If you were looking to have one that's main purpose would be commuting, with the occasional weekend of the month that you would want to go to the track. I wouldn't need a huge trailer (maybe a 5x8?) because I assume I'd only be taking 2 or maybe 3 bikes at most. The Chrysler Pacifica is rated pretty decent with towing capacity and gas mileage, and the Toyota Highlander also looks to have good towing capacity/gas mileage.

I'd prefer to stay away from Jeep's or anything like that since I know they can turn into huge money pits pretty damn quick.

Any other recommendations?

I'd like to keep it on the less expensive side for a used one (in the ball park of 10k)

I'd stay as far away from the Pacifica as possible. I used to sell Chrysler (Dodge new) products, and believe me, they SUCK. Also stay away from the Commander. Major electrical issues.

If you want something decent, and affordable, relatively decent mileage, I'd recommend:

Toyota 4Runner
Nissan Exterra

Both are very reliable, IMO the Toyota is a little better on gas, and a bit more solidly built.

Commander?

http://cdn-www.rsportscars.com/images/jeep/2009-jeep-commander/jeep_cmd_woods_w308.jpg

I wouldt drive a Chrysler if it were free.




I would go with what voodu suggested. Even if gas prices isnt a problem for you now I am sure it will be and reliability is great especially on the toyota.

My 2000 4Runner with the 3.4 and manual transmission gets and I shit you not, 22-24 mpg.

Yeah chrysler is garbage. BUT, I did run up 175k miles on my durango before I sold it sooooo. You cannot go wrond with toyota 4runner, but your going to pay for it. Highlander? Might as well buy a corolla.

I know this sounds ridiculous, but the kia sportage is GREAT on gas and can tow a medium sized trailer. I bought one for my wife 1 year ago, it is a very solid vehicle. (2005 sportage lx /w/ 130k miles on it and still drives like brand new).

Just my 0.02

lol only 50% better than what its rated at

Yeah chrysler is garbage. BUT, I did run up 175k miles on my durango before I sold it sooooo. You cannot go wrond with toyota 4runner, but your going to pay for it. Highlander? Might as well buy a corolla.

I know this sounds ridiculous, but the kia sportage is GREAT on gas and can tow a medium sized trailer. I bought one for my wife 1 year ago, it is a very solid vehicle. (2005 sportage lx /w/ 130k miles on it and still drives like brand new).

Just my 0.02


Get rid of the Kia. Seriously.

http://images.drive.com.au/drive_images/Editorial/2009/03/31/4wd_m_m.jpg

This is from the new(ish) roof strength tests they started doing in Jan 11.

Highlander is supposed to be capable of towing 3000lbs :dunno

but like you guys have said I've heard nothing but good things about the 4 runner

chevy blazer or trail blazer. if you are getting a trail blazer get the v8 incase you want a bigger enclosed trailer in the future.

my s10 blazer gets 18mpg towing my trailer and all the gear fits in the back. i can fold the rear seats flat and sleep in the back on an air mattress.

Id get a Hummer with a prius shell. Like the one Will Arnett has.

36lfTfTuj9g

Get rid of the Kia. Seriously.

http://images.drive.com.au/drive_images/Editorial/2009/03/31/4wd_m_m.jpg

This is from the new(ish) roof strength tests they started doing in Jan 11.

Ouch! I wonder if the 2005 sportage has the same roof support integrity?

With suv's, how significant of a difference does manual vs. auto transmission usually make? I think most cars are something like 1-2mpg better.

The roads I commute on are very hilly if that makes any difference lol

if you want a stick the trail blazer is but the s10 blazers are stick, just the 2 doors (mine is a 2 door auto). finding them is a bit more difficult.

my automatic is fine though. :dunno

I was going to suggest a Tahoe, but then I saw the 10K, though I imagine you can find an older Tahoe for that price, and parts are pretty easy to get.

You save more gas depending how you drive then what type of transmission it is.

If your towing so much you need to buy a vehicle based around towing you should get an automatic.

trail blazer ss... http://images.truckinweb.com/features/0802tr_01_z+2006_chevy_trailblazer_ss+burnout.jpg

How about a Honda Pilot? Very highly rated in consumer reports. I have a 2004 and love it. Not too bad on gas with a V6.

A good used Hummer H3?

I used a 2004 GMC Envoy XL 3rd row seats leather loaded its 6cyl and very good on gas. Pulls great very very reliable. I have it for sale if your interested I just picked up a lexus.

With suv's, how significant of a difference does manual vs. auto transmission usually make? I think most cars are something like 1-2mpg better.

The roads I commute on are very hilly if that makes any difference lol

The government is the sourcing of all the EPA ratings. Over the last few years I've noticed that with ZERO changes mechanically that the the ratings go up and down as much as 4-6mpg. :wtf

Ouch! I wonder if the 2005 sportage has the same roof support integrity?


Regardless of what SUV you look at, if you want to get a decent idea of roof integrity, look at the "A" Pillars, and "B" pillars.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Three_body_styles_with_pillars_and_boxes.png


Larger diameter = Stronger roof structure, better performing in side impacts.
Smaller diameter = Weaker roof structure and not as good in side impact.

The S-10 blazer is worse than the Kia. Just youtube IIHS crash videos for whatever vehicle that's on your list. Use that in your research.

I had an explorer eddie bauer edtion and it was one of the best vehicles Ive owned besides my new truck... sold it with 215,000 miles ad only problem was a new radiator.. they have excellent towing and they get decent gas mileage.

There were several years of the Ford Explorer that were REALLY good. Especially the ones that have the pushrod 5.0 V8. mpg wasn't great, but...don't expect better than 25-26mpg with about 98% of all SUV's out there.

There were several years of the Ford Explorer that were REALLY good. Especially the ones that have the pushrod 5.0 V8. mpg wasn't great, but...don't expect better than 25-26mpg with about 98% of all SUV's out there.

+1 :biggrin

OP what are you looking to spend? Finance? Cash?

Bmw x5 4.4l e53

Bmw x5 4.4l e53

Pros:
Fun as hell vehicle to drive. Great handling, solid, safe.

Cons:

Shitty gas mileage
Spendy on maintenance.
Once you cross 60k miles, you're looking at a LOT to maintain it.
Shitty trade in value once it crosses 100k miles.
And on and on and on.

Go read reviews on the Nissan exterra. Don't bother, actually. Just go buy an exterra. They're Fucking awesome.

Go read reviews on the Nissan exterra. Don't bother, actually. Just go buy an exterra. They're Fucking awesome.

Most uncomfortable seats! Same with 4 runners! There very good and reliable with good resale. Just not comfortable

Get an xterra, they're the shit.

i traded my 09 F-150 in for a 2011 Ford Escape. this Escape is really fun especially with FWD and SYNC.

I'd stay as far away from the Pacifica as possible. I used to sell Chrysler (Dodge new) products, and believe me, they SUCK. Also stay away from the Commander. Major electrical issues.

If you want something decent, and affordable, relatively decent mileage, I'd recommend:

Toyota 4Runner
Nissan Exterra

Both are very reliable, IMO the Toyota is a little better on gas, and a bit more solidly built.
Lol, the Xterra is a pile of shit.

Chrysler does suck- they always have. When I was in the auto-industry (engineer), they were notorious for specifying cheaper parts in places like bearings and having looser tolerances to save costs.

I really like GM's stuff now. It's great, especially for the price. I'm a big powrtrain guy though, and GM has the best series V8's on the market (excluding exotics and maybe Mercedes, but that's not really competition), period.

The government is the sourcing of all the EPA ratings. Over the last few years I've noticed that with ZERO changes mechanically that the the ratings go up and down as much as 4-6mpg. :wtf

They started a different way of testing them (adding AC). Also, manufacturers change the tune and such.



Get rid of the Kia. Seriously.

http://images.drive.com.au/drive_images/Editorial/2009/03/31/4wd_m_m.jpg

This is from the new(ish) roof strength tests they started doing in Jan 11.
That doesn' say much of anything. I interned at Nissan in a body structure development team. I watched a dozen of those roof crush tests. They basically crush it with a giant machine. You have no idea how much force they used on that test.

Federal laws require it to either hold well over 2x the weight of the car IIRC. It might be slightly lower and those were Nissan's numbers, but don't really worry about that.

Thanks for all the replies guys. Looks like I have a bunch of SUV's to look into lol

I had no idea there was a car & truck subforum :lol

OP what are you looking to spend? Finance? Cash?

I'd prefer just to trade my POS Olds Intrigue in and pay cash for the rest so that I'm not stuck paying full coverage. If I have to finance it I would like to only be financing for a few months to a year.

Preferably in the 10k range give or take a couple thousand.

I guess GM has come a long way since the turn of the century, huh? They were notorious for putting out the biggest pieces of shit on the road 10-15 years ago. Now apparently everybody loves them again? Even if it was just the small things going bad on them, there was always something about a GM car that sucked, including the customer service.

My '99 Intrigue has 3 wheels that leak air and I really don't have much of an idea of what to do about it at this point. Every day I drive the thing I'm surprised it doesn't just break in half going down the highway.

They started a different way of testing them (adding AC). Also, manufacturers change the tune and such.




That doesn' say much of anything. I interned at Nissan in a body structure development team. I watched a dozen of those roof crush tests. They basically crush it with a giant machine. You have no idea how much force they used on that test.

Federal laws require it to either hold well over 2x the weight of the car IIRC. It might be slightly lower and those were Nissan's numbers, but don't really worry about that.


IIHS uses 15000 lbs in their testing. They posted a videoof the actual test

lol 15,000lbs is a fuck ton of weight. Just about anything is going to look terrible after that, save big trucks. You're basically dropping 4 cars onto it's roof.

So anyway...assuming I can find a car that won't crumble into a little ball of steel if I crash, what do you think a good towing capacity would be? Obviously its better to have more than you need for the integrity of the vehicle, but I don't need 10,000lbs of towing capacity for a couple bikes on a small trailer. I guess 3,000lbs sounds pretty reasonable for that, right? I mean I wouldn't have the option of upgrading to an enclosed without upgrading the vehicle as well or anything like that, but that's fine for right now being that I'm in college and probably won't be doing race weekends 2-3 times a month.

Aren't there also a few models out there with a towing mode that I guess help the vehicle do better with a bigger load?

How many lbs of weight is the roof and pillars subjected to in a rollover at 60+ mph?

How many lbs of weight is the roof and pillars subjected to in a rollover at 60+ mph?

Depends on how high your car is flipping.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3TwtrAxua0

Depends on how high your car is flipping.
and the weight of the car.

Flipping at 60mph is pretty God damn insane. You'd have to intentionally jerk the wheel at like 80 and not brake at all to get that result (you lose a lot of speed. It would have to be damn near intentional.

and the weight of the car.

Flipping at 60mph is pretty God damn insane. You'd have to intentionally jerk the wheel at like 80 and not brake at all to get that result (you lose a lot of speed. It would have to be damn near intentional.

