Small pickup trucks: opinon

[rr2008]

OK, someone help me here, what items seem too much.
Just put on the 4th set of tires, (I don't run them till the cords are showing)?
on the third replacement battery (doesn't seem far from norm or is it)?
three times for brakes and wheel bearings, i have wheel bearings done regardless when I have the brakes done (I have brakes done before the truck won't stop)? *** one time for brakes was due to firestone in Owasso overtightening lug nuts ***
plugs and wires have been changed once in 14 years 166,000, excessive?
serpentine belt replaced once in 14 years 166,00 miles, excessive?
IAC (was not affecting drivabilty, made howling vacum cleaner like sound at low idle) $40 part and 5 minutes with a wrench.
thermostat replacement once in the time I have owned the truck, excessive?
pcv replacement once in the time I have owned the truck, excessive?
fuel pump replacement once in the time I have owned the truck, excessive?

guess that leaves lower ball joints (once), sway bar end link (once), cam shaft synchronizer (once), O2 sensor (once), any of these too much?

about all I am disappointed about is having to replace hood release cable twice.
Next time I go out looking for a car I will check here first, because it sounds like there are cars I don't know about that run longer that don't have periodic mechanical failures.

 

[montesa]

you read that right, 14 years and 166,000 miles, it has failed to start and drive 3 times during that period of time (dead battery), all other times my truck was still getting me where I wanted to go. Maybe my definition of reliable and yours is different?

What do you drive that you have had for 14 years and driven over 150,000, and can you pull receipts and tell me everything that has been done to it?

This is not a personal attack, just that sometimes people forget what they do over time.

Honestly, I've never seen a toyota require that much work under 250k miles. I know what you mean though that people forget.

A lot of people have something personal tied in up in what they drive. I don't understand that. When I buy a vehicle I look for the most reliability, resale value and performance for what I need. It just ends up being a toyota for me. If I were buying a car, I would buy a subaru! They get the same reliability ratings and sometimes better.

 

[Chard]

NOTICE: No one has mentioned the Honda Ridgeline. Also known as a Civic with a pickup bed. oogly.

I have driven Tacomas and Rangers/B3000 for all but the last 2 years. Would recommend Tacomas long before the Rangers.
The Fords aren't bad, but they aren't as trouble-free as the Toyotas.

Somewhere in Mexico, my last three trucks are still puttering around: an '86 with 350K+ miles, a '95 with 200K+ miles, and a '02 with 125K+ miles.

OP was not looking for a four door. Ridgeline built on the Odyssey minivan.

 

[Lone Wolf '49]

AS always I am biased, but we all are. I had a 90's Toyota ext cab V6 4 WD until January of 2011. Wanted something with auto trans and more comfy seats for my old back and have an '11 of the same type, 4WD, very plain jane. Love it, now I drive mostly conservatively and the mpg ratings are 16 in city and 20 in town. I don't get out on the highway except to hunt so most miles are in OKC, but I consistently get around 20 mpg in town and use no ethanol. By the way, have stated before on this forum that my old 90' belongs to another member of this forum, very well known ones, too. Get the V6.

 

[stick4]

Rangers are usually reliable. Depends a lot on how the miles are put on. My 1991 with 160K needed only a PS pump, exhaust, heater core, several batteries and one brake job. My 2004 has only had one battery. The original Fomoco battery went 6.5 years. Neither of my 3.0L V-6 motors used oil.

 

[BamaAlum97]

I am thinking of buying a small truck like a Ford Ranger, Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma, etc.

Does anyone own a later model (2005 - 2009) of these?

How are they reliability wise? Common problems? Things to avoid? I want an extended/king cab - not crew. I was thinking about the 4 cyl but would go V6 if the 4cyl is not reliable. I am not going to try to tow or pull anything with it. Would prefer a manual trans but, how are the automatics?

Thanks,
David

I currently drive a 2005 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab 4X4 (NISMO package). It has been a fantastic vehicle for me. Currently has 115K+ miles on it and it runs like the day I got it. My plan is to drive it to about 200K miles.

One reason I went with this instead of a larger pickup is that I can park my Frontier in the garage...no ice scraping for me...I also use it to tow a boat.

 

[Vamoose]

I had a '06 Dakota I used for communicating back and forth to work. I put 200k on it and had no major problems. It ran as good the day I sold it as it did the day I bought it.

 

[montesa]

Rangers are usually reliable. Depends a lot on how the miles are put on. My 1991 with 160K needed only a PS pump, exhaust, heater core, several batteries and one brake job. My 2004 has only had one battery. The original Fomoco battery went 6.5 years. Neither of my 3.0L V-6 motors used oil.

Maybe I'm spoiled but if my Tacoma needs that much work before 160K miles I'll be buying a Nissan Frontier next. I'm at 130k miles and haven't had to fix anything! Knock on wood.

 

[RidgeHunter]

Maybe I'm spoiled but if my Tacoma needs that much work before 160K miles I'll be buying a Nissan Frontier next. I'm at 130k miles and haven't had to fix anything! Knock on wood.

LOL, I'm with this guy. I've got over 150k on my Taco (bought it with 11 miles on it) and I beat it like a cheap hooker. It's needed all of...front brake pads. Once. And I change the fluids in it. So basically maintenance. Oh, I've ripped CV boots twice driving it through trees. But I don't think that counts. Yes I drive my truck through and over small trees.

Dad's got one with over 170k (maybe over 180k, not sure anymore) and he only does fluid changes and brakes on it. Most of those miles are pulling a single axle cargo trailer.

150,000k is just breaking in a Taco. My bro in law had a '95 with 580,000k that broke down once on him. Coil issue. Other than that, oil and brakes, clutch once. Funny to me what some people consider "reliable" or "high mileage".

 

[montesa]

LOL, I'm with this guy. I've got over 150,000k on my Taco (bought it with 11 miles on it) and I beat it like a cheap hooker. It's needed all of...front brake pads. Once. And I change the fluids in it. So basically maintenance. Oh, I've ripped CV boots twice driving it through trees. But I don't think that counts. Yes I drive my truck through and over small trees.

Dad's got one with over 170,000k and he only does fluid changes and brakes on it. Most of those miles are pulling a single axle cargo trailer.

150,000k is just breaking in a Taco. My bro in law had a '95 with 580,000k that broke down once on him. Coil issue. Other than that, oil and brakes, clutch once. Funny to me what some people consider "reliable" or "high mileage".

That's true. My idea of high mileage is 250k plus. There are toyotas on Craigslist all the time that are clean and nice with 250k+ and still selling for quite a bit. I am clearly a Toyota nuthugger but I haven't always been. I used to think it was just hype and people talking. I didn't think they could be that much better and I definitely thought they cost too much. Then I saw a friend work a Tacoma over for 200k miles WITHOUT A SINGLE PROBLEM and then sell it for 7500 in a day. I bought one and have only bought Toyota trucks since and they are pretty amazing as far as what they can take and how long they last. Toyota 4x4s have a good reputation the world over.