Need buying advice on mid sized trucks, $10-$15k (F150, vehicle, sedan)

[Wolf14016]

Hello -

So, I'm finally buying a new vehicle. I've settled on a pickup truck - just more useful than the sedan I have now, and I don't drive enough for the lower gas mileage to really matter all that much.

But I don't know much when it comes to which brands are reputable - or which years were good/bad for a particular model, etc.

So my budget is approximately $10-$15 thousand, as that amount will keep my monthly payments about where I'd like them to be.

I'm currently located in the great pacific northwest - stationed at Fort Lewis Army base just south of Tacoma, WA. I've decided that 4WD is extremely desirable - not 100% necessary, but after a few trips over Snoqualmie Pass in the winter, I'd really like it. I also want an automatic - I can drive a stick, but don't really care to.

So far, with those qualities in mind, I've found the following makes/models to be the most available:

Dodge Dakotas (a good number of these)
Chevy S-10's (same)
Ford Ranger's (less of these)
Chevy Colorado's
GMC Sonoma's
GMC Canyon's

Also, I've found a few full sized vehicles available (mostly Ram 1500's), and I'm not adverse to a full size, but don't really feel like I need one.

Years range from 2001-2008, with the average about 2003.

Vehicle use will mostly consist of daily driving with the occasional camping/skiing trip.

Any advice is much appreciated

[NJGOAT]

Honestly...none of them. If you really want a midsize truck the only one worth looking at is the Toyota Tacoma. The rest of them all have their issues and for the most part were also rans suffering from poor build quality or poor MPG that made them no better than the full size trucks from the same manufacturer. Out of all the domestics, the Ranger is the best, but I still wouldn't take one over a F150.

Given your price range, you could easily step into a used F150, Silverado or Sierra and would end up with an all around better truck.

[kazyn]

I would vote Sierra/Silvy, you can get an 05-07ish CC for around your budget. I'm selling a regular cab sierra for 9800, 5.3L v8 I love the truck and would keep it if I could, but man oh man my bills go up and my pay stays the same But I get 16-17 in town, 21ish highway (I got 23 on the way to San Antonio a few weeks ago, driving at night so there wasn't any stop and go traffic for the most part)

[trlhiker]

A new vehicle or new to you? Stay away from the GMC and Chevy mid-sized, they are way below the level of refinement of the others. The Ranger hasn't changed in over 15 years so you can get those pretty cheap. Don't know anything about the dakotas but haven't heard any good about them either. You failed to mention Tacomas but that would be my pick. Everyone I know who has one wouldn't buy anything else.

[Hemlock140]

I love my Ranger, 2007 4WD 4.0 V6. I get about 15 mpg, as much as 23 on long trips. It's just at 50k miles and so far no problems with it. Great size, easy to park, yet room to haul, can tow 6,000 lbs. and got me through some nasty snow on the hills here in Sammamish.

My son-in-law has a 2003 4 cylinder 5 speed, his over 100k miles and has only just changed the shocks, and a new fuel pump at 90k. Other than that just the usual maintenance.

[le roi]

I owned a Ranger and it was garbage. I drive one sometimes at work, and it is even worse.

I've heard that the GMC/Chevy vehicle is pretty bad as well.

I agree with the person who suggested a Tacoma. They are worth the money. If I had to pick a #2 choice it'd be the Nissan.

[johna01374]

Only one truck comes to mind and that's the Tacoma. I personally have a 2000 with 244K on the clock with zero problems. I wouldn't own another Ranger to save my life and the poor quality of GM and Chrysler is well known.

If you want something you can rely on it should be a Tacoma. Even better would be to find a 2000-20004 with the 3.4L V6. The newer trucks are great but the earlier 2000-2004 were bullet proof.

[NJGOAT]

If you are looking midsize, like I said earlier and others seconded, the Tacoma is really the only good choice. However, they hold their value ridiculously well (too well if you ask me, lol). For instance, $15k will barely be enough to afford a 2005 base V6 Tacoma with average mileage. That same $15k could easily get you into a 2005-2007 V8 F150 or Silverado with average mileage.

In the price range you are looking at, you could easily get a full size truck and the MPG isn't all that different. Most V6 Tacoma's get similar mileage to 5.3 Chevy's and 4.6 Ford's and the 4 cylinder, while returning nominally better MPG is rather underpowered, especially in 4WD.

The only real benefit to the Tacoma over the full sized is that they do hold their value, so it would be easy to sell down the road, most likely for almost as much as you paid.

[GTOlover]

I would pick up a full size ford F150 or chevy 1500 10-15 can get you a nice late model and a reallly decent truck.
the best ford and chevys I can think of besides the older craburated versions are the 97-96 F-series and the 88-98 C/K series.

pick one of those up for 3-5K for off road duty and to beat up on then spend 8-10 on a good reliable fuel efficent car to commute and not have to worry about broken parts which seem to happen everytime you go off-roading


something like one of these would be best since parts aRE EASY TO FIND AND YOU CAN DO MOST OF THE REPAIR WORK YOURSELF THE NEWER ONES WILL COST ALOT MORE $$$ TO WHEEL

[POS VETT]

Can you get a Ridgeline in a more-than-decent condition for that price range ?