I did it with a f150 :lol

Would something like a Nissan Murano or Chevy Equinox which are both rated at 3500lbs tow capacity be enough for what I plan on using it for? I want to be on the safe side with tow capacity and everything like that, but I'd really prefer to keep it closer to 20mpg overall if at all possible.

Just get a good trans cooler and it will be fine.

This style (pass through) is good:
http://formula.bambeezer.com/cooler1.jpg


This style (tube and fin) sucks balls:

http://www.greghome.com/images/Maxima%20Pics/Modifications/Other%20Mods/XmissionCooler/XmissionCooler.jpg

I don't know how well the CVT of the Murano will do though

How the fuck can you people be comparing a POS Kia to any other car on the market. I am not the biggest fan of Japanese cars or trucks AT ALL, but I would driver one any day of the week compared to a fucking Korean piece of shit.


How do you think a brand new mid size SUV can cost less than half of what most other car manufacturers are selling for?? That roof structure is probably made of fucking tin foil.

And anyone who wants to throw IIHS and all that other bullshit out there, dont waste your time. I believe all of their BS as much as I believe polatitions and and pathalogical liars. I could probably get the IIHS to give a soda can a good review if I greased the right pockets.

:drool new ford explorer 17/25mpg with 5000lb towing capacity

http://www.ford.com/suvs/explorer/

I would not expect more than 17/19-20 with the explorer.

The nissan maurano or chevy equinox would be perfect, one of the guys in our track group tows an enclosed trailer, sometimes with 2 bikes in it and a whole bunch of gear with a maurano.

I guess GM has come a long way since the turn of the century, huh? They were notorious for putting out the biggest pieces of shit on the road 10-15 years ago. Now apparently everybody loves them again? Even if it was just the small things going bad on them, there was always something about a GM car that sucked, including the customer service.

My '99 Intrigue has 3 wheels that leak air and I really don't have much of an idea of what to do about it at this point. Every day I drive the thing I'm surprised it doesn't just break in half going down the highway.

I LOVE this shit. Is it GM's fault that your michelin (or bridgestone...) tires don't hold air, or are you suggesting that it is a factory defect in the rims? (the twelve year old rims, that I'm postive have seen nothing but pristine roadways)

PS way to speak for the sucky customer service on 6000+ dealerships, you must be a well travelled gentleman.

I LOVE this shit. Is it GM's fault that your michelin (or bridgestone...) tires don't hold air, or are you suggesting that it is a factory defect in the rims? (the twelve year old rims, that I'm postive have seen nothing but pristine roadways)

PS way to speak for the sucky customer service on 6000+ dealerships, you must be a well travelled gentleman.

Ok asshole considering that I'm not the only person to have problems with Oldsmobile rims. I've had other family members with Oldsmobile's that were even older and had the same problems.

No, its not the tires either. I've had multiple tires on some of these rims and they still leak 20+ psi a day.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=oldsmobile+wheels+leaking+air

now :gtfo

The nissan maurano or chevy equinox would be perfect, one of the guys in our track group tows an enclosed trailer, sometimes with 2 bikes in it and a whole bunch of gear with a maurano.

Thank you. I figured 3500lbs would be enough for a small trailer, max of 2 bikes, a generator, and the other little goodies. I imagine it'd probably max out around 1500-1750lbs fully loaded.

Murano I would stawyaway because of the CVT transmissions failing after 100k miles. Equinox I would also stay away from. Chevy Traverse, GMC acadia is good

How much are you looking to spend on the SUV? Paying cash or financing?

CVT is garbage. Just find a Toyota 4Runner. /end.

:)

CVT is garbage. Just find a Toyota 4Runner. /end.

:)
yeah cause they have totally proved that their frame rusting problem is not gonna come back. I wonder what all you toyota fan boys are gonna do when the 4runners frames get recalled as well as the rest of their POS trucks, or maybe they will just blow more smoke up all their customers asses and keep the ever so loved 4 runner off the recall list.

Ok asshole considering that I'm not the only person to have problems with Oldsmobile rims. I've had other family members with Oldsmobile's that were even older and had the same problems.

No, its not the tires either. I've had multiple tires on some of these rims and they still leak 20+ psi a day.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=oldsmobile+wheels+leaking+air

now :gtfo

well you cant blame GM for that, they dont manufacture the rims, but regardless of that, it is nobodies fault but your own if you rims are leaking 20+ psi of air a day and you have not taken it upon yourself to make sure that it gets fixed, replace the rims or whatever it takes.


Also look a little deaper into it, GM has released a bulletin about porosity in their wheels a VERY long time ago.

yeah cause they have totally proved that their frame rusting problem is not gonna come back. I wonder what all you toyota fan boys are gonna do when the 4runners frames get recalled as well as the rest of their POS trucks, or maybe they will just blow more smoke up all their customers asses and keep the ever so loved 4 runner off the recall list.


Hmm, that's odd. My 2000 4Runner, my 1993 4Runner, my 1992 4Runner, all of which had near or over 200k didn't have rusty frames.

I worked for a Toyota dealer for 5 years, and I heard about the rusty frame issue, and I saw 5 2005 model year Tacoma's that had rusty frame issues. They were used by the local copper mines offroad 60-70% of the time. Toyota warranty replaced ALL OF THE FRAMES despite the trucks having well over 150k miles. Looks like you have some jealousy issues. Go back to your bowties?

Oh and 1/4milecrazy, its MURANO. Not Maurano.

Moron. :lol




;)


P.S. Lighten up.

Hmm, that's odd. My 2000 4Runner, my 1993 4Runner, my 1992 4Runner, all of which had near or over 200k didn't have rusty frames.

I worked for a Toyota dealer for 5 years, and I heard about the rusty frame issue, and I saw 5 2005 model year Tacoma's that had rusty frame issues. They were used by the local copper mines offroad 60-70% of the time. Toyota warranty replaced ALL OF THE FRAMES despite the trucks having well over 150k miles. Looks like you have some jealousy issues. Go back to your bowties?

Oh and 1/4milecrazy, its MURANO. Not Maurano.

Moron. :lol




;)


P.S. Lighten up.
Im fine, I just get annoyed when people praise toyota like they never do anything wrong.

Not sure where you are at but up here in the northeast they rust, and they rust bad. There is no car manufacturer that is better than the other, they all have problems, they all break down, some just cost more than others. Other than that its all a matter of opinion.

The tundra frames were being replaced like crazy at the local dealer here and I know a few people that had to give their tacomas back because of rustty frames, I even saw at one dealer there was about 50 tacomas lined up and all going back to toyota.

They make good cars no doubt, but so does GM and Honda as well as Dodge and Ford, but again, you cant say any make is better than another.

You ever see a Tundra with a mason dump body or a wrecker body on it?

Just get a good use H2.. Great towing capacity and excellent gas mileage..

How do you think a brand new mid size SUV can cost less than half of what most other car manufacturers are selling for?? That roof structure is probably made of fucking tin foil.
Korean labor rates?

And anyone who wants to throw IIHS and all that other bullshit out there, dont waste your time. I believe all of their BS as much as I believe polatitions and and pathalogical liars. I could probably get the IIHS to give a soda can a good review if I greased the right pockets.
Any proof or evidence supporting your outlandish contentions?

They make good cars no doubt, but so does GM and Honda as well as Dodge and Ford, but again, you cant say any make is better than another.

When it comes to trucks, Honda is joke and Dodge is inferior quality. The rest is all preference.

You ever see a Tundra with a mason dump body or a wrecker body on it?They don't make 3/4 or 1 ton trucks; that's why.


I'm still partial to GM trucks. Best engines, good transmissions, and the rest I don't care much about. In diesel trim, they have the best transmission, which is most important to me in a diesel.

I'm out west where It's drier but we use a LOT of salt on our roads in winter. Toyota may have issues like any manufacturer, however you can't tell me that GM stands behind their products after the warranty expires

Just get a good use H2.. Great towing capacity and excellent gas mileage..

:spit especially that I5

:spit especially that I5

wasn't the I5 in the H3? The H2 has a V8.

You're right. My bad. Haha

How the fuck can you people be comparing a POS Kia to any other car on the market. I am not the biggest fan of Japanese cars or trucks AT ALL, but I would driver one any day of the week compared to a fucking Korean piece of shit.


How do you think a brand new mid size SUV can cost less than half of what most other car manufacturers are selling for?? That roof structure is probably made of fucking tin foil.

And anyone who wants to throw IIHS and all that other bullshit out there, dont waste your time. I believe all of their BS as much as I believe polatitions and and pathalogical liars. I could probably get the IIHS to give a soda can a good review if I greased the right pockets.

how about JD Power and associates :lmao

im going to start my own thing where i rate cars (or whatever else i want) and give out awards. who is JD Power anyway and who cares?

JD power :lol their surveys are hilarious.

I never did understand the concept of the Honda Ridgeline or Chevy Avalance. Who wants a truck with a 4ft bed? Then again, 75% of trucks I see out there are the quad cab with the 5ft bed which isn't a whole lot better :dunno

If I were to get a truck (which is a possibility if I fall in love with the f150 that I'll get to drive next weekend to Grattan) then It'd have to be an extended cab with a standard size bed.




I have a few friends with Tundras and they salt the roads here everytime there's even a chance of snow and never heard of them needing to have theirs recalled for a new frame :dunno but I did know about the issue prior to this thread...

I have a quadcab with a full size bed but its an F250. Sounds like its too much truck for what you need.

I have a quadcab with a full size bed but its an F250. Sounds like its too much truck for what you need.

just a little bit. not that i wouldn't love to have something like that, i just can't afford it/don't need it.

if there were a way to average 20mpg in an f150 that would be the choice without thinking twice

If I were to get a truck (which is a possibility if I fall in love with the f150 that I'll get to drive next weekend to Grattan) then It'd have to be an extended cab with a standard size bed.



I've had a f150 before (2002 V8 5.4l 4x4). It's not great quality overall (as any Ford vehicles), but I've been pretty happy with it. Not too many problems...until I blew a tire in a curve and flip it over.

fullsize silverado bed (medium) can fit two bikes and close the tailgate :D

And +1 on JD powers being worthless. They (openly) just rank certain cars up high because they have such a good reputation, without actually checking to see if they are good or not.

buy any midsize SUV or crossover vehicle you want. get a small trailer. make sure the vehicle can carry the weight and tow the load.

fullsize silverado bed (medium) can fit two bikes and close the tailgate :D

And +1 on JD powers being worthless. They (openly) just rank certain cars up high because they have such a good reputation, without actually checking to see if they are good or not.
what year? i had a 98 and it didn't close with the bike completely straight. Now on my f250 its a 4 door and the tailgate closes with 2 bikes back there and they still offer a long bed with the 8 ft bed. Mine is the smaller bed.

