Small/Midsize Truck Discussion Thread

[SixSpeeder]

I'm planning on adding a truck to my fleet to do some light offroading and some light hauling of junk. It does't seem like there's very many options out there for new trucks that aren't full-size, there's pretty much the Nissan Frontier and the Toyota Tacoma (Honda Ridgeline is butt ugly, I guess there's also that Chevy I don't know much about). Out of those two, I'm leaning towards the Frontier, the Tacoma doesn't really "do anything" for me, it's styling is kind of boring/weird imo.

The truck I buy will have:

• 4x4
• At least a V6
• Reasonable ground clerance stock for light offroading
• Under $30k if new

One problem I'm running into is the horrible gas mileage of these trucks equipped with a V6 and 4x4, the Frontier gets 15/21 mpg and the Tacoma gets 16/21 mpg. Both these trucks can be outperformed by full-size V8 trucks (based on EPA estimates, I doubt I would get better gas mileage driving around in a V8, especially in city traffic). I could look into getting a diesel, but those tend to be full-size and expensive when I've searched in the past. I'd like to be able to road trip a bit around Washington to camp and see some of the beautiful scenery, and I don't like the idea of getting 21 highway mpg, that means I'll probably really be getting 19 mpg at the best, on level ground, which there isn't a whole-lotta-of around here.

Any thoughts, opinions, experiences, things I should know before proceeding? I would consider buying a used truck, but I like the idea of getting one new, I plan on keeping whatever truck I get for a very long time as a utility vehicle. I'm going to test drive a Frontier PRO-4X tomorrow if I have the time.

 

[iGTI1]

Good luck on your search, both the Frontier V6 and Tacoma offer a great V6. I alway liked the previous gen Tacoma, to bad Toyota came and fucked if up with new design.

 

[Vancity2Constantinople1]

 

[Merkle]

I'm in the same boat. My requirements are almost he same, minus the 4WD.

I've driven almost every version of the Tacoma, and I'm impressed, it's a solid little truck, but massively over-priced. The Frontier looks like you get more for your money, plus I like the look of it better.

Gas mileage is dismal with any truck, V8 or V6, the only way to get around that is get one with a 4-Cyl, but that kind of defeats the purpose.

 

[Merkle]

I've also been about find used Ram 1500's for under 30, with the 4.7L and 4WD FWIW.

 

[XGC75]

Aaaand /thread.

butchered by autocorrecr

 

[GeorgiaBII]

I had this same quandary a few years back.

Honestly buy a full size truck. Greater capability, larger bed, and about the same price and similar if not better fuel *cough* economy.

Love my 05 silverado.

 

[LG3MK6]

I've test driven a 2012 frontier V6 2WD and recommend it. They have good power and are pretty comfy and roomy. The upcoming Chevy Colorado sounds promising too.
"a 302-hp 3.6-liter V-6 will be offered at launch; for 2016, Chevy promises a 2.8-liter, turbo-diesel four with an estimated 180 horses and 350 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual will be available, but only in four-cylinder, two-wheel-drive models. All others get six-speed autos."

 

[FLtrooper]

Love my 13' SE 2wd V6. OTD was 25k.

 

[slc71]

From someone who has owned a 94 Toyota (4 cyl), 2005 Frontier (6 cyl) and 2006 F150 (V8 5.4L) get a full size with the biggest engine you can get. The gas mileage did not mean crap once you put a load in the bed, hooked up a trailer or going off-road. My yota and frontier struggled with having a heavy load in the back plus the bumper would scrap the ground. The F150 I can put a load into almost to its max and the engine does not struggle at all. My F150 had a 6 1/2 foot bed and it was so nice to have a large bed. If I ever get another truck it will be a full size Ford, Chevy or RAM.

 

[PrayforMojo]

My 2007 GMC Sierra Diesel gets roughly the same fuel economy as the smaller trucks but has all the capability of a full size. Plus you can put a power programmer on and make 500hp. I'd buy a used diesel, they won't depreciate like a gas truck and they are way more powerful and capable.

