Truck: What do you have?

[StarsFan4Life]

I am looking to buy a new truck in the next couple of months. I want to spend no more than $20k. I currently have a 1999 Jeep Cherokee with 175k miles. It's time...

I have a 75 mile round trip commute for work. I am coming to terms that with a truck, my gas mileage will NOT be close to a car, but should be about the same as my old ass Jeep.

What do you guys have and recommend in a Super Cab (4 door) V8?

I am currently looking at the following:

Ford F150
Chevy Silverado
Dodge Ram
Toyota Tacoma Prerunner


Now, the question you might ask.....why would I buy a truck with my commute? Simple....well...for a couple of reasons:

* I will use the truck for home use (landscaping, home improvements, etc)
* Tired of being in something small and unsafe on the roads (the roads of Dallas or dangerous!)

 

[Bignate603]

What's dying on the cherokee?

 

[Andrew1990]

I like the Chevy Silverados. My dad owns two of them. His older one has 250K miles on it and is still running and his newer one has near 100K on it and can do almost anything any other truck could do.

I also like the F series from ford, but I would never go near a Dodge since I have family that has nothing but trouble with them. Of course they treat their trucks like shit though.

 

[ecom]

I used to drive an International 7300 and 4200 with DT466 for work. Either of these would take care of most of your home improvement requirements and necessity to have a larger vehicle.

How big a truck do you want? Why is the Tacoma in there when that is a smaller truck. It's no longer compact (thinking Ranger and S-10) but it's smaller than the other three.

If you do need a 1/2 ton, I would say it's a toss up between the Chevy and Ford. If you don't mind the smaller size of the Tacoma. Also with the Tacoma, you cannot get a V8.

 

[jlee]

I like my Tundra, but you probably want something with better fuel mileage if you're commuting that far.

 

[EightySix Four]

I like F150's, just not the recent 250/350. Damn diesel blows itself up.

 

[herm0016]

i get around 20 mpg on the highway and about 15 in town with my 09 GMC. Pretty good for a full size ext. cab. My dad and I both have them and have not had any problems.

 

[CraigRT]

RAM... Best truck on the market right now... It looks the best by far as well.

Although the looks are subjective.

 

[shortylickens]

Chevy S-10 ZR2. Hate it. Been more trouble than its worth.
Would not recommend any GM product right now. If they are getting better, its hard to tell. Give them another few years to catch up with Ford. Chrysler I cannot comment on.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Since you're considering the tacoma, why not the nissan frontier too? Peppier engine (you won't miss the V8) and quite comfortable. On gas mileage, you can get an easy 22 on the highway if you don't have a heavy right foot.

Of the ones you've listed, I'd go with the Ram. Especially with MDS, which I've heard gives some decent gas mileage.

You say "new", but I have no idea how you plan on getting a new supercab V8 for 20k.

 

[Vette73]

How about a midsize truck? The Canyon/Colorado would fit the bill.

If not, then for full size I would go Chevy/GMC first and Ford 2nd.

 

[nwfsnake]

'06 Tundra Double Cab here. Love it, but 15 city, 17 hiway. You will want something with a little better fuel mileage with your commute.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I am looking to buy a new truck in the next couple of months. I want to spend no more than $20k. I currently have a 1999 Jeep Cherokee with 175k miles. It's time...

I have a 75 mile round trip commute for work. I am coming to terms that with a truck, my gas mileage will NOT be close to a car, but should be about the same as my old ass Jeep.

What do you guys have and recommend in a Super Cab (4 door) V8?

I am currently looking at the following:

Ford F150
Chevy Silverado
Dodge Ram
Toyota Tacoma Prerunner


Now, the question you might ask.....why would I buy a truck with my commute? Simple....well...for a couple of reasons:

* I will use the truck for home use (landscaping, home improvements, etc)
* Tired of being in something small and unsafe on the roads (the roads of Dallas or dangerous!)

Now that's fear!

Why on earth anyone would buy a fullsize truck to drive 75 miles to and from work each day is beyond me. There are a plethora of safe cars that get much better mileage. Fact is, you have no real need for a truck. Admit it, you just want a truck for the image.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

If you aren't (or are rarely) towing then get a mid-sized (colorado, etc). I have a ranger and have probably towed more with it than most guys with full-size trucks.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I have a 2002 Dodge Dakota. But if you find an '03+ Dodge Ram with a Cummins, don't overlook it. They can get MPGs in the 20s easily.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Now that's fear!

