Advice

[ironglow]

  Of course, your son could be that rare exception..never can tell..but each one I was referring to was pretty cautious with their first year and a half of driving, or
   when driving dad or mom in their car. But when they became accustomed to driving on their own..like most young men in baseball, basketball, BMX  bikes or
    snowmobiles...there is that spirit of competition.
  Yet, you must know your son..and even though we throw out that particular point, I think the rest are worth considering..just for the cost figures alone....
   
                        ...But that's just my $.02..

[hillbill]

i read a few of these posts but not all of them. all offered good advice based on personal experience.my advice is if you are still stuck on a jeep, look for something with the 4.0 fuel injected inline six. they are about the best motors ive ever seen in a jeep and do get decent fuel mileage. they prob get as much or more mpg than the  4 cyl that jeep is using.just a thought and good luck with whatever yu buy!

[camsdaddy]

I recently purchased a 97 Wrangler with the 2.5. It is far from a race car but does pretty good in rural town driving. I average about 17mpg mixed driving.

[STUMPJMPR]

My 4cyl ranger gets about 16....I can speak from experience when dads away boys will play lol....I never got in trouble coming up but i did some stupid things in a car....

[ironglow]

  Can't understand the poor mileage some folks are claiming for Ford Rangers; I have owned (I believe, counting on fingers) 8 4cyl Rangers, and each one produced about 28 mpg OTR + or - 2 mpg. Mine were all manual trans..perhaps that's the difference..or is it driving habits ?

[30-06man]

Bought mine new in 91 and it had a manual trans. I got around 21 on the Highway. I wasn't happy but I kept it until i had over 200,000 miles. Then I bought my  Ram 2500 and got about 21 high way and 16 city with a 5.9 liter 6cly Cummins Diseal. Mine ran rich from the beginning and I drove it easy and kept it around 60 on the interstate never any hard driving.

[weasel]

What about an older Toyota with the 22r? Not enough power to race anything, 20 mpg is about average and toyotas hold up. Pretty easy to work on too. I have 3 with 180-194K, replaced a tranny, 2 starters and the timing belts between all 3. Around here kids seem to think they're a cool ride.

[Lloyd Smale]

If you shop around you can pick up a nice wrangler cheap. I just found a like new 2000 with 60000 miles for 6 grand. Sure they have some downfalls. There rough riding in the woods. (not to bad on the road though) there very noise at highway speeds. There not fuel sippers but mine gets 18 and thats as good as about any truck will do. Biggest complaint i have with mine is its underpowderd. It will do about 70 tops on the highway. The 4 cyl motor with 31 inch tires is about gutless. It came with 410 gears but ive boughten 456 gears for it and im sure that will help some. A 4 banger would probably be a decent vehicile for a young man. The 6 might get him hot rodding a little but the 4 cyl will embarass him so badly every time he trys that he will soon learn no to show his ###. What there good for is going places no other streat leagal vechicle will take you. the tight turning radius small size and a drive train that was made for 4 wheeling (not a suv pretender) makes them ideal in the woods. Plus you can take the top down. As to roll over sure they may tend to roll over faster then a corvette but as to being unsafe, how many suvs have a full roll cage in them. Bottom line is if a young man is the type that is going to raise hell and wreck and roll vehicles he can find a way to do it in anything you get him. Just ask my father!!!!

[30-06man]

Thanks Lloyd I have been looking out for some vehicles but it will be a while and he might end up in my truck if fuel prices keep going up. I have been looking for cars for his mom and for under $20,000  can get her a gas sipping Honda Civic because she drives all day for her job and I would take her explorer to drive to work. He won't be able to drive my truck like a hot rod or anything with a combo of the diesel and the prices 4.52 a gallon.

[no guns here]

Used Toyota 4cyl, 5 speed 4x4.  No speed to get him in trouble.  Reliable engine.  Reliable drive train.  Good 4x4.  Solid trucks.  Decent mileage.  I won't consider any US truck to get GOOD mileage until we the TD's in small trucks like the rest of the world.


ngh

[R.W.Dale]

Used Toyota 4cyl, 5 speed 4x4.  No speed to get him in trouble.  Reliable engine.  Reliable drive train.

 A 4x4 4cyl yota isn't going to get you much better mileage than a fullsize with a V8

Comparing 05 models A 4x4 AUTO Silverado with a 300hp 5.3 and an auto gets 14/18

A 4x4 Tacoma with a 5speed and 4cyl only gets you 17/21

 3 more mpg is a JOKE right now little pickup trucks are the biggest ripoff out there. Especally considering the Toyota will cost you just as much as the chevy

[30-06man]

Used Toyota 4cyl, 5 speed 4x4.  No speed to get him in trouble.  Reliable engine.  Reliable drive train.