 

[CaptObvious75]

If you can wait, check out the new Chevy colorado


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[SixSpeeder]

Good luck on your search, both the Frontier V6 and Tacoma offer a great V6. I alway liked the previous gen Tacoma, to bad Toyota came and fucked if up with new design.

Thanks man.

Maybe throw a new engine in it.

I'm in the same boat. My requirements are almost he same, minus the 4WD.

I've driven almost every version of the Tacoma, and I'm impressed, it's a solid little truck, but massively over-priced.

Agreed. I don't want to pay that much of a premium just for a Toyota badge, especially on a truck that looks funny to me.

The Frontier looks like you get more for your money, plus I like the look of it better.

Gas mileage is dismal with any truck, V8 or V6, the only way to get around that is get one with a 4-Cyl, but that kind of defeats the purpose.

I've also been about find used Ram 1500's for under 30, with the 4.7L and 4WD FWIW.

When I had my Grand Cherokee, I remember reading on the forums that the 5.7 gets better mileage than the 4.7 due to cylinder deactivation and having to work less hard overall. My problem was that the cylinder deactivation never turned on around here for long due to all the up and down hill on the freeways and roads around here. Plus if you were going much over 65 mph, it wouldn't turn on anyways half the time. 5300 lbs takes a lot to keep going. It would kill me to get a 4000 lb truck with a V6 that can't even match the gas mileage of my older, much more powerful, much more heavy offroader.

I had this same quandary a few years back.

Honestly buy a full size truck. Greater capability, larger bed, and about the same price and similar if not better fuel *cough* economy.

Love my 05 silverado.

Maybe I will, I'm curious to find out some real world numbers first. I still don't want to believe that I would be getting the same gas mileage in a lighter V6 vs a different platform that's heavier and more powerful.

I've test driven a 2012 frontier V6 2WD and recommend it. They have good power and are pretty comfy and roomy. The upcoming Chevy Colorado sounds promising too.
"a 302-hp 3.6-liter V-6 will be offered at launch; for 2016, Chevy promises a 2.8-liter, turbo-diesel four with an estimated 180 horses and 350 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual will be available, but only in four-cylinder, two-wheel-drive models. All others get six-speed autos."

Yeah, that Colorado is sounding pretty nice the more that I read about it. It doesn't come out until Fall though, and I bet dealers are going to mark them up a lot at first.

Love my 13' SE 2wd V6. OTD was 25k.

What type of gas mileage do you get normally (when not towing/hauling)? I know it's a 2wd, but just out of curiosity..

From someone who has owned a 94 Toyota (4 cyl), 2005 Frontier (6 cyl) and 2006 F150 (V8 5.4L) get a full size with the biggest engine you can get. The gas mileage did not mean crap once you put a load in the bed, hooked up a trailer or going off-road. My yota and frontier struggled with having a heavy load in the back plus the bumper would scrap the ground. The F150 I can put a load into almost to its max and the engine does not struggle at all. My F150 had a 6 1/2 foot bed and it was so nice to have a large bed. If I ever get another truck it will be a full size Ford, Chevy or RAM.

I may end up doing that if these V6's do truly get full-size V8 gas mileage. I know that when offroading and towing, I'm not going to get good gas mileage in any platform. I'm more worried about traveling around to get to those trails on the highway. I'm not going to get a V6 if I could have a V8 with the same/better fuel economy.

My 2007 GMC Sierra Diesel gets roughly the same fuel economy as the smaller trucks but has all the capability of a full size. Plus you can put a power programmer on and make 500hp. I'd buy a used diesel, they won't depreciate like a gas truck and they are way more powerful and capable.

Part of what's steering me away from diesels (other than cost and size) is having a forced induction engine. I want to keep this truck until it doesn't run right anymore, and I feel like there's more stuff that can go wrong/ less reliability vs a N/A engine, especially as the mileage starts to get high.

If you can wait, check out the new Chevy colorado


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Maybe.

 

[PrayforMojo]

Diesels are built so that 50% will travel 500,000 miles before needing an overhaul. Buy something with reasonable mileage, that is old person maintained and you'll be fine. Mines been running almost 100,000 miles at 150hp over stock, no issues so far.

 

[Stadpad]

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