Been researching pickups

[LoboGunLeather]

I shopped all through 2017 and into 2018 trying to find a basic truck. I wanted rubber floor mats, utility grade upholstery, minimum gimmicks. Everything on the dealership lots is tricked-out and loaded with expensive options, basically upscale SUV with a truck bed.

March 2018 I purchased a new 2017 Nissan Titan S, base model extended cab, 4-wheel drive, 5.6L V8, 7-speed overdrive automatic, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows and door locks, AM-FM-CD.

Obviously late year-end close-out. Sticker price about $38,000, I paid $27,000.

Nearly 7 years later, still my daily driver. Several long road trips (home is Pueblo, Colorado) to Minnesota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah. Now approaching 73,000 miles. Routine maintenance plus a set of tires and new battery. Around town 17-18 MPG, highway 21-22 MPG. 390 horsepower with 394 foot-pounds of torque, rated to tow over 9,000 lbs.

Now Nissan is discontinuing the Titan model. OK, after 7 years this one doesn't owe me anything and will probably go another 70,000 miles so I'll probably just keep driving it.

Wife's 2015 Altima will be 10 years old in September, but still looks and runs great, under 60,000 miles and doing just fine. If she wants something else I'll make it happen and one of the grandkids can have this one.

Both one owner vehicles, purchased new, neither one owes us anything now.

 

[Jebus35745]

Wife got a new vehicle 2 years ago and i should be next. The 2016 Silverado 4x4 I have has only 61,000 on it. Figure it should get 150,00 easily so maybe I’ll keep it a little longer. Just got tires and was gonna get a battery but it got too cold to put it in, it’s actually buried under electronics. Never kept a vehicle passed 50,000 miles, when the warranty ended the car was gone. Larry

 

[Farmer17]

Rather oddly I have noticed that the V6 1/2 ton pickups receive almost no comments online at all. Is there a stigma in admitting you own one? Finding a decent test/review of them is difficult. The only one I've found so far is for the V6 RAM, and it seems the Pentastar motor with the 8-speed copes quite well for most uses. I'm uncertain if the V6 can be had as a crew cab. I'll do some more digging for that info and the Ford and GM equivalents.[/QUOTE]

My 2018 Ram Quadcab has the 305 hp V6 Pentastar and I think its a very smooth, refined, fast revving, engine that pulls my 19' ski boat just fine and gets 21 mpg in the city. I would buy another one and definitely don't want a turbo.

 

[GaryS]

Did the Dodge by any chance have a Slant 6?

On used govt vehicles...

I've had two - a 1967 Ford Stepside bought from the USFS in '75 - drove it to '84 with only minor repairs (i took off the head and had a real mechanic grind the valves, then replaced the valve lifter pushrods with .020 replacements). When it died in '84, I sold the body for more than I paid for the truck.

In '85 I bought a '78 Dodge from GSA in Gallup, NM with minor body damage - drove it to '99, replacing 4 or 5 starters (these were a weak point) and u-joints. Paid $985 for it and sold it for $650 after over 13 years and 150K miles.

 

[biku324]

Did the Dodge by any chance have a Slant 6?

Nope - 318 4 speed. You could hook onto Hoover Dam with that truck in low gear and pull it. 10-12 mpg.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I bought a '07 Ford Ranger for 18,250 bucks out the door in 2010, had 20,700 on the clock. 4door with child seats, never used. 4wd, 5speed,4.0 V-6 and all the bells and whistles.20 to 23 MPG on the hiway. Now has 102,200 on the clock. Have had many offers to sell but it is willed to my daughter.

 

[GaryS]

Those were great engines, as was the Slant 6. As long as you changed the oil and kept the oil pick up screen clear they would just keep on running.

They were used on a lot of lobster boats in Maine and eastern Canada. In a few cases the boat sank, was raised, the engine had the oil changed along with new plugs and wires and went back to work.

Nope - 318 4 speed. You could hook onto Hoover Dam with that truck in low gear and pull it. 10-12 mpg.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

After almost 25 years with old blue, I pulled the trigger and got a Tacoma next to top line (behind the PRO) and could not be happier. Got a 2023, the last year before they updated it. Same as with old blue (she was a 1999 and I turned down a 2000). NEVER buy the first year of a model change-get the last year of the current as all the bugs have been worked out. Also my Tacoma has the naturally aspirated V6. Living at sea level I never felt the need for a turbo and the V6 does everything a 69 year old needs in a pick up truck. Tows my boat-hauls stuff to the dump-brings home dirt from the garden store and after 69 years on this earth is my very first pick up truck and I intend it to last long enough to be my last.
Funny thing is that after almost two years of observation, I realized that my Tacoma is just about the same size as older Tundras and not that much smaller than the F150 and Silverados. Don't need, nor want the big monsters they are churning out these days. My son has a BIG GMC 1500 4x4 and he wished he had mine after driving it. I damn near need a step ladder to get into it.
Only problem with the Tacoma is that Toyota knows what they have and are getting top dollar for them.

 

[soFlaNative]

Back in '19 I wanted a used V6 king cab that I could reach into the bed behind the cab. Narrowed the search to 2017's Tacoma and Frontier. Felt cramped behind the wheel of the Taco plus with all the electro doo dads and the open channel frame under the bed I decided on the Nissan.
Even though it's black with only 4400 miles and an off the lot price of 20K I jumped and couldn't be happier. I've only had a few loads of 900 - 1000 lbs for 20 miles at a time but haven't had any handling issues.
I've also noticed it's only a couple inches all around smaller than the '84 F-150 I drove for years and with adequate ground clearance even the wife with her bad knee can manage to crawl into and the especially likes the comfortable ride for hours at a time.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Saw a "Motor Trend" just last night on the new Ford pic um up truck.

