Pickup Truck or SUV - Pros/Cons; help me decide (long post)

[MichaelD]

Good morning. Sometime early next year I'll be purchasing a new vehicle. As much as I really want, and can semi-afford something like an IS300, practicality and horrible roads dictate a truck-type vehicle. Last week I hit a pothole (moon crater, actually) on my street for the umpteenth time and bent a rim. $70 later and I'm pissed. Also, I need to be able to haul stuff and my Accord ain't cutting it anymore.

Some Facts
1. I live in a pothole-filled city, not a farm
2. Won't be towing a 12-ton, 5th wheel horse trailer...ever
3. Occasional light off roading...no Rubicon Trail
4. Budget cap is less than 27K
5. No American vehicles. No flames please. I'm as American as it gets (lifetime NRA member) but I don't buy American vehicles.

Reasons I want a pickup/some requirements
1. Can fit my motorcycle in the bed (bed needs to be at least 6 feet...so no mini trucks)
2. Can fit my 8-foot snake cage stand in the bed, if I let it hang out.
3. Can fit almost any damn thing I need to in the bed
4. Want to put big-ass, 400-pound grill guard on front and have "Get OUT of My Way" painted backwards on it. (Read it in YOUR RV-mirror )
5. Preferably a crew-cab type dealie. No "jumpseats" for me. Unfortunately, most (if not all) foreign trucks that ARE crew cab have the little 4-foot bed, which is utterly useless


Reasons I want an SUV/and a BUT....
1. Totally enclosed. Much better security.
2. More passenger room
3. BUT can't hold/haul as much stuff.


So gang, I'm kind of lost. I honestly haven't done much research, but I've seen a few things I like. The Toyota Tacoma/Tundra come to mind. I also like the Montero Sport. A regular Montero is out of my price range, unfortunately. Isuzu Rodeo is a possiblitly, but I'm not sure about their quality. As cool as they look, those fiberglass bed toppers that completely cover the pickup bed totally nullify the whole point of having a pickup truck; the bed! So, please help me out. I'm open to any suggestions, as long as it's not an American truck.

 

[NFS4]

If American stuff is out of the question...

Then for $27k I'd go for the NIssan Xterra or Tundra. Ohh, and the NEW Nissan Frontier Crew Cab has a Long bed option now

 

[MichaelD]

Hi NFS4, good morning. I've always liked the XTerra in that blazing yellow color. It's loud...like me! I've never been inside one, though; how are they for interior room? I'm 6'1" and need legroom. The Tundra is very nice. Drove one. Liked it.

 

[NFS4]

<< Hi NFS4, good morning. I've always liked the XTerra in that blazing yellow color. It's loud...like me! I've never been inside one, though; how are they for interior room? I'm 6'1" and need legroom. The Tundra is very nice. Drove one. Liked it. >>


I dunno, I've never been in one, but I see no reason why it wouldn't fit you. The Xterra is aimed at the go anywhere crowd.

 

[BigSmooth]

There's really only 3 non-American pickups on the market, right? The Tacoma, the Tundra, and the Frontier? There's the Mazda pickup but that is just a Ford Ranger in disguise.

I would definitely agree with NFS4's suggestion to look at the Xterra. It is definitely roomy inside, and you will fit at 6'1". It's not the most luxurious SUV, it is truck-based rather than car-based so it actually has some off-road ability. However, this means the suspension is not made to cushion the bumps around town. Still, it is made for people with an active lifestyle and it sounds like it would be a pretty good fit for you.

 

[fastz28]

It's easy, there is only ONE pickup that meets all your requirements - Toy Tundra.

Bike and snake cage won't fit in the SUV unless you tow a trailer.

Options are unlimited if you choose to go domestic, I have a perfect vehicle for you but it's not foreign.

 

[Jzero]

If you refuse to buy American, you should probably avoid getting a pickup truck...those Nissan and Toyota pickups just seem kinda weak to me.
The xTerra is VERY cool, especially in yellow, AND you can actually get it with a manual transmission

Also, have you looked at that convertible thing? Oh wait....that's a Chevy Avalanche, isn't it....n/m

I don't get these people with their "automotive religions." I suppose there's some sort of curve with reliable German cars and almost-as-reliable Japanese cars, but I've seen equal Japanese and American cars go in the shop and die.....All cars break down eventually, and it's really just up to chance when yours does.
That Avalanche might be exactly what you're looking for, but you cut it off just b/c it's American. Nevermind it was probably built in Mexico

For the record, my gf's Chevy Silverado DOES tow a 5th-wheel horse trailer from farm to farm, up and down mountains, and with nearly 200k miles on it, it has never gone to the shop for anything other than routine maintenance....

 

[geekender]

Why not get a full sized pickup, extended cab with a camper top?

 

[NFS4]

<< I don't get these people with their "automotive religions." I suppose there's some sort of curve with reliable German cars and almost-as-reliable Japanese cars, but I've seen equal Japanese and American cars go in the shop and die.....All cars break down eventually, and it's really just up to chance when yours does.
That Avalanche might be exactly what you're looking for, but you cut it off just b/c it's American. Nevermind it was probably built in Mexico >>


It's HIS choice, so who cares. There are certain things that YOU won't buy, so why should he be any different? I personally wouldn't buy a Korean car (Hyundai, Daewoo, or KIA). I also don't buy certain brand products at the grocery store. We all have our personal preferences.

