Bleg: Truck
I’ve officially abandoned any sort of attempt at gainful employment. I’ll keep some clients but I’m going to go work for me. I’m going to need a truck big enough to haul light equipment and tools. My last truck may have been too small for what I have in mind but I liked it fine. No GMs or Dodges since I will not give them my money. That leaves the Nissans, Toyotas and Fords. What say you?
The sad news, I’ll have to get rid of Tactical Car, and that really bums me out.
May 15th, 2012 at 8:50 pm
I don’t always drive a truck, but when I do, I prefer Toyotas.
May 15th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
If you want a new diesel pickup, the only way you will recoup the extra expense over a gas pickup is if you buy and hold it for like 20 years.
If you _need_ a diesel for the hauling torque, try to get one used. The diesel option does not usually reflect in the resale value. Keep in mind though, when something breaks, the diesel parts are all priced like they are gold plated.
The newer diesel all require the hitech, brand specific, high priced pee. I’ll likely be a few years until the aftermarket takes over.
May 15th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
What do you want the truck for, specifically? Would an Econoline do as well as a pick up? A box truck? A larger delivery truck like the Safety Kleen guys use. I see a lot of discussion about consumer vehicles, but you’re starting a business. Is there an auto auction by you? a place that refurbs and sells used National Guard trucks? As an example, with cash you could go to the Tampa Auto Auction and buy anything from a school bus to a firetruck to used Federal and state vehicles. Along one section of industrial highway here, you can buy new and used Volvo, Mercedes, and International trucks, as well as semi’s, the aforementioned retired military vehicles, and Lord knows what else. Define the need first. Good luck!
May 15th, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Other Steve, the bailouts were bailouts of the unions of GM in particular. There is no reason to think that if GM had gone through bankruptcy court without the administration’s politically motivated intervention, that a reorganized GM would not be in business.
Without having screwed over bond holders and white collar GM workers for politically connected unions.
May 15th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
In general terms, any truck is more tactical than any car.
May 15th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
WTF is going on?!? (I’m on vaca) I sold the ’79 Toyota truck and bought a ’94 Ford F-150, then we replaced it with a ’06 F-150 Supercab because it handles groceries mo’betta. Baxter has a Nissan with a cat-back redneck booster kit that sounds like a diesel, but he’s a tailgater and pulls a Wal-Mart trailer!
Drove a GMC extensively (across six or eight states) back in the late 70’s but their styling was always butt-ugly like a plaid recliner-couch.
May 15th, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Oh yeh, the Ford out-turns and out-handles the Chevy’s, but they often have bigger motors to impress chicks with big hair.
May 15th, 2012 at 10:33 pm
I have a Tundra Double Cab with a ARE Z series cap on it. Have nothing but great things to say about it. But it only has 50K on it, so can’t speak to the longevity, as it is hardly broken in. Strong, comfortable and I take the grandkids on vacation with it. Put a DVD player in the roof, an AC oulet in the door post and the kids play their ps3, xbox 360 or what ever.
May 15th, 2012 at 11:51 pm
SPQR, the bailouts prevented bankruptcy. If GM/Chrysler went through bankrupcy and stopped the lines for a long period of time, it would have been a disaster for every automotive company that deals with detroit.
It would have put companies of 300-500 people completely under. UAW jobs or not, that’s a spread effect of tens of thousands of people out of work.
I don’t like it either, but it’s not like it was avoidable considering where everyone was at. You could blame anyone from to the two larger companies involved, or EPA, or CAFE, or NITSA, or Carter,Regan,Clinton,Bushes, whoever.
The idea that GM/Chry are bad for needing gov money and not buying a product from them is a complete misunderstanding of what really happened. Hell, if you want, blame the Germans for ass-raping Chrysler so badly. GM had it’s own issues, but I’d still buy a GM vehicle knowing the thousands of NON-GM Americans that get a cut out of that.
It’s not the 60s. GM, Chrysler, Ford, etc can not do it alone, they all have massive networks of suppliers. If they go down, everyone goes down. Toyota is not a solid company, they were in just as much trouble as GM if the bailout didn’t happen, they just didn’t need to actually receive the money to be helped.
May 16th, 2012 at 4:17 am
I don’t know exactly what trade you intend to ply but I suggest that you consider setting aside some funds for a truly useful canopy that lets you keep your every day tools organized. I have a ARE canopy (the Gemtop workmaster series looked good too when I was shopping) with tool boxes on the side that allows me to carry basic tools and a small supply inventory without keeping it in the truck bed. Bed-slides are also a good option.
Finally take a look at the Mercedes Sprinter vans and the Ford Transits. Perhaps you would be better served bu a non-truck truck.
May 16th, 2012 at 6:59 am
Ford: My last Ford E150 (van) was excellent. My first Ford E150 needed a new transmission. American car makers have been making automatic transmissions a long time; I would expect them to have it down pat by now.
Nissan: My Titan 4×4 is a nimble powerhouse. Drives like a sports car; muscles ripple; adaptable storage, tie-downs; comfortable on long trips. Tough. However, it needed a new rear-end early on, replaced under warranty. I looked underneath and even I could tell it lacked the size required of a Titan. No problems with the replacement; I’m up to 75,000 miles.
Toyota: Based on the
May 16th, 2012 at 11:16 am
Other Steve, a bankruptcy would not necessarily have stopped GM production. That’s utter nonsense. In fact, GM did file for bankruptcy, it just used the bailout money to fund a packaged politically-connected bankruptcy that overturned the bankruptcy law’s priority laws.
May 16th, 2012 at 11:30 am
A proper bankrupcy would have preserved the rule of law. Now when making a loan, not only do you have to factor in the chance of repayment, you also have to factor in the gov. changing the rules. In addition, a bankrupcy would have allow GM the car companies to void the union contracts which would help with the long term viability of the companies.
May 18th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Took my Toyota into the local shop run by the self-proclaimed Dodge Diesel Dorks to have the first part on it ever replaced (the starter at 236k miles). As #1 Dodge Diesel Dork is trying to get the starter out and busts a knuckle in the process, he exclaims, “#$%@ foreign trucks!”
I calmly ask him, “Do you know why Dodge trucks are so much easier to work on than Toyotas?”
“No,” he replies, still somewhat perturbed.
I answer, “Because they have to be.”
At which point he went back to work in silence.
I have or have had four Toyota 4X4s. Of the two that have gone on to other happy homes, both I’d had for over 12 years and both had well over 200K. I’m now into the eighth year of my Tundra and two into the FJ. Other than fluids and tires, I’ve spent less than $700 over the lifetime of all four. If low maintenance and reliability are the primary factors to you in choosing a truck, Toyota would be the obvious answer to me.