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Pickups Pickups - Archived Discussions Extended cabs OK for "real" people 
83 messages, Last post on Sep 12, 1998 at 5:41 PM
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Dunbarton, You said somewhere else that you live in NJ, and here you say you're in the market for an F150. Maybe you've already picked out a dealer to buy it from, but in case you're interested, there's one in some town near the Lincoln Tunnel who gave me a price via email that was a little below dealer invoice. At first it was a little above dealer invoice, but when I told him I was buying it from a dealer near my home, he dropped the price. Anyway, if your interested, I posted who that dealer is back in February under the "Welcome" conference and the topic "I'm A Car Salesman, Please Help", and it's entry #56. Almost every one else who posted in that topic seemed to be complaining about what rotten guys car salesmen are, but I stumbled across one that seemed pretty decent, so I posted the story of that experience. I didn't buy my pickup from him, but I probably would have if he hadn't been so far from where I live. |
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Most people these days have only one vehicle. This may be for space, monetary, insurance, or any other reason. This means that most people are looking for one vehicle that does everything. The SUV comes close, especially with the low price of gas in the US. Personally, I drive what many people consider a foolish vehicle (especially for someone working a desk job just out of downtown Dallas): a '93 F350 Crew Cab diesel. Why? The same reason that many people go for SUVs -- I wanted something that could do anything I needed. I tow horses (2 horse only for the most part), sometimes for long distances (last long trip was Madison, WI to Dallas, TX). This immediately reduced my options to a truck chassis. I also occasionally haul large or messy items. This meant that I wanted a truck bed, not an enclosed SUV. Finally, I keep the front seat all the way back, and yet still occasionally drive with other full-sized adults. IMO the extended cab trucks just don't have the rear seat comfort that the crew cab does (and aren't tbat much shorter anyway). The diesel still gets 16-17 avg. mpg after 100K miles, far in excess of my old '89 460. All of these are good reasons, IMO, for the truck I drive. Most of the time, however, I use it for commuting the 30 miles to and from work, all by myself. While this may not be the most 'efficient' method of transport, it is the most convenient. I looked at SUVs for a while, but I'm going with a truck again next time. Time to go order my new '99 F350 Crew Cab PowerStroke 4X4 Dually... every option under the sun, and still under $34K. As an aside, I'm adding that 4x4 as one of my 'useless' features. I don't go off roading, or live in an area that gets much snow. However, in the last few years, I've got stuck in mud (fields, etc) 5-6 times. For me, the added cost of the 4x4 is outweighed by the convenience of not being stuck again (crew cab diesels are so front heavy its not funny). We all make tradeoffs (or buy many vehicles) -- in my case, I'll take functionality over city practicality. Others prefer it the other way 'round. The modern SUV (especially the Yukon or Expedition sized ones) can do just about everything people need them for, with relatively few sacrifices. IMO, that's why they're so popular these days. Besides, once you've owned one you get so used to the extra space its hard to go back. I watch people trying to fit relatively small items into the back of their wagons or sedans, and just drive on smiling. Just my $0.02 |
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My use of 4x4 on my Ram 3500 is bad weather mostly, but it does come in handy under other situations - I "dove" into a muddy field to pull out a stuck tow truck who had gone in to get a dead car. Pulled it out in 4-Lo reverse like I was pulling on a Tonka truck. A firend used to live in an apartment on the side of the hill and in order to back into the driveway, 4-High was a requirement. Stanford, I agree with you that the functionality often outweighs the practicality. I know that I can safely stuff all 4 of my godchildren in my Ram (2 in car seats) without a space problem. I also know that I can take a few friends to the beach with all the junk we could possibly bring with us. As for parking - I just park where it will fit, then walk. I don't need to be right up front. |
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I think more people have two cars today than ever. I tell people I have my 4x4 extended cab truck for my weekend homeowner stuff (which I do a lot of), but, mostly it is because I like a truck, I like the Tacoma's looks and I like sitting up high. (My last car was an 1986 Civic Hatchback.) And if they don't like my reasons, screw them. They can make the payments on the vehicle I "should be driving". |
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I am considering buying a new Ford Ranger 4-door extended cab. This size and configuration of space is perfect for my storage/hauling needs: expensive photo gear, tripods and scopes would go behind the seat where I imagine them readily and quickly accessible and slightly more secure from theft; and an inflatable boat with its small motor in the bed. But what bothers me is the suggestion that these rear suicide doors are prone to rattle. Anyone have experience with this? Another consideration is to get a regular cab with a quality, secure shell that is accessible from the side (for the photo gear). I would also like a shell strong enough to support me and a tripod. Any experienced-based advice for a shell like this? I would like to hear some chat on the cost/benefits of the Ranger vs. the full-size 150. |