 

[LAUST]

Sounds by your explanation you need a bed, and since your not gonna be towing really anything the import you say will be just fine.

Get a Truck make it ex-cab that'll take care of some of you passanger problem, my truck fit's 5 with no problamo

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks for all the great replies. The pickup w/camper top is a great suggestion; I see many of them here in South Texas. What worries me is this: I take the pickup off road. I go over some pretty rough terrain. The top shakes/breaks off. It's only held on with clamps. Kinda cheesy in my opinion.

What I'm gonna have to do is actually go sit in some of the various vehicles. I hate doing that because of the vultures, er, salespeople that descend on you like the plague the second you walk in. Maybe I'll not shave for a few days, put on my "work on the car" clothes and then go shopping. This way I'll look like I can't afford anything and no salesman will bother me. LOL! Thanks again.

 

[Jzero]

<<
It's HIS choice, so who cares. There are certain things that YOU won't buy, so why should he be any different? I personally wouldn't buy a Korean car (Hyundai, Daewoo, or KIA). I also don't buy certain brand products at the grocery store. We all have our personal preferences. >>



He asked for opinions and that's exactly what he's getting. Your personal preference is one thing, but are you going to let it shoot you in the foot? I can see hating one brand or another, and even not wanting to get an American car. I know lots of people like that.

The probelm is, based on what MichaelD is saying, a pickup truck is what he wants, or even that Chevy Avalanche. Well, the foreign pickup trucks are pretty low quality and ugly, to-boot. So he's going to pass up the car that he may really want just out of an unfounded belief that it's somehow poorer quality.

Seems like a waste to me. If you had an ideal car in mind that did exactly what you wanted it to do, had all the power and space you needed and even fit in your budget, and a Korean manufacturer suddenly started producing a car that fit what you wanted exactly, you would actually pass it up?

I'm not a big fan of Korean cars, either, but if the S2000 was made by Daewoo and not Honda, I'd still want it.

 

[MichaelD]

I feel the need to elaborate a little bit. Mmmm-kay?

I appreciate everyone's comments and I did ask for opinions. You get what you ask for. To me, the Chevy Avalanche is one ugly bastard failed abortion looking vehicle. It looks like a Pontiac Aztek on steroids. Yuck. But that's my opinion. Lots of people are buying them so somebody likes the way they look!

I have personally experienced way too many shoddily-built American vehicles. That's why I won't buy one. Granted, there's nothing like a big old V-8, pulling a big 8 x 4 foot bed. I've driven one on and off road and had a ball. However, I need the truck to be able to last and just because the truck has a warranty is not an excuse for it to be in the shop every month. Like my boss's F150 Eddie Bauer Edition. Damn $35,000 truck...wont' run right for more than a few weeks at a time. O2 sensor went. Twice. AC compressor failed. Belts snapped. Spare tire carrier broke....see what I mean? It's crap.

Quality is a fleeting thing w/American vehicles. There are always a few lemons to roll off a particular assembly line, irregardless of Japanese or American car. But the way I see it, every 1 of 10 Amercian vehicles is a dud and every 1 of 1,000 Japanese vehicles is a dud. It's the odds, man. Ill-fitting panel seams, cheap interior materials, malfunctioning electronics and horrible ergonomics plague American vehicles.

Case in point. My car was in the body shop about two months ago. Some kid keyed the whole side. Anyway, my rental was a 2001 Ford Taurus. With the gear selector in "Drive" as in driving the car, the gear selector completely blocks the radio. The end of the handle was about 1.5 inches from the radio. Several times I reached for the volume knob, knocking the handle from "drive" to "neutral". At 80mph this is not amusing. Design flaw? Definitely. The power seat was OK. The car DID have great brakes. Better than my Accord, actually, but.....everything felt "cheap". Switches should "click" and "snap" with authority, not a meek little "snick" with no definite detent to indicate position. I'd love a BMW. Can't afford it and it's not practical. I need to be able to move stuff around.

Again, I don't begrudge anyone what they want to spend THEIR money on. Some folks buy American because they've always bought American. Some folks buy American b/c it's the "right thing to do." The patriotic stance. And there's nothing wrong with that. MY hard earned money from my TWO jobs will be spent on a foreign car. BTW, most Honda's are manufactured in either Canada or Illinois.

 

[fastz28]

<< That Avalanche might be exactly what you're looking for >>



LOL, that what I was going to suggest, but since it's Chevy, it has to be crap. :frown:

MichaelD, you can always take the camper top off when you go 4 wheeling. Alternatively, you can get a tonneau top instead of camper top. YOu know, it's like a lid cover for the bed.

 

[MichaelD]

No where to put a camper top. I live in an apartment. I wish I had a house. The garage would be my computer lab.

 

[SirFshAlot]

I test drove the Xterra, and was extremely disappointed in the power, or lack thereof.
And it has a cramped feel inside.

