If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

[jbjennings]

On the way back from buying an old used outboard, my dad and I stopped by to look at some new trucks just to see some prices and mainly gas mileage.
I don't like the looks of Nissans so I went to the toyota dealership.
They had these humongous tundras for like $50,000 and they got like 14city/19hwy.
So I looked at the tacomas and they got 17city/24hwy. if I remember right. I also noticed that those tacomas were pretty darned big for a small truck and looked heavy. I believe that is their smallest model.

Then I went to the chevrolet dealership and a full size chevy 4X4 gets 15city/19hwy.

Now I own a '98 chevy with 243,000 miles with a 350ci. v8 motor that gets about 16mpg all the time and with premium unleaded on the interstate consistently gets 22 mpg.
My old '86 isuzu 4X4 with a 4cylinder carbed motor got 30 mpg with 80,000 miles and was still getting 25 when i sold it with 186,000 miles.

Why are the import folks not making small trucks that get good mileage like they were in the 80's. i.e chevy luv, isuzu pup, mazda sundowner, ford courier, toyota trucks, nissan trucks.
And why would anyone buy a toyota full size (huge) truck that gets WORSE gas mileage than the chevrolet and costs about 10,000 bucks more??
Seems like someone would make a small sized pickup that gets good mileage like they once did in the 80's and they would sell lots of trucks..
Anybody got a new small truck that they get good gas mil. with lately?
JBJ

 

[DBlittle]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

If you are not determined to buy a new truck, I have an 06 Tundra with the v-6 that will tow up to 5000 lbs and generally gets between 20 - 23 mpg. All in all, I have been pretty happy with is performance. I'm sure you can find one similar if you wanted to go that way.

 

[JB]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

The reason they stopped building 24-25mpg trucks is because we wouldn't buy them, jbj. We insisted on mega-HP trucks that would tow a zillion pounds.

My '88 Ranger regularly got 25mpg (on one trip, 27mpg), but was limited to about 2,000lb tow. Also, it didn't have power everything, GPS, leather seats, a sexy sounding voice to tell me what I already knew, etc., etc.

In a few years we will be able to buy pickups that get 30mpg and will tow 3,000lb, but by then gas will be $1.75 again and we won't buy them then, either.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

In a few years we will be able to buy pickups that get 30mpg and will tow 3,000lb, but by then gas will be $1.75 again and we won't buy them then, either.

30 mpg and 1.75$ per gallon would be ideal but unless you believe in conspiracies, if it could have been achieved it would have already been available.

In other words, dream on on both accounts.

I do not discount technological breakthroughs but I really think that there have been enough talented people looking at this issue for a long time and have not been able to break the barrier that would (if possible) achieve this efficiency. The price of fuel is another issue.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

Well JB,
You're probably right but it seems like they sold the crap out of them to me. My neighbor has a little ford ranger that he's had for seems like 20 years. My only experience with 'em was my dad's which was the cheapest ranger you could buy and had a four-cylinder. I remember it was so wimpy that it struggled pulling out a 14 foot aluminum boat on a dilly trailer out of a concrete boat ramp. So I have to admit I want at least a little power. My little isuzu was an awesome truck and had plenty of power for me. My little '90 mazda truck is good, too. but I'm ready for a new one since it needs A/C work and is pretty tired. Still runs great, though.

I have been looking at a little '79 chevy luv 4X4 on craigllist for 3900 that only has 86,000 miles and has cold air/looks really nice. That's a little high, though.

Also, I've been liking those 2-wheel drive smaller-looking tundras but was worried they wouldn't even get close to 23 mpg judging by the window stickers on the new ones. I've never bought a new truck by the way---the newest vehicle I ever bought was a ford explorer with 60,000miles on it for my wife. I don't like fords but it has actually been an excellent vehicle and now has about 130,000 on it.
I'll have to take another look at those tundras. The smaller ones look really nice to me. they make them in the US too, right?

 

[Joe Dirt]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

Amen- my '93 Ranger 4cyl would probably tow what I have now- and got almost 30 hwy unloaded- in the HP war (which is probably over for the most part- Ford is going ECOBoost v6 soon in place of some V8's) we never looked at them. My '95 Explorer gets around 20hwy, and that's good for me right now. I'll probably replace it with a 200's 4 cyl Ranger next time around- most people that buy trucks don't even need them for trucks- they're people hauling tow vehicles- and most of their capacity isn't used.

Did you go to the Toyota dealership first because you thought they'd have the best mileage? Just curious- or was it just first on the way back...

 

[jbjennings]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

Hey Joe,
Nah, I knew the toyotas had crappy mileage but they are good trucks for the most part. I do think a chevrolet v8 engine is probably just as good on reliability as a toyota v8 engine---like I said, I've got 243,000 on mine and it runs like new with no work done on it. A lot of the accessories on the motors seem to be better made on the imports. The plastic door handles on chevys are junk, too.

I'm on the lookout!
JBJ

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

i never had a small truck, because the beds were too small. always had a long wheel base. pickup with the 8 foot bed.

