Truck Shopping Update (Help Me Find A Truck Before I Accidentally Miata Part 2)

"MM54" (mm54mk2) 06/06/2018 at 21:29 • Filed to: HMFATBIAM

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Some rusty metal courtesy of a google search

Looked at two Rangers after work today. One was super rusty (didn’t even take it for a drive, way rustier than I’m looking to get in to), the other on the cusp of what I’d consider too rusty; had some in the usual spots (cab corners, bottom of doors, etc) and a few weird bubbly spots. Drove really well, though.

I may call a guy whose ad I’ve seen to set up to look at that one soon, he claims no rust but we know how that goes - around here it’s not if there’s rust, it’s a question of how much. Maybe it’s from out of state, we’ll see. With the amount of stuff going on at work, I don’t really have time anytime soon to head way out of town to check something out (i.e. I can’t take time off, at least in the next few weeks) so I’m looking locally for now. I’m suspecting that to find a decent truck in my price range, I’m going to have to take a road trip. Again.

Die-Trying > MM54 06/06/2018 at 21:57

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so where abouts are you out of? for Craigs looking........

AestheticsInMotion > MM54 06/06/2018 at 22:04

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I have it on good authority that Miatas can haul quite a bit of stuff.

Hmm, would a Baja fit your needs? Maybe those would be cheaper and less rusty in your neck of the woods...

adamftw > MM54 06/06/2018 at 22:06

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What do you want to do with said truck? I always say, you get the most for your money with a Chevy.

Boxer_4 > MM54 06/06/2018 at 22:06

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You could go for this one ; I’m sure it’s only surface rust...

Or maybe one of these ... I’m not helping, am I...?

MM54 > Die-Trying 06/06/2018 at 22:09

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Right in between cleveland.craigslist.org/cto and akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto - just enough that nothing is close by! I also entertain youngstown as quasi-local, as well as pittsburgh but that’s getting to more than an ‘after work’ trip.

Prepare to be shocked by the rot.

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion 06/06/2018 at 22:11

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Subaru bajas have been just about rust-extinct for a long time here (like most any subaru more than 5-7 years old). Stop reminding me that a miata could do 80% of my truck needs. It doesn’t help that I see a clean white NA almost every day in the parking lot at work, happily resting as they do.

MM54 > adamftw 06/06/2018 at 22:13

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Small truck stuff. Haul some wood and car parts, maybe some dirt/mulch. Occasional (less than once a year most likely) light towing. Winter beater duty. Light off-roading, perhaps. Don’t really want to go full-size unless some crazy deal comes up.

MM54 > Boxer_4 06/06/2018 at 22:14

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Those would actually fill most of my truck needs, but not quite what I’m looking for!

AestheticsInMotion > MM54 06/06/2018 at 22:17

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Really? I thought 2000's Era Subarus didn’t rust much... Rats.

The more people I convince to buy Miatas, the greater the knowledge pool I can turn to when I have problems with mine. It’s all part of my master plan

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion 06/06/2018 at 22:24

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Nah they rot out just like everything else. Have I mentioned I don’t like this area? Moving somewhere warming in some number of years...

I’d love an NA but it would be a terrible decision right now. I need to replace the crown vic for year-round beater duty and really could use the utility of the truck to haul stuff.

boxrocket > adamftw 06/06/2018 at 22:37

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So you’re saying you always say falsehoods?

boxrocket > MM54 06/06/2018 at 22:40

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You need to shop more southwards, outside of the rust belt. Heck, my uncle has a Ranger he’s looking to get rid of, I can see what year, trim, engine, etc. We’re in St. Louis so massively less rusting here.

Die-Trying > MM54 06/06/2018 at 23:03

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those are some SLIM pickings.......its hard to even find anything fun in there, that hasnt gotten plum eat up. and anything that isnt eat up, is going for proud money. about the best that i could see, that didnt need just a ton of work was 87 subaru brat - $2500 (hartville)

MM54 > boxrocket 06/06/2018 at 23:08

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St Louis isn’t outrageous (it’s a long day (9h drive) but doable). Big thing I’m looking for is 4x4 (required), most other checkboxes are optional. I’d be curious of details if you’re willing to share.

