Ok, so I debated posting this, but I'm gonna go ahead and do it anyways. I have a dilemma. I start a new job in May, and my commute will become a solid hour of highway driving. I do not have a vehicle that will safely, quickly, and cheapishly get me to work on time on the highway. The ranger OWR is too underpowered and unreliable, and the jeep is well, the jeep: slowish, geared incorrectly, needs a rebuilt front end, and sucks gas. So I'm looking for a new truck, this time newer and more reliable with a little more power. I have 3 options as I see it:
A) buy a car
B) buy a small truck
C) buy a big truck
Pros and cons of them are:
A) buy a car
-the jeep is still my "big vehicle"
-a small car is only good for point a to point b drives with no cargo
-but it has great gas mileage
-no resale value
-
B) buy a small truck
-have one now and like it
-hate s10s, so I'm limited to Dakotas and rangers
-newer small trucks with lower miles are stupid expensive for what they are, and getting a big truck won't cost much more
-cant haul the jeep, jeep is still my "big vehicle"
-can haul dirtier or bulkier things than the jeep
C) buy a big truck
-doesnt cost much more than a good Ranger or Dakota
-retires jeep as "big vehicle"
-able to borrow or buy a trailer and haul the jeep
-can haul heavier items
-a newer one will get decent mileage (better than the jeep)
-opens up potential for more uses than small car
-maintenance will cost more
So, what do you guys think?
I'm currently looking at f150s, f250s, and ram trucks. I DO NOT want a GM product, and am not really looking at Toyota's, but I don't have anything against them either.
Thoughts are that an older diesel is very reliable, but parts are spendy, and purchase cost is high. A newer gas means lower miles and better economy and reliability, but also leaves price up. A new diesel is too complicated and maintenance intensive and I don't want to spend the rest of my life paying it off. Also, I don't want to spend 10 grand when they need to replace egr stuff and have to remove the cab.
I want you to tell me what model truck with what specs and engine you would be looking at. Details.
A) buy a car
B) buy a small truck
C) buy a big truck
Pros and cons of them are:
A) buy a car
-the jeep is still my "big vehicle"
-a small car is only good for point a to point b drives with no cargo
-but it has great gas mileage
-no resale value
-
B) buy a small truck
-have one now and like it
-hate s10s, so I'm limited to Dakotas and rangers
-newer small trucks with lower miles are stupid expensive for what they are, and getting a big truck won't cost much more
-cant haul the jeep, jeep is still my "big vehicle"
-can haul dirtier or bulkier things than the jeep
C) buy a big truck
-doesnt cost much more than a good Ranger or Dakota
-retires jeep as "big vehicle"
-able to borrow or buy a trailer and haul the jeep
-can haul heavier items
-a newer one will get decent mileage (better than the jeep)
-opens up potential for more uses than small car
-maintenance will cost more
So, what do you guys think?
I'm currently looking at f150s, f250s, and ram trucks. I DO NOT want a GM product, and am not really looking at Toyota's, but I don't have anything against them either.
Thoughts are that an older diesel is very reliable, but parts are spendy, and purchase cost is high. A newer gas means lower miles and better economy and reliability, but also leaves price up. A new diesel is too complicated and maintenance intensive and I don't want to spend the rest of my life paying it off. Also, I don't want to spend 10 grand when they need to replace egr stuff and have to remove the cab.
I want you to tell me what model truck with what specs and engine you would be looking at. Details.