 

[zoe'sdad]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

Car manufactures want to keep your business. They know as you age your family will grow, you will aquire more toys and will want a larger more comfortable vehicle. That is why the compact trucks have grown in size. Same is true with cars like the Civic and Corolla. Also, JB is correct in that people wanted large, heavy trucks with a ton of power and that is what the manufactures produced. When I bought my last Tundra Toyota sent a survey asking what where improvements that I would like to see in the next model. I put down a long wheel base extra-cab, 3/4 ton version and a diesel option. New model has an 8' bed option and the capablility to pull 10,000 lbs and there are rumors of a 3/4 diesel in the works. Toyota listened. I think that Ford / Mazda is in the best position to introduced a small truck with decent gas mileage being that they have left the Ranger untouched for a while.

 

[QC]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

The Tundra is no more $ than a Ford or a GM truck. We just bought a new GMC 1500 last week to replace our Expedition. I almost bought a Tundra. Even the sticker was close. The Tundra Crew cab with the 5.7 stickered for $36K and the GMC with Tow max 6.0 was $36K. We actually bought the 5.3, that stickered for $33K, but the 6.0 and 5.7s were close to equal and had the higher tow ratings (10K). With the rebates and dealer discount, both were around $27K (the 5.3), although I actually got less stuff (tow rating 7800, lesser stereo etc.) with the GMC . . . Wife actually liked the harsher ride of the GMC better, also it seats 6 while the Toyota only 5. The Toyota dealer pissed me off, and there are a bunch of new Tundras around here, so we decided on the GMC . . . I really, really wanted that 6 speed, but we are both very happy. The 5.3 is rated 15/20 MPG . . . Don't know where it will be in reality yet.

 

[Pony]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

The 5.3 is rated 15/20 MPG . . . Don't know where it will be in reality yet.

I haven't driven on the highway with mine yet (owned for 5 weeks) and I have been getting 16. I am happy with that..........my 3.9L Chrystler only got 14 all day. (BTW this is all with reformulated fuel).

2004 5.3L

 

[QC]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

This one has "Active Fuel Management" which is the 4 cyl cutout deal. Should be even better than your 2004 which would be great.

 

[Pony]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

This one has "Active Fuel Management" which is the 4 cyl cutout deal. Should be even better than your 2004 which would be great.

Yeah it should be much better......I missed the part where you said it was new or else I would've caught that.

That 5.3L is a really nice engine. I am more and more happy with that purchase everyday. Claims to be able to pull 8100 lbs with my set up. The most I have pulled so far is 4200......performed very well.

 

[QC]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

Yeah, I had a 2000 Suburban with a 5.3. Loved it. BTW, they were actually giving less on trade for a 5.4 in my Expy vs. the standard 4.6 . . . V6s in PUs are higher than V8s . . .

 

[triumphrick]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

You may want to check oput a pre 2007 Tundra with the 4.7. I have a really bad feeling buying anything new nowadays. The new trucks values are dropping fast, ask my friend who is trying to sell his 06 diesel Ford.
I own an '04 4.7 Tundra that gets 18-21 with a factory tow package. The truck has about 58k on it and has been flawless. Towing my 3500# rig, mileage dips to 16-17. Of course, it's pretty flat here in Florida, so this may be a little less where you are.
I've posted here before about buying my first Hilux in 1971. Put a ton of trouble free miles on it and have driving these things ever since.
If you want something just a little smaller, the Tacoma with the 4.0 is a great package, especially the 4 door version.
And yes, all the Tundras are made in the US.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

While I'm stuck with a big diesel as I pull a 30 ft trailer, I'm still waiting to see the truck makers come out with 6 cyl diesels. I think there is a huge market for them these days but it seems to be taking them a while to come out with them.

I keep hearing rumours of Toyota bringing one to north America, GM coming out with a smaller Duramax etc. but these rumours never seem to hit the showroom.

I think my next car will either be a hybrid or a diesel. Gonna keep my 2001 Duramax for a long time though.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

While I'm stuck with a big diesel as I pull a 30 ft trailer, I'm still waiting to see the truck makers come out with 6 cyl diesels.

I do hope your talking about little 6 cyl. diesels.

 

[QC]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

What about the Cummins in the Dodge? In-line 6 . . . like ALL modern heavies

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

My '07 Colorado has the big 4 cyl(2.6)5 speed manual shift ,tilt,cruise,air cond.,tow package. I get 25 mpg. Tows and extracts my 2,000 lb boatwith no problems.

 

[MikDee]

Re: If a person wanted a new truck with good mpg??

My '07 Colorado has the big 4 cyl(2.6)5 speed manual shift ,tilt,cruise,air cond.,tow package. I get 25 mpg. Tows and extracts my 2,000 lb boatwith no problems.

Hello, What's the matter, with you guys ignoring a nice size GM pickup??? Here's a good example of a decent truck, it's on the smallish size, similar to the Chevy S-10 it replaced, it'll tow 4000 lbs at least with the bigger 245hp 5cyl engine (a derivative of the world class overhead cam 6cyl in the trailblazer) and produce good gas milage! Chevy's having money issues, and you guys are looking for foriegn vehicles? IMO, this is better then most of those, at this time!

Besides, How can you ignore the older S-10's? They're a fairly compact truck that can tow 6000lbs, with the 4.3V6 auto. 2WD and get decent around town milage, my previous 96' Sonoma Vortec 4.3 V6 auto. 2WD got 20mpg around town, and my present 95 S-10 gets 22mpg around town. How can you even compare a smaller 6cyl Dodge, or 4cyl Ford Ranger?