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My daily driver is an '08 Ford F150. Pretty basic; a V-6, manual windows, short bed/standard cab, A/C and an AM/FM/CD player. We had dealer install cruise control and drove it off the lot for $13,700. I plan to keep it 'til the wheels fall off. Sold my '92 F150 when I bought the new one. I believe it still had a lot of life left in it with 205K on the odometer. Sold it to a coworker for $500. If you can swing the price of a new one and will keep it a good while, that's the way to go, IMHO. I drive 65 mph on interstate highway 34 miles one way to work. I get the same mileage (about 22 mpg) as the mini-trucks and mine has a lot more room. That's just one man's opinion. Good luck!
5grand is tough for a pickup truck unless you accept high miles. Add 2-2500 to that and you're talking a better vehicle.
Full size bed, good commuter and not horrible mileage....plus remember the small trucks are going to have a rougher ride, be cramped with 2 people.
I'd look for a 02-06 Toyota Tundra, single cab with a v6. Full size bed, large cab, good economy with a auto or stick. The v8 would be almost as economical, but your price range limits you to the lower priced v6 base model(base being a lack of chrome and nice wheels, not comfort features). I've seen them with less than 50,000 miles for under 7grand.
Remember, the smaller engine in a large vehicle will generally, generally, give less fuel economy than the big engine in the same vehicle.
I have never had anything smaller than a 1/2 ton either ford or chevy or larger than a 3/4 ton pickup since 1973 They have all been my everything trucks.
I don't think a pickup is what you want to drive 25 miles 1-way to work in 75 MPH traffic. Trucks that will do this do exist, no doubt, but they will be thirsty when run like this. At 75 you may be surprised at what will blow out of the bed if you don't have a cap.
I'd go with a car, either keep your 3-series or get something else that is not so expensive to insure and isn't depreciating so fast, and an older truck to do your hauling with.
If you really want to go with just a truck though, the Toyota proposed by drb is probably as good as you will do, me, I'd want a stickshift and the V-8 for what you are wanting it to do.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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HD pickups are spendy for commuting (Tires/ brakes, fuel, depreciation), but it is possible...
Do you need 4x4? If not, find a '97 or 98 Dodge Cummins 12 Valve (98.5 went to 24V, don't go there)
You can get ~ 22+ mpg and have a big truck with power and lots of room. (+ you can 'home brew' diesel for $1/gal + grease / veggie oil). ~ 500,000 mi life span. (4x4 = 18-20 mpg). I bought one (4x4 dually Cummins) for $3000 with only 150k on it.
Or you can also get a 300ci 6cyl full sized Ford pickup, that will get ~ 17 mpg and run 300,000k miles.
a Toy 4cyl would be next best for a pickup. ~300,000 commuting lifespan
or get a VW diesel car and get 50 mpg for commuting. Too bad they didn't make more hatchbacks, as they are like pickups. You can make a GTI into a GTD for ~ $1000 (Turbo Diesel GTI, available most everywhere but north America). I have found VW Rabbits in the brush pile at my neighbor's and brought home for free, or $50. They get 50 mpg, and run forever. I have bought 3 TDI Passats (96-97) each for under $2000. They are the 'premo' commuter. Decent size and 50 mpg w/ 25 gal tank. They will run to 500,000+ miles as commuter. Just keep fresh timing belts every 80,000 miles and fresh filters as with all diesels. A trailer hitch and 'Snowbear' 2000# GVW trailer will do a lot of work. You can then have a tractor for home. . I keep an old dump truck or HD 4x4 around for wood and dirt hauling (and 4' of snow like this week...)
What is your climate and commute like? That will dictate a lot... (cold vs mild climate and curvy vs freeway commute)
I drive a 2002 Tacoma prerunner V6 auto as my daily commuter and I love it. Not very practicle since I rarely haul anything. But have been driving it for the past 4 years. And I get 20mpg in a mix.
My current ride is an 06 Silverado. I get around 20 mpg with the v6 and manual 5 speed. I have no problems driving it over 75 mph. My old truck was an '85 GMC 1/2 ton long bed. I got it for $1500. It had a 305 with a turbo 350 trans. I would drive the snot out of that thing. I used to commute it an hour each way for about 6 months at one point. Speeds over 90 mph happened often. The truck was very comfortable too.
Under 5k can still get you quite a bit of truck. Just shop carefully.
I commute in my Quad Cab (non-Hemi) Dodge. It gets 14-15mpg locally and 21 mpg on the highway. And I'm no friend of hyper-miling.
HA I wish, I have the same truck, '02, Quad cab, 4.7 v8 automatic, 4X4. Can't break 12 mpg to save my life ( according to my overhead display).
It's my daily driver though, and always will be until gas gts over $5 a gallon.
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