Then again my 98 had a bed liner and it only needed a few more inches to close. With no bed liner it probably would have closed.

buy any midsize SUV or crossover vehicle you want. get a small trailer. make sure the vehicle can carry the weight and tow the load.

i like the way you think. don't make it more complicated than it needs to be :lol

as long as i get one that won't get crushed under 15,000 lbs or have the frame rust :shifty

as long as i get one that won't get crushed under 15,000 lbs or have the frame rust :shifty

or both

:lmao

depending on options and towing and payload capacity, i like the HHR panel wagon :biggrin. if the blazer dies then that might be my next vehicle. i think only the 4 cyl ecotec engine is all you can get so it may not be enough.

edit: HHR

172-hp 2.4L engine with est. 30 MPG hwy.(3)
GVWR: 4240
max towing: 1000


for $21k new, id buy a used off lease one. my blazer is lifted with big tires and has 185hp....so this would probably be even better.

depending on options and towing and payload capacity, i like the HHR panel wagon :biggrin. if the blazer dies then that might be my next vehicle. i think only the 4 cyl ecotec engine is all you can get so it may not be enough.

edit: HHR

172-hp 2.4L engine with est. 30 MPG hwy.(3)



for $21k new, id buy a used off lease one. my blazer is lifted with big tires and has 185hp....so this would probably be even better.

that is quite possibly the ugliest car on this earth (just ahead of the blazer). i didn't hate them that much until this one dumb bitch i used to work with got one, and ever since then i hated them even more. but to each their own. :dunno :lol

what year? i had a 98 and it didn't close with the bike completely straight. Now on my f250 its a 4 door and the tailgate closes with 2 bikes back there and they still offer a long bed with the 8 ft bed. Mine is the smaller bed.
03, so at least 99 through 06.

03, so at least 99 through 06.

does the truck have a bedliner?

Korean labor rates?


Any proof or evidence supporting your outlandish contentions?

AMA Questions IIHS Sportbike Report
9/14/2007
Courtesy of the American Motorcyclist Association

The American Motorcyclist Association has expressed serious reservations about the conclusions reached in a report of motorcycle fatalities released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety this week.

The IIHS report purports to show that sport-styled motorcycles are considerably more dangerous than other types of bikes. But an AMA analysis of the report notes that the methodology used in the research makes it difficult to determine whether that's a valid conclusion.

"The synopsis released by the IIHS claims that it has data showing a much higher fatality rate among so-called 'supersport' motorcycles," noted Ed Moreland, AMA Vice President for Government Relations. "But that is by no means clear, based on this report."

The IIHS report is not a new study. Instead, it's an analysis of existing data from the national Fatal Accident Reporting System. The methodology consists of a comparison of fatalities for different styles of motorcycles based on a rate per 10,000 registrations. But that approach ignores a number of key factors, like the number of miles the bike was ridden, the traffic environment in which it was used, along with the age and experience of the rider, among others.

"Those factors are so significant that they could easily change the results the IIHS has reported," said Moreland. "For instance, the IIHS has made no attempt to determine whether bikes in its 'supersport' category are ridden more miles than bikes in the 'cruiser/standard' category. Nor has it attempted to determine whether they are used more often in urban areas that represent a more dangerous environment than the rural interstates where touring bikes are likely to be used."

When it comes to age and riding experience, the IIHS does indicate that motorcycles in its "supersport" category are ridden by the youngest riders, averaging 27 years of age. In fact, its rankings of the average ages of riders killed on various styles of bikes coincides closely with the fatality rate it reports on that style of motorcycle.

"In other words," said Moreland, "it's entirely possible this report actually demonstrates that younger, less-experienced riders are more prone to crash than older riders, regardless of the type of bike they're riding. And that's true for all types of motor vehicles--cars, trucks or motorcycles."

Making any interpretation of the IIHS report even more difficult is the classification system the group used in dividing motorcycles. It includes some unfamiliar categories, like "unclad sport" motorcycles, and leaves out well-established categories, like the sport-touring class.

In an attempt to sort through this confusion, the AMA requested a copy of the classification system the IIHS used in its analysis and found several significant anomalies. For instance, although the IIHS report focuses on speed and acceleration as the factors that make its "supersport" category so dangerous, the two most powerful motorcycles you can buy in the United States, Kawasaki's ZX-14 and Suzuki's Hayabusa, are placed in the Sport category, which is rated considerably less dangerous. And they share that category with Honda's ST1300 and Yamaha's FJR1300, two bikes that define the sport-touring class.

"No matter what name you put on it, the Hayabusa and the ST1300 are simply not in the same class of motorcycles," Moreland said. "And if you're claiming to rank fatality rates by category of motorcycle, it's hard to get meaningful results when you lump those very different machines together and declare them to be in the same class."

The timing of the IIHS report is also unusual. Just this week, the National Transportation Safety Board specifically asked the Federal Highway Administration to work with states to develop uniform data-collection procedures that will result in better information about the number of miles traveled by motorcycles, one of the most important factors in evaluating crash statistics. As a result, this could be one of the final reports to use registration data exclusively, which is less accurate in reflecting actual motorcycle use.

This new IIHS report is remarkably similar to a study the group financed 20 years ago that also purported to show higher fatality rates among sportbikes. At that time, the IIHS used its study as the springboard for a well-orchestrated campaign that included ready-made news footage it fed to TV news operations across the country. That campaign culminated in the introduction of a bill in the U.S. Senate to impose a horsepower limit on all motorcycles sold in the U.S.

The current IIHS research has plenty of echoes of that era in the late 1980s. In fact, the final sentence of the IIHS "Status Report" on the subject, published Sept. 11, says, "Short of banning supersport and sport motorcycles from public roadways, capping the speed of these street-legal racing machines at the factory might be one way to reduce their risk."

In response to that previous attempt by the IIHS to ban sportbikes, the AMA conducted an analysis of the study and raised questions that the Association submitted to Harry Hurt, lead researcher on the most comprehensive study of motorcycle crashes ever conducted. Hurt reviewed the research and declared it "fatally flawed" for exactly the kind of methodology problems seen in the new IIHS report. The Association then coordinated a campaign among motorcyclists across the country that eventually led the senator to withdraw his proposed legislation.

Ironically, the new IIHS report comes out just as the AMA and the motorcycling community have been successful in getting federal funding for the first comprehensive motorcycle safety study since the Hurt Report all those years ago. And thanks to funding from the industry, through the Motorcycle Safety Council, along with the AMA and individual riders, that study will begin this fall.

"We look forward to getting the results of actual, in-the-field research that won't just compare fatalities to some hypothetical class of motorcycle, but will pin down the actual factors involved in motorcycle crashes," Moreland said. "That will be much more useful in helping save lives on the highway." The American Motorcyclist Association: rights. riding. racing.

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a non-profit organization with more than 280,000 members. The Association's purpose is to pursue, protect and promote the interests of motorcyclists, while serving the needs of its members. For more information, visit the AMA website at www.AMADirectlink.com (http://www.amadirectlink.com/).

still support the IIHS??

Korean labor rates have nothing to do with it, when you have spent more time areound cars than I have, then you can doubt me. Korean cars are garbage.

Let me guess, you believe everything you read in a magazine too??

When it comes to trucks, Honda is joke and Dodge is inferior quality. The rest is all preference.

They don't make 3/4 or 1 ton trucks; that's why.


I'm still partial to GM trucks. Best engines, good transmissions, and the rest I don't care much about. In diesel trim, they have the best transmission, which is most important to me in a diesel.

I'm out west where It's drier but we use a LOT of salt on our roads in winter. Toyota may have issues like any manufacturer, however you can't tell me that GM stands behind their products after the warranty expires

GM does stand behind their stuff even after warranty, I worked at a Chevy dealer for 8 years and a lot of stuff out of warranty was covered by them.

Salt is not the only thing that causes rust, in fact salt by itself will do absolutely nothing, its the humidity and salt combined that causes the biggest problem. I have never seen a GM frame rust through.

I never did understand the concept of the Honda Ridgeline or Chevy Avalance. Who wants a truck with a 4ft bed? Then again, 75% of trucks I see out there are the quad cab with the 5ft bed which isn't a whole lot better :dunno

If I were to get a truck (which is a possibility if I fall in love with the f150 that I'll get to drive next weekend to Grattan) then It'd have to be an extended cab with a standard size bed.




I have a few friends with Tundras and they salt the roads here everytime there's even a chance of snow and never heard of them needing to have theirs recalled for a new frame :dunno but I did know about the issue prior to this thread...

The Ridgeline is a joke, but the avalanche actually has a fold down rear wall and seats and can fit an 8' sheet of plywood in the bed. But in all honesty, how often does the regular joe need to carry around 8' sheets of ply wood. I think they are an excellent choice for a recreational vehicle, especially for track days. Excellent towing capacity and 4 doors, plus the bed cover is lockable, the bed cover will actually support the weight of a motorcycle on top of it, not that you ever would need to.

does the truck have a bedliner?

I dont think a bedliner would have made a difference, a 6 foot bed is a six foot bed, and they will not fit a bike in the back without angling it.

I dont think a bedliner would have made a difference, a 6 foot bed is a six foot bed, and they will not fit a bike in the back without angling it.

On the 98 Sierra that I had it would close without angling the bike if the rear tire had no air in it. We figured this out when I picked up my buddies 05 R6 because he got a flat on the freeway.

The 99-06 had a 6.5" bed. I've personally put an 04 GSXR600 and CBR1000 in there at the same time and closed the bed with about 1-2" of space left.

that is quite possibly the ugliest car on this earth (just ahead of the blazer). i didn't hate them that much until this one dumb bitch i used to work with got one, and ever since then i hated them even more. but to each their own. :dunno :lol



No. The ugliest vehicle ever made was the Aztec by Pontiac.

the Pontiac was not as ugly as the Buick Rendezvous, same chassis.

No. The ugliest vehicle ever made was the Aztec by Pontiac.

the Pontiac was not as ugly as the Buick Rendezvous, same chassis.

yeah those are pretty damn ugly. the buick kinda looks like a minivan suv.

Ok asshole considering that I'm not the only person to have problems with Oldsmobile rims. I've had other family members with Oldsmobile's that were even older and had the same problems.

No, its not the tires either. I've had multiple tires on some of these rims and they still leak 20+ psi a day.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=oldsmobile+wheels+leaking+air

now :gtfo

Thanks for Googling that for me. Next time look at the links (they`re shit). OR try googling the same thing for ANY car.

You lose 20+psi a day BULLSHIT, you must have carried a compressor around with you, likely.

Alright OP don`t get an Oldsmobile SUV. This one guy I know can`t keep air in it`s wheels neither can his Oldsmobile family! No wonder they got rid of the brand, bunch of flat tired motherfuckers all over the lot, pumpin` tires on 100 cars every day.

No. The ugliest vehicle ever made was the Aztec by Pontiac.

The Nissan Cube will take that crown in a couple of years once the box fad fades.

Nissan Cube is the ugliest SOB on the market. At least GM didn't make (didn't make many?) TV ads for the Aztec.

I'm leaning toward one of these. Gonna hold out for the 2012 when they put a 290hp v6 in there as appose to the 202hp one they got in it now.

Technically not an SUV..... but it is a JEEP.




http://images.vannsuv.com/pictures/40450372.jpg

I'm leaning toward one of these. Gonna hold out for the 2012 when they put a 290hp v6 in there as appose to the 202hp one they got in it now.