 A 4x4 4cyl yota isn't going to get you much better mileage than a fullsize with a V8

Comparing 05 models A 4x4 AUTO Silverado with a 300hp 5.3 and an auto gets 14/18

A 4x4 Tacoma with a 5speed and 4cyl only gets you 17/21

 3 more mpg is a JOKE right now little pickup trucks are the biggest ripoff out there. Especally considering the Toyota will cost you just as much as the chevy

A Ford Ranger cost almost $20,000 now and you can have a F150 with a little worse fuel mileage and have a V8 for that price.

[Lloyd Smale]

my 06 silverado 4x4 club cab with a 310 hp 5.3 gets a gps verified 20mpg on the highway if i keep it down to 60. Ive yet to find a small truck whether it be a 4 or 6 cyl that will do that well.  Gas milage in the small truck is a joke. Somethings awfull fishy when they are producing big trucks that get just as good of milage as the small ones. About like adding nicotene to cigerettes imo.

[ironglow]

  Lloyd;
     the new Silverado as you described, delivers 14/19 according to the EPA..considering your cautious driving, 20 mpg is not out of the question. I do
  however, take issue with your saying that you can't find a small truck that does that well. Don't know where you're looking, but all my Ranger 4 cyl manuals
  have beaten that figure quite easily OTR. I regularly get 28 mpg and yes, I do drive for economy..I BUY for economy. My son has an old "beater" '97 Ranger
  that gets a bit better mileage than mine.
  If anyone thinlks they can get the same mileage pushing a 5.3L truck weighing 5,000 pounds or more as they can with a 2.3L pushing 3,000 lbs..they must
  be kidding themselves ! Apparently much of the public sees it as I do, since the compacts are selling fairly well, while GM is paying folks up to $7,000 to buy
  their big models !
  Curiously; the larger trucks that I have driven rarely live up to their EPA claims..but I am not a fan of auto-trans and I may not be getting max miles from them.
 
   30/06 man;
           Don't know where you get the $20,000 for a Ranger, mine cost about $14,000 while the Silverado Lloyd spoke of was $28,000+, of course the $7,000
  incentive is going to drop that some..
    You guys could rightfully claim that the EPA OTR rating..Silverado 19mpg, Ranger 26mpg is not significant enough to justify the smaller truck in your mind, but
  let's not try to distort the real facts.
 

[Lloyd Smale]

guess im mostly comparing it to my 95 dakota with a v6 stick that only got 18 and the v6 rangers we had at work that were lucky to get 16. Also if you look at the price of a 4x4 ranger 6 cyl with the same options my silverado has id bet there wouldnt be squat differnce in price. You have to compare apples to apples. I can get a stripped down full size chev 6 cly 2 wheel drive about as cheaply as any truck. I dont doubt you get that kind of milage with your 4 cyl ranger. But look to at real world gas milage. A truck is used to tow and haul and id bet the gap would close up fast if you put a load on that 4 banger. If im going to run around empty ill take the old ladys car. It gets 30mpg. even if I only get 20 compared to your 25. My big truck carry 4-5 people,  will tow more, haul more, is more comfortable to drive and a hell of alot more snorty on the road. I had a dakota and will never go back to a small truck again.

[30-06man]

  Lloyd;
     the new Silverado as you described, delivers 14/19 according to the EPA..considering your cautious driving, 20 mpg is not out of the question. I do
  however, take issue with your saying that you can't find a small truck that does that well. Don't know where you're looking, but all my Ranger 4 cyl manuals
  have beaten that figure quite easily OTR. I regularly get 28 mpg and yes, I do drive for economy..I BUY for economy. My son has an old "beater" '97 Ranger
  that gets a bit better mileage than mine.
  If anyone thinlks they can get the same mileage pushing a 5.3L truck weighing 5,000 pounds or more as they can with a 2.3L pushing 3,000 lbs..they must
  be kidding themselves ! Apparently much of the public sees it as I do, since the compacts are selling fairly well, while GM is paying folks up to $7,000 to buy
  their big models !
  Curiously; the larger trucks that I have driven rarely live up to their EPA claims..but I am not a fan of auto-trans and I may not be getting max miles from them.
 
   30/06 man;
           Don't know where you get the $20,000 for a Ranger, mine cost about $14,000 while the Silverado Lloyd spoke of was $28,000+, of course the $7,000
  incentive is going to drop that some..
    You guys could rightfully claim that the EPA OTR rating..Silverado 19mpg, Ranger 26mpg is not significant enough to justify the smaller truck in your mind, but
  let's not try to distort the real facts.
 

The only one that was less than $20,000 at any of my local ford dealerships were $14,000 and it was used with 50,000 miles. He has a budget of $5000-6000. The Ford Ranger is supposed to be dropped from the Ford line very soon according to my dealer. He has found a Jeep Comanche 4X4 with a V6 not the I6. It has a mild 2inch suspension lift and a brush guard and roll bar for $2000. It has 65,000 miles and no body Damage as I can tell. I am going to take it home and put it on jackstands and go over it well and make sure it hasn't been in any wrecks. The owner said it has never been off road so if all goes well I think he is done looking.

