SMALL PICK UP'S

[mrcooper]

Started looking for a used Toyota pick up but all the newer ones are bigger that my 94, when did they stop making the small ones? i don't want 2 cabs or v6 or automatic or one that is 2 ft off the ground.

[magooch]

Drive the 2005 and up Tacoma with the 4 banger/5 speed.  Tacoma is in a class all by itself.

[spruce]

2005 was the first year of the larger Tacoma.

[SHOOTALL]

we have 2 of the newer ones in our fleet they are very good trucks just not what we need now for hauling a lot of material. They were bought for salesmen we no longer have. But we will make due a while longer.

[mrcooper]

Has everybody forgotten? GENERAL MOTERS stole our tax money and took it to china and built several auto factories their and employees 1000 s of chinese to make our cars.

[Sourdough]

I do not believe anyone makes a small truck that is not high off the ground.  Most are 4X4, but even the 2X4s are high.  Unfortunately the little low trucks with two wheel drive did not sell that good.  People wanted four wheel drive, which means higher off the ground.  And they want to be able to haul kids in back, meaning bigger cabs.  Us old retired guys that drive around by ourselves are forgotten about.  I would have preferred a smaller cab, but I have to admit, the bigger cab comes in handy sometimes.   

I have an 03 Chevy S-10, 4X4, with the ZR-2 package.  Factory Lift and Big Wheels and tires.  Wider stance, with fender flares, and wider bumpers.  V-6 with extended cab.  Most people complain it's too high off the ground.  I'm 6'2", I think it's just right.  the wife is only 4'11", she hates it due to it's height.  It tows a small trailer with one snowmachine or 4-wheeler just fine.  Bed is too short for hauling anything in it, but that is what I got the F-350 for.

[Conan The Librarian]

mrcooper:
 
I think the trend has been to bigger models across all types of cars. Look at the Subaru Outback of ten years ago and then look at today's model. The older model was like a Ford Escort. The new one is more like a mini van. Likewise with Civics and most any other car. When I was looking at trucks years ago I didn't see much difference in MPG between the small ones and the F150 class trucks, but the F150s were a lot more capable. I think today's game may be to get the bigger truck, but pick from various power options to get the MPG you want. I could be wrong, just guessing.
 
Maybe Ford or Chevy makes fleet style vehicles that have this basic quality you want. You may want to ask if you can order such a thing.

[spruce]

Sadly, to me at least, the simple, no frills pickup is a thing of the past.  Makes no difference big or small.  They're all geared towards the suburbanite whose idea of off road is parking on the grass and never hauls anything other than a BBQ grill or a patio chair.
 
Probably half the stuff that comes standard on them now are things I have no use for, just more things to go wrong, and adds needless expense to the purchase.
 
I do wish they'd quit upsizing the models every few years.  All the manufacturers do it.  I have one of the newer Tacomas and yes it's more comfy than the older, smaller size, but 90% of the time I don't use the extra size.  The older smaller size is big enough for what I need and was a tad easier to maneuver around in the woods.

[BBF]

I've had Nissan and Toyota small Diesel p/u's The Toyota had to long bed and the bench seat in front.  What I pita when the wife drove.  She isn't real short but as a passenger it was grim.
 
The Nissan had the small jump seats in the back, separate seats in front. Much better but no power steering. That did not sit well with the Missus.
 
Now we got a 4 cylinder 08 GMC Canyon with the Ext Cab. It does everything we want and big enough to haul a trailer up to 3000 lb.  BTW the truck was made/assembled in Alabama. The components are global.

[Mongrelcat]

Has everybody forgotten? GENERAL MOTERS stole our tax money and took it to china and built several auto factories their and employees 1000 s of chinese to make our cars.

Actually....
The Government stole your money and gave it to GM under the ruse that it was too large to fail. GM is no worse than any other scum sucking whore that exists and thrives on handouts....they still can't make a profit, the G just wrote off the "loan" and that made the balance sheet look better. Only one of the companies that received the "bailout" paid.......not GM.
in the category I placed GM includes stamps, fake disability claims, welfare whores, etc.
 
However, it doesn't matter what anyone drives, these companies will never make enough to pay back squat.All of that to say this...
 
GM nor any other "private. or public held"  company holds a gun to your head and steals other than the Fed Res. Uncle Sam stole our digits, not GM...GM just sucked it up like many others.

