good college daily driver? (plugs, tires, MPG, truck)

[hoffdano]

Trucks also have high rollover risk, the highest death rates for single vehicle accidents, and almost always have longer stopping distances than cars.

Where many cars can stop from 60 MPH in 125 feet the typical half ton truck will need 150 ft.

[GTOlover]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

Trucks also have high rollover risk, the highest death rates for single vehicle accidents, and almost always have longer stopping distances than cars.

Where many cars can stop from 60 MPH in 125 feet the typical half ton truck will need 150 ft.

you could look at a 2wd truck they are the same height as a car plus they get better MPG's than the 4wd.

[caution]

with your budget, if you wanted to stick with RWD you're going to need a small truck, and as I recently found out, they hold their value well. The Ford Ranger is probably the best bet. I picked up a high-mile Ranger for 4K then did about 1K worth of work to it (new tires, changed all fluids, new front rotors and brakes, etd.) It's now set to go another 100K.

If you don't like the idea of a truck and can settle for FWD, then your choices are wide open around 5K, but most all of them will be high miles.

I'd stay away from good deals on higher end cars since they can be cost intensive.

[Innovator831021]

Originally Posted by GTOlover

you could look at a 2wd truck they are the same height as a car plus they get better MPG's than the 4wd.

I agree.

Even Rangers or S-10s would be excellent choices as well... comfortable, small, practical, efficient and extremely low maintenance.

[iTsLiKeAnEgG]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

Trucks also have high rollover risk, the highest death rates for single vehicle accidents, and almost always have longer stopping distances than cars.

Where many cars can stop from 60 MPH in 125 feet the typical half ton truck will need 150 ft.

Great points.

[camaro69]

Originally Posted by Dragoon

I just totaled my Toyota Celica because it didn't have ABS so I'm looking for a second hand car but I couldn't pick which is the best option.

I need to have rear disc brakes and generally good stopping power and it needs to be a 4-door, and preferably not FWD.

I'm thinking a Toyota 4runner, or a Lexus or a Subaru. what's your ideal everyday car?

Just curious how a car that didn't have ABS caused you to get in an accident and total it.

[Dragoon]

Originally Posted by MPBsr

Just curious how a car that didn't have ABS caused you to get in an accident and total it.

I was hard on the brakes on a downhill slope and it skied to its death.

[M3 Mitch]

Originally Posted by Dragoon

I was hard on the brakes on a downhill slope and it skied to its death.

(Gunny Highway Mode)Sorry, Charlie, this is cockpit error, plain and simple. The loose nut behind the wheel should have got off the brake and regained steering control. If the loose nut didn't have enough room to regain steering control, that's cockpit error too.

You can't fix what you won't admit is broke. (/Gunny Highway Mode)

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by JTraik

I agree.

Even Rangers or S-10s would be excellent choices as well... comfortable, small, practical, efficient and extremely low maintenance.

The S10 is a terrible truck. It is crude, borderline unsafe, and made during the terrible GM period of low overall quality.

The Ranger is also crude, but never was a POS.

[Innovator831021]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

The S10 is a terrible truck. It is crude, borderline unsafe, and made during the terrible GM period of low overall quality.

The Ranger is also crude, but never was a POS.

Pure conjecture...

S-10's... indestructible 4.3L V6 and the well proven 4L60E slushbox... Uses the same rear axles that were on GM full size sedans and that ARE on LD 2wd full size pickups. 2wd models are built on a tried and true a-frame front suspension.... Theres nothing left to complain about... they are simple, reliable and useful. Do you have some sort of study to back up the claims seemingly pulled out of one's ass?