[Lloyd Smale]

check the real oil seal. those were chev 2.6 v6s and they were notorious for that and it isnt a cheap fix.

[30-06man]

Thanks. Will do.

[thxmrgarand]

A single mother working in an outfit I was managing said she had purchased a very used pickup for her son's first vehicle.  She added he now had a shy and innocent girlfriend and the two of them sure looked cute heading out in that truck.  I told her that I wasn't giving advice but when I was a boy I would have wanted her to help me do the opposite.  She asked what that meant, and I told her I would have wanted my first truck to be a brand new one and my first girlfriend to have the high mileage.

[ironglow]

 30/06 Man;

  Better watch that local Ford dealer; rangers start at $14,490 ..and that's MSRP !    www.edmunds.com/

  Lloyd;
     I am sure the larger truck would haul a ton of cargo daily..better than my Ranger would. Fact is; I rarely haul over 500 lbs,
  and don't take a load of passengers..so I'll opt for the extra 8 mpg.

  All mileage claims aside, the engineers that design these trucks, normally equip them with a fuel tank that will take them
  350 to 450 miles..depending upon driving conditions and driving style. Thus, a good indicator of mileage that I have found more
  reliable than "claims", is the size of the standard fuel tank !
   Compact 4 cyl trucks 17-19 gals  Large V8 trucks (standard tank) 26 gals

         At $4.10 per gal.  it costs the 4 cyl owner roughly..$69.70 to go the 350-450 miles

          At $4.10 per gal. it costs the V8 owner roughly..  $106.60  to go the  350-450 miles

     We only need decide how we want to ride ..and pay the bill for same !

[30-06man]

Jeep is suppose to have a 4Cly truck come out next year. The only catch is it is diesel.

http://www.allpar.com/model/jeep/gladiator.html

[no guns here]

Used Toyota 4cyl, 5 speed 4x4.  No speed to get him in trouble.  Reliable engine.  Reliable drive train.

 A 4x4 4cyl yota isn't going to get you much better mileage than a fullsize with a V8

Comparing 05 models A 4x4 AUTO Silverado with a 300hp 5.3 and an auto gets 14/18

A 4x4 Tacoma with a 5speed and 4cyl only gets you 17/21

 3 more mpg is a JOKE right now little pickup trucks are the biggest ripoff out there. Especally considering the Toyota will cost you just as much as the chevy

Sorry, I guess I should have been more definitive...  A WELL used Toyota.  I didn't mention fuel mileage because face it if you drive a truck and especially if it's 4x4 then you aren't REALLY THAT CONCERNED about fuel economy.  I DID mention "no speed to get him in trouble".  If you will lose, there's no incentive to race.  Basically I was trying to recommend a basic truck that would do the job.  Transportation, some four wheeling, maybe go hunting AND be reliable.  Older Toy's that were smaller and lighter did a bit better on fuel.  Not great but better.  Every mile per gallon counts these days.  I'd rather get 20 than 17 or 23 than 20. 

ngh

[Lloyd Smale]

I didnt think they even made a 4 cyl  4 wheel drive ranger anymore. Our company bought a bunch of stripped 4x4 rangers for work trucks and there all 4.0 litre v6s. Which by the way are some gas eationg sobs!!

[ironglow]

  Right Lloyd; they don't make a 4cyl, 4WD Ranger anymore. I was referring to 4cyl basic truck and yes..the 4.0 Ranger with auto & 4WD would probably not save
  enough to make any great shakes over a full sized 4WD. As I mentioned in an earlier part of this post, with fuel as costly as it is, perhaps it would be a good idea to
  purchase a used ATV to put on the back of the small pickup to use for those few times he wants to venture into the bush ..But perhaps I am complicating things
  too much !
   I did have a 4.0, 4WD 2002 Ranger, nice truck..but very expensive to run 18mpg OTR and 11-12 mpg with an 18' camper. I would suppose a full size would do as
  well. Gave it to my son..it was the only auto trans vehicle I ever owned and I hated it for that reason.  Just me, I guess...

[Lloyd Smale]

up here in northern michigan a 4x4 is about a necessity. We get over 200 inches of snow a year and there can even be 3 or 4 feet by deer season.

[30-06man]

The reason he is getting 4X4 is the areas we hunt at. A small 4X4 is perfect and I can't hardly get a 2WD Dodge down there easily. I used to get my Ranger down there pretty good but I liked having the 4X4 better.

[Lloyd Smale]

I just took it for granted we were discusing 4x4s for purchase and when discussing gas milage. I guess guys down south can find a use for a 4x2 truck but about the only thing there sold for up here is bussinesses like contractors. Even the utility company i work for found it cost them so much for towing that it justified buying 4x4s even for the meter readers.

[30-06man]

Might as well discuss them. A good winch on a 2WD is almost as good as the 4X4 for the areas around here. The only exception is Muddin.