[magooch]

Toyota still makes a standard cab Tacoma pickup and you can get it without all the frills.  I have an extended cab with the 4 cylinder, 5 speed 2 wd and I have gotten 31 mpg on trips with the bed filled to the brim with luggage etc (bed has cab-high canopy).  I tried all the other mid-size pickups--except Suzuki, before I settled on Tacoma.  As I said, Tacoma is in a class by itself--especially with the 4 cylinder.  Just go drive one.

[SHOOTALL]

Sounds like the ones we use for construction / sales. 2005 or 2006. Other than maintained nothing else but tires in over 100000 + miles maybe 130000 on one. What can you want ? Ours carry a lot of tools and material so the weight is high so they get around 20 mpg. depending on load. Hopefully heavy going to the job light coming back .    I keep thinking one would be a good hunting truck when we sell them off.

[mrcooper]

Think I will have his seat rebuilt and get him painted and keep him, i dont like the newer bigger ones and it would be a lot cheaper than giving him away and paying top dollar fer another one

[Anna]

The rangers were pretty good little trucks, I inherited one from my dad but I think they stopped
making them. The reason most small trucks are elevated so much is if you have ever driven on a
two rut dirt road where the larger trucks travel then you know that you will drag center if your not
high enough. High center isn't a good place to be if the road is wet.
But im a Ford person and right now I am negotiateing with the owner of this car.
I want it and he knows it if you drove it you would drool.


http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2657645#Post2657645

[Sourdough]

Looks like the car my 83 yr old Mother drives.  She won't drive nothing but Crown Vics.

[Anna]

Looks like the car my 83 yr old Mother drives.  She won't drive nothing but Crown Vics.

Really hot car, your mother knows what's best.

[Ranger99]

that looks fairly decent.
at least they didn't put those
ugly big chuck-wagon wheels on
it like these gangstas around here
do.
you'd be better served in the long
run if it has the 2 valve engine.

[Anna]

I've ended up with three pickups, all Fords.  I still like the F150 most of all but its V6 isn't that good
on gas. V8s sometimes are better on gas because they don't have to work as hard.
I have a Mazda Miada but its a two seater and nice but its doesn't meet certian requirements.
One reason I'm looking at the Vic's is go look at what they are starting to bring!
Web sites are saying snatch one up while you still can. Like the Impala SS they are still going for
25 grand. A smaller Toyota truck could end up being a good investment as well and they are built
really well. You never know about vehicles but some of them do end up standing out in the crowd
no matter what the blue book says.


 

[JonnyReb]

 When the gas prices shot up in 08' i picked up a 97' tacoma which now has 233,000 miles on it, and runs perfect. Its the 4 banger 5 speed and while i didn't get it to replace the vans i normally drive, it has done so and i'm a total toyota convert. Its been flawlessly reliable with routine maintainence and i'd drive it across the country and back without hesitation, would choose it actually. Still has the original freon in the AC and it blows much colder than my wifes new cars does. 28 or so mpg if i drive careful..nothings falling apart..Its just a fine little truck.   J

[ironglow]

mrcooper & spruce..  I know just what you are talking about!  I started into the small pickups with a 1969 Datsun(Nissan)..I considered that just about ideal. I've gone through a series of small trucks since then 3 Datsuns, 2 Chevy Luvs (Isusu), a Ford Courier (Mazda) and several Ford Ranger since then..all stripped models, rubber mats, 2wd & manual trans.
  The increase in size, weight and extra junk attached, would seem to be contrary to common sense, considering the fuel usage & fuel cost stiuation.
  Sold my last Ranger (a 2005 model) last year..then found that Ford has dropped the Ranger.  I am ready to get another  but I would like one comparable to the '69 Datsun..  I guess if I am ever to get another, somebody will have to import a truck from the far east.
 
  Below see a 1970 Datsun 1300 cc  ..same as my '69 model, except mine was white.. I sure wish they still made them!

[Old Fart]

When I worked in OKC and drove back & forth to work I always drove the little imports pickups. Pretty well drove all of them. All were good solid little putters and lasted long without any major problems. I wouldn't be afraid to drive any of them. But my joints sure appreciate the full size I'm driving now. Plus being a tall fellow the fullsize truck makes long trips more enjoyable. So I'm probably gonna stay in the full size. I have been toying with getting a new Jeep to run around in though. Always wanted one.

[dryfly]

 
 I have a 95 Ford Ranger  2 x 2 . I live in south central Wyoming. Simple, dependable , durable.