Technically not an SUV..... but it is a JEEP.




http://images.vannsuv.com/pictures/40450372.jpg

see as far as looks and whatnot, i like the jeep, but one friend of mine recently bought one and has already put about $2000 in repairs into it. unless they start becoming known for reliability, i won't own a jeep.

wasn't the I5 in the H3? The H2 has a V8.

Correct.

Correct.

what happened to those things? you used to see one everywhere you went. i can't remember the last time i saw one recently. i guess they all broke down huh

Pretty much. GM has gotten "better" than they used to be, but reliable quality is still lacking. I mean even the most recent thing that comes to mind is the steering wheel falling off on their hybrids. That's just sheer UAW line worker fuckup.

No manufacturer is without flaws. Every automaker is going to encounter SOMETHING. I've owned 37 vehicles (6 Motorcycles included) in the last 17yrs so I know a few things about several brands of vehicles, plus a bit over a decade in the automotive industry. I've gone over THOUSANDS of trades, auction, recalls, damage, etc. Anyone can have X brand that gave them 500k miles of flawless service, and ANYONE can have X brand that gave them NOTHING but CONSTANT problems. All you can rely on are odds. All you can rely on is HOW YOU maintain a vehicle. Don't want high dollar problems on your vehicle? Then spend the money to do PREVENTATIVE care. Some cars need more preventative care than others.

see as far as looks and whatnot, i like the jeep, but one friend of mine recently bought one and has already put about $2000 in repairs into it. unless they start becoming known for reliability, i won't own a jeep.

really? Even with the wrangler? I thought they were pretty solid and inexpensive to repair.

Pretty much. GM has gotten "better" than they used to be, but reliable quality is still lacking. I mean even the most recent thing that comes to mind is the steering wheel falling off on their hybrids. That's just sheer UAW line worker fuckup.

One steering wheel fell off of ONE Chevy Cruze [Not a hybrid]. (we've had this discussion before, Accuracy builds credibility)

I can't disagree with the second paragraph.

Correct.

Not entirely correct. Hummer H3 was offerred with a 5.3 295hp V8 (Alpha)

Not entirely correct. Hummer H3 was offerred with a 5.3 295hp V8 (Alpha)

No.. What I said was entirely correct. I never said there wasn't another motor option. There is with most cars.

Love our Ford Edge. Looks good and can pull a trailer. Has AWD for the winter months and gets decent gas mileage.

wasn't the I5 in the H3? The H2 has a V8.

No.. What I said was entirely correct. I never said there wasn't another motor option. There is with most cars.

Nope, the way Buddy phrased the question was in absolutes

H3=I5, H2=V8. He would only gets partial marks for that answer on a test, so you were only partially correct. :nono

wasn't the I5 and the V8 in the H3? The H2 has a V8.
Correct.

Full marks :cheers

Nope, the way Buddy phrased the question was in absolutes

H3=I5, H2=V8. He would only gets partial marks for that answer on a test, so you were only partially correct. :nono




Full marks :cheers

The question/statement was correct. It never said the words only in the H3..or only in the H2.

The I5 was indeed in the H3 and thats what he asked. He didn't have to ask if it had a V8 as well. He never said that it never had a V8, nor did he say that the V8 was only in the H2. You took the phrasing and made assumptions. Find another way to be an ass.


Another example: Didn't C4 Corvettes come in red? The C5 corvettes came in red.

Correct. Everything stated is factual. There is no need to talk about the other colors. Even if the other colors were discussed, by your logic, I would still be incorrect because I didn't talk about the other options, such as whether or not if came with a radio.




I want to slap you. :bitchslap
One more time for reaassurance. :bitchslap

If you are an English teacher, I feel bad or your students.

Just get a good use H2.. Great towing capacity and excellent gas mileage..
:spit especially that I5wasn't the I5 in the H3? The H2 has a V8.

If you look at what he said in context, he was clearly saying, at most:
the assertion that the H2 had the I5 was incorrect;
the I5 was in the H3; and
the H2 had a V8.


Nothing implies there were no V8 option the H3.

There, it's settled.

depending on options and towing and payload capacity, i like the HHR panel wagon :biggrin. if the blazer dies then that might be my next vehicle. i think only the 4 cyl ecotec engine is all you can get so it may not be enough.

edit: HHR

172-hp 2.4L engine with est. 30 MPG hwy.(3)
GVWR: 4240
max towing: 1000


for $21k new, id buy a used off lease one. my blazer is lifted with big tires and has 185hp....so this would probably be even better.

I'm not sure how the HHR tows. My mom has one, but not the panel, hers is the regular with windows.

It's reasonably comfortable. It's not setting the world on fire, but it's not the slowest thing I've ever driven.

I borrowed it to run up to the next county so I could leave my big pickup home. I was just under 30mpg for the whole trip. If the highways here were safe at 55-60mph, and I could've skipped all the stop-and-go on the surface streets, it would've done even better.

Really I could've saved money by just taking my truck, because I wound up topping hers up. That negated the fuel savings as far as my pocket goes, then I wound up getting guilted into washing it for her too. Gotta love parents.

If you look at what he said in context, he was clearly saying, at most:
the assertion that the H2 had the I5 was incorrect;
the I5 was in the H3; and
the H2 had a V8.


Nothing implies there were no V8 option the H3.

There, it's settled.


Why thankya lawyer buddy... :cheers

still support the IIHS??

Korean labor rates have nothing to do with it, when you have spent more time areound cars than I have, then you can doubt me. Korean cars are garbage.


I doubt you. Unless you're a automotive engineer, I could care less what you have to say. I'll agree with you that the quality, for the most part isn't on par with a Mercedes or BMW, but isn't any worse than a Geo metro or a Saturn. Also the Hyundai genesis was the 2009 North American car of the year. This award unlike JD power is a survey from various automotive journalists. So to say all Korean cars are garbage is a gross misstatement.

You seem to a American made type guy. Which is fine because I personally like Chevys. If they could hold their value worth a damn I'd buy one. The origin of car has nothing to do with quality. All major manufactures have factories all over the world. A Toyota Tacoma/Tundra is more American than a Dodge ram.

I actually have a Kia Rio. (The reason for this rant) It's the best winter car I've ever had in terms of reliability. I paid 3k for it two years ago with 15k on the clock. Put 50k on it and other than the scheduled service haven't done a thing. It has zero amenities such as power steering or ac or power anything. It even has a tape player. But as far as how much money I've had to dump into it; it's beat out Neons, a Cavalier, a Taurus, a Contour, a Eclipse and a few other cars I can't remember. All of which were used but the budget remained the same. So for the price and my use it fits perfectly. I also drive a Nismo 350z during the summer so it's not like I can't afford a nicer car. I just like to know if I slam it into a wall I could care less. So you can take that Korean cars are shit and shove it. Educate yourself first.

Here are some awards Kia won for 2011

• 2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Kia Sportage won “Best New Model” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

• 2011 Kia Sportage named “2011 Truck of the Year” by Road and Travel magazine.

• 2011 Kia Optima, 2011 Kia Sportage and 2011 Kia Sorento were named a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

• 2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Kia Sorento named a “Best Buy” by Consumer Guide Automotive.

• 2011 Kia Sportage leads for top residual value in its class by Automotive Lease Guide (ALG).

• 2011 Kia Sedona named “Best Minivan for the Money” by U.S. News & World Reports.

Here's Hyundai

• 2011 Hyundai Sonata was awarded “2011 International Car of the Year” at the Detroit Auto Show.

• 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring was named “Best Car for the Money” by U.S. News and World Report.

• 2011 Hyundai Sonata was a finalist for 2011 North American Car of the Year.

• 2011 Hyundai Sonata named IIHS “Top Safety Pick.”

• 2011 Hyundai Genesis and 2011 Hyundai Sonata awarded “Automotive Best Buy” from Consumer’s Digest.

• 2011 Hyundai Elantra earns “highest residual value in its class” by ALG.

Now if you want to back your statement with facts rather than personal bias, I'll consider entertaining your statement.

I doubt you. Unless you're a automotive engineer, I could care less what you have to say. I'll agree with you that the quality, for the most part isn't on par with a Mercedes or BMW, but isn't any worse than a Geo metro or a Saturn. Also the Hyundai genesis was the 2009 North American car of the year. This award unlike JD power is a survey from various automotive journalists. So to say all Korean cars are garbage is a gross misstatement.

You seem to a American made type guy. Which is fine because I personally like Chevys. If they could hold their value worth a damn I'd buy one. The origin of car has nothing to do with quality. All major manufactures have factories all over the world. A Toyota Tacoma/Tundra is more American than a Dodge ram.

I actually have a Kia Rio. (The reason for this rant) It's the best winter car I've ever had in terms of reliability. I paid 3k for it two years ago with 15k on the clock. Put 50k on it and other than the scheduled service haven't done a thing. It has zero amenities such as power steering or ac or power anything. It even has a tape player. But as far as how much money I've had to dump into it; it's beat out Neons, a Cavalier, a Taurus, a Contour, a Eclipse and a few other cars I can't remember. All of which were used but the budget remained the same. So for the price and my use it fits perfectly. I also drive a Nismo 350z during the summer so it's not like I can't afford a nicer car. I just like to know if I slam it into a wall I could care less. So you can take that Korean cars are shit and shove it. Educate yourself first.

Here are some awards Kia won for 2011

• 2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Kia Sportage won “Best New Model” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

• 2011 Kia Sportage named “2011 Truck of the Year” by Road and Travel magazine.

• 2011 Kia Optima, 2011 Kia Sportage and 2011 Kia Sorento were named a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

• 2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Kia Sorento named a “Best Buy” by Consumer Guide Automotive.

• 2011 Kia Sportage leads for top residual value in its class by Automotive Lease Guide (ALG).

• 2011 Kia Sedona named “Best Minivan for the Money” by U.S. News & World Reports.

Here's Hyundai

• 2011 Hyundai Sonata was awarded “2011 International Car of the Year” at the Detroit Auto Show.

• 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring was named “Best Car for the Money” by U.S. News and World Report.

• 2011 Hyundai Sonata was a finalist for 2011 North American Car of the Year.

• 2011 Hyundai Sonata named IIHS “Top Safety Pick.”

• 2011 Hyundai Genesis and 2011 Hyundai Sonata awarded “Automotive Best Buy” from Consumer’s Digest.

• 2011 Hyundai Elantra earns “highest residual value in its class” by ALG.

Now if you want to back your statement with facts rather than personal bias, I'll consider entertaining your statement.
Whatever you say, I have been an auto technician certified by GM, I let my ASE certifications (all the way up to L1) expire a few years ago, I am a licensed NJ state inspector and am currently a certified BMW technician. I have been working on cars for well over 20 years.

My experience, yes experience, not opinion with Korean cars has been nothing but horrible, they use outdated technology and shit parts. They are the ONLY manufacturer that is still using servicable bearings in the rear wheels (as of 2008, my last experience with them cars)

When did I mention anything about where any car was built? I know that all maunfacturers build all over the world, 1 of my camaros was built in Canada.

