I'm a Ford guy but I can still appreciate well done Chevy's. The K-5 series was a masterpiece of a truck and the 1998 Silverado's were solid too. But this new Chevy Reaper is just an ass ugly wannabe. Rumor is they want about 70K for this pile of dung! Read about it being spotted here.
I just can't justify the cost and bulk of an American pickup for most users and uses. In Israel I learned to get used to smaller European and Japanese pickups (called tenders), and have stuck with Toyota pickups, even in America. The IDF used Peugot pickups for light duty (probably for economic and political reasons at the time), and we used Datsuns when in south Lebanon. Anyone who's served in the MidEast and Africa knows the durability of the Toyota HiLux.
ReplyDeleteIn the US we've had two Toyota trucks. Once was a very lightweight, compact truck that just couldn't be killed. Really basic with manual steering, only one side view mirror, and no radio (I installed one later). A couple of hundred thousand miles later it was rusted and dented, just getting old. Or so we thought. We gave it to a friend and years later it is still driven and hauling moderate loads. Just can't kill it.
Now we have a Tacoma with a camper mounted on it. Price was good for a nice package, well finished, and so far plenty reliable and durable. We don't do the sort of work and hauling that needs a full size. If we did, I would still look at a Toyota for value-for-the-money.
Sol, you just might like a HiLux tender with an FN MAG mounted on it. Probably great for deterring road-rage. ;-)
the old school datsun pickups were beautiful but now adays the Tacomas are starting to get big. i like the chevy midsize but ford no longer makes a ranger type truck. i'd love a hilux but not sold here. a used 4x4 datsun might be worth searching for though.
DeleteThat is a hideous vehicle. I am going get bashed, but I drive a 2014 Tundra CrewMax 4wdTRD Ltd. My last truck, 2005 Tacoma DblCab 4wd Sport was indestructible, i rolled it going 60 and it landed on its tires and keep running, traded it in, for my Tundra and got 1/2 of what i paid for in 05'. Toyota's are tough.
ReplyDeleteDid you see that they threw out the bad ass Bronco (raptorish) redesign and went with something softer? What a shame...
I liked Chevy had them for years, then the local dealer screwed me out of about $350 (+/-) fixing a starter problem with three new starters at $150.00 a pop, then I got a Mom and Pop shop look at it and they found it was just a bad ground cable end. I told Chevy about it and they said, We need you to buy a new truck not fix your old one. I went right out and bought a Ford explorer. The problem is the warning alarms, nothing is wrong with the truck yet the alarm's cycle every five minutes, battery fail, door ajar, adv trac fail, low air pressure etc, etc. I call it a Ford Road Runner, Beep, Beep.
ReplyDeleteMy next vehicle will be something else, not a Chevy for sure GMC screwed the pooch on that marriage.