I need a truck or SUV, thoughts?

[copperhead]

Regardless of the reputation Dodge trucks have, GM trucks love shitting out transmissions. And fuel pumps. And they try to murder you by way of brake line failure.

 

Dodge trucks rust. Transmission failure rate really is no worse than GM trucks. I'll hang on to my 91 Ram forever.

 

I hate Ford interiors. There may still be some floating around waiting to eject the spark plugs, but for the most part those are probably all fixed by now. Ecoboosts misfire when it rains. The best Ford trucks ever made were 92-96, with either the 300 I-6, the 302 or 351. I'd love to find one in good shape.

 

Nissans rust. And ride/handle like shit. Original Titans had exploding differentials, that's probably been remedied by now.

 

Toyotas are expensive as fuck. So long as you find one without frame rust it'll be perfect.

 

I'd get a Jeep or an older Tundra. I still really, really miss the '01 Tundra I made the mistake of trading in back in '07 or '08. The last run of Cherokees are pretty cheap now, but pretty old. 05+ Grand Cherokees are coming way down in price. I had one, it was great but I couldn't afford to put gas in it with that 5.7. A 97-04 Dakota would also be a good, cheaper option.

 

 

Technically the S10 is a "midsize" truck.

 

No, it's not.

[stangsn95gt]

Excursions are about the most reliable way to make your banker think you are burning drums of gasoline weekly in an open pit in your backyard.

 

 

I'd only ever buy a diesel excursion throw a turbo back exhaust and tuner on it and pull 20mpgs.

[Diamonds]

Still in the hunt...

 

I hate craigslist... I ask my standard 5 questions (rust? Mileage? Issues? Interior condition? And accidents?) and 3 of the 3 vehicles I have test driven went as followed.

 

Car 1. 2006 Pathfinder - said it was GTG, met him in Lewis Center and drove it. Terrible driveline shimmy. Something was fucked... Claimed it was merely tire noise (he's a 40 year old engineer at honda). Told him for his own sake he should get it checked out. He texted me today saying he went to meineke... Bad u joint.

 

Car 2, 2004 Tahoe - asked my 5 questions, said GTG... Met him in Lewis center... Surface rust under all 4 doors...

 

Car 3, 2001 Silverado - asked my 5 questions. Said there was rust on a rocker that was fixed. Drive down to grandview... Rust on the bed wheel wells..

 

I'm bout to lose my shit... If you tell me the car has zero rust then I expect it not to have rust...

[caseyctsv]

In those years it might make since to buy a 300 ticket to Atlanta or somewhere South and bring one back?

[Diamonds]

Yeah, that's a good point.

 

Again, I realize that a lot of 10 year old trucks have rust. I just don't want one of those. People apparently refuse to care to waste my time.

[Patterson]

You're a man of class and a definitive taste for the refined.

 

Escalade.

[SRTurbo04]

Does it have to be 4 door for a truck? How about extended cab?

 

"Trucking" on here has a good looking 95 f250 that looks clean that meets all your criteria minus the 4 door part.

 

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122264

 

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t587/Truckin04/95%20truck%20042_zpsvypz5tf4.jpg

 

 

Or if you can deal with a Little rust heres a nice 97 f250 93k miles for $6950. Its clean for the most part minus some small rust.

 

http://www.thecarcompanyonline.com/1997_Ford_F250_Baltimore_OH_256144168.veh

 

http://cimg.carsforsale.com/521153/235EFC50-47E2-4073-8FBF-D215EF0BA7DA_0.jpg

[OGRE]

Casey has a point i habve looked at expeditions around the carolinas and they are dirt cheap, 3-5k for a rust free 4x4 that will nearly lay a 4'x8' sheet of plywood in the back when the seats are folded down.

They have made millions of 4.6L and 5.4L motors and i have owned 11 of them, i have only seen 1 have a spark plug issue. overall they are super reliable. Lucky you, they don't hold their resale for crap. Also our 2000 expedition was a beast in bad weather, it was boring driving through snow. Untill the big girl needed to stop fast on ice.

the biggest issue we had with that truck was the CV boots needed replaced and a brakeline rusted through . . . that was a truck that spent alot of it's life in cleveland, a southern truck won't have that issue.

IMO stick to the 98-04 body style, they are dead nuts reliable and dirt cheap.

 

this december we are taking the family to florida and i plan on picking something like this up on our way home.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/5095024745.html

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/5092018527.html

 

around here. . .