If you are so into Korean cars how come your "nice car" is not korean made?

I may be a bit biased towards american cars, but that does not make my opinion any less valuable. To you it may, cause obviously YOU are just as biased towards Korean cars as I am towards american.

Ill just let you "win" this one because I do not feel like finding all kinds of "facts" to back up what I am saying, frankly it is not that important to me. You buy what ever cars you like, ill buy whatever I like, that is the beauty if this country. :cheers

Suzuki cars/suvs FTW??

Suzuki cars/suvs FTW??

does suzuki even make a good/reliable car? you really don't ever see them around

so here's the only major problem in all of this....

if i were to spend 10k on say a equinox or something similar that gets relatively good gas mileage at least for an SUV, that's still $10,000 that i just spent on the suv alone.

now if i were to find something like a little bit older truck for idk lets just say $6000. then i have $4000 extra to spend on gas (which would go a long way) and have a little bit more towing capacity and all that other good stuff. so maybe i'm kinda of reconsidering the whole thing lol

the only thing that would suck about that is i wouldn't want to drive anywhere besides work lol just because that would be that much more i'm spending on gas.

Why thankya lawyer buddy... :cheers

The fact that the lawyer supported you with his lawyer speak should prove that I am right. :biggrin

You get partial marks, Trey gets detention.







(Not a teacher; the great holidays doesnt make up for the lousy $$ and other peoples poorly parented children)

The fact that the lawyer supported you with his lawyer speak should prove that I am right. :biggrin

You get partial marks, Trey gets detention.







(Not a teacher; the great holidays doesnt make up for the lousy $$ and other peoples poorly parented children)


You have a meeting at the playground next to the teeter totter at 2 with the school bully. :chucks

I heard a story today that got me to thinking about when I should make my decision on what I buy.

Story goes:
So a young bull and his dad were on top of a hill one day when they looked down and saw 100 cows standing around in an open field. The son says, "Dad, what do you say we run down there and fuck one of them cows?" The dad says, "No son, we will walk down there and fuck all of the cows."

Point being that I might as well wait until I really need an SUV and get something I like instead of just buying one now and getting whatever I can afford.

how about looking at a mid sized or smaller pick up, like a tacoma, S-10/Colorado, Isuzu(rebadged GM), Dakota, Ranger or something like that. Can tow up to a small enclosed trailer and when not towing get decent gas mileage, and in the future a cap can be added.

how about looking at a mid sized or smaller pick up, like a tacoma, S-10/Colorado, Isuzu(rebadged GM), Dakota, Ranger or something like that. Can tow up to a small enclosed trailer and when not towing get decent gas mileage, and in the future a cap can be added.

well i've never really been a huge fan of smaller trucks. i guess there are a few out there i wouldn't mind like a colorado with ext cab or maybe a dakota sport ext cab.

i've been looking at everything and still not even close to knowing what i really want. i'm sure it'll help to actually go shopping in person rather than online shopping and starting at estimated gas mileages as a reference.

i think now that i've kind of overcome the fact that most of these vehicles are going to be getting somewhere between 14-17mph city on average so it kind of opened my eyes up to a lot more options lol. before this i was looking at getting a commuter car like a civic that can get 35mpg fairly easily so it was kind of a shock to see quite a bit lower gas mileages at first.

i also have considered getting a cheaper truck like an older f150 and a cheap commuting car like maybe early 2000's civic or something similar and have the best of both worlds :dunno but then again all that money i put into the car could be gas money for the truck... yeah i've considered everything.

KIA= Killed In Automobile
HYUNDAI = Hope You Understand Nothing's Drivable And Inexpensive.

KIA= Killed In Automobile
HYUNDAI = Hope You Understand Nothing's Drivable And Inexpensive.

TOYOTA = The One You Ought To Avoid

FORD. First on race day (because you need time to fix it before the race)
Found on road dead.
Fix Or Repair Daily
Fucking old rebuilt dodge
Found on rubbish dump
Frequent overhall, rapid depreciation
For old retired drunks
Fault of R & D
Fast only rollin downhill
Flip over, read directions
Flipped over rusty decoration
First on recall day

http://www.carbuyingtips.com/humor.htm

A Rav4
http://x80.xanga.com/7c1f517036131266218900/o212331616.jpg
http://x22.xanga.com/edde123471d35272744639/w217509169.jpg
http://x6d.xanga.com/5daf571576631265412523/o211659640.jpg
http://xd5.xanga.com/62ff731743433265412527/o211659644.jpg
http://xc9.xanga.com/fc9f441743430265412542/o211659659.jpg
http://xbd.xanga.com/0b1e12ea40435273657218/o218189565.jpg
http://xa3.xanga.com/7b3f92f653633273657220/o218189567.jpg

lol none of those seems like good ideas ^^^^

especially the first one. i don't think the rav4 was designed to handle 425lbs of tongue weight. and how the hell did you lift your bike up into the bed of the car?

other than that, how does the rav4 do as far as pulling power? unless its a v6 i can't imagine it likes having that load on it

After reading thru the thread, my suggestion was the RAV4 as well.

We have an 06 4WD with the V6. Gets 25ish HWY, and can tow a 4x8 trailer with the SRAD on it no problem. But if your budget is $10K?? Maybe look at the older Yukon/Tahoe's, I have a 99 Yukon of course it can tow just about anything, and far cheaper to find than the RAV4.

lol none of those seems like good ideas ^^^^

especially the first one. i don't think the rav4 was designed to handle 425lbs of tongue weight. and how the hell did you lift your bike up into the bed of the car?

other than that, how does the rav4 do as far as pulling power? unless its a v6 i can't imagine it likes having that load on it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTSQDCvJdIc

Stock times are around mid to high 14's. 0-60 is around 6. Someone actually got 13.9 on the 1/4 with only intake and muffler change which is only a few hundred bucks.

well i've never really been a huge fan of smaller trucks. i guess there are a few out there i wouldn't mind like a colorado with ext cab or maybe a dakota sport ext cab.

i've been looking at everything and still not even close to knowing what i really want. i'm sure it'll help to actually go shopping in person rather than online shopping and starting at estimated gas mileages as a reference.

i think now that i've kind of overcome the fact that most of these vehicles are going to be getting somewhere between 14-17mph city on average so it kind of opened my eyes up to a lot more options lol. before this i was looking at getting a commuter car like a civic that can get 35mpg fairly easily so it was kind of a shock to see quite a bit lower gas mileages at first.

i also have considered getting a cheaper truck like an older f150 and a cheap commuting car like maybe early 2000's civic or something similar and have the best of both worlds :dunno but then again all that money i put into the car could be gas money for the truck... yeah i've considered everything.

Getting your butt in that seat makes all the difference in the world.

On paper, the Colorado/Canyon extended cab with the I5 was everything I wanted/needed in a truck. So I set out to go find one. One dealership had the body I wanted, but the I4. I drove it, and the cab was nice, it handled OK, but was less than gutless with the automatic.

I found another dealership that had one that was just what I was looking for.

I took it for a drive, and was dumbfounded. I had to look at the sticker again to make sure it was really the 5cyl. Maybe the emergency brake was stuck or something, but I couldn't really tell it from a 4 banger.

I wound up getting a used GMC Sierra with the quad cab and 5.3L. It was about the same price as a new Canyon, and is far more capable for towing and hauling, plus can seat 4 comfortably for a road trip, or 6 for shorter distances.

TOYOTA = The One You Ought To Avoid

BUICK

Big Ugly Indestructible Car Killer

PINTO

Put In Nickel To Operate

DODGE

Drips Oil Drops Grease Everywhere

AUDI

Accelerates Under Demonic Influence
Another Useless Deutsch Invention
CHEVROLET

Cheap Hardly Efficient Virtually Runs On Luck Every Time
Can Hear Every Valve Rattle Over Long Extended Trips

MOPAR

My Old Pig Aint Runnin
Most Often Passed At Races

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTSQDCvJdIc

Stock times are around mid to high 14's. 0-60 is around 6. Someone actually got 13.9 on the 1/4 with only intake and muffler change which is only a few hundred bucks.

not too sure what that has to do with towing capabilities lol

i looked at the used rav4's around here and the cheapest 6cyl they have even remotely close was $15k. everything cheaper was a 4cyl with a 2.4l at the largest.

4runners while i know they last forever, you can't find shit under $10k unless it already has 150k miles on it...

trailblazers/envoys seem like they would be a pretty good full package as far as what i need, and i've seen a decent amount around 70-80k miles and under $10k.

and same goes for the explorer, easy to find at a pretty reasonable price and still not extreme high mileage.

the other thing is that it would be nice to get something that comes standard with a towing package. not that they're extremely expensive, it would just be a hassle to go dumping money into something i just spent that much on already lol and i would still need the trailer on top of it all.




but again, i don't know that i'll need it this year so i could still consider just saving up and getting something that's a better full package like the 4runner if one comes around that's in my budget.

oh and as far as trucks go, yeah i've never been a fan of the smaller trucks. the way i see it, if you're gonna get a truck, why not get one that's fully capable of doing what a truck should be able to do?

and after looking at reviews of the colorado, it really doesn't seem like too many people are happy with them. not to mention that for the engines they have, you'd think they would get better gas mileage than whatever it is that they get.

:drool so I got to drive a F150 this past weekend and loved the feeling of being in a vehicle that big. The gas mileage sure wasn't great, but not excessively bad for driving all highway. It was overkill for sure for towing a trailer that probably weighed 800lbs fully loaded lol

And after being at the track again, I realized how nice it would be to have an enclosed trailer.

:frantic I don't know what I want lol its killing me

Just get it and be done with it.

that's what i want to do lol but now after going to the track i need to take some time to save up.

whatever i'm just not going to think about it for a while

Don't think..do.. :thumbup

anyone on here have a diesel truck? been doing some research and they seem like they get pretty reasonable gas mileage and have more than enough power to tow an enclosed.

diesel is the same price as premium around here so it's not a big deal to be filling up with diesel.

thoughts?

Most Diesel trucks use up to up to 3 GALLONS of oil, fuel filters are expensive, and need to be changed regularly. Look up the costs of ownership or maintenance costs on a diesel powered vehicle.

Most Diesel trucks use up to up to 3 GALLONS of oil, fuel filters are expensive, and need to be changed regularly. Look up the costs of ownership or maintenance costs on a diesel powered vehicle.


I used to buy and sell diesel trucks, when shopping for a diesel you have to be very careful. It is very expensive to work on diesels! But if you buy the right engine you can see a million miles out of those trucks.

Oil changes will cost you around 100 bucks to do, because most hold 15qt of oil. Everytime you do an oil change its best to replace the fuel filters. In my trucks I like to put a full qt of atf (automatic transmission fluid) in a full tank of diesel, it helps keep the injectors lubed up. Diesel trucks burn anything lol

The most popular are the 99-2003 Ford F250-F350 with the 7.3L engine. You want to stay away from the 2004-up fords the 6.0 and 6.4 they have way too many issues.

