that you give it. I had a friend in college who's Sister worked for GM, and her job was to drive a car around a track with her foot on the brake to test brake pad material, and such, if it lasted too long, then it was reformulated, till it got just the right amount of wear, so as not last too long, but not wear out too soon. ;)
This was back in the early 70's. I am sure they don't do things like that now.... ;D She had a mustang fastback or something like, and she called it a Monday morning, or Friday afternoon car. The trunk lid had varying gaps, on the sides, wide at the bottom on the right, wide at the top on the left. The rear seat moulding didn't fit, right, and the screws were cockeyed, and not in straight. We drove it on average of 90 mph on the way to Detroit, where she sold it. I got off in VA. It constantly ran hot, even after she had it in repeatedly for repairs at the dealer. So she said to hell with it, and we pushed it. But it got to Detroit. It was a fast car and handled well. Just don't get in a hurry to buy something, and don't be afraid to haggle. The more you save the more you can use for gas, and maintenance. Do like they said check the magazines, and want ads. 4 X 4's usually don't get as good of millage as 2 wheel drive. Decide which is more important, driving to School, or mudbogging! Gas will eat up your budget real quick! Mud boggin will wear, and tear BIG time. If you want both, be prepared to be without transportation at times. Wait for spring break for muddin, that way you will have time to fix things, or get another truck. ;) Personally, I would go with dependability! And go for the Mud bogging with an extra truck just for that hobby. After you get out of College, hopefully you will be able to find work in your chosen field, and then you can get the toys for mud boggin etc.
good luck .
Wayne
-
hey! Do you know what Paragraph and pages are? ::) ??? ::) ??? ??? ::) ??? ;)
-
Dang Scott, I need to follow you around. :o You are like Mullet at yard sales. ;D Did you check to see if any body parts were hidden in it? ;D ;D or if it had hauled any radioactive material, or other hazardous material? ::) That is just incredible!
Wayne
-
You mean like the reply to Scott? ::) ;D Well I did leave out the part of the Mustang only having one coat of paint on it. So I did shorten it a bit. ;D
Aren't you supposed to be in bed, planning your escape tatics, in case you get kidnapped? I thought you were heading out to Brazil tomorrow.
Wayne
-
Naw,,, I'm heading to Valledupar, Colombia about 6:30 Thursday morning.
-
Recurve I agree with tim it really up to you and what make you happy you can get 300+k miles on any truck if you maintain it the best advice I can give you is dont buy the first one you like try a few out you never know what you will find and if you can see if you can find it on carfax or lemon to see if it was listed most car sellers won't tell you the real problems with them they want to just sell it good luck amigo and hope you will find what you want :)