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Regarding the whole trucks vs. cars debate: Until last year, I had always been a "car guy". I thought trucks and SUV's were big unwieldy, primitive eyesores whose sole reason for existing seemed to be to get in my way. I kept noticing that the number of trucks, mini-vans & SUV's appeared to be always increasing. It seemed that it was getting much more difficult to see what was going on in traffic because these oversize behemoths kept blocking my view. Finally, after several near misses, I became convinced that I was going to get nailed by one of these tanks and that, if I did, it would not be pretty. So, reluctantly, I decided "if you can't beat 'em--join 'em" and I bought a '96 Dodge Ram 1500 Extended Cab. It was a little disconcerting at first to go from a low slung sports sedan to this tall upright truck. But right away I began to notice something--I could actually see what was going on around me! What a concept! Plus, I no longer felt intimidated by some yahoo in a SUV that thought he/she owned the road. I had my truck a little over a year, and during that time a weird thing happened--I began to have really strong feelings of affection towards it. I had had many "cool" cars over the years but had never really had any type of emotional connection with them, but I loved that stupid truck! It was reliable, dependable and I had never known how great it was to be able to haul around just about anything a person would need to. I can't begin to describe the feeling I had when, for example, I would make a purchase at a furniture store and be asked by the sales person if I needed to set up a delivery. "No," I would reply, with just a hint of smugness, "I have a truck." A week ago last Friday I was sitting at a dead stop waiting on a traffic light when a housewife in a Suburban rear-ended me going approximately 30 mph. Somehow she had failed to see my bright red 4,000 pound truck. There were five of us in my truck and, thank God, nobody was seriously injured. I am convinced, however, that it would have been a different story if we had been sitting in a little sports sedan. I had been proven correct in my prediction a year earlier that eventually one of those "big guys" was going to get me. I could have stood being wrong on that one. The insurance company says that both vehicles are repairable. This suprised me since they both appeared to be pretty well messed up. (Especially the Suburban--don't mess with Mr. Dodge Ram!) My truck is supposed to be out of the body shop within a few weeks. I'm not very optomistic that it will ever be the same (hope I'm wrong). Anyway, that's my two cents worth (sorry about the long post). P.S. anybody wanna buy a slightly bent Dodge truck? |
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larrwd: I have a brand new 4-door ranger. No rattles at all (nothing like the problems with GM's third door. I've gone over railroad tracks, curbs, pot holes, etc. and never heard as much as a ping. Ford did a great job! |
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| Hi everyone! I've been "shopping" (by which I mean fantasizing) for months now planning to trade in my '97 Sunfire, currently with 35600 miles, for a used '97 Jimmy or Blazer with fewer miles. My rationale is that I wanted the following: 1) Larger size, greater "road presence" (but I'm not exactly looking for a Hummer or even a Suburban); 2) 4-wheel drive (long snowy winter); 3) More power; 4) More cargo space, as I've just moved to upstate NY and will be moving again in a year. I'm a single guy with no children. Then I found that I could have a loaded S-10 or Sonoma 4x4 extended cab BRAND NEW for about the same price, maybe even less. And I realized that I haven't used even the back seat in my SUNFIRE half a dozen times since the middle of 1997, two or three of which were, ironically, clumsily carrying big things like a mattress and a desk (please don't ask how; suffice it to say miracles do happen). I'm glad I didn't buy the Jimmy, because I think I was into the wrong vehicle! I stopped by a lot that still had some S-10s on it (sadly no V6's), and I think I actually could like this vehicle. Only problem is there are a gazillion skillion options, and I'm worried I'll have to order a '99, since my chances of finding a leftover '98 with all the options I want (power everything, remote keyless) look unfavorable compared to those of the proverbial snowball. Please, anyone, am I on the right track? What the heck will I do with all these options? Third door really rattly? Will I probably have to order a '99 as I said? Any chance of working such a deal from invoice, as is discussed so often here? Two disclaimers: I'm committed to GM in spite of so much bad hype about them (I'm also typing from an Apple Powerbook, which says a lot about me); so with due respect to the people who swear by Ford (like my father did) or to imports (like some of my best friends), or IBM (tee hee), I'm committed to the S-10 or Sonoma if I should go this route. Also I have no desire to get anything larger than this size class, even though it looks like it could be had for much the same price (I found the same problem with Sunfire/Grand Am when I was shopping in late '96, and as you see I went for the smaller car). Thanks, and happy "trucking" to all of you! | |
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Addendum: Never mind about the S-10/Sonoma 3rd door rattle; I read the topic below about it. Sheesh. -- I stopped by a GMC dealer today, just to ask if they were getting more '98 Sonomas in, and when the '99s were coming in. He proceeded to try to sell me a leftover *'97*. This is not a misprint. They were asking $21000 for it, which is also not a misprint. Pleeeeeeease. It had the 3rd door on it; I mentioned that I'd heard from more than one source that it rattled. "Well, you can't believe everything you hear," he said. I respect salesmen, because I could never do what they do; but sometimes they're funny. 
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