What is a good small 4x4 pickup?

[Carl_NH]

Friends of ours had a 2000 Ranger 2WD 3.0L automatic extended cab - they got 24MPG on the highway. The 4WD is likely 2MPG less - I think 20-22MPG is best you could expect. It had 115K miles and they sold this spring for $1500.

Another thought - 160 mi a day is a lot of seat time - I am a bigger guy 6-3 so a regular cab is not comfortable at all for me - dont know if this is a factor for you David..

As most have said here, the Tacoma 4WD 4Cyl 5 speed is probably the best for mileage, but the similar Ford is not a bad truck either. Another one if you can find it is the 2000-2003 Tundra 5 Sp 6Cyl - this gets about 20-22 hwy a little bigger unit.

Just finding one of these that isnt rusted, and in need of a lot of maintenance is difficult.

Carl

 

[foreman Etexas]

Zombie Thread alert!

I have brought this back to life because my commute has just gotten worse. I need to be in the beltway 5 days a week, approx 160 mile round trip daily.

I am NOW looking for a simple 2-door 4x4 small truck. In a couple years it will become my oldest daughter's car. Until then I will drive it MOSTLY freeway/highway back and forth.

I'm leaning towards the older Ford Rangers with the 2.9 V6, I hear they get 25-26 mpg.

My neighbor has a 1989 long bed that is solid running I tried to buy, but his nephew is using it...

My concerns are longevity, and MPG.

Speak out now or forever hold your peace!

David

may I say go X-cab atleast.....

 

[dusty3030]

I had a 91 Toyota 4 banger 5 speed 4wd. 200,000 miles and all I ever had to replace was a O2 sensor.
Would have kept it but wanted something bigger. It was so good on gas I had to stop every once in awhile and crack the cap to let some out! Seriously Toyota with a 4 banger is a good little truck.

 

[RandyBell]

I have to agree on the Toyota I have a 91 tachoma trd v6 5spd. I have put 213000 on it the plugs have been changed once, it won't use a drop of oil between changes, I only get about 21mpg but never a problem with it.

 

[RobertN]

160 mile commute? Great googely woogelies! Is this a short term assignment, or is this for the long haul?

If it is for the long haul, I would stay away from trucks, and start looking at cars with high mpg, really high mpg. Jetta TDI, or one of the 40+mpg gas cars.

I did not go back thru the whole thread; is moving closer not an option? Or a different job? I did a 90 mile commute for a very short time, from the foothill down across the greater Sacramento area. It was nuts; too many hours stuck in traffic. And, fuel was significantly cheaper then.

 

[k0ua]

David I used to drive a 1999 standard cab ford ranger, and I can tell you, if you are very big, it is not the most comfortable truck in the world, you keep wanting to push the firewall out with your feet, and the backrest is too straight up and down for my enjoyment. Mileage if I remember was about 24 for a 2x4 5 speed.. so 4x4 would be some less. Automatic maybe 1 less also.

James K0UA

 

[MossflowerWoods]

160 mile commute? Great googely woogelies! Is this a short term assignment, or is this for the long haul?

If it is for the long haul, I would stay away from trucks, and start looking at cars with high mpg, really high mpg. Jetta TDI, or one of the 40+mpg gas cars.

I did not go back thru the whole thread; is moving closer not an option? Or a different job? I did a 90 mile commute for a very short time, from the foothill down across the greater Sacramento area. It was nuts; too many hours stuck in traffic. And, fuel was significantly cheaper then.

Robert,

Nope. Not moving off of the 51 acres.

But I am looking for another job though, I was already unhappy with 3 sometimes 4 days a week, but now they expect me to sit there doing NOTHING noon to 4pm every day... All I have done in the last 2 months at least is clean and replace parts in laser printers. Great Googlie Wooglies indeed... I have 30 years in High Tech (mostly hardware) and I've been an executive an a top sales guy. they are wasting my capabilities and I feel "put out to pasture"... I am totally underutilized...

I NEED 4x4 when the weather is bad (my current F-150 cannot get out when it snows due to 2wd). I also plan this wil become my 13 year old's car when she turns 15 or so (so she can fix it up before 16th).


I really don't want to just buy a crappy accord and commute with it...

Thanks,
David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

David I used to drive a 1999 standard cab ford ranger, and I can tell you, if you are very big, it is not the most comfortable truck in the world, you keep wanting to push the firewall out with your feet, and the backrest is too straight up and down for my enjoyment. Mileage if I remember was about 24 for a 2x4 5 speed.. so 4x4 would be some less. Automatic maybe 1 less also.

James K0UA

My neighbor is claiming 26 mpg std cab 4x4 stick (1989).

I plan to ride the harley often, but... I can't ride it every day... Weather, etc.

I also plan to give it to my daughter in a couple years. she wants a truck.

David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

where and how should I look?

Craigslist had a handful of Rangers, but I did not get eny emails back so I assume they are gone.

I cannot believe CarMax or other dealers will be carrying old late 80's early 90's Rangers or Toyotas unless they are jacked up tricked out stupid trucks.

Where should I go looking?
Thanks in advance,
David

 

[varmint]

I would suggest a Subaru Forester, since I bought one in '06 to deal with the snow and ice our lane sometimes is plagued with, after both I, in my Chevy Silverado (2 wheel drive, but with a limited slip rearend) and my wife in her Honda found ourselves sliding backwards, down thru the trees, without ANY control after winter storms. I have probably averaged 28 mpg, never felt it wouldn't go where I wanted to go (it has over 8" of ground clearance) and when I take it on highway trips, over 30 is easy if you keep it under 70. We had friends who bought a Tacoma, and after 3 years they dumped it... lousy gas mileage, and didn't do all that well under snow and ice conditions. Just my opinions, of course.
Good luck in finding a better way to spend you time!