I have a Ranger Supercab 4x4, and have always like having a truck.

I just recently purchased a Durango, and I love it, except for the poor gas mileage.

So, I drive the truck when I can, but take the Durango when I am toting my daughter around.

I have a trailer hitch on my Durango, and I have a small trailer for hauling camping gear, bikes, whatever.


If I would have had a little more money, I would have gone with the Yukon/Tahoe.
More efficient engine, more room.
Sorry I can't recommend anything non-american.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks SirFishAlot. The Yukon is a VERY nice vehicle. But.........you know the rest.

 

[Fausto]

Based on you criteria, I'd have to vote for the Tundra with the V8. The Xterras are a tad overpriced for what they are IMO, not to mention you'd need to haul a trailer to move bike/cage and would then likely want the S/C option since the stock V6 is gonna be a little underpowered for hauling. Fit/finish is also a little lacking as well. The Tundras are nice and solid, look pretty decent, and it's a Toyota. I don't think there's really much else foreign-truck-wise that you'd like. A Dakota quad-cab would fit the bill nicely, but I'm with you as far as your opinion of american auto reliability.

The Rodeos are pretty decent BTW...I don't think Honda would risk their rep by rebadging them as the Passport if they were junk.


Fausto

 

[BigJohnKC]

I've also been looking at trucks for myself, so I can give you a bit of personal experience. In fact, I have sat in all three major American trucks plus the Toyota Tundra. To me, they're all the same for leg room - very nice. The Toyota felt surprisingly not like a foreign car...I think Toyota may have gotten it right finally. In fact, Consumer reports said that the Tundra was a best buy, definitely worth seeing. I would test it out if I were you. I'm 6'7" and I fit in it without any problems. It's actually bigger on the inside than the Ford F-150, but not as big as the Dodge Ram. And with all your requirements, the Tundra seems to fit the bill quite well. I actually sat in the XTerra also, but I was cramped - not just in the knee area but in head room and leg room too. Not a vehical for a tall guy. Good luck in your search...

 

[Jzero]

MichaelD, I wholeheartedly agree with you that the Avalanche is the ugliest vehicle since I don't even know what!

I came up with another suggestion for you, though, although it's above your budget cap....the Toyota Sequoia is a pretty sharp looking car. I'd say it's as big as a Durango...maybe even a little longer. Let's just say it's a large SUV with 4-doors and 3 rows of seats. The 3rd row is easily removeable, maybe even the 2nd row. I don't know the dimensions, but I think your snake's cage would fit in it, and I imagine there is an engine package that suits what you're looking for.....check it out. The window sticker in the mall was like $40k, so you could probably weasel one out of the dealer for $30k, maybe even a little less.
I'm not a big SUV fan, but this thing looked sharp!

I notice in your discussion of crap American cars you only mention Fords. Coincidence? My mom's '84 Ford Taurus was utter crap. My '94 Escort is ok, but not great--I got my tires replaced and learned I also need a tie rod end. The next weekend, I got the tie rod replaced. The next weekend, the timing belt went (although on a car with 100K miles I consider that routine maintenance). When the timing belt is being replaced, the alternator gets hosed. And on and on. My brother's Focus is a nifty car, but it's only 2 years old and has developed a really nasty sound...maybe an exhaust problem? My parent's 2000 Escort has also done some shoddy stuff. My gf's friend's Focus ZX3 had many problems just months after she got it. My gf's Dad has 2(!) Explorers and both are fraught with problems.

My dad's '94 Buick Station Wagon, OTOH, is beautifully built and runs wonderfully. Don't let some bad Fords spoil the entire industry I also think it's dumb to buy an American car just to be patriotic or whatever. You should buy the car you want. It's kind of like people who vote based on party lines, not on how they feel about the candidates.

 

[MichaelD]

Well said, Jzero. Wow, you guys have NOT had good luck w/those Fords, huh? :Q

 

[LAUST]

Don't confuse a Domestic Truck with a Domestic car, Ford and GM aim for totally different markets

 

[Jzero]

You can make a fair bet that my next car will NOT be a Ford! hehehe!
Actually, most likely my next car will be a Honda...I wouldn't fork out for an S2000, but an eletric CRX (I don't care about speed/performance) seems very appealing to me, which explains my strange attraction to the Insight

Best of luck on your quest!

 

[Fausto]

I dunno...I've only had personal experience with two domestic vehicles in my life and they were both crap. My Explorer's 4WD relay thingy broke, the front end was never right and made my tires wear very strangely and prematurely, the exhaust rotted off (I live in GA, so no winter road salt to blame), parking brake broke, power steering crapped out, and (finally) the transmission melted down...stranding me in the middle of nowhere, North Carolina and costing a grand total of $3500 to get the thing moving again. And all this bullsh!t with less than 40k on the thing.

My brother has a 2000 F150 that he bought new. They have replaced the right cylinder head and all associated gaskets/etc a grand total of 3 times since he bought it and it still leaks oil. No thank you.

Fausto

 

[Jzero]

2 more votes for Ford from Fausto! Again Ford != Domestic Car. Don't confuse the two, they're not the same. Fords are crappy, but not ALL domestic cars are.