Comments on: Hot or Not? Small Trucks

By: yirp kydoxlwng

yirp kydoxlwng — Sat, 24 May 2008 09:39:50 +0000

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By: Brad Justinen

Brad Justinen — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:07:18 +0000

HOT!, HOT!, HOT!

My little single cab 1989 Mazda B-2200 has about 270,000 miles on it and it still runs like a champ. Starts up every time without a hitch. I only use it now about 6 times a year and it’s only worth about $500 but I would never EVER sell it. My dad also had a 1992 extended cab version for years, he abused the crap out of it. He would haul 1500lbs, barrels of lead shot around, the back would be so low to the ground that I swear the wheels were going to shoot off any second. But they never did and he sold it with 250,000 miles on it. Pick yourself up a 1987-1992 B2200 on the cheap before the disappear. $500 - $2500 well worth the price if you just need to haul something every now and then. Or use it as your main car, like I did for years and years.

HANDS DOWN THE MOST RELIABLE TRUCK I HAVE EVER SEEN. I PRAY EVERYDAY SOMEONE WILL MAKE A TINY TRUCK LIKE THIS AGAIN.

By: Sean

Sean — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:52:35 +0000

Drove a Mazda 6cyl pickup for a Freightliner dealership delivering parts and doing inventory pickup, and that thing was a bloody freight train. Beautiful 5 speed gearbox, could smoothly shift without the clutch, and generally took an obscene amount of abuse. All we had to do was do oil changes, gas her up, and replace the tires once in a while.

Hot for sure.

By: BC

BC — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 20:02:30 +0000

I retired my ‘88 Ranger 2wd, 4 cyl, 5 speed last fall for a really nice, low mile, ‘89 F-150, 4×4, 302, 4 speed. Living in the boonies of Upper Michigan, 4×4 is a necessity, and my 6′4″ frame doesn’t miss the Ranger at all.

The only trouble I had with it was an ignition module. It had 172k miles on it, no thermostat (cold as HELL in the winter!) and a radiator that was missing half its fins (explains why the PO took the thermostat out)… but by god, it ran like a champ - not even a tick in the motor.

Hot or not? Lukewarm. Try putting two people, a dog, and a week’s worth of stuff in a mini-truck. Just like any vehicle, what works for you might not work for me.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:48:13 +0000

I miss my 91 S-10. Had a 2.8 V6 and I toted tons of stuff with that vehicle. Trailers, firewood, ply wood, supplies, iron, tools, and even the family pets.

When I sold the truck the bed had it’s fair share of work scars. I miss that thing, should’ve never sold it. 5 on the floor and ready to go!

By: Derick

Derick — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:40:29 +0000

I miss my 1986 Mazda B-2000, 28 - 32 mpg (75-55mph). I drove it over 275,000 miles, and then sold it to my Dad. He drove it another 10,000 and then sold it to my brother and he drove it till a buddy of his hit a guard rail at about 450,000 miles. I bought another one used a few years later, it was nearly as good as my first. When Mazda stop making and importing the truck and started using the Ford design, I new they had made a mistake. That 1986 Mazda was nearly perfect in design and function. I wish they would bring it back, it was a economical and functional design that was reliable, and easy to repair and maintain. Not like todays that cost a fortune to fix and repair, and have gotten heavier and expensive. The manufactures have forgotten what a truck is for, and how to build them right.

By: Robin Wood

Robin Wood — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:22:19 +0000

I have purchased a 1993 Toyota T100, a 2000 Tundra and a 2002 Tacoma. The first two had V6 engines and the latter a 4. All were standard cab models, with 2WD. All very nice trucks, and I still drive the Tundra and it truly earns its keep. The Tacoma was the most fun to drive - that was an awesome truck and I lament the fact that there are models of the new Tacoma that are larger than my Tundra. That is just not right. They are way too big, and the new Tundra is an abomination - I have to lift loads into the bed and really have no desire to lift heavy things even higher than I already do.

I would really like to have the chance to purchase a small truck with Toyota quality, but I guess those days are gone.

