bmrrwolfe

Well thats a little different then, and good for him
I guess I just got use to being around kids even some who were my friends that when they turned 16 or as graduation presents got cars and they didn't have jobs or ever do anything for their parents..
But my input would be a silverado with a 5.3! My dad drives a 06 crewcab 4x4 with about 105k on it already without ever having a real issue...
Well that and my dad has always been a chevy guy!

countryboy215

haha yup, when I was 17 I woulda killed for this jeep!!

KotaKid287

I'd definitely pick the F-150 over either of the Chevy choices, but I'd pick a Dodge Ram or Dakota over the f-150 in a heartbeat. The Dodge Dakota would be a great pick for him imo, 1/2ton truck drivetrain (V8 power), midsize platform. The Club/Quad Cab Daks are more roomy then a Colorado, definitely bigger then a Ranger. Get an 00+ with the 4.7L V8, very reliable engines with a very good tranny behind them, 45RFE/545RFE which is the same tranny that is behind the Hemis also. The front and rear diffs as well as the transfer cases are also the same units used in the heavier and larger Rams, so they are definitely strong enough for a weekend wheeler Dakota Even with 3 more cyl the 4.7L Dakota will get about the same MPGs as the gutless 5cyl Colorado (high teens-low 20s). I regularly see 20mpgs out of my 02 with a lead foot and larger/heavier tires/wheels, and have seen as much as 24mpgs while taking it easy on a long highway trip. As mentioned, the low end power of the V8 as opposed to the smaller higher winding 4/5cyls makes the Dakota a better truck off road, as well as a better work truck if he needs it, not to mention the Dakota will also sound like a truck, not a riced out Volvo. The fit and finish of the Colorado is also very much so under par when compared to the Dakota, the Dodge feels and sounds far more solid and the interior doesn't feel as cheaply made.

alloutperform

see now we are getting into an issue...brand loyalty. everyone is gonna have there own side notes based on their own loyalty...there are downfalls to every brand. it's the lesser of the evils with todays cars and trucks.. personally i tell people this: look at whats going down the road that appears to be 5 - 10 yrs old.but if everyone listened the country would have jeeps ..if you get a ford stay away from the 4.6....i see alot of them in my shop for electrical and emissions...dodge..got no real issue with but the small after market and i think are ugly...gm does truly have the longest running trucks on the road..the ls series engines are bears 6.0 eat gas for little power gain..and of the truck has the best after market

COSXJFAN

No doubt man!! I had a 1974 Chevy Impala, 4 door, pea green metallic....BIG PIMPIN!! I was actually commenting on the fact that your opening thread mentioned he did not want an XJ, but Brutal missed it when he asked this, DOH!! LOL!!

SeriousOffroad

If he's gonna wheel, avoid any rig with an IFS.

alloutperform

i agree but that limits his options to jeep,and......old stuff

OttawaXJ

^^^ lol

KotaKid287

Huh? I've yet to see a post that I would really call "brand loyal", suprisingly enough lol. If you think my opinion is brand loyal, let me elaborate to eliminate any missconception. The 04+ F-150 imo is a MUCH better looking truck then the 07+ Chevy Silverados, the GMT-800 Chevy/GMC trucks looked far better imo but I still prefer the looks of the Blue Ovals, they have a stronger more reliable front axle then the Silverados do, their rear diff (Sterling 9.75, or Ford 8.8 for that matter) puts the GM 10bolt to shame, especially the 10 bolts that were graced with the grenade, I mean G80, diff, the tranny in the Fords is a little tougher from what I've seen in my area, the 4L60 is little to no better at all then the worst of the Dodge trannys from the mid 90s (my opinion is based on me being a Tech at a GM dealer for 6yrs)however I am no longer at the GM dealer and have little knowledge of the 6L80 so I'll refrain from mentioning that, I will grant you the LS series engine is a beast for sure, they have their little issues from time to time, but for the most part they are as tough or tougher then the "old school" SBC, I would avoid the DOD motors like the plague myself as they are the only LS series engines that I regularly had to go into, lots of camshaft/lifter and oil burning issues with the DOD motors for some reason. The only thing that I can say would turn me off of the F-150 in this comparison has already been mentioned by someone, and that is Ford loves to change things mid model year which can make some things a royal pain in the neck every now and then. The King Ranch F-Series trucks have the best interiors of any truck imo, but they might be out of his price range, and I wouldn't get that nice of a truck if he plans to wheel it a little anyway jmo.

As far as me reccomending the Dakota, its just me reccomending an option that I personally feel is far and away better then a similar truck that he is already considering, I just wanted to point out the reasons I thought the way I did just in case he didn't know about them and might take that into consideration. If it makes you feel any better I'd also highly reccomend the Frontier, Tacoma, Raider, Ridgeline, and Equator over the Colorado/Canyon also lol.

countryboy215

A few things,
1. I'm a ford guy, but I disagree that 04+ 150's are nicer looking than the newer Silverados. They are sharp looking trucks, especially with the full cab, while the F-150 from 04-07 looked kinda plain.New F-150 are a totally different story tho, awesome trucks.

2. I am OBSESSED with King Ranch Trucks. I have owned 4 (01 150, 02 350, and 05 150) and just recently got a 2010 F-150 KR. He likes em too, but for an 04 King Ranch your still lookin at like 20-25k. And before that, they start to get ugly..

3. The frontier, tacoma, raider and equator are all pretty nice looking trucks, however, Ive never been a fan of the Ridgeline. 1st of all, its just ugly. @nd of all, I knew 2 people that had em (06 and 08) One had brake issues and trans issues within the first year. The other leaked in the rain. They just seem cheaply made to me.

KotaKid287

The GMT-900 GMCs look aight, I just don't like the new Chevy front end. Only way that I personally think the new Chevys look decent is lifted with 35s or bigger. But hey if we all liked the same things, what a boring world this would be lol. I have also heard the Ridgeline trannys were questionable, I don't personally know of anyone that has one though, they are few and far between here.

FLETCH

I'd go with a chevy the vortecs are bullet proof my friend has a 01 2500 with a 6.0 vortec that has 360,000 and that truck is still running strong. My dads 2002 suburban has the 5.3 vortec and it has been reliable for the past nine years.

bravododger

I had an 07 Colorado with the newer 3.7 I5. 4x4. Best part of that truck was the factory G80 Locker in the rear. Gas mileage was the same as the full size trucks you mentioned. Never had a mechanical issue with it and I babied it. But, I looked up the VIN on Carfax for ****s and giggles a month ago. It was in the dealership 4 times in 3 months for several things, including a new t case. Just my 2cents. I have a GM Accessory chrome grille, if you pay shipping you can have it...

88MJ.uggernaut

Maybe get him a nice Toyota Tacoma with the TRD package?

2Evil4U

IMHO, get the newest least mileage vehicle he can afford regardless of brand. I've got a 97 F150 that is a great truck but difficult to work on because of design.

The 04-05 modular Fords have a habit of breaking all the sparkplugs off in the head when you remove them. You've basically ruled them out, so that shouldn't be a problem.

The Colorado may be a bit under powered, but for a first car who cares? Especially if it doesn't have any problems and has low mileage.

I'm a Dodge fan so I'd recommend a 97-01 D1500 4x4 5spd if it were for me. (Straight axle goodness and 360 power. Probably get 15-17 mpg on top of it.)