Dodge Ram 2500-3500 1981-2007 with the 5.9L cummins engine. The 94-02 you can easily see a million miles with those trucks. 03-07 very good trucks they do have some tranmission issues. The Cummins get very good gas mileage especially if you have a programmer and full exhaust on it. You want to stay away from the late 2007-up cummins thats the 6.7 and they just had too many idle issues that led to overheating.

Chevy 2500-3500 they are pretty good trucks a lil on the expensive side, not much demand is for them. They tow good, but they do waste diesel and not very efficient trucks.

If you are looking for a diesel the thing to watch out for is in the bed, look to see if it has ever had a goose neck or 5th wheel mount. Thats a sign its been used to haul heavy trailers.

Thanks for the info! There aren't many diesels around here in my price range but I'll keep an eye out.

Got any good information on how some of these trucks do in the winter? It routinely gets down to 5º in Cincinnati in the coldest parts of the winter and I'd really like to know my truck is gonna be starting up if I need to get to work. I do realize that gas mileage will drop a bit with the cold but that's no big deal.

Wasn't it not until more recently that engine heaters were being put in the trucks so that they would start up during colder times? In which case some of the older models wouldn't be as good?

Either way, thanks again for the info :thumbup

Also, how good of gas mileage are we talking here with something like the Ram 2500? A guy I work with said he gets 16-18mpg city in his and then obviously something higher on the highway but I guess he never drives highway...

Thanks for the info! There aren't many diesels around here in my price range but I'll keep an eye out.

Got any good information on how some of these trucks do in the winter? It routinely gets down to 5º in Cincinnati in the coldest parts of the winter and I'd really like to know my truck is gonna be starting up if I need to get to work. I do realize that gas mileage will drop a bit with the cold but that's no big deal.

Wasn't it not until more recently that engine heaters were being put in the trucks so that they would start up during colder times? In which case some of the older models wouldn't be as good?

Either way, thanks again for the info :thumbup

If the glow plugs all work fine you should not have a problem with start up. But most diesel old and new do have block heater plugs. You just run an extension cord to the bumper the next day it will fire up.

If it doesnt have a plug theres aftermarket ones or even factory dealer ones, because I believe certain trucks the heaters were optional.

A lot of the up north guys would buy from FL or Tx thats where the majority of diesels come from that are clean and rust free. Let me know what kind of truck you are looking for, I still have a few friends who buy and sell diesels.

Also, how good of gas mileage are we talking here with something like the Ram 2500? A guy I work with said he gets 16-18mpg city in his and then obviously something higher on the highway but I guess he never drives highway...


I bought a 2005 ram 2500 one time with a 14-15" custom lift and 40" tires. It had I am estimating probably 600-750hp and maybe over 1000ft torque. Even with those tires that thing was a bullet. It had 260k miles on it, but look like it had 50k miles.

The avg fuel reading on the over head display read 19.6mpg. I dont know how accurate that is. There are some modified trucks I have seen get 22mpg highway, it all really depends on how you drive them. If you push the throttle to where you use the turbo thats when you lose mpg.

The Ram cummins 5.9 is very good and reliable and very good on diesel. If I were to buy a diesel truck, it would either be a F250 with a 7.3 or a Ram 2500. If the Ford had a dually King Ranch with a 7.3 I would be driving that truck for myself. But they only come in the 6.0 and those engines are just too much of a head ache.

Oil changes will cost you around 100 bucks to do, because most hold 15qt of oil. Everytime you do an oil change its best to replace the fuel filters. In my trucks I like to put a full qt of atf (automatic transmission fluid) in a full tank of diesel, it helps keep the injectors lubed up. Diesel trucks burn anything lol

The most popular are the 99-2003 Ford F250-F350 with the 7.3L engine. You want to stay away from the 2004-up fords the 6.0 and 6.4 they have way too many issues.

If you are looking for a diesel the thing to watch out for is in the bed, look to see if it has ever had a goose neck or 5th wheel mount. Thats a sign its been used to haul heavy trailers.

I have an 02 F250 4x4 with the 7.3L and love the truck. I was initially going to buy an 05 stock f250 4x4 until i posted and everyone told me to stay away from the 6.0L I then took the same money and bought a lifted 7.3L and have had no problems aside from leaking power steering and the 4x4 didn't work when i bought it.

The issue with the 4x4 was a broken front driveshaft so I replaced it. The hose from the powersteering to the Hydraboost was the one leaking so once replaced all was well. Mine I bought with 125k miles a year 1/2 ago and now has 140k with no issues.

Also when i was looking at adds there were tons with pix of toyhaulers behind them. I made sure to avoid those. Those were usually higher mileage as well.

I was happy when i saw that i could run Rotella full synthetic at 25 bucks/gallon until i realized my truck took 4 gallons of oil :facepalm the damn filter alone took a quart of oil. So far in my experience with this truck it hasn't been too expensive. Mine gets roughly 14mpg becaue of the 37x14x18 tires it has and no gearing. Another thing to note about diesels is that registration is more expensive. I used to pay about 160/year here in CA for my old 98 GMC Sierra 1500. My 02 F250 diesel is roughly 450/year.

With that said I'm real happy with my diesel but i tow heavier than you do. I constantly tow jeeps/trucks to go offroading and we just picked up a 20 ft toyhauler a few months back.

Thanks again for the replies :cheers

I'm pretty good at driving economically as I usually get close to the highway rated mileage in my car overall lol so at this point if I'm seeing 20mpg out of a truck I'll be more than happy.

How often are you guys doing oil changes? 10k miles?

These are the 2 that are reasonably priced around me, but then again if I found a good deal I wouldn't mind driving to get the truck...

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/ctd/2507288902.html

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/ctd/2480014835.html

The second one seems a bit over priced for 250k miles, not that it is really high mileage for a diesel, but still more than the other one with way less miles. Then again what do I know at this point :lol


If I could find a 3/4 ton truck that would still be ideal since it's a bit less for title fees and overall but if a 1 ton is all I can find then I'd be just fine with that as well...and yes I know those are both 1 ton trucks :biggrin

Not sure what they go for out your way but it seems kinda steep for what it is. I bought my 02 F250 crew cab Superduty 4x4 Lariat with a 9" lift, 37" tires, full exhaust, intake and its a Lariat so its fully loaded for 12,500 with 125k miles.

Forgot to add that i'm in Los Angeles, CA I drove about an hour 1/2 to go buy this at a dealer that received it as a trade in.

I guess they're a bit more expensive around here :dunno

Ibidu: You mentioned some friends of yours selling diesels, any that would be in the 10k range give or take a few thousand?

These are the only other trucks I have seen in that same ballpark...

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/2514281592.html

I can try to get pics from this guy http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/2507954463.html

The newer ones look nice but this one has the gooseneck and a salvage title
http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/2471088960.html



Is it safe to assume that the Ford's superduty version is going to drink the gas a little bit faster than the non-superduty version? There are a couple down in Louisville for around $11k

This is the superduty yet claims to get 24mpg :dunno
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=302711185&dealer_id=611936&car_year=1999&systime=&doors=&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&body_style=TRUCKS&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=25&min_price=&rdm=1312944485211&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=Diesel&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=y&certified=&engine=&dma=LOUISVILLE_EA&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=32&transmission=&default_sort=priceASC&max_mileage=&color=&address=40206&sort_type=priceASC&max_price=&make=&seller_type=d&num_records=25&cardist=9&standard=false



Thanks again guys!

Man, I wish you would have contacted me 2 months ago I sold a super nice 1993 F350 7.3 4x4 red with a replaced engine for 5 grand it was cleaner then both of those trucks.

Keep looking I am sure you will be able to find a 99-02 in your price range. I would stick to 90-130k mile range. Also I would stayaway from 2wd diesels, nobody wants them. You can get them very cheap! If you plan to resell this truck later on 4x4 sell a lot faster and you will not get stuck with a 4x4 7.3 lol trust me. :lol

2012 SRT8 - 6.4L 465hp/465 ft lbs


http://www.wk2jeeps.com/srt8/wk2_srt8_021.jpg




http://www.wk2jeeps.com/srt8/wk2_srt8_005.jpg


.http://www.wk2jeeps.com/srt8/wk2_srt8_009.jpg


.http://www.wk2jeeps.com/srt8/wk2_srt8_008.jpg



.http://www.wk2jeeps.com/srt8/wk2_srt8_014.jpg


.http://www.wk2jeeps.com/srt8/wk2_srt8_004.jpg

Not sure what they go for out your way but it seems kinda steep for what it is. I bought my 02 F250 crew cab Superduty 4x4 Lariat with a 9" lift, 37" tires, full exhaust, intake and its a Lariat so its fully loaded for 12,500 with 125k miles.

Forgot to add that i'm in Los Angeles, CA I drove about an hour 1/2 to go buy this at a dealer that received it as a trade in.


Wow you stole that truck! 7.3L :punk

Also the 6.0 engines are very good engine design. They just messed up using crap head bolts, egr design, Ficm's, hopup, and the earlier models with the bad injectors. Other then that the engine gets really good gas mileage with ton of power, with a good transmission strapped to it. No truck sounds better then a 6.0 with a 4-5" exhaust, intake, and a programmer set on race.....So sick! They sound like jet liners

So as long as I don't get the 04 and up model then the 6.0 would still be a good choice? You kinda confused me there lol

So as long as I don't get the 04 and up model then the 6.0 would still be a good choice? You kinda confused me there lol

Stay away from ALL the 6.0 diesels! In 2003 they had a 7.3 and 6.0

Here are some tips if you go to test drive a diesel

Pull the oil dipstick and inspect the oil if it is really thick and nasty with a bad smell probably means it wasnt well taken care of. Look at the bottom for any major oil and transmission leaks (almost all used diesels will leak)

Sit in the truck position the side mirror to face the tail pipe. Put the key on the on position for like 5 sec's (so the glow plugs can heat up), put your foot on the gas pedal all the way to the floor. Turn the ignition to start the engine, now you want to look at the tail pipe and see what color smoke is coming out, all diesels smoke. Depending on the weather if its a normal day not too cold out the truck should fire up with black smoke. If there is white smoke at start up you may have a bad injector. Injectors are very expensive, with a lot of labour there not like gas engines. (100-$300 per injector)

Also you want to listen for the turbo to make sure it is spooling up normal. If you mash the throttle and the turbo lags for a while then picks up the turbo may need a rebuild. (4-$700 fix)

With the engine running open the oil fill cap you want to look for blow by. Too much blow by is not good and the engine may need a rebuild.

You can also take it to a ford dealer and pay 75-$100 for them to inspect it, but to be honest with you a lot of dealerships especially around here dont know there ass from their backs when it comes to diesels.