By: CW

CW — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:03:15 +0000

Hot. My parents had a mid-80s vintage Mazda B2000 pickup. You could barely drive it into a stiff wind but it NEVER stopped. I think it finally died with over 300k on it. And that was with us neglecting the hell out of it.
I wouldn’t be surprise to see a reemergence of these things.

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:12:59 +0000

Hot, I bought me a 1989 Ford Ranger Ext cab 4 banger last year and really digg it. I had to out a mototr and clutch in it, but I am still under $1200 in it and they sell for $1500 + for decent looking ones in my area. They haul enough to be good for some mil work. I have a trailer if something is too large and the Jeep GC if I need a little more towing power.
I agree with every one else on here that they should drop a the big D in them for some real towing power.

Oh and all the Tocoma guys, you are not the compact trucks the blog is referencing. Ranger/Mazda is the only avl compact these days. Everything else is mid size these days. Not knocking the trucks as I thought about getting one later on.

By: David

David — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:32:01 +0000

The show Patrick is thinking of is Top Gear. Search youtube for “top gear toyota”

By: Adam Evans

Adam Evans — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:28:00 +0000

Hot Hot HOT.

I’m on my second Ford Ranger. I didn’t need a big gas-guzzling truck. I just needed something to haul my canoe and other various junk that wouldn’t fit in a car.

By: brew

brew — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:28:02 +0000

I had the truck in the pic, same color and everything, 1986 ranger, 2wd. It was so underpowered I could not speed. To pass another vehicle I would have to slow down, slam it in to 3rd, try to get up to 50 or so, then shift in to 4rth, if I was lucky I could get to 65 to pass, then as soon as I put it in 5th it would bog down to about 55 again. The fastest I could EVER get the truck going was 72 mph and that was with the wind down a HUGE hill.

I can see the advantage of these little trucks, but I would never consider one again. My silverado gets the same gas mileage as that little ranger did, way back then, so I don’t miss it.

By: ToolFreak

ToolFreak — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:25:10 +0000

Hot. The import Minitrucks will never die. Even if they do go slow with a 4-banger when overloaded, they still go. If an SUV with a trailer didn’t suit my needs better, I’d probably have an old Toyota pickup or a Ranger. Oh yeah, and the 6 cylinders tow just fine without needing to be driving a gas-guzzling fullsize truck the rest of the time.

By: rbb

rbb — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:20:11 +0000

Hot. I miss my 1978 Toyota SR5 Sport Truck. Had to give it up in 91 after the rust got so bad on it. But, I had 170K+ on the engine and no major work on it. Only replaced the clutch at 100K.

I guess it’s all relative, but to me, all of the mid 80s on “small” trucks to me are bloated and overweight…

By: rg

rg — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:52:04 +0000

Hot. Just replaced my ‘87 Nissan King Cab. Resold for what I paid 8 yrs ago. Very easy to maintain, completely reliable, and parts are cheap like borscht. It has never let me down. Very tough vehicle. Wanted a 4×4, so I bought a new Mazda B4000 this year — even loaded with all the options, still cheaper than many cars. So far so good, and I hope it lasts as well as the old Nissan truck.

By: Teacher

Teacher — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:54:20 +0000

I still have my 1990 Dakota. It’s not as small as an s-10 but is smaller than a ful size. It’s hauled everything I can imagine. It’s sidelined now with an electrical problem…none of the headlights and parking lights will work.

My dad had a Nissan 4 banger for years. Finally replaced it a few years ago with a Nissan Frontier that hauls firewood, dirt, plywood etc.

A buddy of mine wanted a truck for his side business trimming/removing trees. I suggested a used Ranger/S-10. Instead he bought a Chevy 3500HD. Even used it was costing him $500+ for 6 years! He traded it back in after 4 months for a nice loss.

By: Jay

Jay — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:47:22 +0000

Hot!

I’m the proud owner of a 1987 Toyota Pickup (22R engine, 2WD) with 245,000 miles on the original engine. I use the truck for everything from trips around town, to the dump and to the racetrack with my sportbike in the bed. There’s something very satisfying about cruising along the highway in a $1000 truck with a $10000 motorcycle on the back. And it still gets 28mpg.

