What ca... Er truck?

I placed my reservation for the CyberTruck while Elon was still on stage breaking windows. It was exactly what I wanted. They finally released the truck and it met my expectations. Well, all but one, the price. I know the CyberTruck is polarizing, but the styling doesn't bother me, the architecture is revolutionary, and I like all the Tesla features.  I would buy it.

However, in the 4 years and 1 months between my reservation and invitation to order (got the email Thursday), my family's financial circumstances have changed significantly. This was by choice, and we are fortunate to have been able to make the choice. Add that to the 50% (Tri-motor was $79k, CyberBeast Founders is $126k) price increase and there is no way I can justify the expense. I hate walking away, especially after watching the reviews but it is what it is.

So, now I have a 12 year old Toyota that is serviceable but is heading towards some more maintenance and isn't a truck. How to replace the CyberTruck hole?

I don't really need or want a full size truck. In fact for most of my daily life a truck doesn't serve much purpose. 2 grade school kids, a dog. Mostly school runs, going to the gym, quick trips to the store are my daily uses. We have a minivan for my wife and the family trips. As far as truck uses, it's light duty stuff. Trips to Home Depot for garden supplies or other supplies. Might trailer the Mini to track days. No frequent, long or heavy workloads. 

I value comfort and convenience over strict truck like functionality. That said, I'd still like it to be functional and capable. Here's my list...

1. Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited
2. Colorado/Canyon Z71
3. Ford Maverick

I am leaning towards the Santa Cruz. Tons of convenience features, locking bed cover, seems to be the best ride / comfort of the midsize truck-like vehicles.

What say the masses?

No real input as I have not driven any more n your list but I have seen several of the Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited around town and I really like it. Kind of reminds me of the Subaru Brat or what ever its little pickup looking car was. 

Just off the title of ca...Er truck I figured the answer would be Hybrid Maverick 

In reply to John Welsh :

That seems to be everyone's default answer. My dad has one and he is happy with it. It does all the light duty truck things well. He's towed cars and full enclosed trailers across the country with it. Mostly no issues.

Honestly I hate the interior. I don't love the styling they've gone with (clearly a matter of taste) and it all feels cheap. It feels like it is a truck built for fleets of cable service people. That's actually not a deal breaker for me, but doesn't help it's case.

The Maverick is the cheapest option, that helps it some. 

I'd vote up the new Colorado/Canyon. Downside is the fuel economy is disappointing for a turbo 4.

Maverick hybrid can only tow 2,000lbs.  The 4k tow pack is optional on the turbo AWD only.

In reply to BradLTL :

At launch, the Maverick Hybrid was the least expensive vehicle in the entire Ford line up.  

Parking space an issue? Get a sedan and add a tow hitch to it or your minivan and get a 4x8 or 5x8 trailer for the few times you need to haul stuff. I have towed riding mowers and even a slate pool table with sedans and had no issues. Towing a car might be a stretch, but a Mini doesn't weigh too much and could probably be doable with an Accord or CR-V etc. Personally, if going truck route, I'd go with a Ridgeline or Colorado/Canyon or similar. 

I don't place a really high confidence level in some of the magazines, but I would dig into some back articles of truck magazines, Car and Driver, Road and Track, 4x4 mags, etc.

When the Ranger (T6) came out and subsequently the vaguely related U725 Bronco, all the truck magazines did head-to-head tests.  They all picked either the Taco or the Colorado/Canyon (which at the time of testing was about 8 years old) as their first pick, but they all agreed.... the Ford was dead last.  None of them liked it.

I can't comment on the Hyundai, other than I don't typically trust "real" truck things to a unibody, but if you're just hauling mulch or an occasional load of firewood, it should be fine.  The Koreans sure did a better job of styling their trucks than Honda.  I think the Ridgeline looks like Florida man took a sawzall to an MDX (which is essentially what Honda did for the prototype)

There are great year-end lease deals on the Ram 1500 (3.6L V6 "e-Torque" engine) and Honda Ridgeline right now.