It said that this company had the most options in the truck line up and
that the new 4 door witha short 5ft bed in back was a little better than their 2024 unit.

Even car prices are crazy now.
They are asking $50 K for a new 2025 Jeep in the Reno area.

I don't look at the car lots, since I don't need a heart attack, thank you.
Ever notice that the adds on tv don't give out the full prices ?

 

[S-W4EVER]

Rather oddly I have noticed that the V6 1/2 ton pickups receive almost no comments online at all. Is there a stigma in admitting you own one? Finding a decent test/review of them is difficult. The only one I've found so far is for the V6 RAM, and it seems the Pentastar motor with the 8-speed copes quite well for most uses. I'm uncertain if the V6 can be had as a crew cab. I'll do some more digging for that info and the Ford and GM equivalents.

My 2018 Ram Quadcab has the 305 hp V6 Pentastar and I think its a very smooth, refined, fast revving, engine that pulls my 19' ski boat just fine and gets 21 mpg in the city. I would buy another one and definitely don't want a turbo.[/QUOTE]

I would think a 3.6L Ram 1500 would be a pretty nice truck. My wife’s 300 has a 292 HP 3.6L engine and it’s got plenty of power and gets good mpg.

 

[anoblefox]

Very happy with our 2015 3.5 ecoboost, the best truck I have owned; having said that, my buddy just got a Ram 1500 with the 3.0 inline six; there is a utube video of that engine running wide open on a GIMBAL engine dyno that will make the hair on your arm stand up if you are a gearhead; plus some really good modern mechanical knowledge from the engineer that helped design the engine. www.youtube.com>watchv=jSheFdCs-Ic
or goggle engineer deep dive 3.0 hurricane engine
the dyno event is at about 16 minutes in

 

[BC38]

...Toyota Tundras of all years are radioactive botulism right now since word of their recent recall, despite the fact it only affects the very latest models.

I think that may be your answer right there.

Toyotas have earned a great reputation, based on their track record, as very reliable and trouble-free vehicles over the last several decades.

Since you aren't looking for one of the newer models that are affected by the recent recalls, a slightly older, low-mileage example, like a 2019-2023 model, could be a bargain. Especially if a lot of folks are spooked by the issues with the newer models.

As a general rule, lower demand = lower prices.

Just a thought, FWIW...

Best of luck on your hunt for the right one.

 

[jeffrefrig]

We just got my lovely Mrs. Refrigeration a new Ford Maverick. The 4 cylinder turbo gives it 250 HP and it's pretty well loaded for all it is. The stupid Chevy dealer had to rebuild the motor on my Malibu, they had it for 2 1/2 weeks and the danged engine light came on the day after I picked it up, same code. I may get another little Ford pickup for all they cost.

 

[pawngal]

Toyotas have earned a great reputation, based on their track record, as very reliable and trouble-free vehicles over the last several decades.

Since you aren't looking for one of the newer models that are affected by the recent recalls, a slightly older, low-mileage example, like a 2019-2023 model, could be a bargain. Especially if a lot of folks are spooked by the issues with the newer models.

As a general rule, lower demand = lower prices.

Just a thought, FWIW...

Best of luck on your hunt for the right one.

If I was looking to buy a pickup again I would look for a Tundra, low to average mileage, up to 10 years old. I had a 2011, best vehicle I've ever owned. 7 years, 1 battery, 1 set of tires.
Only reason I traded was the miserable gas mileage and the high gas prices in 2020. If gas prices continue to go down I might be looking for one again.

 

[LVSteve]

If I was looking to buy a pickup again I would look for a Tundra, low to average mileage, up to 10 years old. I had a 2011, best vehicle I've ever owned. 7 years, 1 battery, 1 set of tires.
Only reason I traded was the miserable gas mileage and the high gas prices in 2020. If gas prices continue to go down I might be looking for one again.

Indeed, the Toyota and Nissan trucks don't have the best rep for gas mileage. My stepson has a shorter than usual North Texas commute, but that could change.

 

[S-W4EVER]

It’s too bad Toyota never built a Tundra HD w/ turbo diesel to compete with the Big 3. After they got the bugs worked out I’d probably buy one.

 

[glowe]

Look no further!!!!!!!! Actually I was surprised that this one weighs almost 7000 pounds!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bald1]

I have two (2) 1500 Siverados with 5.3 gas engines and automatics. The '02 has 420k miles and is now relegated to towing our 3-horse trailer. It's had the trannie rebuilt at 250k, the differential at just over 300k; at about 350k she wouldn't hold oil pressure at an idle; my mechanic replaced the oil pump and timing chain - she runs like always.

My 2018 Silverado 1500 has towed nothing, but I haul lots of hay with it - 163k and not one problem. Not one.

The '02 has a 4-speed auto, the '18 a 6-speed. Both are good for 20+ mph empty.

Buy new and maintain would be my advice, especially since used trucks are nearly as expensive as used ones.

The joys of not living in the NE….. our trucks rust out long before they can reach that mileage. I have mine oil coated every fall. Definitely helps along with keeping it washed in the winter, but salt gets you one way or another.

 

[GaryS]

I was hoping for a Tundra diesel for years. Apparently they considered one for the 2022 Tundra, but went with a turbo V6 instead.

They do offer a 3.6 turbo diesel, but not on US vehicles.

Then again, given what diesel fuel goes for these days I probably wouldn't get one anyway.

It’s too bad Toyota never built a Tundra HD w/ turbo diesel to compete with the Big 3. After they got the bugs worked out I’d probably buy one.