Son's First Truck

[Joshua Miller]

So... I'm officially on the hunt for my 16 year old son's first vehicle. He's logging all his road miles now on my F-150 and Expedition, so I'm confident he can handle a full-size but I'm probably leaning towards a smaller pickup--he doesn't need anything that wide. What make/models are still low maintenance and durable after 100k miles? What should I stay away from? I don't want to spend more than $8,000, and I'm pretty sure I can find something for $5,000 if I look hard enough.

 

[mark_m]

Late model Chevy Colorado maybe? Can’t haul a lot of other people in the truck... my neighbors 17 year old and his girlfriend made it thru getting basically t-boned and up across the front end by a 3/4 ton lifted truck by a drunk driver.

Thankfully everyone survived.

 

[OCMD]

Just sold my 2002 Silverado for 4000. 4wd and about 85000 miles on it. Ran like a champ. They run forever and you can pick one up cheap if it is ten years old plus.

 

[Joshua Miller]

Just sold my 2002 Silverado for 4000. 4wd and about 85000 miles on it. Ran like a champ. They run forever and you can pick one up cheap if it is ten years old plus.

Damn I might have taken that right off your hands for that price. Thanks.

 

[Joshua Miller]

Late model Chevy Colorado maybe? Can’t haul a lot of other people in the truck... my neighbors 17 year old and his girlfriend made it thru getting basically t-boned and up across the front end by a 3/4 ton lifted truck by a drunk driver.

Thankfully everyone survived.

Yea I'm not looking for a quad cab or anything. These provisional licenses these days don't even allow teenagers to carry passengers under 21.

 

[mark_m]

Yea I'm not looking for a quad cab or anything. These provisional licenses these days don't even allow teenagers to carry passengers under 21.

Exactly. No quad cab and bonus is the smaller mill with better gas economy. Go for the inline 5 or 4 cylinder.

Something like this:

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/787901911/overview/

 

[Dixie Highway]

A 4 cyl Ranger in the 2006-2012 range would fit the bill nicely. Those things are damn near bulletproof, easy to repair, and not fast enough for him to get in too much trouble. In my opinion the simpler/slower the first vehicle is the better.

 

[2kwik4u]

A 4 cyl Ranger in the 2006-2012 range would fit the bill nicely. Those things are damn near bulletproof, easy to repair, and not fast enough for him to get in too much trouble. In my opinion the simpler/slower the first vehicle is the better.

I agree with this. Had a '94 Ranger as my first truck. Reg cab, short bed, 4cyl, 5spd. Tough as nails, decent on gas, and easy to work on. Clearly that's a little too "vintage" for a new driver at this point, but honestly, not much has changed into the '06-'12 range. Only caveat to that would be to find a 4wd model if you're in an area that gets bad weather. I survived with a 2wd, but once i had 4wd, I'll never go back, and I'm in a pretty southern region.

I also like the idea of a similar vintage Silverado. Little larger overall, but still a pretty basic vehicle that is tough as nails and easy to work on.

 

[biglar155]

Watch that vintage Silverado/Suburban etc. They are known for their brake lines rotting out. Once replaced though, they do run forever. Might be a fun Father/Son project.

 

[Shuck Water]

For used cars/trucks, check out Scotty Kilmer. He's pretty brutal on some manufactures.

 

[AboveTheBest]

My vote is a Ranger, as parts are plentiful at the scrap yards if you need to fix something.
Also the parts commonality between Explorers is a huge bonus for some model years.

 

[Ronnie]

I recommend that you take a look at a used Honda Ridgeline. We have a first year first gen 2006 that we got for $7500 almost two years ago with 145k miles on it. I’ve had to have the valves done and water pump/serpentine belt replaced as part of regular mfg. maintenance but that is about it. It drives/rides like a Honda Accord and gets about 20 mpg. The auto all wheel drive system hasn’t given me any problems and it has a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. so we don’t need chains in the snow and we can tow our waverunners around with it. Oh it also seats 5 comfortably and has lots of storage space, even a trunk in the bed.

 

[Ratket]

Start checking craigslist. I had a 02 Chevy Silverado that I racked up 214k before I sold it.. “ Wish I would of kept it”. The older 5.3”s are great power plants.
Extended cabs are every where. You may even be able to find a 2010 newer extended cab truck for around 8k.
the fords from 07-13 Arndt bad “ gas motors that is” but the tranny”s can have some issues.
Dodges aren’t to bad either.
The smallertrucks/
Rangers/S10”s/Dakotas/frontiers are floating around for 4-6k.
My Ram has the Max care lifetime warranty on it, so when my son turns 16 he gets it.... he’s got 11 years to go lol.

 

[2kwik4u]

My Ram has the Max care lifetime warranty on it, so when my son turns 16 he gets it.... he’s got 11 years to go lol.

my 8yr old asked me last night if we were riding in his first truck or if he would be "forced" to drive Moms Nissan when he turned 16.

I asked him how much he was saving for it because cars/trucks are expensive......That stopped him dead in his tracks for about 2-3 minutes......Then he asked how expensive bicycles were.......It appears I have some work ahead of me.

 

[Joshua Miller]

My vote is a Ranger, as parts are plentiful at the scrap yards if you need to fix something.
Also the parts commonality between Explorers is a huge bonus for some model years.

Good idea. I have one of those pick-your-own-part place just down the road from me.

 

[Joshua Miller]

For used cars/trucks, check out Scotty Kilmer. He's pretty brutal on some manufactures.

That’s good, thanks. Had a friend break 200k miles on his frontier before trading it in. I may look hard at those if the price is right.

 

[B Frank]

So... I'm officially on the hunt for my 16 year old son's first vehicle. He's logging all his road miles now on my F-150 and Expedition, so I'm confident he can handle a full-size but I'm probably leaning towards a smaller pickup--he doesn't need anything that wide. What make/models are still low maintenance and durable after 100k miles? What should I stay away from? I don't want to spend more than $8,000, and I'm pretty sure I can find something for $5,000 if I look hard enough.

Toyota Tacoma if you can find one for that price. I couldn’t and ended up getting my son a 2005 F150.
Might have better luck finding a SUV like a forerunner or Nissan Xterra.

 

[Stevenpigsooie]

Tacoma is best in my opinion. Not full size, extended cab good for gear but not passengers, and they run forever.

 

[Dixie Highway]

If you go Tacoma make sure it’s had the frame replaced. Otherwise you might find people call it a “Taco” for a reason.

 

[Stevenpigsooie]

If you go Tacoma make sure it’s had the frame replaced. Otherwise you might find people call it a “Taco” for a reason.

Isn’t that only on much older Tacoma’s pre 2004?