Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Used full size truck .

First car?

I'd look for a clean, early 90's, F150 with a 4.9 standard tranny and stay out of debt on a depreciating asset.

They're cheap, tow well, decent fuel mileage, and reliable as a hammer.

I don't know where you're gonna find a Tundra for 10,000$. It would have to be pretty old and high miles.

Ford F-150's are gonna be tough to beat for price, off-road capability, ride, durability.

My brother bought an 02 with 240K on it for $5500. You look on Auto Trader and you'll see lots of 'em with 350K for sale. That early Toyota V-8 had timing belts so you can rest assured most of the ones you find would be due for that.

I'd agree with RC, I'd look for a Ford.

Just my .02$ worth, but I can't imagine anyone not wanting at least an extra-cab for the simple matter of resale value and lockable storage.

I agree but he said he'd rather have an extended cab.

at one time or the other over a lot of years i have had every make and model of all the trucks Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and 3 Tundras,all used as ranch trucks with some hi-way use, the Ford wins out, i don't care who's name is on the door, if a truck will hold up to rough use get decent mileage, I like it. won't write a review of others but will tell you all the Toyota, is the last truck you want.currently i have 14 ranch pickups and 5 suv. rio7

Rio, those Fords Diesel or gas?

DF

Hmmmm.

I've heard it said, don't mess with a Dodge owner...

He's already mad...

DF

dirtfarmer, mostly diesel. rio7

Looks like you've had enough experience with Ford diesels to know which ones to buy, which ones to leave alone.

Over the years, Ford has offered some great diesel engines, some not so great. Just gotta know the product.

DF

Yep,rio7

I was thinking the same thing or a 5.0, might have to travel so to find a clean one without a ton of miles but should come in well under budget and be a solid truck.

If he has a $10k budget, he should buy for cash and not finance anything, and you shouldn't cosign for him. Better to find a truck on craigslist for $6 to $8k and use $2k for repairs/upgrades, and then he should make equivalent payments to his bank account, for when he needs to buy his next truck.

There are a number of good deals to be found if you look around a bit and are mechanically inclined at all.

Tom

lots of fords on the road,lots of obama voters to but that doesn't mean there right.

newer dodges are so up and down on mpg ,2 friends just bought new dodges. one claims 19.5 mpg,the other says 13.5mpg. same motors,same gear.

if you want me to buy a japanese truck then send the japs over here to sell them.when they get balls enough to try promoting there own product in america we'll talk.they are dog ugly and usually get the worst mpg in the big trucks.

i'll buy a chevy/gmc

I'm a Z-71 guy, wife drives a Tahoe.

But, for the OP, looking for a good truck for his kid, what about a std. cab 4x4 Tacoma, 4 cylinder/std. shift. I think you could find a pretty good one for $10K. It's a tough little truck, should hold its value fairly well and would give him years of solid use.

DF

Edited to add I know you said full size, but for that price, you may need to broaden your search parameters.

IMHO.

You obviously ain't looked much for 4x4 Tacomas.

Edit:

I just did an auto trader 300mi radius search in my SE area. I found two with less that 200K miles.

Haven't actually looked for a Tacoma.

They're good little trucks and I guess people run them until they won't run...

Still not a bad concept, if one could be found.

DF

They are GREAT trucks, and as you noted, are sought after. If the OP is a wrencher, maybe find one that needs major work, and make it a father/son project. That way it would be more of a known commodity, and not a pig-in-a poke.

If you find a used Tacoma on a lot, you had best buy it right then if it will work for you, because it won't be there tomorrow

No question the Tacoma's supposed to be good but he wants a full sized truck.