Thoughts on new truck

[DTro]

I think the planets have finally aligned and I think I'm ready to pull the trigger on a truck.

For discussion sake let's use these numbers for a reference:

Budget of 20K or less (less is always better )

Married with no kids

Drive approx 15-20k/yr

Small alum 14ft boat

No other toys to haul around yet (possible 4 wheeler purchase later this year)

4x4 for sure

I'm thinking I would like an outside box (non SUV) for the unmentionables that a catfisherman totes around

I'm leaning heavily towards a double cab Tacoma. I've also eyed a few Ford Explorer Sportracs. The options/creature comforts you can get on a domestic vehicle blows away the Tacoma. On the other hand, none of my Toyotas have seen the repair shop yet.

I haven't ruled out a fullsize truck. Is the MPG gain worth the sacrifice in space?

Obviously this will have to be a used vehicle with my budget.

Opinions?

[ChuckN]

Dad had a hemi 5.7 when they were introduced and the truck was lucky to get 12mpg empty. Also the scheduled maintanance hurt too, really expensive tune-ups every 30K miles(?), if I recall. He got rid of the truck...but it was reliable.

[dmengel]

Funny thing about milage, I had a 2002 Ford F350 powerstroke. Well it would get about 10 going up to Red Lake pulling my house. Now I took two trips with my 2007 F350 Diesel & it gets 10 pulling my house. My brother has a 1997 F250 & he always says that he gets 15 pulling his house. Well last trip up & back we ran together & when we filled up he used the same amount of fuel as I did? I wonder if some guys think it makes them a better person if there truck gets better milage? HAHA

[SWMuskeye]

I don't particularily care for dodge, and really you won't save much mileage on the 4.7L V8 than the hemi, because the Hemi shuts down to 4 cyclinders on the highway when not towing.

Also, right now 1500 ram quad cabs come with a $5000 retail incentive, if you lease it, you get $1000 more.

[CrappiesNeyes]

I don't really think I have to "say my truck gets better milage to make myself a better person" Those are the honest #'s I get with my truck. I drive 25 miles each way to work and some city driving and the "average is 15.5. Maybe its the gear ratio or my driving style but those are the #'s I get. By the way my truck does not have the MDS that shuts the 4 cylinders down. It runs on 8 all of the time.

[upnorth]

I tend to think it is quite a bit driving style thing. The harder you accelerate and more stop and go driving you do the worse it is gonna get.

I have never personally talked to anyone that had a Dodge truck that was happy with the gas economoy. That was the reason I went with Ford, that and I have some pretty bad things about the trannys too.

[Big Dave2]

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I have an 04 Dodge 1500 quad cab, 5.7 hemi. I get approx 15 mpg (everyday driving) 12-13 mpg pulling the boat (1750 Crestliner Fishhawk) and I have gotton up to 19 on long trips. I am happy with the milage, I also considered smaller trucks (I had a Dakota before this) but the milage really doesn't seem to be much better. Like they say "you wanna play, you gotta pay". Good luck with your purchase. I would definitely check your Dodge dealer, they have 0% and some great deals from time to time.

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Wow, I hope to get that kind of mileage. Any advise, so far I love the rig, but a trip the the metro cost a half tank! (@ $2.40 a gallon)

07 Ram 5.7 Hemi Quad shortbox. 12-13 on a good day. 26 gallon tank, 300 miles if I really watch it (that equals 11.5 MPG).

Those figures are City and Intestate 35 (40+ one way Interstate miles) driving. I only have 300 some miles on it, so hopefully the rings seat REALLY well and it improves.

river-rat4

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Your mileage should improve with time, especially with the hemi. They are known for providing poor mileage during the first few thousand miles then it should improve slightly. mine did.

[Big Dave2]

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I tend to think it is quite a bit driving style thing. The harder you accelerate and more stop and go driving you do the worse it is gonna get.

I have never personally talked to anyone that had a Dodge truck that was happy with the gas economoy. That was the reason I went with Ford, that and I have some pretty bad things about the trannys too.

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1st of all the tranny problem that some Dodge trucks had was addressed and fixed many years ago. That problem was with the older style trucks back in the early to mid 90's.

