Fly to the sun belt and drive it back.
Midsize truck shopping
- Thread starter dlundblad
- Start date
Pretty risky. Finding the right vehicle, buying sight unseen? or do you fly in and hope to find once there?
I keep toying with this but have yet to figure out how to make it happen.
who said anything about buying it sight unseen?
That was what i was asking—how do you pull this off? what city do you fly into?
"Hello sir or madam, I like your Toyota Tundra you have posted in New Mexico Craigslist. I am an out of state buyer and Bob is the oil guy member and I would like to buy your truck. Are you open to me having a nearby friend or family, or have it driven to a local independent shop for a pre purchase inspection, on my dime?"
"You're not, well let me give you a refundable deposit and I will fly out and see the vehicle this weekend, can we shoot for this?"
"If I cant make this work and I am willing to take a calculated risk, Can I arrange to ship the vehicle on my dime to my home after both parties are satisfied with the payment?"
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You fly into the city that has the vehicle you search for online and find?
A lot of work for a sub $10k vehicle in a place where I don’t have family and am completely at the mercy of strangers. Most of whom are not to be trusted. At all.
Then I am out plane ticket(s) and hotel rooms. Adds to the cost.
Lot of details, lot of risk.
I've had knowledgeable people checkout potential vehicle purchases for me, and I've done so for others. In each case it has worked out well.
Of course in each case I knew the person doing the legwork for me, and vice versa.
We don’t have kids.
I want a body on frame truck.
I think SR's had black bumper covers IIRC. SR is the most basic of the basic. I think the only real option was 4WD and a V6. They actually made the 4 doors in the 2.7 4 cylinder version.
Yes, the steel wheels are a big clue here as well.
The baja has been out of production for a while, Mitsubishi stopped selling pickup trucks in 2009 when Dodge dropped the Dakota. Apparently Mitsubishi/Fuso stopped selling class 4 trucks in the USA in 2020.
From what I’ve seen, not all SR models have a black bumper.
I think it varies per year? I've only had TRD Offroads with the technology package which comes with color matched covers. Either way, there's a couple companies that sell pre-painted covers that are color matched.
You refreshed my memory. I just remembered the old Mitsubishi D50's.
I read about the medium duty pull out. Sales must be declining.
Realize I own both a Toyota and a Nissan currently - so not bashing anyone.
In 2011 I tried the 2nd Gen Taco and my Fronty. I had been driving my Xterra, so I know the Nissan platform well. The 2nd gen was a complete dog comparatively. Nice truck, but I couldn't be happy with one. And I have a light foot. Stuck with Nissan.
In 2015 I thought about trading to a 3rd Gen Taco - was really excited about the new styling, so I took a lengthy test drive. It was worse than the second Gen. Complete mush.
I realize maybe not wanting to buy Nissan now with the uncertainty. The good news is the Taco sheep line up to buy them used, so you won't loose much money if you trade in a couple years. Never quite understood that.
As an aside, I was to rent a mid-size car for a week but they were all out. Said take whatever you like thats left, so I took a 2022 Ranger. I wasn't expecting much, but I really, really liked it. If it wasn't for Ford's quality issues I would be very tempted to get one. I am generically not fond of turbo's either, but that one is very smooth and drives very nice, and overall the truck is very comfortable.
In 2011 I tried the 2nd Gen Taco and my Fronty. I had been driving my Xterra, so I know the Nissan platform well. The 2nd gen was a complete dog comparatively. Nice truck, but I couldn't be happy with one. And I have a light foot. Stuck with Nissan.
In 2015 I thought about trading to a 3rd Gen Taco - was really excited about the new styling, so I took a lengthy test drive. It was worse than the second Gen. Complete mush.
I realize maybe not wanting to buy Nissan now with the uncertainty. The good news is the Taco sheep line up to buy them used, so you won't loose much money if you trade in a couple years. Never quite understood that.
As an aside, I was to rent a mid-size car for a week but they were all out. Said take whatever you like thats left, so I took a 2022 Ranger. I wasn't expecting much, but I really, really liked it. If it wasn't for Ford's quality issues I would be very tempted to get one. I am generically not fond of turbo's either, but that one is very smooth and drives very nice, and overall the truck is very comfortable.
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The previous gen (until 2023?) gmc canyon/chevy colorado has a NA v6, or my favourite engine there, the 2.8 4 cylinder diesel.
But I agree with the other suggestions to seriously consider the 2.7 turbo, you're getting a lot of engine for that truck as they put that same engine in the 1500 and it pretty much outperforms the 5.3 v8 except maybe at WOT.
Jeep gladiator also has a NA pentastar and both it and the 8 speed transmission are very reliable.
But I agree with the other suggestions to seriously consider the 2.7 turbo, you're getting a lot of engine for that truck as they put that same engine in the 1500 and it pretty much outperforms the 5.3 v8 except maybe at WOT.
Jeep gladiator also has a NA pentastar and both it and the 8 speed transmission are very reliable.
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I would not buy a 3rd gen Tacoma again. Totally goofy transmission, even after regear and tune. Buy a 4th gen and don’t look back.