What used truck to get. Not a Toyota.

I got to talking to my Teenage son last night about getting him a truck in the next Couple years. He is a fisherman like me and needs a truck.

he will not be spoiled silly and I will pay for the truck (didn’t tell him that). It’ll be used, and if he doesn’t like it, too bad. I consider that I’ll spend less than $10k. He’s on his own after that. Get a job, save your money and buy what you really want. I’m just helping with getting him started. I’ll help him work on the truck also.

He whole heartedly wants a Tacoma, but that’s out cause for example a piece of shit 2004 Tacoma goes for 15 g’s in Hawaii, while I could get him a good condition 2012 ish frontier for 8,000. My numbers are total approximations and exaggerated, but I regularly surf CL and I know I can get a whole lot more truck for my money not getting a Toyota used.

I have a 2013 access cab v6 manual. If I lost my truck somehow, I’d pay the price to Find another similar one. Or consider a whole bunch of other really expensive new trucks (not a turd gen) like raptor, trail boss, etc.. But for him, I just want to find a good deal and a good truck for the money. The re sale on Tacoma’s is insane.

Compact truck (gas money) and general 4x4 preferred. And can’t be too lame that a kid would be ashamed (ridgeline). Lol. Are Nissan frontiers really that shitty? Or just not as popular. Colorado? And as a side note, less HP the better sort of.. I was and 18 year old male once. Thank god my dad bought me a 93 4 cyl Camry that was a great, reliable car, but probably one of the slowest on the planet. So 4 banger not out of the question. Thought? Thanks

 

Nissan frontiers are great just dated. Great for a first truck not being a Toyota

 

Frontier is a totally decent truck, if I didn't have a Tacoma I'd go for a Frontier. Don't want a full size (especially not on an island) and there's not a whole lot of other decent options out there.

Good luck!

 

Give him that 7 year old piece of shit second gen you’re driving around and get yourself a new truck. Problem solved.

 

But a new 3rd gen Tacoma would be a down grade.

2nd gen best gen overall.

 

haha fuck that. I will never, ever, willingly relinquish my truck to another, ever. Not an option. I would be sad without it.

 

I know that feel.

 

I don’t see a badass truck like a raptor as a downgrade. No way, but it’s be overkill. And really, a good manual transmission is everything. And I use my truck for off road, so there’s that. And I need a truck bed for truck things.

 

Frontier is probably a good option.
I seen quite a few Rangers with the 4.0 go a long time with no major issues.

On a side note, my uncle has a Colorado with the 4cyl engine.
It has over 200k on it, and he runs the crap out of it on his farm.
I’m actually kind of impressed by it, since never imagined it would be around after 150k.

 

Ford Ranger
My cousin had an 03 in highschool and it got around fine, my other cousin bought it and uses it strictly as a mountain mobile

 

Ok, I’ll add: I am going to keep my truck for my truck needs forever, until I die. I do plan to get a car for other purposes should I need another vehicle or the truck becomes too old for a daily. I also have a 2014 Camry and my wife a has a 2019 JL Jeep which is a whole nother can of worms. This is between me and him.. lol and then the 8 year old when it comes time. Lol

 

Like the ranger before they stopped making them and then started again recently?

I drove a 2003 4 cyl, 5 speed for a little bit 8 years ago and liked it.

 

Sooo.... You want your kid to have an inferior vehicle?? Why??

 

Brah how you gonna let one Hawai’i boy roll around in anything but one Tacoma. No need for be Chang lol

 

Probably, I think his was an 03 or something

 

Also add, I drive the Camry and truck like half of the time each. But I do a lot of things that require a truck. I’m a wood worker for hobby so hauling lumber and sheet goods and large machinery, the fishing trails here are no joke, it’s not just a dirt road, hauling mulch, I do side jobs for yard work. Etc. I beat the shit out of my truck immediately, scratches dents and abuse. Not trying to get a brand new truck for me.

 

To learn how to work on a vehicle perhaps?
I had a Ford Bronco II, I worked on it until it cracked a head.
Then I got my first Tacoma.

Actually. Truth is, it’s all we could afford to buy and pay insurance on at the time.

 

Haha lol I’m not gonna spoil him. I wanna get him something to get him started, make a living. But have zero sympathy for “being cool” he gotta earn that.

 

My other truck is a frontier. I've had it for 12 years. It had a couple weird issues at the beginning (some supplier gave nissan a run of bad, guide-eating timing chains...) that they fixed under warranty. Post warranty, it hasn't had any failures - never been in the shop for more than a day. Its not pretty and it turns like an aircraft carrier, but the 4.0l kicks ass, especially when paired with the 6MT. I'd buy the same truck again, although probably not in crew cab 6ft bed, it can be annoying in cramped parking lots.

Other people with the AT's did have bad radiators that mixed coolant and transmission fluid, do watch out for that.

Other than that, I'd be looking at one of the old rangers.

 

I don’t want him to have inferior, that’s the whole point. I mean seriously, trying to get the best bang for the buck.

or I could get him a 2010 Honda Fit. 35 miles a gallon. Room for passengers. Easy to work on. Probably the best choice economically for him to get to school or work. But I at least want to do him a solid without spoiling him and get him a 4x4. And really, you can add $10k on top anything else just cause it’s a Tacoma.