Second of all, when I buy a truck I buy it because I want the power to do the things that a truck should do. I get around 14 mpg everyday driving and up to 19 mpg on long trips up north when I am not pulling the boat or anything. Most every full size truck I know gets around 15 mpg everyday driving. Is 1 mpg enough to be a deal breaker on a good tough, powerfull truck? Not to me, especially when it was the most reasonably priced truck in its class. You have to save a lot of money on fuel to justify paying 2, 3 or up to $5,000 more for the initial price of the truck not to mention the extra finance charges on that money.

For someone that wants a good, tough, dependable truck, wants 4-doors and a few bells and whistles, but not the luxury package, and wants it all to fit in the garage and the budget, I challenge anyone to come up with a better deal than the quad cab dodge hemi truck.

[Big Dave2]

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Dad had a hemi 5.7 when they were introduced and the truck was lucky to get 12mpg empty. Also the scheduled maintanance hurt too, really expensive tune-ups every 30K miles(?), if I recall. He got rid of the truck...but it was reliable.

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Why was he getting expensive tune-ups every 30,000 miles? Sounds like a personal decision to me. Or his dealer duped him into giving them more money. There is no reason to do any more maintinance on a hemi motor than any other motor.

[uffdapete]

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Thanks for the thoughts, keep them coming.

Funny you mention the resale of the Toyota's. The one thing I do have on my side is that I bought a new Camry and I should be able to reap some rewards of that purchase to offset another Toyota if I so decide to go that way.

Wish I had to funds to buy a new Tacoma or Tundra

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After owning 1 new and 8 used Toyotas over the last 27 years it'd be a no brainer for me. Someone on FM defines Toyota as:

Japanese for less time in the shop and more time on the water.

That's in addition to better resale and gas mileage.

[Valv]

I had a Dodge gas and I was getting 14mpg to 16mpg during normal use, I don't see much difference from any other brands.

If you tow you will never get good mileage unless you get a diesel, in which case the Dodge with Cummins and manual transmission will beat anybody else for mileage and power.

Bottom line is: if you tow heavily or often bite the bullet and get a diesel, otherwise stay with a gasser but don't complain.

BTW Dodge is coming out soon with a 1/2 ton diesel which will kick butt...

[jltimm]

A 1/2 ton diesel would be SMART thinking on Dodges part! Not everyone needs a 3/4 ton or better?

[iland99]

Yep, for model year 2009 you'll be able to order a 1/2 ton Ram with a Cummins light-duty diesel engine in it. It won't have the current 6.7L Cummins engine, it will be an all-new engine. Should be very interesting!

[DTro]

Spent the day at the Toyota dealer today. Drove a Tacoma and 4Runner.....wow, IMO it wasn't even close. Same year (2004), same miles and same price (actually the Taco was 1500 more), the 4Runner blew the Tacoma away. In ride, comfort, steering, space, interior design, just about everything, except for the box.

I was very impressed with the 4Runner.

The only downfall is the price

[jltimm]

They sure don't give them Toyota's away!

[Valv]

What's the price ?

[DTro]

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What's the price ?

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The few I've looked at have been around 20k, give or take a couple k.

[hanson]

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The few I've looked at have been around 20k, give or take a couple k.

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20k, eh? A guy can buy a whole lot of lightly used truck for 20k.

Guess if I'm plopping down 20 large, its going to be for a full size truck.

Lots of used full size GMCs, Chevs, and Fords in that ballpark.

[jltimm]

Although the Chevy's, and others are nice.When you sell them in a few years the resale for the Toyota will be quite a bit better than the "big" three.

[fishing tech]

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Although the Chevy's, and others are nice.When you sell them in a few years the resale for the Toyota will be quite a bit better than the "big" three.

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Well if you pay more in the beginning the resale should be higher

[DTro]

Well, I pulled the trigger on a 4runner yesterday.

I drove a bunch of vehicles and I kept coming back to this one. It tows plenty, has lots of goodies and can deliver a steady 20mpg (got 24 on an extended drive today).

Looked like a Toyota dealership in my driveway today

Car is currently available on CarSoup

[jltimm]

Congrats on the sweet ride! Excellent choice!

[Valv]

Good luck Dtro !!!!

[DTro]

Thanks guys

BTW.....AirJer, if you see this, could you shoot me an email

[email protected]

[hondavxr]

Great choice. You will have many years with that one.

[Doonbuggy]

dtro - Congratulations! I just joined the 4Runner family back in November and I could not be happier.

Since purchasing mine I've noticed how many OLD 4Runners are still on the roads today. That says something. Enjoy!

DB