You know there are lots of people around here who could take you to task for calling your Pickup a Truck too. My dad used to point out how citified I'd become when I called my Ford a Truck. He'd take me out to the shed and point out the grain hauler and say, that is a small truck, the Semi and trailer over there is a bigger truck. We could say that if you aren't driving a box truck with a 20' bed, then it isn't a real truck.
Then if you look overseas, you will find many "real trucks" in use delivering freight every day that are much smaller than your ideal, but yours couldn't even fit down the street.
Yeah, talking smack to close friends is cute, but coming into a thread with this type of attitude puts people off. I don't care that you have almost 10K posts vs my hundreds, it still puts people off.
--Rick
That's a nice looking truck!
My 00 Sonoma 2.2 spd could barely get 27 pure highway. It was gutless, slow, inefficient and cramped as hell for a big guy. Would not recommend.I didn't really see a budget, or age, or whatever requirement, so...
What you're actually asking for here is exactly a '98-'03(?) Chevy S10 with the 2.2, 2wd, and a stick. My standard cab would get 30mpg with the AC on. Didn't matter if it was city or highway, it pretty much got 30mpg. My extended cab gets like 24-25. I have no idea why a small amount of extra weight and length hurts the economy so much on those trucks, but it did on mine. The extended cab is noticeably slower too.
So, exactly what you've asked for is a 20 year old Chevy S10. Find the cleanest, lowest miles, truck you can find in the south, fly there with your 3500 or fewer dollars, and drive it home. Dead easy to work on too. I suggest '98-'00 if you get your pick of exact years. '01+ has some extra weirdo emissions garbage that you don't need, but it's not that bad either.
...and don't let anyone tell you those aren't trucks. I've worked S10s in ways that were beyond legitimately abusive and they just kept taking it and taking it. I've considered moving on to a Colorado, but every time I look they still want more for them than I'd like to pay and they don't seem to get the same mileage.
I'm sure the other suggestions here are good too, but that's my vote. I'm also cheap, so I wouldn't pop the cash for any truck mentioned here so far, but that's just me.
My 00 Sonoma 2.2 spd could barely get 27 pure highway. It was gutless, slow, inefficient and cramped as hell for a big guy. Would not recommend.
While I appreciate the specs and suggestion for a '98-'00, S10, I tend to agree with maxwelhse. There is no way I can rationally look for then purchase a 20+ year old truck; even if my sanity is questioned sometimes.
Does anyone have a suggestion on where to buy? I'm going to check the usual places online - Craig's list, Carvana, Marketplace, Ebay, etc. - locally I don't have any idea on where to start.
Does anyone have a suggestion on where to buy? I'm going to check the usual places online - Craig's list, Carvana, Marketplace, Ebay, etc. - locally I don't have any idea on where to start.
I only buy my stuff from private sellers. I'll take an amateur scumbag over a trained, seasoned, professional liar any day of the week.
Marketplace, Craigslist, etc. I've even bought one on eBay before... That one was a parts car so the risk we pretty low. Something as new as you're after, I might even be tempted to try the auctions on the "public" days. I think the one in Fort Wayne does public auctions on Thursdays. I've know a few guys who bought stuff there and being late model there's only so much that can go wrong, generally.
Also, why not try the classifieds here? INGO has farther reaching fingers than I would have even imagined and I'd trust a member (even a used car salesman member ) about 100x more than just a random salesman.
I only buy my stuff from private sellers. I'll take an amateur scumbag over a trained, seasoned, professional liar any day of the week.
Marketplace, Craigslist, etc. I've even bought one on eBay before... That one was a parts car so the risk we pretty low. Something as new as you're after, I might even be tempted to try the auctions on the "public" days. I think the one in Fort Wayne does public auctions on Thursdays. I've know a few guys who bought stuff there and being late model there's only so much that can go wrong, generally.
Also, why not try the classifieds here? INGO has farther reaching fingers than I would have even imagined and I'd trust a member (even a used car salesman member ) about 100x more than just a random salesman.
Last year when I bought my Flex, I thought the salesman was going to take my wallet and run the card himself. It was a terrible week, Can you fill out a survey for me. NO!
I've bought exactly one car from a dealer and that was my experience as well. Never did it again and don't plan to unless it's new. If it's new, I can call any dealer in the country and buy it from whoever I want. I wouldn't buy a Chevy in Fort Wayne if you paid for it...
(well... maybe if you're buying )