Help me pick a vehicle

Ok, so I have to put the diesel van I wanted on hold. Money ain't what it used to be and I have a summer full of fishing to take care of.

Here are the parameters:

1 - $2000-2500
2 - reliable enough to buy and drive 4000 miles this summer from TX to Canada and back (which I know is partly up to me to verify that part)
3 - cheap/easy enough to fix in a Pep Boys parking lot in case I didn't do a good job of picking #2
4 - Capable of occasionally towing 3500 lbs. I don't care if it does it well, just that I have the option in case I want to use it to take the boat to the lake
5 - Ready to roll... not something like "buy a volvo and put an LS1 in it." That would be tons of fun, but no time for it.
6 - MPG is certainly a concern. The difference between 20 mpg and 30 mpg is worth about $400 in fuel savings to me over the next couple months
7 - Plenty of cargo space to haul engines, trannys, etc.

So far I've been looking at small pickups in the 4cyl and V6 varieties. I've found several, but they're bringing top dollar down here. There are plenty of guys on CL wanting to trade their F250 for a Ranger 4cyl.

I thought about a VW Caddy, but try finding one that isn't totally clapped out for $2500.... and I'd love to see a 1.8L diesel with 60 hp try to tow my boat

Any thoughts on what I'm missing?

I think you're on the right track looking at vans.

Chrysler Minivan?

rastro van

Buick Roadmaster with the LT1.

Tyler H wrote: I think you're on the right track looking at vans.

I just sold a vehicle that gets 13 mpg. Can't afford a diesel van.

Per Schroeder wrote: Chrysler Minivan?

No thanks. I managed too many transmission shops. Its hard for me to look at them without vomiting or crying.

mndsm wrote: Buick Roadmaster with the LT1.

Thought about that, but its a little too much vehicle. I have an Impala SS. It gets 16-18 mpg, the wagons typically get 20.

The reason i was leaning toward small trucks is they can get 25 or better, 30 if I go with a 4-banger

fasted58 wrote: rastro van

I'll look into them more. They don't seem to get very good mileage but I'll check it out.

What trucks get over 30mpg? I want one!

My 87 4Runner gets about 18 and doesn't have enough power to maintain 70mph uphill. The Toyota PU's with the same engine supposedly get 20-22.

I agree on Astro/Safari and have commented on them here many times. Sold new until 2005. Look for the most solid version you can find.
Agreed, what truck get 30 mpg?
Astro will get close to 20mpg.

A big GM wagon could be done as well like a Buick Roadmaster. These can get near 30 mpg is driven tenderly on the hyw.

jrw1621 wrote: . Agreed, what truck get 30 mpg? A big GM wagon could be done as well like a Buick Roadmaster. These can get near 30 mpg is driven tenderly on the hyw.

My 4-banger S10 consistently got 28-30.

And wait.... you guys are trying to tell me that you don't believe a 1900-lb compact pickup with a 4-banger can get 30, yet you are trying to get me to believe that a 4000-lb V8 station wagon can get 30?

I've owned a few B-bodies with the LT1. They all struggled to get 20 mpg.

racinginc215 wrote: My F-150 2 wheel drive 4.6 automatic gets right around 24 mixed use.

then you need to share those secrets My F150 4.6L did a one-time best of 15. My neighbor's 4.2L only gets 16-18

Get a Chrysler or dodge that has already had the trans done on it. Then do a fresh change of fluid in the trans. Amsoil will get you a little better gas mpg than others and will protect it better too. (No I'm not trying to sell it to you) Then you'll have everything you want.

ApxAnimal wrote: Get a Chrysler or dodge that has already had the trans done on it. Then do a fresh change of fluid in the trans. Amsoil will get you a little better gas mpg than others and will protect it better too. (No I'm not trying to sell it to you) Then you'll have everything you want.

Unfortunately a rebuild doesn't cure what often kills them. The differentials like to explode. FWD isn't very friendly at the boat ramp, either. Heck, RWD isn't even very friendly with these TX boat ramps

Ok... so I guess I'm asking the wrong question... or maybe we're on different wavelengths. Let's skip it.

back to looking for an S10

curtis73 wrote:

ApxAnimal wrote: Get a Chrysler or dodge that has already had the trans done on it. Then do a fresh change of fluid in the trans. Amsoil will get you a little better gas mpg than others and will protect it better too. (No I'm not trying to sell it to you) Then you'll have everything you want.

Unfortunately a rebuild doesn't cure what often kills them. The differentials like to explode. FWD isn't very friendly at the boat ramp, either. Heck, RWD isn't even very friendly with these TX boat ramps

I never had a problem. Had a 2000 T&C towing a fiberglass 18' Bayliner with 120 hp motor. perhaps I was lucky.

Where can I get a 1900lb pickup?

I think you just like making things up.

^^ What he said. I don't think even my spartan 74 REPU is 1900lbs.

Jeep Cherokee 4.0l. Easy to work on, parts are cheap, the 4.0 runs forever. Or get a Roadmaster.

I second the Cherokee motion. But only the smaller Cherokee, stay away from Grands.

Since people are throwing out fullsize cars, why not a Panther chassis car? Common as dirt, safe as a sherman tank, and they use most all the same parts as an F150, so parts are uber cheap. Hell, it even has a full frame under it for a trailer hitch, the Jeep is unibody.

With a trailer in tow, it would be hard to judge which would get the better mileage. The car is more aerodynamic, but the Jeep probably has more ground clearance, which = awesome on boat ramps.

That would be my top two choices.

parker wrote: Where can I get a 1900lb pickup? I think you just like making things up.

1900lbs = 2wd Suzuki Samurai

since when does a Samurai have a pickup bed?

The Crown Vic looked good until you went a brought mileage into it. They're really only rated to tow 2000lbs.

The Geo Tracker/Suzuki Sidekick will get into the high 20's mpg, have room for your engine, is body-on-frame, is pretty reliable, has 4wd lo for the boat ramp, but is rated only 1000lbs towing capacity. Can't you just take a jet-ski?

It's hard to pull 3500lbs at 30 mpg cheaply.

How about a diesel Vanagon?

mmosbey wrote: It's hard to pull 3500lbs at 30 mpg cheaply.

I don't need it to get 30 mpg towing. I need a higher-MPG vehicle that will tow 3500 if necessary.