Manual or Automatic Transmission? Ford/Mazda hasn't had the greatest light-truck Auto trans reliability; actually- they've had a lot of issues in general so I'd just avoid them since there are better trucks on the market.

I'd suggest the Tacoma or the Colorado. As for the 4 vs 6- it depends what you want to do with the truck, obviously the 6 will be more usable for towing and hauling but if her "hauling" is limited to some light stuff it really doesn't matter.
Also make sure you compare the gas mileage of both engines that people have actually observed (driving normally); my friend gets better mileage with his 6.1L V8 truck than with his 4.3L V6 truck (same truck) just because he always has to be on the gas with the 4.3 and a lot less so with the 6.1- just something to consider; underpowering something and riding the gas hard will use a lot more gas than taking it very easy on a more powerful engine.

As much as a I hate to say it...I'd say the Tacoma is probably a great bet.

 

+1 to the Tacoma. I used to have a '98, and it was a good, reliable ride. In the seven years I had it, I only ever had to replace the battery and starter. I've taken a test drive in newer ones, and they are even far more improved. The handling characteristics feel much more like a car now. THe interior was also greatly improved.

 

We got my best man an 06 Frontier. Its a very good little truck. Its wound up being less than the Tacoma and he liked them equally after driving them.

 

We just traded in a 95 Ford Ranger. Very nice little truck witha 4 cyl. problem is it couldn't pull a sick whore out of chuch if it wanted to. It is very under powered. Other than that it is a very nice little truck. I usually have Chevy S-10s with the V-6 but the mileage is not all that good usually around 19-22

 

Get the Taco...

I have a '96 with the 4-cyl and it's great. Well, except for the fact that the rear leaf springs are bowed right over backwards whenever I hook up a trailer. I tow my c900 race car on a dual axle trailer with this truck every week and it does it no problem. I'd love to get a newer Tundra with a v-8 but those things are over $35,000..ouch The newer Tacomas are real nice looking and they have some pretty good power. Reliability isn't an issue. I work in a parts store and the number of customers I see that have newer 'Yotas mostly come in to buy accessories. Those trucks almost never break down.

 

Why not buy a Saab? If its got only 4 cylinders why bother with a truck?

But if I had to say a truck I'd be split between the Tacoma and the Colorado. Only because I like American trucks better then imports.

 

I doesn't seem right that a tacoma and a ford are in the same price range. My experience is that the tacomas are usually very top dollar even for used.

Is she considering a 05 06 ford or mazda against a 1999 or 2000 tacoma? That seems more realistic considering their trade values!!

Tboy

 

Toyota 4cyl deffinatly hands down. All the power, plus reliability, and then when your done you get most of your money back when it's time to get rid of it.

 

Nissan Frontier.

 

Tacoma. or maybe frontier.

 

But probably Tacoma.

 

Wait, why does she need a truck with a 4 cylinders? Its like useless as a truck only having 4 cylinders, can barely tow anything, and there really small, every one else with trucks looks down on them. So why?

Am not trying to bash I just don't understand.

 

My brother has a chevy truck with a 4 banger and I think its great. Not everyone needs to tow 10,000lbs of rocks but a lot of people do need to move furniture, trash, etc and a small truck can still do that just fine. He also can get 25mpg on the highway which isnt great but for a truck its pretty damn good.

 

Wow. Thanks for all the replies.

She dose not plan on towing. Just throwing stuff in the back for her house or when she goes out biking and such. She also wants it super reliable.... The Tacoma is more expensive but she might be able to swing it. I will check out the Frontier... totally missed that.

Lol.... I tried to get her to get the $9k 99 Vig on here but no go....

 

Frontier.

 

My friends 06 Frontier is a 5spd 4 cyl extended cab( 2small rear doors). He gets high into the 20's on the highway and it can get out of its own way. Its kinda sporty inside with the center console and shifter being almost sports car like. Its also a good looking truck, I prefer it slightly to the Tacoma. Nissan trucks have proven to be reliable over the years as well. Also Nissan allows more wiggle room on price compared to Toyota. He got his semi loaded for $17k brand new compared to about $2k more for anything else.

 

4 cylinder truck? Kinda defeats the purpose of buying a truck doesn't it?

 

Thats what I said.

 

Not really. It worked perfectly for me.

 

Yes this was already pointed out to me by 90SPG at post #14. I was just stating that some one else shared my view on this topic.
My friend has a truck and most of the time he's haullin lots of poundage and he needs the 5.7 V8 in that thing, I just thought most people who buy trucks buy them for the big stuff. But I was wrong.

I understand your view.

 

Yeah, I'd go Japanese on a light truck, although a c900 makes a pretty good pickup truck if you take off the hatch :lol: