I've had 2 Daks, and they have truly been disappointments to me. Poor gas mileage relatively speaking), and high maintenance costs. The cost per mile of the Daks was higher than any other pick ups I've owned. So much potential, yet so little reward. Presently I own 5 trucks, ( 3 of which are Dodge Rams). All purchased new, and all used regularly. My V6 (midsized) Daks, could match the economy, the range, the comfort or my 2000 Silverado. It's a full size truck, with an 8' bed, and the cab is "loaded" (less leather), it's got a 4.8L V8/auto, and it pulls 21 MPG on the highway, all day long. Neither of my Daks could touch it, plus, it has a fuel range of 700 miles on a tank of gas., On top of that, when I bought it it 2000 (new), it cost less than my 1999 OR my 2003 Dak cost.
I'll agree with this to a certain extent. My brother-in-law's '98 Silverado is still pulling down low 20's highway. It's a decent riding, decent driving truck.
The issue with most GM's are suspension. And rears. I've replaced a boat load of idler and pitman arms over the years. Some of them with only 50,000 miles on 'em. Same way with ball joints. Coming from the northeast where the constant freeze and thaw takes toll on the roads it's something to consider.
The Daks I don't mind. Nimble little trucks, but yeah, the V6 is a disappointment in the MPG category. The best Karli's has gotten was a little over 16 combined. I get the same mileage out of my '89 F150.
Regarding your price range, and your comments, it seems to me that TrailBeast's comment ("Sounds like you need a Nissan or Toyota truck to me") is spot on.
My son had a Tacoma, and it cost a little more than the Nissan, but the reliability, the mileage, and the durability of the Toyota are unbeatable in the small pick up category. Presently there are two more Toyota's in the family, and both have been outstandingly economical to own. Even though the EPA mpg's rated higher on the 4 cylinder Tacoma's, the V6's do offer a little better performance, and IMO offers better ACTUAL MPG's that the 4 banger ( possibly because it doesn't have to work as hard to move the truck).
Unless you live in the north. Boxsides and cab corners gone in just a few years. Floor pans disappearing just a little while later. Hard to take the powertrain seriously when the truck is gone around it.
btw, the Subaru's are a little more costly, whether you buy new or used, but they are worth it. My neighbor's Forester recently turned 275,000 miles with no major repairs, and he's not the most forgiving driver I've ever met. In fact, I don't know anyone who owns a Subaru that doesn't absolutely love them ( though I'm sure after reading this, there will be someone who knows somebody, who....) .
Good luck with your search and purchase.
Yup. I guess I'm the somebody. Catalytic converter rot. The flange going out on the front cat and making each and every one of them sound like an old Beetle with bad exhaust. Expensive replacement cost for a cat that's not bad, just the flange. Fed laws say a cat has to be covered for 8/80 and aftermarket cats have to be covered for 5/50. And no, we aren't allowed to alter cats, so just cutting the flange off and welding in a new one isn't an option.
The spider intakes have a habit of getting gummed up.
Constant half shaft replacement.
Constant brake replacement. The rear disks have a habit of freezing up. The design of the pins is as such that the rears will hang up and roast pads and rotors. Lot's of brake silicone can help this and making sure the anchors are clean and siliconed at every brake job, but I've noticed, even for that the rears will burn through in half the time of most cars.
Rot, lots of it.
Other than that, just like every other car. Routine maintenance is a must. They'll pop head gaskets just as easy as every other aluminum headed engine. Trans services are a must.
Living in the Dakotas might be a little different than living in upstate NY, though. Depends on if the Dakotas use salt or sand.
Other than that, if you're purchasing a used car, the key is see what the maintenance has been. Timing belt replacement at the proper interval, coolant and trans services, as well as the oil changes. Find out what the weak points are on that particular vehicle and give it a good once over to make sure it's been given the proper attention. (And they
all have weak points.)
I get a car I usually put it on my schedule. I go through everything that might be suspect.
The only thing I'll say is what to look for. Stay away from small SUV's (the RAV4, the CRV, the Tuscan). They're built on small car platforms. When you hang another 1000# of body weight on a small car suspension and make no mods for the weight, you're going to have suspension issues.
If you're going to go the minivan route and pull a trailer with it, make sure it has a trans cooler on it.
..and that thing was great! Stow all the seats and you have a big cargo area.
