Pickup Trucks question

[harkauto]

I would like to get a good used pickup and never having owned a pickup I am right now I'm just in the process of researching what is out there. So far what I see is that I am pretty limited to either something very small like the Toyota Tacoma or else something gigantic. It seems my only options are either small or huge with nothing in between.

Doesn't anyone make a mid-size pickup?

I would like something in a V6 with an extended cab.

I value your thoughts!

Thanks!

[drdisque]

The current Tacoma is very similar in size to what we used to call a mid-size. It is offered with a V6. They also built the Dodge Dakota until 2011. Since you're looking for a used truck, finding a 2009-2011 Dakota may be a very good option for you. The Dakota was the quintessential "mid-size truck". The Nissan Frontier is also a Mid-Size truck.

[Black Lotus]

I'm not much of a truck guy, but here you go.:P
http://www.vintagemilitarytrucks.com/m35a2.htm
Paint it flat black with skull and crossbones on the side.
Fuel bill might be a bit stiff---but if you want to start your own war..........

[harkauto]

Originally Posted by drdisque

The current Tacoma is very similar in size to what we used to call a mid-size. It is offered with a V6. They also built the Dodge Dakota until 2011. Since you're looking for a used truck, finding a 2009-2011 Dakota may be a very good option for you. The Dakota was the quintessential "mid-size truck". The Nissan Frontier is also a Mid-Size truck.

Thanks for the info!

I have been doing a little research since I started this thread and I see that the Ford Ranger is also listed as a mid-size truck and several have said that the Nissan Frontier is exactly the same as the Ford Ranger only wearing a different badge.

According to the Consumer guide for cars and trucks the older Dodge trucks had really crappy drivetrain ratings. The newer Dodge trucks finally have much better drive train ratings that are equal to Fords, but the newer trucks are way out of my price range. Being retired and on a very limited income I can't have anymore car or truck payments.

Year for year compared to the Dodge Dakota the Ford Ranger had much better drivetrain ratings...even the older Rangers. This really bums me out because I really love the looks of the Dodge Dakota compared to the other mid-size trucks. I just wish the years that I can afford to buy had better reliability ratings.

Tacoma has pretty good reliability and drivetrain ratings as well, but that darn Dodge Dakota is such a great looking truck.
At my age I have to be thinking about dependability rather that beauty. I want to be spending more time in it....rather than under it.

Maybe I'm being too overly sensitive to the ratings because I see no matter what reviews you read for any specific truck you will read everywhere from raving two thumbs up reviews to the raving mad middle finger reviews on the same vehicle. The guy that bought his truck used with 100 thousand miles on it and put another 90 thousand on it and only put gas in it.....and the guy that did the same thing but had to replace ball joints twice, put two engines in it and three transmissions.

The problem with buying a used truck is that you have no idea of the trucks history. You have to find out if the Dodge Dakota was owned by the little old man that used it to haul his annual load of leaves to the burn pile once a year and then to church each Sunday; or was it owned by a 17 year old kid that took it out muddin each weekend.

Maybe the key is to buy it from a private owner rather than off the used truck lot. Your chances are better from a private owner. Off a car lot is simply a flip of the coin.

[Allenriddoch]

Why don't you try online classifieds marketplaces too. May be you get something of your kind in a minimized budget sitting at home.

[drdisque]

The Nissan Frontier and Ford Ranger are unrelated. The Mazda B-Series and Ford Ranger are the same truck.