My son will be needing a small size truck in 10 months so I was looking at about how much money I will be needing. I am amazed that a Nissan fontier, tocoma or Ford Ranger with 140,000 to 200,000 miles is listing for so much money. Dang things are almost wore out and listing for much more than I was expecting.

I can see to find one with less than 100,000 is going to really hit me. This is one reason my hunting club dues must be cheaper.

Im in the same boat, looking for a car around 100,000 miles for my wifwe to go back to school... Anything half way decent I'm looking around $4000 to $5000.

I bet you've never owned a Toyota or two, or you'd know why. I can't speak for those off brands. Get that boy a nice Taco and forget it.

Tacoma or the model tundra before the new ones. I got my tundra with about 120,000 on it and when it got stolen I had about 240,000 on it all I had done was change the oil and put a battery in it

The Nissan and Toyo are just getting broke in at that point. Can't go wrong with either one.

Honestly, simply cause theyre smaller doesn't mean they get much better mileage,
the loss of room and comfort...and safety...small trucks on wet roads are sorta dangerous...
Best my Old Nissan got was 23, MPG...put a ATV in the back of it or a trailer behind it and it went WAY down...plus make it even more squirrely to drive...4-5 mpg aint that big of a difference...

Well I figure with a smaller truck comes somewhat of better gas milage and cheaper insurance. I'm not worried about having more space as he should not need alot of space. The thought of having a wreck does bother me a bit though.

Put him in a lates 90's tahoe or chevy pickup they were still made of sorta steel and not beer cans at that point. I know when changing the door pins on mine the driver door weighed about 200lbs.

Regardless of brand, the small trucks seem to be as much as the full sized ones.

Full size 2 wheel drive chevy will get as good a gas milage as the small trucks

Got my son an '02 sierra 4x4 regular cab. Not terribly big, safe enough and its getting just short of 15mpg. Well spent $4500 if you ask me.

But they cost more

1976 Chevy long wheel base with no power steering and a three speed on the column. He will be the envy of all of his buddies.

Being as you drive a prius I dont think you have a dog in this hunt.

I got 257000 on my 01 tacoma still running strong

If anyone wants to save some money and get more truck or car for your money i have a guy that will take you to the big dealer only car auction in moody and for a fee he will buy any car there you want.trust me when i say his fee saved me thousands over buying anywhere else. went two weeks ago for the first time and got two for alittle over ten grand. a 07 vw jetti and a 02 chevy 2500 4door 4wd. You can even buy a protection plan from them tat if it tears up you take it to the dealer.They run six lanes or more of cars on wed. anyone that wants to go pm me and i will give you his number.

I guess when I read this yesterday I smooth overlooked it. Once again you must have never owned a Toyota, I can show you plenty with 300K plus still going strong. I know where one is with 600K plus. There are two kinds of small and mid-size trucks, Toyota and all the rest. I just sold a nice 99 regular cab 4X4 Taco for $7000. I paid $7000 for it 4 years ago. I drove it 4 years for maintenance cost, which ain't much on a Toyota. I've done it several times and even driven them a few years and made $, try that with anything else.

2Dogs I generally agree with you. I've always loved Toyota, but the '98 Tacoma I bought for my son for $8,000 -- beautiful clean truck -- has to go to the shop every month for repairs. It's in the shop as I type this post this morning.

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I've discovered that if you want a good vehicle, you can pay a lot up front for a newer one, or you can pay for repairs every month on that older vehicle with 150,000 miles. You're going to pay the same either way; it's just your choice when you pay it.

An older vehicle is only a good decision IF you personally have mechanic skills, lots of tools, and a heated shop to work in.

Clarification, My love for Toyota trucks is very high for any with a 4 cylinder, much less for those with a 3.4 V-6 and I won't let a 3.0 V-6 on my property.

Yep. I wouldn't have one with another engine. I had a 92 Toyota with a 22RE engine in it. I drove the crap of it. I dunked it in the some water and hydro-locked the engine. Dad and I got all the water out. I cranked it up and drove it home.

I sold it (which I should have never sold it) to my bro-in-law with 135k miles on it. My wife was pregnant so I needed something bigger. He drove it until it had around 200k miles on. He sold it to his cousin who drove it from Jasper to Bham everyday for years. I seen the truck a few months ago..20 years after I bought it...still running strong. Now, the outside doesn't look to great. But the engine still runs good.