Order the cyberhype, flip- order 2 something awesomes? 

Mndsm said:

Order the cyberhype, flip- order 2 something awesomes? 

So, I thought about that. I hate the idea of flipping a new car, but had talked myself into it.

The Tesla agreement that states they can sue me for $50k if I sell it in the first year of ownership talked me out of it. 

BradLTL said:

In reply to John Welsh :

My dad has one and he is happy with it... He's towed cars and full enclosed trailers across the country with it.

He's towed what with a maverick Hybrid?  Cars and enclosed trailers?

In reply to nocones :

Its not the hybrid... Paging Argo for model specifics. FX4

Isn't the maintence cost on the 12 year old Toyota a better option? Or are you just at the point of wanting to have something new?

Red91sc said:

Isn't the maintence cost on the 12 year old Toyota a better option? Or are you just at the point of wanting to have something new?

Probably. The Toyota is a Venza so it doesn't truck at all. It cars pretty good, and we've kept it in good condition. The maintenance will at least be: front axle and CV, brake rotors and pads. Plus there's a recall (no cost there).  It's hitting the age where these types of things start happening more often and at my expense. 

​​​​​​It's a 2011 model with 109,000 on the clock. Right now it has good trade value. Thought was getting the trade value, skip the maintenance and get something that fits what I want next.

I'm in no immediate rush... Unless someone wants to donate $126k?

​​

BradLTL said:

Mndsm said:

Order the cyberhype, flip- order 2 something awesomes? 

So, I thought about that. I hate the idea of flipping a new car, but had talked myself into it.

The Tesla agreement that states they can sue me for $50k if I sell it in the first year of ownership talked me out of it. 

Yeah, I absolutely abhor flip culture too- I actively fight with resellers in a lot of the collector communities I frequent. HOWEVER, I'd make an exception in this case, assuming Elon wasn't gonna take all my space bucks. 

Despite the tolerable parking inconveniences, with 2 elementary kids and a 50lb dog, I've found the (once thought excessive) rear seat space in our full-size truck to be almost indispensable. We keep the 40 of the 60/40 rear bench folded up (which mid-size and smaller trucks can't do) whenever not carrying extra people, so that there is a comfortable floor space for the dog. And getting both kids in/out through the same side, regardless of entry order based vs seating position, is a breeze. With the 2.7T and 10-speed, it even gets the same or better fuel economy as the mid-size trucks, and similar to only slightly less than our minivan did. I know you already have a minivan, but it's basically a minivan that can tow, and fits more stuff when the whole family is on board... To the point that I'd even suggest considering finding one with a bench, eventually selling the minivan too, and then getting the wife whatever more economical family runabout she wants instead.

If you think the T-bag truck will fit your needs, have you considered the Lightning?

The old tech in the 8-speed that the Colorado is using seems to be holding it back on fuel economy a bit, considering it's no better than a Silverado with the same engine and 10-speed. With both unibody and mid-size in the mix, is there a reason you're not also looking at the Ridgeline? With full-frame mid-size under consideration,  what about the new 2024 Ranger and Taco?

If you need a truck find something for sale for less than 3K and buy it.  that way you save a car payment each month and can use the money to fix anything.

or keep the current truck and not have payments and put that money into savings to spend on fixing things when they break.

I went maverick Ecoboost and love it. I got the XLT lux option and it doesn't feel cheap to me, but I jumped from a my 2007 to a 2023 so my standards may be different. There are a number of after.purchase add ons that it needs, but they are easy enough through the aftermarket (bed topper, tailgate brake, etc)

I felt like the Santa Cruz gloss black surfaces would drive me nuts from a fingerprint standpoint. Plus, I don't have great feelings about Hyundai for a number of reasons (like how they have been to their customers with the whole tiktok challenge thing). Also, a dual clutch trans with me intending to tow with it made me scared.