Don’t ask me what the scenario is where The Autopian is somehow empowered to force everyone to get a pickup truck and why we’re not forcing you to buy something more on-brand for us (for example, the weirdest shitbox within your Facebook Marketplace range settings), but go with me here.
You’re getting a pickup truck. Whether or not you need one doesn’t matter. Heck, let’s even say it’s on the government’s dime, so don’t worry about whatever your cash flow situation is. You’re getting a pickup truck. And by “pickup truck,” I mean anything with a bed that a regular person would say is a pickup truck, even if they have to squint a bit. So, no utes, but Autopian Asks isn’t very big on rules, so don’t expect the Comment Cops to bust in if you start talking cars with beds attached.
That said, some people– probably not you, but some people – will decry trucks like the Ford Maverick, Honda Ridgeline, and Hyundai Santa Cruz as mere cars with beds attached, because they’re not body-on-frame and don’t have a solid rear axle. To which I say: nah, they’re pickup trucks. And of those three, it’s probably the Maverick for me, even though I chose a Ridgeline for the topshot. I’m not a big fan of driving pickups when they aren’t actively doing truck things, so the more car-like a truck is, the better. And the lower the better, too.
But that’s just me. Maybe this is your chance to get a mucho-macho lifted truck just for lulz. Perhaps you’d like to go full cowboy Cadillac, since value and practicality are only as much of the discussion as you want them to be. Or maybe … I dunno, I’m asking.
If you must have a truck lest you run afoul of the truck-having police, which do you choose?
Top graphic image: Honda
For such a seemingly innocuous question, there have been a lot of interesting replies.
I forgot about another truck I liked. An AWD VW Amorok TDI. I saw a couple of them in Mexico 11 years ago and they looked so cool. But I don’t live in LATAM and also have a lifetime boycott of VAG products due to them stiffing me on a warranty repair/replacement of high-pressure injection pump on my Jetta TDI. Went through two of those in 101,000 miles. The second one was a refurbished one they installed at 60K.
And, sadly, the newer Amoroks are basically rebadged Ford Rangers.
I have a 2016 F250 XL SCREW with 4×4, locking rear, 6 speed, 6.75′ bed and the 6.2L gasser.
If I have to get a truck, I get the same thing in Lariat trim for some comfies, then I go buy a supercharger kit for the XL and go ape setting that thing up to put out ~650 HP. Heck yeah fun times!
Mid 1970’s Nissan, Manual.
I’ll stick with my hybrid Maverick. It’s trucky enough for anything I need and it gets good fuel economy, as long as I don’t let my wife drive.
I have few rams and a ford. Plus a hijet and a c10 that I don’t really use a truck. And some vehicles converted into trucks.
If I had to buy a new us market truck today I’m not sure. If I could find a deal on a r1t. I see those regular cab ford f150 with the short bed pretty often they look pretty slick they just cost too much. Maybe a green maverick hybrid. King cab frontier is decent looking and seems decent it’s a shame they took the green away.
I’ve thought about a Isuzu npr probably more often then I should they have gotten a lot better in the ride department. Plus 16′ stake bed could be useful for many things. Just not something you want to daily or tow with.
I would have a tough choice if someone put a r1t, telo, and slate in front of me. If cost no issue it’s hard not to go r1t. If you want the do everything ok then telo and cheap and cheerful slate. I could use either of them but would probably have issues towing with the slate. Telo is 8k now I think I could get away with that for most things.
If you open it up globally radar rd6 is up there. But a new hijet or carry would also be up there.
Oh man, now you’ve got me imagining a 4 door NRR with a long bed from like a 3500 Chevy on it. I’d totally rock that, even though it’s guaranteed to ride like crap.
They ride ok now. But that’s a relatively recent thing. Maybe close to how a 2011 Ram or Chevy 2500 rode when new. I had access to older ones and they rode pretty rough and take some getting used to driving. But I rode in a newer one maybe a year ago and was surprised how refined they are. Plus crew cabs seat 7. I have no idea why there aren’t tons of rvs based on them. They retail for about $65k with a diesel. Crew cab is about $5k more and adds about 40″. You can find a 10/12 body (10.8′ rails behind the cab) with total length of 200″ so they can be quite small by modern truck standards with lots of capacity.
My cousin used to buy them used for his business with mixed results. He stopped buying ones that were used for landscaping always seem to be the cheapest and problematic unless they were so cheap he couldn’t resist. You can normally find them at surplus and gov auctions that have been decently maintained and aren’t beat up so bad. Most are regular cab though.
I love this question. I actually went through this back in early 2020. I bought a 1 way ticket to Florida and spent $3100 on a 2002 Dodge Dakota with a 5.9 liter V8. It has zero rust on it, and then I drove it back to New England. Ive since put maybe 20,000 miles onto it. It’s an amazing weekend truck, and I get complements all the time up here because when you do see Dakotas up here, they’re usually rusted to hell, and this one is still mint. That said, if I was going to have to daily drive it, I’d need to find something a little better on gas…
A mint Ford Ranger Splash in yellow plz
For a new pickup, I’d be a hybrid Maverick person, too.
