Buying a Vehicle - Chapter 2

[poorboy]

The f-150's haven't got the suspension that the chevy's have. Especially with the Z71 package. The brother in law went from a quad cab 1500 dodge which looked good but stunk with the small v-8 and automatic. It just wasn't set up right and sucked the gas with 10 to 13 mpg. His 01 chevy ext. Z71 with a 327 is one of the best half ton packages out there and I think from 18 to 20 mpg. My family is a "Ford" family and I tried not to be impressed but I am.

I have began trying to get my wife interested in the idea of a diesel in a F-350 crew cab with an eight foot bed when the van plays out. I figure when she tears the bed off in a parking lot I can put a steel flat and really use it for what it was meant for.

Patrick

 

[DaRube]

You guys continue to Rock & Roll!!! No wonder I love this place.....even tho I haven't been around as much as I was a few months back. Anyway, thanks for the great feedback, and keep it coming.....

Actually we did look a bit at the Tacoma, and the biggest cab on that certainly is roomier than the Tundra. It probably isn't justified entirely by the work that I will be doing with this thing.....but I just WANT the bigger truck. I'm sure you guys know how THAT is.....just like the next size larger tractor.

I will probably do several more test drives, and some serious soul searching.....and see if I still feel that way.

I am still curious about who here does their own maintenance on their vehicles, and whether that gives you an additional level of comfort.....

Alas diesel will not be a great option for me....although we did discuss it at one dealership (and I was glad to learn more about that possibility). But I am curious....do these gas critters drink regular unleaded...or do they sop up hi-test?? At these low gas mileages, that 20c/gal can add up real quick.

 

[DocHeb]

My 2001 Silverado 8.1L uses regular 87 octane gas. I just traded my 1994 Taurus in since the dealer couldn't find the reason for it's stalling without notice. Although I loved that Taurus (3.2L SHO), I couldn't trust the car to work. This is the first pickup that I've owned, and it is great!

 

[JeffRey30747]

I really can't tell any difference in performance or mileage when I use different octane levels, so I normally use regular unleaded 87 octane. I have an old '85 Toy 4WD beater truck that has 200K+ on it and have thought about replacing it with an older (late 80s, early 90s) F-250 or F-350 for those jobs that the little Tacoma doesn't seem to be up to. Good luck on your search, Jeff

 

[Buck]

Dave,

A couple of posts have validated that there really isn't that much differences today in American vs. Japanese longitivity.

I'm going to buy an American pickup truck. The reason is that I love pickups. Pickups are an American invention. When I take my family out for ice cream in August, I'll be [censored] if I will be seen in a Japanese pickup truck. I am sorry if this is not politically correct, but on the other hand, I would never want to go to a Japanese Shushi bar, either.

Buck

 

[njrqs]

Jeff396

Gee you have a good memory.

Yep I like my Dual Cab Hilux but the room in the back seat is a bit tight.

The sort ChrisR has bought is newer than mine, much like the photo someone else has posted here. It has slightly more rear legroom than mine, but the tray gets consequently shorter.

Mine has a silly 6' long tray, making it a real long overhang at the rear. OK for campign gear etc. but I scrape the rear sometimes.

Go the toyotas !!

I have attached another pic again !

Cheers

 

[Jeff396]

I have a good memory.......for vehicles. At least that's what my wife would tell you. As for everything else....well/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif.

If you remember we ended up buying our F350 crew for the rear doors. I have a feeling that the Toyota crew would have been too small for us. We have the car seat issue. At the time I don't think any small crews had made it to our shores with the possible exception of the Nissan. That had a 4 ft bed which was way too small for my needs. No, the thought of taking the truck on a trip with the kids constantly kicking the back of my seat didn't sound too appealing. Being able to tow up to 10,000 lbs was also a requirement. Maybe at the next purchase we will be past that issue and I won't have to drive a land yatch anymore......but then again there's always a Hummer!!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Sure would be nice to get another Toyota, unfortunately, the Land Cruiser has turned into a Yuppie overpriced mess.

Jeff

Oh, and I still have your "truck in water" pictures on disk.

 

[smilingreen]

Dave,
I have a 2000 Tundra I bought brand new in 2000. Has the 4.7 L gas motor and two wheel drive. I have not had any problems with it except for a cracked exhaust manifold, which the dealer replaced under warranty. It rides great, has plenty of power, and I think the back has plenty of room. We took 2 12 year old to Florida last summer in it and no complaints. I have a 26' sailboat that I pull with the Tundra, Which the boat and trailer weigh in at around 5500 pounds. Here in Tennessee, we have some pretty steep boat ramps, and the Tundra pulls the boat out without even spinning a wheel. Plenty of power. I also have a JD790 FWD/FEL and multiple implements I pull around with it on a tandem axle 12000 pound rated trailer. The tundra pulls it no problem out of fields and up steep, narrow country roads. As for the chevy, I can't compare, since I have never owned one, but I can say, /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif I have pulled my buddies FWD silverado out of the mud 3 times with my JD 790./w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif Take your time buying and have fun doing it. I sure did.

 

[fishman]

DaRube,

My 2000 model Chevy Z-71 uses 87 octane unleaded. Towing I get about 14-14.5 mpg, about 15.5 all around, and 17.5 on the highway at 75 mph. Not the best mileage, but not bad for a 4wd.

I really like it, and think it is a quality truck. As to the "built in America" theme, my Chevy was assembled in Canada, and the little Dodge Neon I commute in was "hecho in Mexico". Given the fact that many Toyotas are built in the U.S., I really wouldn't know which one to buy if you were trying to "buy American". I tried twice, and failed both times./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif-

My advice is to drive them both, with your entire family in tow, to see which is more comfortable. I suspect that neither back seat will be entirely satisfactory. If I had it to do over again, I would get a full-size, four-door pickup. People I know that have the Chevy 6.0 liter in the HD series are only giving up about 1-2 mpg.

 

[njrqs]

Jeff

I only have one small child at present. When/if I ever have 2 teenagers I am sure the Toyotas then will be too small.

I'd like a wagon (Eg. Landscruiser or Nissan Patrol (Don;t know if you have that?)) but the ute is so handy. Just the dust and water I get in the canopy is a real pain. It was built to sleep in but now we have a camper trailer so that really isn't the issue anymore. I do have a fridge in the back of the ute so it is really set ut for what we want.

Decisions decisions - Maybe that's why we have had over 16 cars between us in 13 years !!!

Cheers