Why on earth anyone would buy a fullsize truck to drive 75 miles to and from work each day is beyond me. There are a plethora of safe cars that get much better mileage. Fact is, you have no real need for a truck. Admit it, you just want a truck for the image.

I explained why I want a truck....it has NOTHING to do with image...I am already married...so my IMAGE is already out the door....lol.

 

[vi edit]

I said the same thing in your other thread on the same topic...but you're a fool to spend $20,000 on something that gets known abysmal milage on a commute that you know if horribly long.

It's one thing to own a poorly efficient car already and be put into a long commute. It's another thing akin to insanity to actually chose to buy something with poor economy already knowing what sort of commute you are facing. When gas goes up again, you'll be paying the equivalent of another car payment each month just to fill up the 20-30 gallon tank in that thing.

I have nothing against trucks/suvs. At all. I've owned trucks in the past and my wife drives an SUV. But our commutes are 6 miles. Not 75.

 

[joutlaw]

2004 Silverado RCSB Z71 4x4 with the 5.3L V8. The LSx variants are wonderful engines. The newer AFM will yield mileage around 20-22 on the highway. The new bodystyle are no comparison to my truck as far as fit and finish. You will get close to the same mileage with GM fullsize with a V8 compared to the japanese mid-size trucks with a V6.

 

[HannibalX]

There are large cars that are safe. Ford's Panthers are a good choice and do well on the highway, my Crown Vic will do 30 mpg highway with the 4.6L V8. Some family members owned a Grand Marquis and were broad sided by an Excursion that ran a red light. The Excursion was going approximately 45 mph at the point of impact. Both family members walked away from the accident with only minor cuts and bruises. Ford's new large sedans (the Ford 500/Taurus, Mercury Montego/Sable, Lincoln MKZ) are also very safe cars, probably the safest "normal" cars on the road at the moment (outside of the Panther cars).

 

[vi edit]

30 MPG in a Crown vic? Lets be real here. You can maybe acheive that under incredibly ideal situations for a short duration but that is by no means real world averages that you get on a day to day basis.

 

[HannibalX]

30 MPG in a Crown vic? Lets be real here. You can maybe acheive that under incredibly ideal situations for a short duration but that is by no means real world averages that you get on a day to day basis.

I suggest you visit CrownVic.net and do some reading. With 2:73 gears it's absolutely possible to achieve 30 mpg highway. I drive the Interstate to and from work every day and yes, it's normal. Lots of people achieve great mileage with these cars, with the V8.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I explained why I want a truck....it has NOTHING to do with image...I am already married...so my IMAGE is already out the door....lol.

Okaaaaay...so, you just want it because you want it then. Got it.

 

[child of wonder]

Christ... even if you can find a truck that will do 20 mpg for your commute, that's about 19 gallons of gas per week. I can only assume a big part of your commute is highway driving and there are lots of midsize cars that will get you 32-33 mpg (Fusion, Accord, etc.).

At 32 mpg you'd use less than 12 gallons of gas and save (assuming $2.75/ga for gas) $20 per week.

Any reason you can't get an older pickup for your landscaping, home improvements, etc. and a car with decent gas mileage for the drive to work?

 

[Turin39789]

If you're just using the truck for light and normal activities, the ford ranger 4 cylinder will give you a truck bed and decent mileage. Thats where you need to look if you want mpg with the utility of a bed. You won't be hauling large boats with it, but you can fill it with mulch, firewood, motorcycles, etc. I've even towed a small car behind mine.

If you can't deal with the 4 cyl I wouldn't bother with the small truck, as the v6 and v8 in it are the same as in a full size.

 

[ScoobMaster]

Okaaaaay...so, you just want it because you want it then. Got it. My 7 year old is like that sometimes.

So what if he does? What is it about you that cannot grasp a simple concept like"you live your life and I'll live mine"? Why do you think you need to force your views/choices/lifestyle on others?

I'm sure if a bunch of us formed a committee and scrutinized your life choices (material things, lifestyle, hobbies, habits, etc..) we would find a few things we would find things a we disagree with as well. Would you like being told that "you shouldn't/couldn't" continue with that choice?