Daily driver truck?

[MustangPoser]

The other thing is, if you're worried about your cost of operation on your jeep, and whatever you buy doesn't cost you less than you save, you're wasting your time.

Actually, one of my first cars was a Jeep YJ, and I still have a TJ I drive on the street every once in awhile.

If he is driving more than 10 miles to work everyday, the stress factor of driving a jeep is HIGH. Mine has 4.88 gears, 4cyl, locked front and read, banks header/exhaust, intake. Mods probably give me 10bhp. Can't clear a hill without accelerating for 3 miles beforehand on the tollway. Leaving a gas station, the tires scream like I'm a 16 year old trying to look cool.

Driving a Jeep everyday sucks. I did it with my YJ for 4 years. Their really not worth a fuck beyond 4wl <5mph.


+6mpg, mindless driving. Worth getting an old Yoda.

[bottlerocket]

Seems to me you're just trading one low fuel economy vehicle to another to do just about the same thing. If you're looking to save on fuel I'd buy a small car to use daily and use the Jeep for Lowes runs. Pick up a small trailer to pull behind the Jeep to haul any really large items, or just rent the Lowes truck

Our Lowes doesn't have a truck to rent, or at least I've never seen it there as many times as I've been. Going from 14ish MPG on the highway to over 20 seems like a decent jump to me. Going from driving a 4.5" lifted Jeep on 35"s to a small 4cyl pickup makes sense to me.

[2011GT]

Seems to me you're just trading one low fuel economy vehicle to another to do just about the same thing. If you're looking to save on fuel I'd buy a small car to use daily and use the Jeep for Lowes runs. Pick up a small trailer to pull behind the Jeep to haul any really large items, or just rent the Lowes truck

Get out of here with that common sense!!!

[mystic96]

Seems to me you're just trading one low fuel economy vehicle to another to do just about the same thing. If you're looking to save on fuel I'd buy a small car to use daily and use the Jeep for Lowes runs. Pick up a small trailer to pull behind the Jeep to haul any really large items, or just rent the Lowes truck

[bottlerocket]

no the toyotas and nissans get better, mid to upper 20's easy. in fact all the japanese trucks seem to get better mileage than the american trucks of equal size. i searched for 6-8 weeks for a truck exactly like you described, stripped down with best milage. i would be on the look out for anything japanese from mid 80's to mid 90's with your budget you mentioned in your first post. i had to search CL every day for 6 weeks till i found mine and when i got there the guy had received about a dozen calls. even tried to get more money out of me but i dont play that shit and just handed him what was originally asked. also be careful because in that price range there are a lot of trucks with "new motors" or "just rebuilt" motors. i had to walk away from a couple trucks cause i could tell it was a hack job someone was trying to pass off as a good truck

awesome man, I appreciate the input. I'll start to keep an eye out for the Nissans and Toyotas. Wife is gonna hate it, shes a Ford girl.

[bottlerocket]

1990 Ford Ranger 2.3 L, 4 cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
21 City 23 Combined 26 Highway 20.5 user avg

1990 Nissan Hardbody 2WD 2.4 L, 4 cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
20 City 22 Combined 25 Highway 25.0 user avg

1990 Toyota Truck 2WD 2.4 L, 4 cyl, Manual 4-spd, Regular Gasoline
20 City 21 Combined 22 Highway (no user avg)

1990 Chevrolet S10 Pickup 2WD 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular Gasoline
21 City 22 Combined 25 Highway (no user avg)

[grove rat]

no the toyotas and nissans get better, mid to upper 20's easy. in fact all the japanese trucks seem to get better mileage than the american trucks of equal size. i searched for 6-8 weeks for a truck exactly like you described, stripped down with best milage. i would be on the look out for anything japanese from mid 80's to mid 90's with your budget you mentioned in your first post. i had to search CL every day for 6 weeks till i found mine and when i got there the guy had received about a dozen calls. even tried to get more money out of me but i dont play that shit and just handed him what was originally asked. also be careful because in that price range there are a lot of trucks with "new motors" or "just rebuilt" motors. i had to walk away from a couple trucks cause i could tell it was a hack job someone was trying to pass off as a good truck

