Light Truck Options

[sergechronos]

Looking to pick up something stupidly cheap to use as a commuting vehicle back and forth to school while also being able to carry car parts around, and take stuff to the dump, looking at something with a 4 cylinder and a 5 speed and interested in what other people have owned or worked on. My budget it stupidly cheap, around 1500 total because I just plan to drive this through the ground.

Currently looking at an 88 Mighty Max. 204k on it, just had the top end rebuilt with a new radiator and hoses. It does sound like it has lifter tick like our cars do, not sure if that's normal for the engine or not.

Also looking at a 95 S10 shortbed. Don't know anything about the motors. Has around 185k on it.

Looked at an 80-soemthing Nissan Hardbody with a V6. I know mileage with these isn't great but they run forever.

Just kind of looking for general recommendations on these vehicles as well as things to look out for and what to expect from particular models and such.

[anyonebutme]

When I bought my S-10, had 80K on it and paid 1500. Honestly it wasn't worth having. Couldn't tow anything and was just generally more sucky than a comparable car.

[Boost4VR4]

F-150 with 4.6 can be had for next to nothing, hauls well, and gets decent gas mileage with the right rear end...

[R/T93]

My 99 ranger is pretty sweet. 4 cyl, 5 speed, extended cab, ac.
However they are desireable in that format and much more than 1500. A regular cab will be tons cheaper and plentiful on the market.

From the phone.

[sergechronos]

When I bought my S-10, had 80K on it and paid 1500. Honestly it wasn't worth having. Couldn't tow anything and was just generally more sucky than a comparable car.

Not looking to tow anything, whatever parts I may end up carrying would just be stuff in the bed. This is basically a commuter vehicle that can also be used to make dump runs a couple times a week as we don't have trash pick up here.

My 99 ranger is pretty sweet. 4 cyl, 5 speed, extended cab, ac.
However they are desireable in that format and much more than 1500. A regular cab will be tons cheaper and plentiful on the market.

From the phone.

How expensive (and frequent) is maintenance and parts?

[Boost4VR4]

Don't be scared of the mileage:

Ford : F-150 XL Standard Cab Pickup 2-Door in Ford | eBay Motors

Ford : F-150 XLT Standard Cab Pickup 2-Door in Ford | eBay Motors

Ford : F-150 XL in Ford | eBay Motors < this one isn't terrible, but the 4.2L V6 is not a very peppy motor.

[vroom4]

I loved my 97 4 banger s10. 35 mpg and could haul soemthing like an engine/tranny no problem.

Also drove it over 6 hours with ZERO oil pressure across a mountain range (after a shop botched a fuel injector replacement) and it didnt leave me stranded! I assume its like the SOHC 3s of trucks.

[vroom4]

Any it was WAY comfy. Had seats like a 90s caddilac.

[sergechronos]

So far, driven a late 80s/early 90s Mighty Max with the 4g64 and manual trans. Had what sounded like very bad lifter tick, whole truck sounded like it was about to rattle apart at just 20mph.
95 S10. had a bad misfire at low rpms and when trying to accelerate. Took that off the list, just don't have time (or literally any money) to work on it. The fact that it would barely hit 30mph with the issue made it a no go.
93ish Ranger. Loud as fuck with a straight through muffler on it, loud rattle coming from under the floor boards most likely exhaust heat shields. Shifter was very tight, no slop. Would need brakes bled for sure, oil change, and there's no filter element on the intake.

Suffice to say, none have particularly filled me with confidence that they won't fall apart at any minute. Going to look at a GMC Jimmy and Jeep Comanche tomorrow, I think a Mazda B2300 as well. Hopefully something works out. I know absolutely nothing about the Comanches beyond a quick read of wikipedia and some google-fu that tells me they only get around 20mpg.

Boost4VR4, not afraid of mileage, however I've had multiple 4.6s over the years, and while the mileage isn't that bad, I commute 160 miles each trip. So I need as many mpg (and as cheap of parts) as I can squeeze out of a truck and the 4.6 will only net me low 20s. If my commute weren't near as long, I would probably just get a full size truck.

[JasonY]

If you're driving 160 miles a day, you shouldnt be truck shopping...Or is the 160 mile thing not a normal trip?

I vote 4 banger Mazda B series or Ranger. Same truck, parts are cheap and run forever. Just dont buy one that is junk or you'll end up spending what a decent one woulda cost anyway.

Jason