Best small pickup truck?

[JJ650]

Originally posted by: DVad3r

Originally posted by: JJ650

Originally posted by: Turin39789

Originally posted by: DVad3r


Edit:

Sorry forgot to mention that it must have a crew cab. Ford Ranger doesn't. I also had a friend who had a Ranger and was not the least bit impressed with it.

Ah. Then the Ford Ranger anyway and deal with jumpseats for the passengers.

Rangers always have felt sluggish and who in their right mind wants to sit it those pathetic jump seats?

Canyons/Colorados usually pretty expensive for the weak i5 engine and the interiors are horrid.

My pick would be a newer Taco over the others.

I wouldn't say that i5 engine is weak, but for $ 1800 Canadian more you can get the V8 in there. Really you don't like the interior? I thought it actually looks pretty good...

I admit it has been a while since I have looked at them. I got a Tundra instead and stopped looking. When I first looked into the Canyon/Colorado, I was just turned off by all of the plastic panels and the crappy quality of the seats and door panels. It was rough, and looked cheap. The seats felt uncomfortable and the fabric didn't do it for me.

It may be different now, but I don't know. It's just my opinion.

 

[RedRooster]

Is a Dakota too big?
I picked up an 03 quad cab, 2wd with the 4.7 and that thing hauls pretty good. Better gas mileage with the 2wd, lots of room, and still fits in the garage easy.
It's still a better truck than brand new Rangers, I cross shopped and it wasn't really close. Pros and cons to each I guess.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Saga

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
I've been shopping around for a compact pickup lately and I've driven the following:

2006 Frontier extended cab V6 100k miles.

2005 Toyota Tacoma Extended Cab V6 85k miles.

2006 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab I4 25k miles.

2005 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab I5 4x4 Z71 30k miles.

2009 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab I4.

2008 Ford Ranger 3.0L V6.

2009 Ford Ranger 2.3L I4.

2009 Ford Ranger 4.0L V6 (All Rangers had the 5 speed automatic and were Extended Cab).

Of all those, I liked the Colorado I4 the best. The I4 is butter smooth with a lot of ooph to it for a 4 cylinder. The interior was awesome and much better than the Rangers. The Frontier was almost *too* gutsy, its steering was way too stiff, and its gas mileage was obviously atrocious. The Tacoma just felt "meh" inside and out. There wasn't really anything that made it worthwhile. The Rangers were in 2nd, their prices are much better than the Colorados. Their interior wasn't really that great to me but it was still very comfortable. The I4 I tested unfortunately had a 4.10 rear end, making it a gutless, slow object that I could hardly appreciate. The 3.0L was alright but its pointless now as the 4.0L has *more* power *and* *better* gas mileage. The 4.0L has no trouble getting up to speed, but the 3.0L V6 and the I5 in the Chevy have horrid vibrations that run thoughout the vehicle at idle.

My nod still goes to the I4 Chevy.

Kind of apples to oranges, wouldn't you say? Sure the i4 is butter smooth compared to 80k-100k cars (Tacoma, Frontier).

I owned an 06 Canyon, drove it 5k before becoming absolutely fed up with it and upgrading to a Sierra. My neighbor has an 07 Tacoma and he took my truck out of state to pick up a few cruisers and left me with his Tacoma for a week. In terms of build quality, engine power, and just plain interior the Tacoma is leagues ahead of the Canyon/Colorado.

As for gas mileage, the difference between the two was MAYBE 3-4mpg!

3-4MPG is a pretty big deal between trucks. When something gets low 20s, thats a 15% difference and could really add up if gas prices go back up.

He's probably comparing similar prices...while the tacoma is a good truck, the dreaded much lauded resale value is a strike against it when you're BUYING one! 😛

 

[JDub02]

I'm a really big fan of the crew cab Dodge Dakota. The 4.7L V8 is a nice smooth motor with lots of oomph. Lots of room inside. Rides is nice. I had one as a rental for 2 months last year (business travel).

 

[thecoolnessrune]

I agree with Jdub. The 4.7L V8 is *really* powerful. It's very comfortable and spacious inside, with the most interior room of any of the compacts, though the truck itself isn't really that compact..

But the V8 is pretty bad, and the V6 is anemic. If you're not doing the V8, then I'd drop back to the Colorado.

 

[PricklyPete]

I have an '05 Tacoma Access Cab with V6/Manual/TRD Package. If I wrecked my truck today...I'd go buy another tomorrow. I have 55K miles on the truck and it still performs like new. I'm hoping to get 15+ years on this thing and at the rate it is going...I should get at least that much.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: DVad3r
I wanted to see if there are any opinion here on a good small pickup. I'm geared towards the GMC Canyon, but there are a lot of them out there and wanted to see the general consensus of opinions/advice here.


Edit:

Sorry forgot to mention that it must have a crew cab. Ford Ranger doesn't. I also had a friend who had a Ranger and was not the least bit impressed with it.

they made a ranger with a crew cab, they called it an explorer.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: DVad3r
I wanted to see if there are any opinion here on a good small pickup. I'm geared towards the GMC Canyon, but there are a lot of them out there and wanted to see the general consensus of opinions/advice here.


Edit:

Sorry forgot to mention that it must have a crew cab. Ford Ranger doesn't. I also had a friend who had a Ranger and was not the least bit impressed with it.

They make a Ranger with a crew cab, they call it an Explorer Sport Track.

Edited for accuracy

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose

Originally posted by: ElFenix

They make a Ranger with a crew cab, they call it an Explorer Sport Trac.

Edited for accuracy

boom, headshot