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/5100481761.html

i would buy this if i had the cash now http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/5096716922.html

[BigOxley]

I mentioned looking south on the first page! Tickets out of Rickenbacker to FL are $100-$150

[Sturg1647545502]

Start including toyota sequoia's in your search.

[Diamonds]

Guys, thoughts on an 05 F150 with 120K on the clock?

 

http://www.autopalacecolumbus.com/web/used/Ford-F-150-2005-Columbus-Ohio/23030757/

[El Karacho1647545492]

Start including toyota sequoia's in your search.

 

Nice trucks but the market for them is stupidly inflated, $$$ goes farther with way newer, lower mile options.

[Trouble Maker]

Claimed it was merely tire noise (he's a 40 year old engineer at honda).

 

Hey, don't lump us all in that bag. He's probably a headliner designer or something equally lame and non-car-enthusiast like. It's Ok, we need them just as much as people who are race car drivers.

 

If the u-joint was the only issue with that car, and the guy fixed it, why not go check it out again? I can understand if you are done with that guy, just a thought.

 

I can't believe no one has mentioned a Ridgeline yet. It seems perfect for what you are intending to use it for. Might have to stretch the budget just a little bit.

 

I have no idea if the 06's have typical 'first year' issue. I just did that search to find the lowest price examples, since it is the first year. http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/2006/Honda/Ridgeline/Columbus+OH-43215?endYear=2006&makeCode1=HONDA&mmt=%5BHONDA%5BRIDGELINE%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&modelCode1=RIDGELINE&numRecords=100&searchRadius=0&showcaseListingId=0&showcaseOwnerId=55782018&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&startYear=2006&Log=0

 

This is just one example that seems like the right combo of lowest price with lowest miles. http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/2006/Honda/Ridgeline/Columbus+OH-43215?endYear=2006&makeCode1=HONDA&mmt=%5BHONDA%5BRIDGELINE%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&modelCode1=RIDGELINE&numRecords=100&searchRadius=0&showcaseListingId=0&showcaseOwnerId=55782018&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&startYear=2006&Log=0

[Linn1647545492]

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=43212&endYear=2006&modelCode1=YUKON&modelCode2=YUKONXL&makeCode2=GMC&showcaseOwnerId=68716347&startYear=1999&makeCode1=GMC&searchRadius=100&maxPrice=12000&showcaseListingId=402185949&mmt=%5BGMC%5BYUKON%5B%5DYUKONXL%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=370319489&Log=0

 

 

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=43212&endYear=2006&modelCode1=YUKON&modelCode2=YUKONXL&makeCode2=GMC&showcaseOwnerId=68716347&startYear=1999&makeCode1=GMC&searchRadius=100&maxPrice=12000&showcaseListingId=402185949&mmt=%5BGMC%5BYUKON%5B%5DYUKONXL%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=404364130&Log=0

[Linn1647545492]

http://www.jetautogroup.com/2004_Ford_F150_Cambridge_OH_255846103.veh

[AudiOn19s]

Bob - I'll challenge you to change your mindset some. Why not spend $15-20k on a NICE truck that you would / could use for anything and everything instead of just something that's used in truck only situations?

 

When I started looking I looked at quite a few CHEAP trucks for towing the track car around with. Everything from Diesel trucks with rubber mats on the interior to base F150 trucks that were a little nicer but barely.

 

Ultimately I got a top trim GMC (SLT) and I couldn't be happier that I did. It's a vehicle that I actually use quite a bit more than I thought I would, yet in many respects it's still a truck. It's nice enough with full leather / touch screen / bose / heated seats / power everything that I can put personal or PROFESSIONAL people in it without a second thought.

 

As I said via text the other day, I'm shocked at how much I'm enjoying truck ownership. I'm not saying any of these vehicles will replace the Lexus, but they would be a nice compliment to it instead of a beater that you spend money on and don't use that often.

[Diamonds]

Well, I'm about 98% locked in on a 2007 Tahoe. Went over budget a couple bucks. But she is super clean, 1 owner, higher miles... But it drove great! Gonna make a great gun range hauler!!

[SRTurbo04]

Well, I'm about 98% locked in on a 2007 Tahoe. Went over budget a couple bucks. But she is super clean, 1 owner, higher miles... But it drove great! Gonna make a great gun range hauler!!

 

Pics already???? Good choice

[zeitgeist57]

Shoulda gotten this. Drove it this weekend and it runs like a new truck for $6500.

 

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122381&highlight=2006+trailblazer