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Pick up truck advice
#363448 01/12/12 02:43 AM
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I'm in the market for a used compact pick up, 2008 or newer. After reading myself into a coma, I've narrowed it down to a Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier. I really like the Tacoma, but there are not many available around here, and they seem to command top dollar. I need 4WD, prefer an automatic, and am leaning toward 6 cylinders vs. 4. Basic creature comforts, but definitely don't need all the bells and whistles.

I'm looking for comments and suggestions to sway me one way or the other. Is there any reason to consider other makes like Dodge or Ford or Honda? I tend to keep my vehicles for a long time and don't rack up excessive mileage. (My 2002 Subaru Legacy has only 75,000 miles on it.) I'd like to keep it around $20K.


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Re: Pick up truck advice
Joe_in_SC #363451 01/12/12 02:50 AM
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I'd get the Tacoma because, well, any other choice does nothing to further my quest for world domination. What a great name for a truck!

Joking aside, since you keep your vehicles a long time and some of the others are really not very compact, I'd get the Toyota.


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Re: Pick up truck advice
tomtuttle #363468 01/12/12 03:32 AM
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Depending what you want to use a truck for, the Tacoma would probably be the better choice between the two you mentioned, Joe. Toyota trucks are generally quite reliable if not pricey. I've found the compact trucks to be more-less the same price as full size with marginal improvement in economy while sacrificing usability...towing, payload, roominess, ect.

As far as full size, my preference is Chev/GM truck. I feel they offer the best combination of reliability, payload, towing, economy(relatively speaking), and power. I've owned/driven several pickup trucks, mostly full sized, and in a nut-shell this is what I gathered....I liked the way the Dodge's drive and make decent power but couldn't get past their reliability issues despite attractive pricing....My brother owned a Ford F150 and my neighbour bought one recently, both had several problems with them in the first few months of ownership(electrical problems, leaks through the roof/windshield, air con ect), Ford, from my own experience(I've owned several of their cars) don't stand behind their products as well as some other co's(google 5.4L spark plugs/heads as an example), also they change their engine line up too often as far as I'm concerned. I've never owned a Toyota truck, but a friend of mine has a Tundra and has had no issues to speak of with it, I'd wager that their Tacoma would be of similar reliability.

Again, it depends on what you want to use the truck for, but my experience is that you don't really gain anything by going compact. They're pretty much the same price as a full size and don't really give you back much in economy. That's just my opinion, of course, good luck with whatever vehicle you decide on.


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Re: Pick up truck advice
Adrian #363475 01/12/12 05:39 AM
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Another vote for the Tacoma, but the Frontier is not a bad truck either. The Tacoma commands top dollar because, well it says Toyota on it whihc is the main reason, second being high demand and low numbers as you have found out.

As far as reliabilty historically the Tacoma is slightly more reliable than the Frontier but depending on each manufacturing year they tend to swap rankings.


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Re: Pick up truck advice
jakewash #363496 01/12/12 12:04 PM
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Me too. +1 Tacoma. I have a 2001 that I bought a couple of years ago and the only person who dislikes it is my mechanic because it runs like it's brand new. I can't speak for newer models and can't compare it to any others as it's my first pickup but I can confidently say that mine was worth every penny of the small premium I paid for it.


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Re: Pick up truck advice
Murph #363498 01/12/12 12:43 PM
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A friend of mine has a Frontier and he says it's a gas hog for what it is, he's the only person I know with a frontier. My son had a hand me down 4Runner for several years that would just not die, I have a couple of friends with Toyotas and they love 'em so based on that alone I'll also suggest the Tacoma.


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Re: Pick up truck advice
RickF #363567 01/12/12 10:30 PM
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Thanks for the input. All things being equal, I'd definitely choose the Toyota. I just haven't been able to come up with a good enough reason to justify the extra $4-5K. I suppose in the long run, I might make up for it in repair costs.


I started out with nothing & I've still got most of it left
M60 VP160 QS8 EP350
M22 VP100
Algonquins
Re: Pick up truck advice
Joe_in_SC #363576 01/12/12 11:43 PM
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Maybe resale value as well?


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Re: Pick up truck advice
MarkSJohnson #363577 01/12/12 11:52 PM
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Go with the Tacoma. A friend has had one for years.

Re: Pick up truck advice
Rock_Head #363579 01/13/12 12:07 AM
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Looks like both are assembled in the USA, if that's important to you.


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