Truck advice!
Hey guys. I need help deciding on a truck.
First a bit of background.
I'm almost 17, and have been driving for 7 months now, no accidents, tickets, or the like. I currently drive a hand-me-down 1994 Altima GXE 5spd which is starting to show it's age. It seems that before we bought it used (5+ years ago), the previous owner got tapped in the front-right panel, causing some unknown damage to the transmission that has lain dormant for a decent bit. Nowadays, the poor syncros scream whenever I downshift, the front end shakes at 70+, and the stick often doesn't *quite* make it into a gear, leaving me powerless until I can reset it. Now, this isn't the greatest shape a car can be in, and when mixed with the general degradation of its vitals, it is looking more and more like I should begin to look for a new vehicle.
I've been doing a great deal of lawn-work (part-time and volunteer) these days, and am finally tried of borrowing our van and yanking out the backseat just to fit the required tools inside. This logically leads me to look at a truck for a possible next mode of transport. I haven't been looking long or hard into research (just beginning) and so I'm asking you more knowledgeable guys first.
What I'm looking for:
-Truck: (moderately long bed)
pref: Something that rides up reasonably high.
One thing I hate about my altima is how it seems to
disappear near any of the large SUV-like things on our
roads. Just feels unsafe.
-Power: One nice thing about the altima is my 2.4L mated
with the manual tranny allowed me the power to get out
of any situations that require immediate evacuation. I
would imagine that fully-loaded, a four-banger could
*not* be able to do that in my hypothetical truck. As
safety is a major concern, I would like at least a
moderate six.
-Economics: I've got a pretty good job at the moment, and a
respectable $4500 in the bank right now after this
year's insurance. Since this truck will be my method of
getting myself from school to work each day, my parents
will throw in a decent amount of capital towards the
final bill. I'm looking to spend at *max* 10k, but
probably safer around 8k. However, this lends to the
next point...
-Safety: My parents, due to their footing a portion of the
tab, have final say on any decision. Translated, this
means one word: Safety. I need to find a vehicle that
scores at least better then average on some respectable
safety test. I'm not sure: how do trucks do in these
rankings? I would assume that more safe==less
insuranceCost, so this is doubly stressed.
-Cab: I would prefer some sort of slightly extended cab,
simply because it gives me more space. I tend to live
out of my car =)
-4x4: I have no idea how four wheel drive has any effect on
any of the situations I might find myself in, nor the
pros and cons of its inclusion. I defer to your wisdom.
-Transmission: I would prefer manual. 'Just like the feel
of being in control of ton-weight mass of steel and
plastic that could be my grim demise
Either's fine.
-Make: I'm an american, but also a realist. Whatever works.
Thank you for bearing with me and this long post. I've not had terribly much experience when it comes to picking out brands/models/features of trucks. I know it's a quite of a list I've compiled, and I understand that there are many choices involved with each of the options I've listed as important. I suppose what I'm looking for right now are some suggestions as to what I should be looking for on ebay/lots/ect. and of course, if any of you have opinions on what might work better in my case, be sure to voice them.
Thanks again,
-mike
First a bit of background.
I'm almost 17, and have been driving for 7 months now, no accidents, tickets, or the like. I currently drive a hand-me-down 1994 Altima GXE 5spd which is starting to show it's age. It seems that before we bought it used (5+ years ago), the previous owner got tapped in the front-right panel, causing some unknown damage to the transmission that has lain dormant for a decent bit. Nowadays, the poor syncros scream whenever I downshift, the front end shakes at 70+, and the stick often doesn't *quite* make it into a gear, leaving me powerless until I can reset it. Now, this isn't the greatest shape a car can be in, and when mixed with the general degradation of its vitals, it is looking more and more like I should begin to look for a new vehicle.
I've been doing a great deal of lawn-work (part-time and volunteer) these days, and am finally tried of borrowing our van and yanking out the backseat just to fit the required tools inside. This logically leads me to look at a truck for a possible next mode of transport. I haven't been looking long or hard into research (just beginning) and so I'm asking you more knowledgeable guys first.
What I'm looking for:
-Truck: (moderately long bed)
pref: Something that rides up reasonably high.
One thing I hate about my altima is how it seems to
disappear near any of the large SUV-like things on our
roads. Just feels unsafe.
-Power: One nice thing about the altima is my 2.4L mated
with the manual tranny allowed me the power to get out
of any situations that require immediate evacuation. I
would imagine that fully-loaded, a four-banger could
*not* be able to do that in my hypothetical truck. As
safety is a major concern, I would like at least a
moderate six.
-Economics: I've got a pretty good job at the moment, and a
respectable $4500 in the bank right now after this
year's insurance. Since this truck will be my method of
getting myself from school to work each day, my parents
will throw in a decent amount of capital towards the
final bill. I'm looking to spend at *max* 10k, but
probably safer around 8k. However, this lends to the
next point...
-Safety: My parents, due to their footing a portion of the
tab, have final say on any decision. Translated, this
means one word: Safety. I need to find a vehicle that
scores at least better then average on some respectable
safety test. I'm not sure: how do trucks do in these
rankings? I would assume that more safe==less
insuranceCost, so this is doubly stressed.
-Cab: I would prefer some sort of slightly extended cab,
simply because it gives me more space. I tend to live
out of my car =)
-4x4: I have no idea how four wheel drive has any effect on
any of the situations I might find myself in, nor the
pros and cons of its inclusion. I defer to your wisdom.
-Transmission: I would prefer manual. 'Just like the feel
of being in control of ton-weight mass of steel and
plastic that could be my grim demise
Either's fine.-Make: I'm an american, but also a realist. Whatever works.
Thank you for bearing with me and this long post. I've not had terribly much experience when it comes to picking out brands/models/features of trucks. I know it's a quite of a list I've compiled, and I understand that there are many choices involved with each of the options I've listed as important. I suppose what I'm looking for right now are some suggestions as to what I should be looking for on ebay/lots/ect. and of course, if any of you have opinions on what might work better in my case, be sure to voice them.
Thanks again,
-mike
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