Help Me Find A Truck (Before I Accidentally Miata)

"MM54" (mm54mk2)
05/24/2018 at 22:05 • Filed to: HMFATBIAM

Having not bought a car on my trip to CA, I’ve decided I really need a small truck instead for things like hauling car parts, hauling stuff to work on the house, Truck Things, and ruining in the salty winters.

The problem is I also have a burning desire for an NA Miata, which are not exactly uncommon to find for sale and every decent one temps me.

Around here, this is the typical craigslist truck:

Photo courtesy of the Akron/Canton craigslist

Seriously - I saw the title of that ad (“89 Chevy S-10 4x4 5spd”) and got excited, until I opened it.

So what am I looking for? Well, the dream would be the image above, without the incredible rot. A small truck, 4x4, single cab, short bed, manual, under 5 grand (ideally under 4). I can travel a few hours (for reference just assume I’m in Akron, OH) but don’t have a ton of time off work to burn, having just gotten back from a week-long vacation.

What can you find, Oppo?

DISCUSSION (22)

E92M3 > MM54
05/24/2018 at 22:14

Roadtrip?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F232779404614

AestheticsInMotion > MM54
05/24/2018 at 22:15

Everybody post Miatas or else

MM54 > E92M3
05/24/2018 at 22:21

I drove through CO on my roadtrip last week!

punkgoose17 > MM54
05/24/2018 at 22:24

A Mercedes 240d powered Isuzu https://easternshore.craigslist.org/cto/d/1990-isuzu-diesel-truck-240d/6573843081.html

punkgoose17 > MM54
05/24/2018 at 22:29

A mint Chevy LUV for 2k https://tricities.craigslist.org/cto/d/1972-chevy-luvmi-no-rust/6597651291.html

5 speed hombre for 2.1k https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/truck-for-sale/6582565424.html

A high mileage i280 for 3k https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/truck-2006-l280-isuzu/6575553484.html https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/truck-2006-l280-isuzu/6575553484.html

On a serious note. Cinci is probably 4 hours away their CL might have a better selection?

MM54 > punkgoose17
05/24/2018 at 22:36

Neat, but 2WD and super rusty

MM54 > punkgoose17
05/24/2018 at 22:43

What an eclectic collection of trucks! I am not opposed to the cincinnati CL, that’s an acceptable distance for a (long) day-trip.

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion
05/24/2018 at 22:47

Shh stop

punkgoose17 > MM54
05/24/2018 at 22:56

Currently my Isuzu obsession is running high.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > MM54
05/24/2018 at 23:14

Kinja'd!!!

https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/cto/d/78-toyota-pickup/6597603866.html

My citroen won't start > MM54
05/24/2018 at 23:25

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/d/volvo-station-wagon-5-spd/6581239968.html

MM54 > My citroen won't start
05/24/2018 at 23:35

I like it, but it isn’t a truck nor single cab 4wd and it’s also more than a day-trip away from here.

MM54 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
05/24/2018 at 23:35

Maybe if it were the stock one in the pictures, half the price, and not on the opposite side of the country from me.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > MM54
05/24/2018 at 23:37

Kinja'd!!!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > MM54
05/25/2018 at 00:08

Semantics!

Lokiparts > MM54
05/25/2018 at 08:38

Now this is a cause I can get behind! I love S-10s.

Here are a couple that I found. I’m not sure how far these are from you but they seem decent.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Kinja'd!!!

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/84-chevy-s10/6586793172.html

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Kinja'd!!!

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/d/2001-zr2-4x4-5-speed/6594680885.html

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

punkgoose17 > MM54
05/25/2018 at 11:12

I found the gold! The add says it is near Dayton:

https://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/d/79-chevy-luv/6576367930.html

Keep checking search tempest and facebook market place

MM54 > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
05/25/2018 at 12:19

no stop

MM54 > punkgoose17
05/25/2018 at 12:20

Man that’s sweet. Curious why it’s on Washington plates in Ohio though, and pretty sure it would be a pile of rust within 2 years around here (those things rotted out brand new!)

MM54 > Lokiparts
05/25/2018 at 12:23

Those are both pretty nice, though the 84 is nicer (to me). He does say ‘trade only’ though and that’s about 5 hours away - the upper limit of what I can con someone into making a day trip with me out of!

punkgoose17 > MM54
05/25/2018 at 12:28

Yeah, I was curious about the plates too. I also found an add for an ‘88 Ram 50 4x4, but the add seemed sketchy.

Lokiparts > MM54
05/25/2018 at 14:12

I’d like to think that since he listed a price he would possibly be willing to just sell it outright too. But yeah I am more partial to first gens also. I actually currently have an 2wd 88 S10, and I have also been keeping my eye out for a 4wd RCSB with a 5 speed. They just don’t pop up very often.

But for what it’s worth a ZR2 with a 5 speed is super rare. One of my friends had a Zr2 years ago and he still frequently tells me that he regrets selling it. If that truck was for sale around here I would have a really hard time not jumping on it. Especially at that price. In our area something like that would be in the $5,000+ range unless there was something seriously wrong with it.