[Baron Von Crowder]

Well my point was if the Ford's ratings on the 2.3L were unrealistic, are the Toyota's and Nissan's the same way where they're rated in the low-mid 20's but really get high teens to low 20's?

fueleconomy.gov

[bottlerocket]

2.3 with a 5spd reg cab short bed might get 20 mpg on the highway cruising at 60 mph. those EPA numbers are not real world(not even close), but dont listen to me what do i know

Well my point was if the Ford's ratings on the 2.3L were unrealistic, are the Toyota's and Nissan's the same way where they're rated in the low-mid 20's but really get high teens to low 20's?

[Baron Von Crowder]

Ive had a few rangers, and I liked them.

My 91 reg/short with a 3.0 manual got about the same MPG as my 99 4cyl/manual got, but was pretty quick for what it was. I sold the 91 when the cam gear wore out, and I didnt feel like tearing that far into it. I kinda wish I had and kept it for longer. I never had an issue out of the 4banger 99, but just needed a bigger truck. Downside to the 4 is that you have no power, it was pretty much done at 75.

[grove rat]

EPA tests for back then show the Nissan and Toyota to be the same as the 2.3L Ford, so right in the mid-low 20's.

2.3 with a 5spd reg cab short bed might get 20 mpg on the highway cruising at 60 mph. those EPA numbers are not real world(not even close), but dont listen to me what do i know

[bottlerocket]

Im not a fan of the 2.3L ranger/mazda. I hate that little engine with a passion and the MPG's are less than stellar. I would aim for a 3.0L/4.0L V6 ranger/B3000. EPA ratings on the 2.3l are 19/24, the 3.0L is 17/23, and the 4.0L is 16/22.
Personally, I would go with a mid 90's S10 2.2L 5 speed. I was getting 25mpg with my extended cab. No timing belt to worry about and 4 fucking spark plugs.

EPA tests for back then show the Nissan and Toyota to be the same as the 2.3L Ford, so right in the mid-low 20's. How much better is the manual than the auto for the 3.0L? I had an auto 3.0L back home and that thing made abysmal MPG and for a V6 was anemic. Averaged roughly 17mpg and couldn't get out of it's own way. My old 4cyl S10 did better with power but ended up with a cracked head or block, not sure which since we just got rid of it.

Buy a motorcycle.

hard to haul sheet ply or sod/plants with a bike. Plus, already have one of those.

Don't overlook the 4.3v6 GM truck option. If you just need a run-about with a bed, that isn't a bad one to grab. The other thing is, if you're worried about your cost of operation on your jeep, and whatever you buy doesn't cost you less than you save, you're wasting your time.

I'll check those out. I just figured for around town the 4cyl would be the best bet and the cheapest initial investment. The last part of your statement is my primary concern which is why I was just looking for bare-bones simple. The biggest factors for the operation of the Wrangler are:

MPG (~14)
Tires ($1000 set of tires to go to/from work)
Top (I can take the top off and if it starts to rain suddently I won't be screwed)

[YALE]

Don't overlook the 4.3v6 GM truck option. If you just need a run-about with a bed, that isn't a bad one to grab. The other thing is, if you're worried about your cost of operation on your jeep, and whatever you buy doesn't cost you less than you save, you're wasting your time.

[BradM]

Buy a motorcycle.

[grove rat]

yea those ranger/mazda with the 2.3 get okay mpg at best and that is with a 5spd, get an auto and you'll be getting 15-16. they are reliable and tough but not the mpg's you are wanting. however i have a b2200 that gets mid 20's without even trying. could be for sale too..

http://www.dfwmustangs.net/forums/showthread.php?t=46372