Most of the big truck advocates seem to focus on 1) not wanting to hurt the truck by carrying a big load and 2) being able to merge in front of the dreaded 18-wheeler. To that I say, 1) I really don’t care if the truck sags and groans, I know it will get me there, 2) I’m perfectly content to slow down on the onramp if need be to let someone go by in order to merge safely. I don’t mind at all that my truck is slow.

And +1 to wanting a new small diesel truck someday!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:12:34 +0000

For bleeps and giggles: a british show a few years back tried to destroy a toyota helix (highlux, hylux, whatever) diesel truck. They tried, in order, with only minimal (duct tape and wrenches I believe) repairs between:

Crash-Test Derby through Parking Lot??
Head on Brick Wall??
Ocean Submersion
and then they blew up a skyscraper with the truck on top.

It still ran.

Can’t kill’m, join ‘m. Hot.

By: Frank Townend

Frank Townend — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:28:22 +0000

There once was a posting ’bout pickup trucks of the nature quite small,
Three and Forty responses claimed loving this truck, one and all,
Most cried out the shame, (even calling EPA to blame),
For the gas-guzzling monsters used to drive to the mall.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:25:21 +0000

Hot, because of the memories. In the 1970s I was homeless for a couple of summer months so I slept in the back of a friend’s Datsun PU. At least it had a camper top. I had to sleep diagonally to fit and would wake up as he drove to work. At the first red traffic light I would jump out and get in the front seat. At the time I didn’t think I would ever look back fondly on the experience.

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 15:57:45 +0000

For Old Donn: In case you didn’t know the Ford Ranger has a six cylinder and works fine getting merging into traffic.I know I own one. Still the best damn truck even better than rice burner toyota.

By: Old Donn

Old Donn — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:51:43 +0000

WHOA. I knew I was outnumbered here, but why the hate? Chris, Re:MPG, I’ve got the records and receipts to prove it, believe what you want. Zathrus. Renting sounds good if you know when you’re going to put your truck to work. Most of us amatuers don’t, so it’s nice to have it when you need it. The 10% I spoke of can expand at any time. Turbobrick. Who said anything about cutting anybody off? If your vehicle doesn’t have the stones, a safe cushion can BECOME a dangerous situation when entering a freeway. I’ve never owned a small truck, but have had a number of small 4cyl cars, which prompted that comment. Anyone who’d intentionally play bumper tag with a Kenworth is living on borrowed time. Don’t understand me so fast.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:25:24 +0000

I call total BS on anyone claiming a V8-powered full-size pickup can get anywhere NEAR 23 MPG highway. It’s a simple matter of physics, and that full-size pickup is going to lose every time.

By the way, a pickup truck bed is not a particularly effective crumple zone in a crash, either. If your reason for wanting a full-size truck over a small truck is safety, you’re sadly mistaken.

By: Javier

Javier — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 08:37:35 +0000

HOT! I drive a 2001 Toyota Tacoma extra cab and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. This truck has hauled it’s weight in gold since I’ve owned it. I wish Toyota had not bought into this bigger is better nonsense. Thank goodness my truck will last many years to come because I couldn’t see myself driving a bigger truck. I never have to worry about fitting in a parking spot and like the responsiveness of a smaller truck. WAKE Up TOYOTA and bring back the mini truck!

By: :)ensen

:)ensen — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 05:17:33 +0000

Very hot. I ran out 2 second hand Nissan King Cabs which I used for work, moving (mostly friends) and camping trips. Rings blew both times after over 200K of really hard driving, pop-starting and a lot of saggy loads. Kept the same ugly canopy the whole. As a one car family, there are day I miss it.

I’ve driven a number of large truck and cube vans to haul stuff bigger than what would fit but I could count those time on my fingers. Never worried about it being stolen, and I could guarantee that the luxury SUVs at the mall parking lot would actually park away from the truck.

Here’s some advice for those that currently own a small truck. Get a light canopy so you can remove it easily when needed for tall items. And put a false bottom in the bed that clears your toolboxes. That way, you won’t have to rearrange things when you need to load stuff and even have a flat level on which to put your plywood.