Ok guys, my almost 17 Year Old son is itching for a truck when he turns 17. He doesn't want the XJ...(Not that I would give it to him anyway) So we've got a few things lined up....
1. 1996 Bronco
2. 2004 F-150
3. 2005 Silverado
And my favorite, and I think his too,
A 2008 Colorado Z71
Whatever it is, he wants to lift it 3". He has 10k and I put in the rest (Unless we go with the Bronco, which is 7k) I'm giving him room for choice since he's a good kid. The Colorado is a pretty sharp looking truck. Anyway, He'd be driving it to school everyday for the rest of his HS career, wherever else he goes, and likes to do some muddin in the summer. Sooo, I know I'm winded , but what do y'all think

 

Is the F150 4x4? And is the silverado 4x4? Single cab or extended? If they are extended and have 4x4 then I would do either one. The Colorado is a sharp truck too. I dont know man. thsts a tuff decision. Personally I would go for the F150 or Silverado. The Bronco is a gas pig so I wouldnt get that.

 

You can't find him an XJ or MJ?

 

Colorado may be the best truck for his uses. The way I look at it is, if hes in highschool now and plans to go to university hes going to be short on cash quite a bit for the next 6-8 years. Might be a good idea to get something good on gas that also does what he wants like the Colorado. Or even a Ford ranger, not sure if you've looked at those. My dad almost bought one but opted for the F150 for the towing. You can get a brand new 2011, 0% financing(wont matter if you pay cash) for like 16k here and thats 4x4, ext. cab, bed liner, etc.

 

Is this his first car? Those are some pretty new/expensive choices to make. Lucky him.

 

My grandpa had a colorado he said v8 gas mileage i4 power. Never looked up the stats but I trust him with the whole grandpa thing and all.

 

those colorados are gutless POS
get the F-150 or the silverado

 

the silverado is a good truck..only known weaknesses are fuel pumps,wheel bearings,water pumps..all go at or around 100k..three of my ex's had them (one was a denali quadrasteer..stay away) and they are pretty easy to deal with and the aftermarket is huge..i have a personal issue with for due to the fact that they change stuff halfway through model years...but the 150 not a bad truck..i think the silverado is a better truck and with the 5.3 will out milage any of the other trucks..5cyl canyon/colorado kinda eh..better off with a late s10 with a 4.3

 

Id look for a 3rz powered tacoma 4x4. Best truck i ever owned. Got 19 mpg with a lift and 33's. It had 288,000 trouble free miles on it when toyota bougjt it back from me do to their frame recall. Did i mention it was a 96 and they cut me a check for$7600

 

Little Update....He doesnt want a ranger, since he wants a bigger cab. They're all either extended or crew...and yea I think I ruled the bronco out, even though its toward the top of his list, since he's gonna be on the my fleet gass account

 

Hahaha I agree..
When I turned 16 and got my licesne my dad told me to get a job if I wanted a car, even with a 3.7 GPA throughout high school... And finally bought my first car a few months later, a 92 Caddy for $1000.. Then slowly saved money and traded car up til today.
Now at 20 I have two types of friends, those who got everything given to them from there parents, and those like me who had to work and earn things..
Overall those who worked to buy things they wanted have a much better outlook on life, and actually appreicate things.
Although I can't afford to do everything I want to my 06 KJ or 99 XJ, they are both mine paid for in full by myself, as well as everything I have ever done to them, and it makes them that much nicer!
Not saying you shouldn't give him a car/truck, but IMHO a 97-99 XJ or F150 or Silverado/S10 is plenty nice enough.
Just my .02 cents.

 

Stay away from the Colorado total dogs from every one that I know with one. very poor fit and finish lots of little issues with them. I'd do the F-150 or the Silverado both good trucks easy to work on for the most part and lots of parts to customize it

 

Really??

 

I agree with you for the most part. When I got my licensee I drove a stripped 77 Chevy Van for 3 years that my dad got for $500.. I laughed when he seriously asked me if he could have my King Ranch ..Then he tried to let me let him get a new tacoma and take it out on payments but I didn't like that idea. I'd rather let him use the 10 k he has set aside an pay the difference. I don't want him financing a new truck and in 2 years end up owing toyota more then its worth. I don't want to much of a guzzler either. Believe me, my son works to earn things, He not one of the kids you mentioned But anyway, He's been working with me for 5 yrs, got a 2nd job for the last 1.5 of that 5, hes putting up 10k, and he's paying for his own insurance. So, I guess I dont mind putting up 5-10k

 

I would go with the silverado or the f150, either one of those is going to hold a much better resale value than the colorado or the bronco.