[ChungDoQuan]

I had a Dodge-a-Bishi Ram 50 that I sold when it had 207,000 miles on it. It was an '86, I believe. First vehicle I ever bought new. Good little truck. I also had an '83 Ranger 4WD that I got with 70,000 and sold 100,000 miles later. (I don't get too attached to anything with more than 2 wheels.) It was a good truck, too. I'm looking for a small truck with a shot engine to build an electric vehicle--- maybe an old S-10 or Ranger in 2WD. (Small trucks make good low tech EVs.)

[BBF]

Off topic
 
The best little vehicle I had was a Suzuki Samurai Hardtop. It didn't pretend to be anything other than what is was, a MPV.

[SHOOTALL]

A buddy of mine had an Isuzu pup with a diesel engine . He had it for years had almost 300000 on it when he sold it but for about 5 years the speedo meter was broken. He drove almost 140 miles round trip to work everyday including sat.the entire time. That has to be a good truck. He replaced belts and two water pumps. Are those still made ?

[hillbill]

A buddy of mine had an Isuzu pup with a diesel engine . He had it for years had almost 300000 on it when he sold it but for about 5 years the speedo meter was broken. He drove almost 140 miles round trip to work everyday including sat.the entire time. That has to be a good truck. He replaced belts and two water pumps. Are those still made ?

no they are not still made. i wish they were. i had a 81 chevy luv diesel, the same truck as the isuzu.some of them had weak trannys. the vibration from the diesel would cause problems with the aluminum case 5sp tranny.still a good quality truck. mine got 35 mpg all the time. god forbid we should be able to buy a decent quality small truck that gets 35 mpg.that would just be wrong!

[ironglow]

Chung;
  I did admire those little Mitsu pickups, nearly bought one once..a tossup between that and another Ranger.  Ranger skinned through.
  My friend, a pharmacist who attended my Bible studies back then, drove for some years, a Mitsu pickup labeled as a Plymouth.
  I forgot to mention, my wife also had one of those little VW pickups, based on the rabbit design..she really loved that little rig..
  I find it interesting that now so many people demand 4WD or AWD...even folks who live in the 'burbs, where the weather is mild in comparison.  Until 30 years ago, there were few 4WDs on the road..and people seemed to get around just as well..even here in the western NY State snowbelt!
  Sometimes I believe it is just another "cool factor" for soccer moms..

[ChungDoQuan]

I remember in Car and Driver, I think, where they said that the only off-roading most 4WDs ever see is pulling into the driveway. I will say that the only time I ever NEEDED the 4WD on the Ranger was when it dumped nearly three feet of snow overnight. That was once, in about an eight year stretch. Since the tendency is for the front drive to go out first on 4WDs, I sold the truck. Now I have a Scion--- if I need to haul something, I rent a truck.

[hillbill]

Chung;
  I did admire those little Mitsu pickups, nearly bought one once..a tossup between that and another Ranger.  Ranger skinned through.
  My friend, a pharmacist who attended my Bible studies back then, drove for some years, a Mitsu pickup labeled as a Plymouth.
  I forgot to mention, my wife also had one of those little VW pickups, based on the rabbit design..she really loved that little rig..
  I find it interesting that now so many people demand 4WD or AWD...even folks who live in the 'burbs, where the weather is mild in comparison.  Until 30 years ago, there were few 4WDs on the road..and people seemed to get around just as well..even here in the western NY State snowbelt!
  Sometimes I believe it is just another "cool factor" for soccer moms..

 
yeah i remember the old days when a 4wd was kind of a novelty.a few farmers had them but nobody really drove them on the street.too expensive. i remember many a morning getting up early when it snowed and jacking my 2wd truck up and putting on chains jus to get to work.then chaining up the dump trucks to go out and spread sand and cinders so everybody else could get to work.
 
when i got my first 4wd at about 35 yrs old,i remember thinking son of a gun this is sweet!!!!!!!!!! all i got to do is get out and lock in the hubs and i can go anywhere!ive had one ever since. but never as my main vehicle just as a back up and for farm work.

[Victor3]

Off topic The best little vehicle I had was a Suzuki Samurai Hardtop. It didn't pretend to be anything other than what is was, a MPV.

 Did yours come with a kidney belt? 


 My buddy loved those Samurais. Neat trucks for sure. Only vehicle I've been in that had a worse ride and was more likely to end up on its roof than my lifted CJ-5 though...