Good small/midsize truck

[Dvipercop]

Well, after some serious thought and deliberation, I've decided it's time to get a more economically friendly vehicle. I used to own a '94 Chevrolet S-10, and am looking to get something in the same flavor, but newer. I figured I'd appeal to the vast expanse of knowledge on here as to a good, dependable small to midsize truck. I'm looking hard at GMC and Chevrolet mainly, but am open to any thoughts. Anyone had good or bad experiences?

P.S. - My XJ will be for sale sometime in the near future, if anyones looking for one in the NW...

 

[Kittrell]

Quad Cab GMC Canyon with the I5..............:guitar:

 

[motorcityxj]

are you using the right word? How is a s10,s15,jimmy blazer or any variant even cyclone and typhoon more economically friendly.

Definately not a cheaper to wheel, heck i have an xj as daily driver for 7 years and all i had fail is starter, alternator, a crank positon sensor, and the exhaust manifold, cat and muffler i replaced at around 105 and 110k miles. I consider the exhuast a wear item as i also had new brakes on at 70,000 miles. I have had NO gremlins. My buddies dad has a 85,000-90,000 caddy SLR and it has been in the shop half the time he owned it. Literally its in their weeks at a time gets it back goes back two weeks later. Xj is a great no frill solid 18 year old tweak design.

Cant get much better deal than a sub 100k mile xj when you can get one for 4 grand anywhere and put on 150,000 miles with out it sweatig one bit.

Xjs are pretty bullet proof. I dont think your gonna have any more success with a new USED vehicle with unknown history. There is numbers out there to back me up not just heresay look at the incidence of rust, electrical problems, brakes etc they list in consumer reports ( i dont look to CR for editorial opinions on cars performance cause their vehicle writers i think are all gay) from a statisical standpoint their numbers stand up.

If some buddy who drives chevies been shouting in your ear buy a chebby it just sounds like a good idea when your paying for an XJ part. No chebby truck is any amount more reliable than the XJ.

And i drive a Astro every day for my work truck and grew up in a chevy Gm family. I love SBC and the 4.3 , not worth selling your XJ for, they aint lexus LS400 - ls4300 quailty. Good value. But wont save you any money over an XJ

 

[mojojojo]

P.S. - My XJ will be for sale sometime in the near future, if anyones looking for one in the NW...

:twak: wat ev....traitor! :nono:

 

[Dvipercop]

are you using the right word? How is a s10,s15,jimmy blazer or any variant even cyclone and typhoon more economically friendly.

Sorry, shoulda worded it differently. I meant more fuel efficient, thereby saving me money.

...traitor

Where's the love? Believe me, I don't want to sell it, but the gas moeny is absolutely killing me. It'd be a different story if I didn't have to drive 40 miles to work every day.

 

[motorcityxj]

Sorry, shoulda worded it differently. I meant more fuel efficient, thereby saving me money.




Where's the love? Believe me, I don't want to sell it, but the gas moeny is absolutely killing me. It'd be a different story if I didn't have to drive 40 miles to work every day.

chevy huh. MPg uhh aveo

lol be sure to hand in your nads at the bank when you sign on the dotted line.

Well you said s10 or that flavor so i thought you meant reliablility in terms of economics. Hmm not sure anything out there is really much into the mid 20s in terms of fuel economy.

I would get a small suzuki, get a last generation

or an older sidkick/geo tracker

4 door vitara

if you dont need to go fast or carry much go with the classic sami!!

i think they get 30 + mpg but they only have 65-88 hp (something like that lol)

but you want economy

I always liked suzuki trucks even the XL7 is a freakin bargain if you want 7 pasenger comfort. Other than the the 1990s 4 runner and the solid axle landcruiser (not exactly as cheap or fuel effecient) zuks are the best jap small trucks.

 

[motorcityxj]

http://www.robbinsautotopco.com/samuraicombo.jpg

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/18130.shtml

i was wrong ... well atleast the latter samies "only" got 29hwy/28 city http://www.motortrend.com/used_cars/specifications/11/suzuki/samurai/index.html


real frames, real 2 speed transfer case, not an awd soccer mom "crossover" or psuedo truck like a crv, rav4.

 

[scoobyxj]

Looking for a P/U that gets decent millage? Get a Toyota 4cyl, or a 3/4 ton diesel both should average you in the low to mid 20's (my dads get around 24mpg from his 94 5speed 4x4 Toy, and my cousin reports 22mpg from his 98 Ram 5 speed 4x4). Really though you need to look at the bit pic. By the time you buy a new vehicle, figure in the cost of the higher insurance, and all the other little things. It will take you quite a long time to realize the savings you'll see in the gas mileage difference. Now if your buying a $1500 beater to ram around in then it might make sense.

 

[woody]

Since you say you 'had' a 94 S10, what about a twin in a newer model? I used to scorn them some -well OK a lot- but last April, wifey picked up a 94 S15 (4.3 Vortec TBI, auto, 2wd SWB) and I have grown to like it. It gets much better gas mileage than my XJ, and feels like it's got tons more giddy-up than any of my 4.0s had.

My boss was in a similar dillema (he's 100% bowtie) with a worn out 89 or 90 S10 4wd "wood hauling/deer hunting truck' and instead of buying a new Colorado 4WD he spent similar $ on an 02 ZR2 for a 'slut truck' and an older Z71 for a wood hauler/beater. So far he's happy with both. (probably not the best MPGs in-class from either, but he didn't really care)

 

[motorcityxj]

Since you say you 'had' a 94 S10, what about a twin in a newer model? I used to scorn them some -well OK a lot- but last April, wifey picked up a 94 S15 (4.3 Vortec TBI, auto, 2wd SWB) and I have grown to like it. It gets much better gas mileage than my XJ, and feels like it's got tons more giddy-up than any of my 4.0s had.

My boss was in a similar dillema (he's 100% bowtie) with a worn out 89 or 90 S10 4wd "wood hauling/deer hunting truck' and instead of buying a new Colorado 4WD he spent similar $ on an 02 ZR2 for a 'slut truck' and an older Z71 for a wood hauler/beater. So far he's happy with both. (probably not the best MPGs in-class from either, but he didn't really care)

4 banger s10
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/18258.shtml
19city/25 hw/ 21 combined

chevy 10 with 4.3 v6
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/18258.shtml
16 city/24 hwy/

i really like the 4.3 v6 i have one in my van, they are great. Not really a miserly fuel sipper though, i would still go with a zuk IF you want a truck and want milage.