But a few days ago I watched a video for working with particular materials on a small construction project, and the man doing the demonstration unloaded materials from his 1977 FJ with a flatbed, then made sure to keep it in the background for lots of the shots. It was magnificent, (very nice shade of yellow), and I’d want it 10x out of 10.
That “What’ll it be?” headline is crying out for a picture of Lloyd from ‘The Shining’ as the topshot.
If I don’t have to daily drive it, I will keep the 09 avalanche I have for camping, house hauling duties and crappy roads.
If I do have to daily it and someone else is picking up the bill: R1T or a big battery Sierra EV.
If I have to daily it and pay for it, I am price shopping used lightnings, r1ts or or maybe a powerboost. I drive a lot and gas is $5+ here.
Since I already have one that can take care of my hauling/towing/off-road needs, I’d probably look at a Maverick hybrid (or maybe a Maverick 300T, depending on how irresponsible I feel the day I go to pull the trigger)
If new, a Maverick AWD Hybrid. If classic, a ’70 Chevy K10. Not a ute, but still not really meeting the spirit of the question: ’67 Cadillac flower car.
Maverick hybrid 2WD and steelies.
I have heard the rear seat’s not super comfy, so, ear plugs as well.
My dogs haven’t complained about the rear seat. My mother in law might have, but I don’t really listen when she’s talking, so not sure.
Slate.
New? I’ll take a Ridgeline. Old? 1967-1972 Chevy C-10. Fenderside, short wheel base, 350, three on the tree. Here’s to you, dad.
For old, gimme one of these.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1960-volkswagon-singlecab-vanagon/
Tasty!
I’m good, thanks.
But if you mean I have to get another pickup truck, then I’m going to have some fun with it. Mazda REPU, please and thank you, the nicest one you can find.
Choice #1 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X long box.
Choice #2 Ford F-150 Regular cab log box (7 or 8 ft) 5.0L 4×4
I want to sleep in the bed when camping under a topper/cap
I already have one, 1995 F-150.
But if I had to get one now bed size and reliability are my main concerns. I would look at older Tacomas and single-cab F-150s.
No bro-dozer!!
Probably the Ridgeline. I have a ’17 V6 Accord and love that engine, which is largely what comes in the Ridgeline (and the ’18 MDX I had with my now ex-wife). But a hybrid Maverick is very tempting as most of my driving is around town and being smaller and being thriftier on gas are compelling arguments in its favor. I guess I’d have to see what it’s like on long freeway slogs.
I am an avowed disliker of pickups for anybody who doesn’t haul stuff in the bed more often than they don’t. But. I do think either the Maverick or Tacoma with a bed cap would be useful enough for the stuff I or the family usually haul around like equine gear and crap from Costco. (Basically things that easily fit inside an SUV or, ahem, German wagon). The Maverick is probably the right size, and I like that both have hybrid engines. I borrowed a Tacoma with a cap for a week a few years back and it felt like an actual vehicle of true utility … if I needed that much “utility” on the regular. Since towing means little to me (I’ll leave that to folks with an F-250 Super Duty) and speedy trucks seem like a complete contradiction-in-terms, put me down for probably a Maverick hybrid avec bed cap … if my hand is forced, of course.
I’ve driven all the currently available US trucks. The ridgeline was the only one that drew blood. I was sleep deprived after 20 hours of flights and layovers and was thrown the keys at Helena’s airport. Somehow even with the seat all the way back I sliced a 2” gash in my kne trying to get in the first time. I figured it out by the end of the trip. And once in it was a nice truck. I don’t fit in the mavericks.
I would probably get whatever trim Tacoma still comes with a stickshift. And live with the quad cab. Unless they started offering the extended cab with a stickshift and I missed it. Really wish that new frontier had a stick.
I’m not fond of big cars, and no utes allowed, so I guess I’m getting a Honda Acty.
That’s a really fun answer! I didn’t even think of that, and I see a number of them putting around Tacoma. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one on a freeway and that is something I have to do periodically.
I want my old ’91 Toyota truck back, with air conditioning added. It was a powertrain with a bench seat and I loved it. In 2002 I “upgraded” to a Tacoma but it wasn’t anywhere near as good.
I had a ’94 V6 SR5 4×4 and it was a very thirsty yet gutless dog. Maybe the most disappointing set of wheels I’ve ever owned.
Diamond T 201.
I decided in 1986 that I wanted a Diamond T 201, so thank you for purchasing one for me.
Honda Ridgeline. I just want it to be comfortable and reliable long-term, and to be able to do the (relatively) light trucking stuff I’d use it for from time to time.
With that said, a Slate makes more sense and costs a whopping $15,000. less and is likely adequate for my needs.