small trucks

[lessthanjakejohn]

What are the options for 4 and 6 cylinder reliable pickups??

96 and up only

well really thats not really what i mean...heh

I am looking at small/med trucks that can tow a small amount (3200#)Right now I'm looking at the V6 TRD Tacoma and the V6 SE Frontier in the years 97-2000. I think that the toyota looks better than the frontier, but that is not what its about to me. Its about reliablity. This truck will be beat on, daily driven, and taken on light trails whenever the chance arrives, but stay stock. SO what would you choose? Frontier or Tacoma?

tia

[SmithSR]

Both are good, Toyota probably has the edge though. I traded up from the Hardbody style Nissan to the Tacoma. Again, both are good, for what they are. Here's my unit...

[krazy skwerel]

I am a fan of toyota for all out reliability. Not to mention the Toyota looks nicer. Not to hate on the nissan. It is just everybody I know who has had a toyota loved them. Mixed bag with nissan.

[lessthanjakejohn]

what kind of lift do you have going there? nice

A chevy/GMC V8 would be so nice but the gas mileage is the thing i dont have money for + I dont know how reliable or how many miles those will get. I pretty much know the imports will get at least a 150k

[MysteryIncMan]

My dad had an '88 silverado with 140k and it still ran like new when he sold it. 350 is a damn good motor.

[krazy skwerel]

350 can also be replaced really cheap as well. I would still opt for the Toyota though.

[Mr1der]

mmmm Toyota goodness, hard to beat the 22r for reliability and cheap repair.

I want a turbo 4x4 version:drooling...

[SmithSR]

The 5VZ-FE dohc V6 has the TRD supercharger available.

For Nissan, only the current Frontier, XTerra offer boost(to my knowledge)

[Bubba1]

I think both are good choices but I also think toyota Tacoma is a slightly nicer. Mechanically similar to a 4Runner, which I own. Very dependabe vehicle.

[Mr1der]

can't say I've heard of a Toyota that was junk.

anybody else have?

[lessthanjakejohn]

dunno, I'm not much of a toyota fan

[SmithSR]

If you ask enough people, some will say that certain Toyota engines are plagued with sludge problems. Luckily, both the 4 and 6cyl truck engines are not listed in any of the TSB's that address sludge problems.

At 58k miles, my engine(5VZ-FE 6cyl) threw the crank pulley, and ruined the crank. Toyota carries 60k mile powertrain warranty, so the bottom end was rebuilt at no cost to me. At time of block rebuild, they performed a 60k tune up and replaced the water pump, timing belt, head gaskets and some odds & ends. Fresh motor at 60k, zero problems since.

[Mr1der]

what's it up to now?

[SmithSR]

Oops, forgot that.. 115k, so, still a ways to go before she's 'used'

[Mr1der]

yeah, bout 100k or more:D

your truck an auto or manual? I've seen some Toyota autos go close to 300k without rebuilds...

[SmithSR]

Auto. If I fancy bashing through gears, it's on the death cycle.