New $10,000 Toyota pickup

[Hay Dude]

When I went to buy my Ram 5500 in 2020, I could not find a basic version. I was left to the choice of buying one pretty loaded-up or nothing at all or keeping my worn out old F-550 that broke down once a month.
I bought the loaded up Ram. Paid more than I wanted because of the extra features. Trying not to make myself feel guilty, but it was really my only choice because my 550 had turned into a pile of junk.
Now that I have heated/cooled seats and power everything in a quiet, powerful hard working truck that is VERY comfortable I am hooked.
Now I wish it had the power-folding trailer tow mirrors for those times when the road is narrow and I don’t want to smash a trailer towing mirror lol

 

[jjeff]

Looked moths when I bought my Duramax in 2016 and drove 250 miles to another state cuz everything local we're higher end loaded trim models and 10-20k+ more on the MSRP. Doubt If I'll find anything like that again.

 

[WinterDeere]

When I went to buy my Ram 5500 in 2020, I could not find a basic version. I was left to the choice of buying one pretty loaded-up or nothing at all or keeping my worn out old F-550 that broke down once a month.
I bought the loaded up Ram. Paid more than I wanted because of the extra features. Trying not to make myself feel guilty, but it was really my only choice because my 550 had turned into a pile of junk.
Now that I have heated/cooled seats and power everything in a quiet, powerful hard working truck that is VERY comfortable I am hooked.
Now I wish it had the power-folding trailer tow mirrors for those times when the road is narrow and I don’t want to smash a trailer towing mirror lol

Although I'm shopping lighter trucks, I went through exactly the same process, and then eventual conversion. It's nice to say we want a basic stripped-down truck, but one winter above the Mason-Dixon with remote start and a heated steering wheel will convert almost any truck owner.

 

[rocco611]

Small inexpensive trucks seemed to have disappeared from the US market in the early 2000's . Most new light trucks here in California are 40k on up plus expensive DMV fees and insurance. It would be great to see a low cost no frills truck in the US. People don't seem to mind paying 50k to 100k for a new truck here though. Dealers seem to have no trouble selling them even with high interest rates. I'm not much for all the new vehicle features, but We have lots of lane departure collisions on two lane highways where I live. Maybe lane control systems need to be standard equipment. Caltrans put in longitudinal rumble strips on most of two lane highways near me. Late at night I can hear the drunks driving by brail coming back from the casino.

 

[Oaktree]

Although I'm shopping lighter trucks, I went through exactly the same process, and then eventual conversion. It's nice to say we want a basic stripped-down truck, but one winter above the Mason-Dixon with remote start and a heated steering wheel will convert almost any truck owner.

pfffffffft. Real Men® don't use heated steering wheels. How basic is "basic"? I'm sure we all have accessories we wouldn't want to do without...in my case a decent-sounding radio (don't care about bluetooth, Appleplay or any of that stuff), an engine that can handle some towing and driving in mountainous terrain, 4WD, extended cab, doesn't need to have car-like handling/ride, but I don't want a 50s truck ride either, at least a 6' bed. Gotten kind of spoiled by power windows & automatic transmission. Can't think of much else...wouldn't even miss AC...in the 15 years I've had my truck I might have used it once or twice.

Seems a bare bones $10k pickup would be a lot better than something like a Roxur at $15k+. My Kawaski Mule was just over $8k and I would rather have this Toyota for a couple of thousand more. Bring it in as a UTV and avoid all the safety BS.

Still have to wonder on how many "compromises" have been made to get to that price point. As you noted, it's tough to find an ATV for that price in 2023.

The older compact Toyotas were quite popular off roaders with a few mods

I recall them being kind of a cult thing back in the late 80s/90s. What was their appeal? I always just figured it was they were considered disposable since they rusted out so fast.

 

[CliffordK]

Small inexpensive trucks seemed to have disappeared from the US market in the early 2000's

Around 2000, one could still buy a new Ford Ranger for $9,995, I think. Then Ford decided to stop making the pickup.

There have been smaller pickups from time to time. The VW Caddy, Chevy Luv, Ford Courier, Subaru Brat, etc. However, most of those have been gone since the mid 1980's in the USA, but many have endured very long production lives in other places around the world.

My old Ford Ranger was pretty basic. I don't remember the exact year. Maybe 89. I bought it used in the around 2000. Little 4 cylinder engine, 4 or 5 speed manual transmission, vinyl floor, no AC. I think it even had window cranks. Yet, it was quite a little work horse. It was OK with no AC in Oregon, except I promptly drove it to the Midwest.

I still like to roll down the windows a bit while driving. However, the modern electronic world makes talking on the phone much more difficult with the windows down. And, the old Ranger got sweltering hot with the windows up while trying to talk on the phone.

 

[dfkrug]

I'm not much for all the new vehicle features, but We have lots of lane departure collisions on two lane highways where I live. Maybe lane control systems need to be standard equipment. Caltrans put in longitudinal rumble strips on most of two lane highways near me.

CalTrans has just improved some of the shoulders that exist along the mountain highway near me, and that's a good thing. But the LKA system in our car gets confused when trying to nudge the steering wheel along this twisty mountain road. Very disconcerting, so we turned it off, which sticks and does not need resetting every time we use the car.

You are right that low-option PU trucks are hard to find new or used. I do like some of the newer features, but most not so much. Just upgrading to power windows from my older '89 Toyota 4x4 V6 PU was for safety/convenience.

 

[jjeff]

I've owned 2 Tacoma's and one Toyota pickup pre Tacoma. All compact no frill 4wd 4 cylinder 5 speed regular cabs. Those trucks took a beating and wanted more. Last one took it sightseeing (before I owned a sxs) two tracking went thru rather deep water it was at top of the hood and I barely sputtered out of it to dryer land. Drained water out of air box eventually changed differential, trans, transfer case fluids cuz water was above all breather tubes and drove it another 50k before I sold it. Got my first toy wedged betweens two trees in my real stupid yrs well off the beaten path most wouldn't walk down had to cut one of the trees down to get it out. I also had one frame replacement covered by Toyota on a truck that was over 10 yrs old. I could go on with my experiences praising Toyota trucks but I'll get carpal tunnel. I don't even currently own one though fingers crossed ill eventually find a cheap decent 25+ yr old diesel 5 spd 4wd hilux lol.

 

[Bearsixty7]

I recall them being kind of a cult thing back in the late 80s/90s. What was their appeal? I always just figured it was they were considered disposable since they rusted out so fast.

They were about 3-4K less than a comparable Chevy S10 or Ranger!

In 1983 I bought my first vehicle as a teenager, a brand new Toyota longbed, 2WD 5 spd "deluxe" pickup for $5500, The Ranger and S10 were both around 9500 at multiple dealers.

A few months later, I took it back to the dealer and had A/C installed for $600.00 (None came factory with A/C the were only dealer installed).

That Toyota managed 28-30mpg on average on country roads and highway. On a long highway drive it got 33mpg.
My Dad ended up driving it more and I drove the 4/4 ton to feed cattle.

 

[two_bit_score]

Now I wish it had the power-folding trailer tow mirrors for those times when the road is narrow and I don’t want to smash a trailer towing mirror lol

That is absolutely something I wish I had. And a back up camera.