What is a good smaller truck for my girl?

[Big Block 88]

SO I will be coming home to stay here in about a week and a half. And my girl needs to get rid of her infinity as it is just not reliable anymore its a 96 J30 I beleive.

With the condition of the road I live on I am tryin to figure out what a good truck will be, she WILL NEED 4 wheel drive and she wants decent fuel economy. I just have no idea what to get, she will be makiing the payments and she is tight with her money she wants to keep payment between 200-300 a month, I don't even know what is in her price range. It will be a used vehicle for sure. I have been lookin at trail blazers and envoy, aswell colorado's and canyons, aswell as some older 7.3 fords I just want it to be reliable and not have me under the hood all the time.

Any idea's???????????????????????

 

[maxaholic]

My vote goes to a Coloradan or canyon. My grandad has one that he uses to do errands between town and the ranch. It's just a 2wd but the little thing gets great milage and has yet to get stuck. Even with factory pizza cutters.

 

[SmokeShow]

01-02 lb7?

 

[JustinD]

Trailblazers are very nice too.

 

[lotsofmiles]

we had a trailblazer for a while. we both liked it. pulled the camper nice too. didnt think it was too great on gas, but my wife drives with a heavy foot.

 

[LB7Diesel]

Trailblazer/Envoy would be my vote too. Those things are indestuctable! Believe me, I tried!

 

[othrgrl]

Wait for the little Mihindra diesel truck to come out......

 

[msjdgman]

What does she need in terms of mileage? As a winter beater, I just picked up a 99 K1500 with the 5.3 for $4000. It had 156K on it, and I`ve only had to put brakes on it and a few other very minor repairs to make it a 100% daily driver. I get 17-20 mpg. My old mans 99 K1500 with the 4.8 has 225K and gets 18-22 mpg, and he`s never put a wrench to it other than brakes.

 

[8100 Power]

Trailblazer get's my vote to.

 

[Philtopgun]

Glad to see peeps talking good about the trailblazer. Neighbor has one and he is 70? drives it to and from his 2nd house in NM. Doesnt like the tranny shifts. Edmund.com had negative remarks about the small suvs and poor 2-1 downshift.... Enough that it is being corrected on the 2010 small model suvs... Did have another friend who had the trailbalzer and they didnt have any problems. SO, go drive one and c what u think. Good luck

 

[whitetrash21]

1500 or colorado would be a good choice. Bro picked up an 01 1500 for $7k, low miles. Guy I work with just go an 04 colorado for 9k, excellent shape. I think he said his payment is 230 something. Both are nice trucks, ridden in both and I actually fit. Haven't been in a trailblazer or envoy so I cant say anything about either of those.

 

[Vrabel]

Customer at the shop has a Trailblazer SS, pretty intense!

 

[custom8726]

Got the wife a Envoy Denali and other then an ignition switch its been flawless for 50k:thumb: Wanna buy it?? I seen a nice MPI twin truck for sale on DP, I think it would be a perfect truck for the wife If I could sell the Denali

 

[McRat]

Canyons or Colorados. Arguably the best mini-trucks ever built.

 

[duramax3388]

as far as looks i don't think that in the small truck class there has been a better looking and running truck than a ZR2 its my favorite small truck one of the best V6 motors ever built 4.3 gas mileage isn't the best of class but mine always got around 16 to 17 around town highway would do close to 20 depending how you drive

 

[wes06dmax]

Colorado/Canyon or if you get a trailblazer get one with the Inline 6 motor they are hard to find but they get the best mpg and hold up alot the best I have a friend whos wife bought one and she gets 20 mpg town and 26 27 highway

 

[Big Block 88]

Thanks guys, I have been lookin onkine for the colorado/canyons an they do seem very nice, I have only drove one once and it seemed pretty peppy with the I5. My moms little envoy is really nice with the I6 lots of power to pull that little thing around. I owuld like her to be able to get over 20 MPG as we live about 15 ,iles ou of town and it is all highway after my road. The road I'm on will make the duramax shutter after a thunderstorm it has to do some pretty good digging to get through all the slop and find traction. She drove her moms little Jeep Liberty up there and almost went in the ditch multiple times it just could not handle the mud.

I have been lookin for 88-98 K1500 with an old reliable 350 the mileage would not be the best though, I know a 5.3 will get better mileage. I talked to my dealer and he is sayig trucks are getting expensive again, and he does not have alot of trucks on the lot right now. I will have to tell him what we want to do and he will hit the auctions and find it for us. But if we can get her in a reliable truck nicely optioned for 200-300 a month that would be great. I know she really wants my truck or one like it but seein as she is 5 foot tall she has to get a runing start to get in:rofl:

Thaks for all the input guys.

 

[duramaxxx06]

i know its a dodge but a 1500 4x4 gets 18-20 average. i had one for a while, and i liked it pertyt well. . but colorados and canyons are tough as heck too. . and so are the 4.8-5.3 gasers. they run forever with good maintanence

 

[2wd_Sled_Puller]

If u cant find a chevy in a 96 - 98 ( Vortech 350 ) I would look into getting her a 94 - 2002 dodge either with the cummins or 318 gasser motor. I had a 318 gasser and have beat the dog piss outta it for about 80k it had 200k on it when she got sold. And i never turned a wrench on that truck.

 

[Big Block 88]

Only way I will get a dodge or Ford would be a Cummins in the dodge, or a 7.3 or 351/302 in the ford. She wants GM and I would like to keep my garage GM. I would love to get another D-Max it would be my truck but she will drive it. My dealer is just having a hard time fuinding trucks right now.