Wow you stole that truck! 7.3L :punk

Also the 6.0 engines are very good engine design. They just messed up using crap head bolts, egr design, Ficm's, hopup, and the earlier models with the bad injectors. Other then that the engine gets really good gas mileage with ton of power, with a good transmission strapped to it. No truck sounds better then a 6.0 with a 4-5" exhaust, intake, and a programmer set on race.....So sick! They sound like jet liners

Mine has a 4" exhaust from the turbo back. Love the sound of it. The turbo whine gets real noticeable with this exhaust. What programmer would you recommend? I've been meaning to get a programmer and gear the truck. I had been looking into PHP tuners.
Either this one listed below or their touch screen model.
http://www.gopowerhungry.com/_phoenix.shtml
http://www.gopowerhungry.com/_gryphon_cts_diesel.shtml

Mine has a 4" exhaust from the turbo back. Love the sound of it. The turbo whine gets real noticeable with this exhaust. What programmer would you recommend? I've been meaning to get a programmer and gear the truck. I had been looking into PHP tuners.
Either this one listed below or their touch screen model.
http://www.gopowerhungry.com/_phoenix.shtml
http://www.gopowerhungry.com/_gryphon_cts_diesel.shtml


I have personally only dealt with edge, six gun, and sct. I like the edge programmer on the 7.3 it really wakes it up, night and day. Look on craigslist, and I am sure you will find guys selling there old programmers ive seen some asking 80-150 bucks.

But becarefully the 7.3's with the transmissions because you have 37's and if you add a programmer you will put more strain on it. If you do decide to I would take the truck to ford dealer and have them do a transmission flush in my city its like 100 bucks.

Ibidu: If you come across any trucks that you feel the need to sell me, send a PM this way.

I'm gonna keep an eye out and be patient since I don't really need a truck right now. If I find one I'll be more than happy to buy it if it passes those tests you told me and looks overall in good shape. I gotta let things play out financially right now for school and family stuff.

Thanks again for all the information you gave :thumbup hopefully I'll be driving a big ole 7.3L diesel in the months to come :biggrin

If you were looking to have one that's main purpose would be commuting, with the occasional weekend of the month that you would want to go to the track. I wouldn't need a huge trailer (maybe a 5x8?) because I assume I'd only be taking 2 or maybe 3 bikes at most.

I'd like to keep it on the less expensive side for a used one (in the ball park of 10k)

now youre buying a big ole diesel? i still say buy a small v-6 or v-8 SUV or pick up. :dunno

now youre buying a big ole diesel? i still say buy a small v-6 or v-8 SUV or pick up. :dunno

I loved driving a truck when I borrowed one. Now I gotta get one. They get pretty good gas mileage or so I'm told :cheers

Will I use even 25% of what it is capable of? Unlikely. Will I love having it? Likely.

I have personally only dealt with edge, six gun, and sct. I like the edge programmer on the 7.3 it really wakes it up, night and day. Look on craigslist, and I am sure you will find guys selling there old programmers ive seen some asking 80-150 bucks.

But becarefully the 7.3's with the transmissions because you have 37's and if you add a programmer you will put more strain on it. If you do decide to I would take the truck to ford dealer and have them do a transmission flush in my city its like 100 bucks.

I already did the flush about 2k miles ago. I plan on gearing it as well but not sure if to gear or get the tuner first. I have seen the edge's for cheap but i keep hearing real bad things about them on the powerstroke forums.

It's really depressing to go onto the PSD and other forums and read what kind of fuel mileage their getting. Seems like the average comes out to roughly 14mpg overall. Some are saying they're lucky to see 17mpg highway even at 65mph.

Do the Cummins get better mileage than the PSD? And is it safe to assume a non-turbo model would get better mileage as well?

Not to say I want to get the gas mileage of a Prius but it'd be nice to see good mpg numbers :lol

I already did the flush about 2k miles ago. I plan on gearing it as well but not sure if to gear or get the tuner first. I have seen the edge's for cheap but i keep hearing real bad things about them on the powerstroke forums.


Ya, ive heard of guys using chips or reflashing the computer, I heard those are better as you can change shift points.

The edge tuners are not bad, just keep them out of extreme/racing setting (but thats where the fun is :lmao)

It's really depressing to go onto the PSD and other forums and read what kind of fuel mileage their getting. Seems like the average comes out to roughly 14mpg overall. Some are saying they're lucky to see 17mpg highway even at 65mph.

Do the Cummins get better mileage than the PSD? And is it safe to assume a non-turbo model would get better mileage as well?

Not to say I want to get the gas mileage of a Prius but it'd be nice to see good mpg numbers :lol


As much as i love diesels the mpg for everyday commuting just kills it. I mean my suv doesnt get MUCH better mpg.

These trucks are meant for people who pull trailers because gas vs diesel when pulling a heavy load diesel gets the best mpg.

The older 7.3 have a turbo and non turbo, not sure about the cummins.

From what I have experienced the cummins get slight better gas mileage. If you own a diesel truck its a must it has a lift min 35"-up tires. Chicks dig that stuff, its a whole macho thing they crave:cheers

It's really depressing to go onto the PSD and other forums and read what kind of fuel mileage their getting. Seems like the average comes out to roughly 14mpg overall. Some are saying they're lucky to see 17mpg highway even at 65mph.

Do the Cummins get better mileage than the PSD? And is it safe to assume a non-turbo model would get better mileage as well?

Not to say I want to get the gas mileage of a Prius but it'd be nice to see good mpg numbers :lol

Mine gets 14 with 37" tires. Stock height not driving like a jack ass i'd expect an average of atleast 18.

Also while towing my mpg doesn't go down much at all unless i'm towing a real heavy load. I've towed a jeep wrangler on a 16ft trailer and didn't even feel the damn thing back there. I was towing in over drive, looked down and was doing 80mph :facepalm Truck wasn't even struggling at all and keep in mind my truck isn't geared and the tires i'm sure are killing my mpg and towing capacity.

I'm not sure how the HHR tows. My mom has one, but not the panel, hers is the regular with windows.

It's reasonably comfortable. It's not setting the world on fire, but it's not the slowest thing I've ever driven.

I borrowed it to run up to the next county so I could leave my big pickup home. I was just under 30mpg for the whole trip. If the highways here were safe at 55-60mph, and I could've skipped all the stop-and-go on the surface streets, it would've done even better.

Really I could've saved money by just taking my truck, because I wound up topping hers up. That negated the fuel savings as far as my pocket goes, then I wound up getting guilted into washing it for her too. Gotta love parents.

Just think of it as payback for all your parents did for you..

I'm so back and forth lol

I guess most SUV's that have good enough towing capabilities for an enclosed are getting in the ballpark of 20mpg unloaded. I'm sure I could get close to that without the big tires and the (3.73?) axle. And if I wasn't getting that good of gas mileage I could still maybe make up for it with the towing since I probably wouldn't lose hardly any gas mileage with what I would be towing.






^^Yeah I'm just trying to justify buying a big truck, that's all.

My parents have a 2010 nissan pathfinder. theirs is the V8 model and it is super nice. the mileage on it is kinda low, but I think they make a V6 version as well.

My parents have a 2010 nissan pathfinder. theirs is the V8 model and it is super nice. the mileage on it is kinda low, but I think they make a V6 version as well.

he's looking at spending 10k.

FIAT:

Fix It Again Tony!!

CHEVROLET:

Cracked Head Every Valve Rattles Oil Leaks Every Time

The Pathfinder isn't rated to have that great of gas mileage anyway. Especially the V8. It gets the same as trucks do, and then on top of that it requires premium. Not that it isn't a really nice looking SUV, just I'd rather a Titan if I wanted to spend that much on gas.

I have a 99 Chevy ZR2 Blazer, 4.3 V6. it gets about 14 or so MPG, the great thing about it, just this weekend I pulled a 5x11 enclosed trailer with 2 peoples worth of track stuff, it got around 12 MPG with the trailer and the brakes worked great. It really handled it all very well. I was driving a little slower than normal, usually do around 80-85, but kept it down to 70-75 for fuel mileage reasons. So I wouldnt be concerned with a smaller truck/suv pulling an enclosed trailer.

plus the 2 door blazers can just fit a twin size aero bed with the rear seats fold down for sleeping at the track. the 4 door trucks are a bit longer wheel base and have a tad bit bigger cargo area.

My z71 extended cab (350 V8) gets around 19mpg on the highway and like 16mpg city and about 15mpg highway while pulling a double axle trailer with a car on it.. :dunno

Tons of room too.

coming back from CMP

the truck

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/t01blaze/truck/IMG_0107.jpg

the trailer, old picture but basically the same open trailer.

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/t01blaze/bike/Picture005-2.jpg

the fuel economy

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/t01blaze/IMG_20110731_223554.jpg

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/t01blaze/IMG_20110731_223935.jpg

the mileage

http://i651.photobucket.com/albums/uu235/t01blaze/truck/IMG_20110709_054059.jpg


over 150k now and still going strong.

i tow and drive between 70-75 mph

Damn Tom, did that truck spend most of its life in a garage?? what year is it again?

Mine has around 170,000. Oh gonna be doing airbags in the back to help with towing as well as electric fans and maybe an exhaust w/ headers.

its a 2001. i bought it in 2007 with 67,000 miles for $5800 cash. it was a PENNDOT vehicle that i bought at a used car dealer in NJ. the RPO codes indicated gov't stuff also...

Is your rear window tinted?? I thought it was, usually DOT vehicles dont have tinted rear windows, or maybe they dont have them for the 2 doors

its tinted. i can copy the RPO code sheet if you want to see it. i ran it in dealerworld/GM VIS and printed it before i left the dealer.

rpo codes:

GAM - government vehicle (GSA SALE)
R9R - GSA audit statement (SGO)
V95 - tax status - non taxable
NF4 - fleet

it came from PA and im the 2nd owner.

edit: i have the car fax too

1/2/2001
Kenny Ross Chevrolet - vehicle sold
2/27/2002
Pennsylvania motor vehicle dept. - registration issued or renewed

why do all the good ones have to have a bunch of miles on them? :(

for example... if it had 50k less miles i'd buy it even if it was a couple thousand more
http://www.miraautosales.net/vehicledetails.aspx?VID=138933404

and its the 6.0l :thumbdown

why do all the good ones have to have a bunch of miles on them? :(

for example... if it had 50k less miles i'd buy it even if it was a couple thousand more
http://www.miraautosales.net/vehicledetails.aspx?VID=138933404

and its the 6.0l :thumbdown

the 2003 6.0 is the worst of all the 6.0's lol injectors always crap out, and ficms

That truck averages 7 grand and its way over priced for the mileage.

Look on ebay aswell

If you are looking at diesel's.. don't worry about the mileage as much as you do the roughness of the miles.. Look for gooseneck hitches, etc. Diesel trucks tend to be good for hundred's of thousands of miles if taken care of.

Still would buy another Escalade. It's good on gas well, better than my car is getting.

:lol maybe if I had $30k to throw away

Highlander is supposed to be capable of towing 3000lbs :dunno

but like you guys have said I've heard nothing but good things about the 4 runner
you'd be putting the highlander under a lot of stress. trailer weight adds up quickly, even with small trailers.

i'd recommend the 4runner as well. the new ones are pretty awesome. :)

Yeah I like the new 4Runners for sure, can't afford one though.

