Im new to pickup trucks

F

Ford2024

Joined
Sep 27, 2025
Messages
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Hi, im looking for something new. Been driving sedans for years and own a suv for my family ( ecoobost explorer). But for my self I will like a pickup truck with a V6 engine. Can't afford the gas on a v8. It will be my daily driver to work and when its needed in the future when I need to pickup something heavy and dont ask my friends if I can borrow their pickup truck etc... I live in Arizona and I will like to go mount lemon one day. 4x4 or 2x4?

My options are used vehicles from the dealers with low milage and minimum 6 years old trucks.
Nissan frontier
Ram warlock 1500 or the classic original both with v6
Tacoma v6. Hard to find a good deal.
Chevy colorado with v6 no turbo.

Out of all of them I really like the looks of the warlock. But its a full size truck with v6. Wonder how is the mpg on that one.
 
For what it’s worth, what MPG are you looking for? On a GM full size with a 5.3 I will routinely achieve 16-17 city and 19-21 with it running it V8 mode all the time (DFM disabled). A friend currently running DFM will see 23 on the highway.

I understand your post is looking for V6s, but sometimes the MPG difference isn’t there.

What about a 2.7 turbo 4 cyl Silverado? Reliability reports seems they are a decent mill. I can’t imagine a 2WD WT trim 2.7 is an expensive truck especially used.
 
Those are all decent trucks on your list.

I owned a 2017 Ram 1500 quad cab 4x4 with the pentastar V6 and would routinely get 22mpg tank to tank. My 2019 Ram 1500 classic crew cab, hemi 4x4 was around 20mpg with my usage. It's not that big a difference between V6 and V8. The difference will mostly be in purchase price. A budget truck is going to be a super high mileage V8 or a base model V6 IMO.

My 2022 Nissan Frontier CC 4x4 does about 22-23mpg tank to tank.
 
Just get an F150 and be done with it. IMHO best truck out there. I've had 5 of them, with many hundreds of thousands (actually nearly a Million) miles driven.

2.7L Ecoboost, 21mpg driven carefully, 18-19 if not.
3.5L Ecoboost, 19mpg driven carefully, 17 if not.
5.0L V8 a stunning 24mpg at 65 and 19-20 driven carefully, 17 driven like a race car. (2024, very very nice truck)
5.4L V8 never more than 13mpg the way I drive, totaled, otherwise I'd still have it.
4.6L V8 16mpg, made it to 355K miles before the transmission let go and was sold.

What's interesting is that the 2025 4x4 V8 is rated at 24 highway and the 2.7L 23mpg.
 
If your going used Frontier go 2019 or older. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the newer ones, and they will get a bit better mileage, but the VQ40 in the 2019 and earlier with a RE5R05 is torquier and will literally last forever.

I imagine a full size Ram with a Pentastar has to be an absolute dog. You may never wish to own a pickup again after - so if thats your goal...

If you want a Taco just buy new. The Toyota Tax on a used one is absolutely not worth it. New there really not much more than anything else in its class.
 
The ram pentastar will surprise most as it’s no slouch on the road. On paper, specs out pretty close to hp/torque specs of the 4.7 V8 it replaced. I find the ram to be be the most comfortable ride of full size trucks.

I would recommend the V6 pentastar with the 3:55 gearing.
 
I had rented a RAM a while back that I had no clue was a V6 until I started it with the window down, then popped the hood. It was no slouch for sure.

I drove a 3.5NA F150 at work for a year and a half and also didn’t miss turbos or a V8, as it was the perfect runabout truck for various tasks, other than pulling a trailer.

Both truck v6’s have a touch more than double what 90’s V8’s had and we worked them like rented miles with no complaints.

I’d buy a Full Size with an NA V6 anytime.
 
Thank you guys for the recommendations. I think I will go with Ram. Hearing good things about the v6. Here's what I have found so far.
2021 warlock v6 4x2 40k miles for $29k
2022 Big horn v8 4x2 32k miles for $32k
2021 classic v6 4x2 46k miles for $26k

High milage. Not sure about these but what are you guys opinion?
2020 classic v6 4x2 76k miles for $21k
2016 Ram lone star v6 4x2 short bed 116k miles for $16k
2017 Ram rebel v8 4x4 156k miles for $21k
The only used 4x4 I have found with short bed. Do I need a long bed?
 
Last edited:
Keep in mind that how you drive will have as much impact on fuel economy as will the powertrain if fuel economy is of concern.
A V-8 may prove surprisingly economical to operate if you drive gently.
It also depends upon your commute. If it's mainly easy driving you should see decent fuel economy out of any engine.
 
Ford2024 said:
Thank you guys for the recommendations. I think I will go with Ram. Hearing good things about the v6. Here's what I have found so far.
2021 warlock v6 4x2 40k miles for $29k
2022 Big horn v8 4x2 32k miles for $32k
2021 classic v6 4x2 46k miles for $26k

High milage. Not sure about these but what are you guys opinion?
2020 classic v6 4x2 76k miles for $21k
2016 Ram lone star v6 4x2 short bed 116k miles for $16k
2017 Ram rebel v8 4x4 156k miles for $21k
The only used 4x4 I have found with short bed. Do I need a long bed?
Click to expand...
$33k for a 2022 warlock v6 but is lifted and short bed. 36k miles
 
Out of the options you posted, the cheapest one for $16k is the best bet. Its so much cheaper than everything else the savings outweigh everything.

However, you can get a similar age and miles 5.0 F150 for the same price which is a much better truck.

RAM is fine and if you prefer it then get one but the best buy is a Gen 2 Coyote + 6r80

$33k for a "warlock" is crack pipe. Its a 3 year old RAM and a V6. Idk what a warlock is but seems like a marketing thing....
 
CarbonToast said:
Out of the options you posted, the cheapest one for $16k is the best bet. Its so much cheaper than everything else the savings outweigh everything.

However, you can get a similar age and miles 5.0 F150 for the same price which is a much better truck.

RAM is fine and if you prefer it then get one but the best buy is a Gen 2 Coyote + 6r80

$33k for a "warlock" is crack pipe. Its a 3 year old RAM and a V6. Idk what a warlock is but seems like a marketing thing....
Click to expand...
Im not sure about that one. It has 116miles.

It's hard to find an f150 with a good price. all used ones are over 150k miles and want more than $15k for them. But ill keep searching.

Sorry what do you mean? It has 36k miles. I think buying high mileage is a gamble. Dont know if the previous owner took good care of it. Like that ram that has 116k miles.
 
since you have decided on a 3.6 Pentastar - you should research those. The new version came out in 2016 - which solved the rocker needle bearing wear issue and added VVL (which is causing follower problems apparently, but that likely has a lot to do with how it was used). Either way the new VVL engine came out in 2016 but didn't go into everything right away is my understanding. Before you buy a 2016, if thats on the list, you should figure out which engine it has.

The prices were less than I would have thought honestly.
 
Prob not the best fuel mileage-wise, but I’d buy a V6 Tacoma (not currently offered in new models). It’s reliable, it retains its value, and if you ever decide to trade up for a larger truck, you won’t take a bath financially.
 
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