What truck?

[MetalDuc]

now you're talking Cheap depends on who's money you're spending. Who needs an audi when you can have a Ducati themed dodge branded mercedes 

[aprilmaybe]

I seriously looked at getting a truck but I really like my car and I hate trucks. Sooooo, the solution was renting a cargo van. I can rent one for 25-35 a day and it fits the SV and the F4i easily.

I don't do enough track days to make it worth buying a truck. I can rent the van for under 100 for each track day. Thats 50 track days to equal 5 grand. Plus I don't have to worry about maintenabce, insurance or parking tickets.

Just another idea for you.

[madmatt]

I seriously looked at getting a truck but I really like my car and I hate trucks. Sooooo, the solution was renting a cargo van. I can rent one for 25-35 a day and it fits the SV and the F4i easily.

I don't do enough track days to make it worth buying a truck. I can rent the van for under 100 for each track day. Thats 50 track days to equal 5 grand. Plus I don't have to worry about maintenabce, insurance or parking tickets.

Just another idea for you.

yes, that's where my head is/has been at. I actually put a tow hitch on my girl's Honda CR-V. A moto trailer at Uhaul costs $15/day. Pretty cheap. Works like a charm.

Unlike you, I really like trucks. I'm always up to some project that requires extra space that can be thrashed.

[erkishhorde]

+1 on an older toyota Tacoma.

I'm relatively happy w/ my '07 Frontier 4 door long bed but it's incredibly long (long bed, duh...) and quite fat (clears my garage by 2" on each side  ) Turning radius is horrible and runs on premium.  But it's got more scoot than my friend's Tacoma.  But if you're not planning on driving it much you wouldn't need that and the Tacoma is easier to drive.

[MetalDuc]

It seems the consensus is the Tacoma. Personally I think it has been the best available pick up for years and have considered getting one several times myself. I really don't think you can go wrong if you get one.

[gm2]

yeah but it's got no trunk 

if i did it over again i might be inclined to go Astro or cargo.. agreed however on the tacos in general.

[Speeddog]

What kind of mileage do the V6 Tacomas get?
My V6 Dakota can crack 20mpg on the highway, but I expected a bit better.

Whatever you do, get at least an extended cab.

FTR, got my '97 Dakota with 92k on it, at 156k now.
So far, it's needed a fuel pump assembly (in the tank, what a PITA).
Brake pads and shocks, not unusual.
Needs ball joints replaced, and a new cam chain wouldn't hurt either.
Clear coat is blistering badly, but it lived in Arizona for 8 years...
Other than that, pretty good for a high-miler.

[derby]

What kind of mileage do the V6 Tacomas get?

My V6 Dakota can crack 20mpg on the highway, but I expected a bit better.

Whatever you do, get at least an extended cab.

i get 17-21mpg in my '06.

for 5k, he's looking at an older, lighter taco. i'd expect better mileage.

[Grampa]

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/cto/856844968.html

some of whats out there

get a 2wd...better gas milage

[erkishhorde]

Yeah, especially if he's looking at a pre-2000 truck Tacos are gonna totally beat out Frontiers. The trailer idea ain't so bad either though. You can buy/build your own trailer for cheap too. Can't leave it on the street though but if you get the right kind you should be able fold it up and prop it against a wall. I think those kinds usually take up something like a 4x2 or 4x2 footprint for storage. Limits your freeway speeds to 55 though.

[Duck-Stew]

Which leads me back to my argument for a cargo van....  Can leave bikes/gear/shit in it forevah...  Gets nearly the same mileage...  Provides shelter should it rain/get windy/need to change at the track...

Oh well, whatevah...  Buy what you will. 
















seriously can't go wrong w/a Tacoma BTW...  an old G/F had a '96 and we beat the shit out of it for years w/o issue...

[madmatt]

had an old G/F and we beat the shit out of her for years w/o issue...

whoa. not cool.

[Grampa]

he seemed like such a nice... quiet guy

[95Monster]

I've got a truck...but if I were to do it all over again, I'd get a cargo van.  Like others have said, nobody sees what you're hauling and it's easier to load.

just my .02

[Smokescreen]

I've always used trucks for trackday stuff, with all the requisite concerns over th ethings you have to leave in there over night if yuou stay anywhere.  This year for fem-moto, julia and i brought our Duckys out to vegas in a Lopes 55 Sprinter.  It was AWESOME!!!  The bike cave was also a shower, and sleeping at the track was nice too. 

While i'm sure $75K is a little outside our means right now, I could totally dig getting a small van (ie... astrovanO or even a larger used commutervan that's being sold off cheap.  Lower loading bed, fully secure, very nice!  And you can always chop the top and put a popup on it for sleepin' at the track!

Incidentally, that last van I had was an Aerostar Long, and with its manual tranny, it was good for 24mpg freeway.  Not too shabby