Still leaning towards a diesel right now.

diesel prices are insane down here. dunno about up there.

look at the previous body style like an 06/07 or something. they're still damn fine vehicles.

Gas today:
Ohio - $3.45
Kentucky $3.55

Diesel:
Ohio: $3.99
Kentucky - $3.77

I work in KY so I have options when it comes to filling up lol gas lately has been cheaper in Ohio and Diesel is way cheaper in Kentucky overall.



And for a 2006+ 4Runner you're still easily looking at spending $15k+...

Gas today:
Ohio - $3.45
Kentucky $3.55

Diesel:
Ohio: $3.99
Kentucky - $3.77

I work in KY so I have options when it comes to filling up lol gas lately has been cheaper in Ohio and Diesel is way cheaper in Kentucky overall.



And for a 2006+ 4Runner you're still easily looking at spending $15k+...

shit did i miss a price range you were aiming for? sorry about that. self :bitchslap

get the tahoe.

So a diesel is pretty much out of the picture at this point. It's almost a dollar more per gallon here.

I'm trying to find a Silverado/Sierra 1500 with the 5.3 and 4x4.

I considered an F150 for the longest time but I just don't know how much I really want a Ford.

Dodge, eh. That hemi sucks gas like crazy from what I hear.

I'd love an 07+ Tundra but don't have the money.

And a titan, I've seen a few I liked but I guess those are even worse on gas than the hemi.

I also can spend closer to $13-14k now if I find something worth the money. I'm sure you guys don't care anymore lol.



What truck would you guys pick if you had to considering all factors: reliability, gas mileage, interior comfort (including rear seat extended or crew cab), towing, bed space. I'd prefer full-size truck.

So a diesel is pretty much out of the picture at this point. It's almost a dollar more per gallon here.

I'm trying to find a Silverado/Sierra 1500 with the 5.3 and 4x4.

I considered an F150 for the longest time but I just don't know how much I really want a Ford.

Dodge, eh. That hemi sucks gas like crazy from what I hear.

I'd love an 07+ Tundra but don't have the money.

And a titan, I've seen a few I liked but I guess those are even worse on gas than the hemi.

I also can spend closer to $13-14k now if I find something worth the money. I'm sure you guys don't care anymore lol.



What truck would you guys pick if you had to considering all factors: reliability, gas mileage, interior comfort (including rear seat extended or crew cab), towing, bed space. I'd prefer full-size truck.

A sierra or silverado with a 5.3 is very reliable. Ford is pretty decent with the f150's they do have some rear end, and valve knock issues.

if you want to stick to gas i'd go with a silverado 2500 with the 6.0

I believe some 1500 HD silverado's also had the 6.0.

Ok so this is the one I was looking at. My friend that's a mechanic said that's too high mileage but that really doesn't even sound that high for what it is.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=309304704&dealer_id=34395125&car_year=2004&systime=&doors=&model=CHEV150&search_lang=en&start_year=1981&body_style=TRUCKS&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&scarid=307127699&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=50&min_price=12900&rdm=1321731620511&drive=&marketZipError=false&advanced=&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=&dma=CINCINNATI_WE&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=32&isFlashPlugin=true&transmission=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&color=&address=45233&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=12900&make=CHEV&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=52&standard=false

if you want to stick to gas i'd go with a silverado 2500 with the 6.0

I believe some 1500 HD silverado's also had the 6.0.

I'm not gonna be towing around a yacht lol I still wanna keep fuel economy in mind unless I get a truck with the 6.0 for enough less to make up the difference in fuel.

Is that the same 6.0 they have in the escalades?

Similar. I think it's detuned a bit for towing.

I'm not gonna be towing around a yacht lol I still wanna keep fuel economy in mind unless I get a truck with the 6.0 for enough less to make up the difference in fuel.

Is that the same 6.0 they have in the escalades?

also most escalades are AWD so that lowers mileage. I would bet it gets similar mielage to the 5.3, if not better since it'll drive around at a lower rpm.

Looking for a great commuter that gets awesome gas mileage both commuting and towing? Look no further than the Honda Civic.

if you want to stick to gas i'd go with a silverado 2500 with the 6.0

I believe some 1500 HD silverado's also had the 6.0.

My 07 Vortecmax is a heavy 1500 with the 6.0 (367hp, tows 10,900 instead of 7800) it's got AFM and VVT but it's still not that great on gas average 15mpg mostly city with some "spirited" highway. a mpg or two lower than the old 5.3.

If you're on a budget the new body style vortecmax's might be difficult to find, they tend to be pretty loaded with options.


The last generation body style did offer a heavy half that was the HD 6.0liter detuned compared to the Escalades and Denalis.

also most escalades are AWD so that lowers mileage. I would bet it gets similar mielage to the 5.3, if not better since it'll drive around at a lower rpm.

You confused me there. An escalde will do better on gas with the AWD compared to say at Silverado with the 5.3 & 4x4?

Lets just for fun throw in a Yukon Denali with the 6.0 into the mix. I guess that would be pretty much the same thing as far as gas mileage?

Looking for a great commuter that gets awesome gas mileage both commuting and towing? Look no further than the Honda Civic.

:lol But what if I have to tow more than one bike?

My 07 Vortecmax is a heavy 1500 with the 6.0 (367hp, tows 10,900 instead of 7800) it's got AFM and VVT but it's still not that great on gas average 15mpg mostly city with some "spirited" highway. a mpg or two lower than the old 5.3.

If you're on a budget the new body style vortecmax's might be difficult to find, they tend to be pretty loaded with options.


The last generation body style did offer a heavy half that was the HD 6.0liter detuned compared to the Escalades and Denalis.

Yeah I don't think I can afford that. I mean realistically I could afford it, but that takes away from what I can spend on other goodies.
Honestly, if I got around 15mpg overall I wouldn't really be disappointed. I think my car gets about 18-19 overall if I don't drive like a grandma so getting a few less mpg in a truck/suv wouldn't bother me.




The only other thing I can't decide at this point is how much I'm going to actually make use of the bed of the truck. I mean if I'm going to have a trailer then I'd probably use it 100% of the time unless I just need to bring my bike to a friend's house if I plan on riding with them somewhere. I know loading a bike into a truck bed can be a pain in the ass, but then again trailer can also be when it comes to maneuvering in tight spaces.

buy a small suv and a trailer. an enclosed trailer is even better. be done with it already.

Lol I'm trying to be done with it.

Looking for a great commuter that gets awesome gas mileage both commuting and towing? Look no further than the Honda Civic.

I just recently picked up my new Civic......I love it!:lol

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w72/njracer/tahoecleanday4.jpg


It's in the back of the Burb!:lol

I just recently picked up my new Civic......I love it!:lol

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w72/njracer/tahoecleanday4.jpg


It's in the back of the Burb!:lol

Nice civic! Does that have the new 2.4l VTEC? I hear them puppies are putting out 200 horsies

Nice civic! Does that have the new 2.4l VTEC? I hear them puppies are putting out 200 horsies

Not sure....the Civic is stuck in the back.....need some lube to get it out.:lol

I wanna talk SUV's some more lol

Let's talk about Jeeps today. I've a lot of people say they're just giant money pits and the other have love them to death.

My friend that owns his own car shop which he inherited from his dad is offering me his 04 Grand Cherokee Limited. It has the V8 and 4x4 and all the little bells and whistles that make me want to buy it but on the other hand it seems like there's about a 50/50 chance I could be spending over $1000 in repairs within a year.

It's got 118k mostly highway miles on it. I know it's been well taken care of but that doesn't make it immune to anything.

And then there's towing. He's towed a small enclosed trailer with it but I've also heard that's about the limit of a Jeep's towing capabilities. I mean I guess that's about all I'd ever tow with it but I don't want it to be like pushing the limits of what it's capable of in the process.

Thoughts? Thanks again!

Edit: He said he would also throw in an extra tranny he has for it and them some other parts for it, too. Not sure what all that includes but I'll find out tomorrow.

I wanna talk SUV's some more lol

Let's talk about Jeeps today. I've a lot of people say they're just giant money pits and the other have love them to death.

My friend that owns his own car shop which he inherited from his dad is offering me his 04 Grand Cherokee Limited. It has the V8 and 4x4 and all the little bells and whistles that make me want to buy it but on the other hand it seems like there's about a 50/50 chance I could be spending over $1000 in repairs within a year.

It's got 118k mostly highway miles on it. I know it's been well taken care of but that doesn't make it immune to anything.

And then there's towing. He's towed a small enclosed trailer with it but I've also heard that's about the limit of a Jeep's towing capabilities. I mean I guess that's about all I'd ever tow with it but I don't want it to be like pushing the limits of what it's capable of in the process.

Thoughts? Thanks again!


Do it!!!

I think itll tow more than my Blazer will.

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r148/quartermilecrazy/2011-08-02_19-08-54_337.jpg

The V8 would make it pull a little better, I think that is 4 wheel discs, which should make it stop better.

Are you just looking past all the issues a lot of people have with Jeeps and saying that if it happens to run good for the time I have it, then it will be a good vehicle?

That was a lot for one sentence ^^ :lol

I really just don't wanna get stuck with another piece of shit. I have every intention of keeping up with oil changes and all the little shit in hopes of not having a repeat of this car. Again, doesn't make it immune to everything...

I have been a mechanic for 20+ years.

I would buy a jeep if the right deal came along.

I dont know of many problems with them, especially the V8s. Nothing more than any vehicle would have.

Well here it is! Exactly 8 months later!!! :spit

2001 Silverado 4x4 5.3l Vortec, 176k on the clock, recently rebuilt transmission, towing package, long bed, tool box is probably gonna have to go. The thing runs great, transmission shifts unbelievably smooooooooooooth. :biggrin

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb351/kbunke/d73c230f.jpg

Well here it is! Exactly 8 months later!!! :spit

2001 Silverado 4x4 5.3l Vortec, 176k on the clock, recently rebuilt transmission, towing package, long bed, tool box is probably gonna have to go. The thing runs great, transmission shifts unbelievably smooooooooooooth. :biggrin


smooooooooooth like steven's ass? :biggrin

like

Well here it is! Exactly 8 months later!!! :spit

2001 Silverado 4x4 5.3l Vortec, 176k on the clock, recently rebuilt transmission, towing package, long bed, tool box is probably gonna have to go. The thing runs great, transmission shifts unbelievably smooooooooooooth. :biggrin

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb351/kbunke/d73c230f.jpg
Do not underestimate the value of that locking toolbox. If you are going to remove it a locking tonneau or a canopy (U-G-L-Y) are a must.

Do not underestimate the value of that locking toolbox. If you are going to remove it a locking tonneau or a canopy (U-G-L-Y) are a must.

Yeah I understand it would be nice to have it on there. With the 8ft bed I imagine I could leave it in there and still fit a bike in the back, but the only problem is that that makes strapping a bike down a PITA.

I think what I'd like to do is just one of those leather rollout covers so I can have easy access to the bed for bikes and then maybe still have the option of sleeping in the bed under cover.

If strapping the bike down is your only concearn just install d rings onto the bed of the truck and call it a day.