I’m trying to look further out, but it’s really a stretch to get the time to go somewhere 8 hours away to look at a truck - not to mention getting someone to come with me (I can’t drive two cars back).

MM54 > Die-Trying 06/06/2018 at 23:11

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Okay that’s awesome. Probably not the best idea (this truck will be my primary vehicle) but still really cool. If this weren’t going to be ‘the good car’ I would strongly consider going for it...

adamftw > boxrocket 06/06/2018 at 23:12

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Full-size chevys are the most reliable do it all trucks for your money bar none. Sorry.

adamftw > MM54 06/07/2018 at 06:35

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A full-size is going to be a better bargain, you’ll enjoy the bigger bed when you’re hauling shit, and you don’t need to worry about fuel mileage if you aren’t DDing it. Especially where shit rusts, and older import trucks turn to dust. Check out the Mazda Rangers too, and watch out for the SOHC 4.0 in both of em (2002 up? IIRC) that can get noisy (read: bad) timing chain guides.

Lokiparts > MM54 06/07/2018 at 08:47

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Is this one of the Rangers that you looked at?

https://akroncanton.craigslist.org/ctd/d/2002-ford-ranger-4dr-supercab/6602186027.html

Also How do you feel about a Colorado?

https://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/d/2005-chevrolet-colorado-4x4/6610180826.html

boxrocket > adamftw 06/07/2018 at 19:53

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I work next to a Chevy dealership, at a large used car dealership, and significant anecdotal evidence indicates you are mistaken. I don’t consider something that routinely has valve cover failures, exhaust head bolt failures, piston ring failures, intake gasket failures, and significant oil consumption issues to be “reliable”. Add cylinder deactivation on top of that and its inherent complexities and faults and there’s no way I could recommend it to someone to purchase at all, especially outside of any warranty coverage.

MM54 > adamftw 06/07/2018 at 20:16

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Insurance is more expensive and I will be DD’ing it for part of the year.

MM54 > Lokiparts 06/07/2018 at 20:17

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That ranger is visibly losing a lot of rocker panel pretty quickly in the picture you posted. I did see the ad for that colorado - all that black is bedliner, most of it sprayed over rust.

adamftw > boxrocket 06/08/2018 at 06:46

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The common issues on Chevy trucks are:

- Head issues on the early cylinder deactivation motors

- Electrical parts (switches, sensors, gauges) going bad early in most of them

- Front ends on trucks that are overworked/overloaded/abused

- Fuel pumps (every single one)

- EVAP issues in GMT800s and early 900s

- The 4L60E trans being “weak”

- The G80 locker in 1500s and HDs, and the 10 bolt rear blowing up when overworked

Long term issues with the new new ones remain to be seen, since they’re pretty new. Chevy trucks routinely log over 300k miles without problems, and if they do have issues, they are cheap and easy to repair most of the time. I’m not a brand hugger at all, but it has been MY experience that they are the most reliable of the big 3.

Lokiparts > MM54 06/08/2018 at 07:14

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Good grief. I didn’t even pick up on either of those. I guess I’m just not used to looking for signs of rust like that where I live.

Lokiparts > MM54 06/08/2018 at 07:26

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This S-10 looks decent. If you can get over the stepside bed.

https://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/d/2000-s10-4x4-with-onlymiles/6604599336.html

I don’t see any obvious signs of rust... and the low mileage seems like it would further lower the odds that it’s rusted out. But I’m not sure how far away this is for you. 

MM54 > Lokiparts 06/08/2018 at 18:27

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Looking at cars out of town (such as when I was in california) blows my mind how little rust there is.

I’ve got to get out of this place.

MM54 > Lokiparts 06/08/2018 at 18:29

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That has some potential. Shame it’s a stepside (they’re kind of ugly on these) but it looks clean. I’ll think about it - thanks.

At this point I’m looking in Kentucky; the border is about 6h away and things should be much, much less rusty down there.