New Trucks / SUV's

Dobie

I see a few guys here got new pick up trucks and Ive been window shopping myself. I dont drive much and maybe put 6K on the odometer a year. I have a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee with almost 200K on it now. Im likely buying a boat in the next year or so and need a reliable vehicle to tow it. Now were talking about two large ticket items so I need to make good choices so I get my moneys worth. So Im here to ask you guys about your choices on light tow vehicles. Some things to consider. Want 4 wheel drive, tow capacity of 5K, if a PU want a super crew type cab and a short bed, dont need a high trim level truck as it will get used like a truck and get dirty. Im open to SUV's that meet the criteria but likely will not buy Jeep again, the quality rankings are low these days. Would like to keep it under $35K OTD. Looking for the best fuel efficiency that gets the job done and thats tough in this vehicle segment. Gas is cheap right now but will be $3.50 again before you know it. Fueling a truck and a boat can add up so need some efficiency. I will consider used but it would have to be certified with good warranty. Im not dropping $$ on someone elses problems. I keep vehicles a long time and expect this one to last 15 plus years. Reliabilty, value, build quality, efficiency, and cost are all factors. Im open to most brands. I know there are some guys here who must have or been considering the vehicle described here. Whats your recommendation?

Legume

How far and how regularly will you be towing?

Dobie

Legume said:

How far and how regularly will you be towing?

100 mile raduis about 2-3 times a month estimated.

Eggcelsior

If you are worried about the most efficient look at the ecoboost engines from Ford or the new diesel from Dodge.

Dobie

Eggcelsior said:

If you are worried about the most efficient look at the ecoboost engines from Ford or the new diesel from Dodge.

Ive been spying the Ford ecoboost but dont know anyone with one. I have no experience with turbo. The diesel tout more MPG but fuel cost is higher and the diesel option is too. It might take a long time to break even on the extra cost.

theyolksonyou

I don't personally own an ecoboost, but a guy I work with just bought one and he says his mileage is the same as him infinity G37

KennyLee

For gas engines, I'd look at the Toyota Tundra and Ford F-150.  Both great trucks for what you're after.  Your chances of getting a more base model (hence lower sticker) in a 4x4 are better with the Toyota.  However mileage will probably be better with the Ford.

I have a base grade '09 Tundra 4x4 with the 5.7 liter engine, which is an absolute beast, but the mileage sucks.  There is more fuel efficient 4.6 option I believe. 

For diesel, I'd stick with the Fords also, but would probably give Dodge at least a look.

Lit

What size boat? My parents pulled a 19' key west from Florida to Arkansas and then towed it back to Florida the next year in a 2wd 4 cylinder Tacoma. You would probably be fine with a 6 cylinder 2wd Tacoma unless you need the 4wd for snow. I just bought a 4 runner a couple months back and unless you are going used there are not alot of 4wd option for $35k out the door and new from what I found.

DaveRichardson

Not in a truck, but I had an ecoboost engine blow out within 6 months of owning a 2014 Fusion. Back to Japanese cars for me!

Wolfpack

Lit said:

What size boat? My parents pulled a 19' key west from Florida to Arkansas and then towed it back to Florida the next year in a 2wd 4 cylinder Tacoma. You would probably be fine with a 6 cylinder 2wd Tacoma unless you need the 4wd for snow. I just bought a 4 runner a couple months back and unless you are going used there are not alot of 4wd option for $35k out the door and new from what I found.

Just my opinion but, boat ramps and 2wd can be a recipe for disaster- wet, steep ramp and you may not get the boat back out of the water.

But again depends on your ramps and weight of boat.

2wd would be fine for a lighter boat

Ladeback69

KennyLee said:

For gas engines, I'd look at the Toyota Tundra and Ford F-150.  Both great trucks for what you're after.  Your chances of getting a more base model (hence lower sticker) in a 4x4 are better with the Toyota.  However mileage will probably be better with the Ford.

I have a base grade '09 Tundra 4x4 with the 5.7 liter engine, which is an absolute beast, but the mileage sucks.  There is more fuel efficient 4.6 option I believe. 

For diesel, I'd stick with the Fords also, but would probably give Dodge at least a look.

I disagree about getting a better deal on a Toyota base model then the Ford. When ever I have delt with Toyota on any model they don't give you much of a discount. The Ford F150 is changing body styles to an all aluminum body which is 700 pounds lighter then the 2014. Dealers are offering great deals on the 2014. Now Toyota and Ford both have the largest crew cabs and think the best two trucks out there. The Ecoboast is a lot of fun to drive and has a lot of power. I wanted it when I got my 2011 in January of 2012, but SWMBO said I couldn't spend the extra $4000 to get it. I got a 2011 4x4 XLT Crew Cab for $22000 with trade in of $8000 and about $8000 off in incentives. I think the incentives are even better now on the 2014.

Jeepster47

Dobie said:

... I have a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee with almost 200K on it now. ... likely will not buy Jeep again, the quality rankings are low these days.

Okay, I'll admit I'm biased.  I've had a 1999, 2003, 2007, and now a 2014 Grand Cherokee.  I shipped the fourth series, 'cuz they did have some problems with them - the Germans didn't do Chrysler any favors.  The new series is fantastic.  My wife loved the 2014 Jeep so much she bought a 2014 Durango ... kind of a step-child of the Jeep family.

The new Jeep has a 5.7 liter engine that gets about 15% better gas mileage than the 2007's 5.7 liter engine.  Some of it is in the engine and a lot of it is in the 8 speed transmission.  Local is 15 mpg and trips average 20~22 mpg ... and no, I don't **** foot around ... what's the fun in a big engine if you don't use it?

I realize that with your price point, some of the newer features will be left off the table.  But, wow are they neat.  Remember when you bought your first vehicle with power windows ... only 'cuz it came that way and you had to take them ... and now you wouldn't be without them!  Adaptive cruise control will probably be one of those have to have's in the future ... helps my blood pressure when driving in a line of idiots on two lane roads.  Backside and frontside proximity sensors ... tap a bumper now and it's the cost of a LBGE to fix it.  Blind spot alert is great.  Oh heck, just check out the literature ... like being in a candy store.

Reliability ... for me the new Jeeps seem to be about the same ... good, but not trouble free.  The 1999's had trouble with sensors and the air conditioning evaporator.  The two in the middle had some small problems, but were basically trouble free.  The 2014 is almost fly by wire, so there have been several firmware updates.  Like a computer, mine has needed a reboot twice ... dump the error codes and it's good to go.

Bought a Dodge Duster in 1970 and have had at least one Chrysler product in the mix since then.  And, like you, we tend to keep them 'till they get a little long in the tooth.  Drove a 1989 Caravan from the showroom floor all the way to the moon with minimal problems ... 220,000 miles.  One thing I can say about Chrysler products is that they have NEVER left me stranded on the road.

Sorry, I'll put my soap box away now ...

Little Steven

I'm due for a new vehicle and can not speak highly enough about the toyota Tundra I've been driving for six years. Never been a pickup truck guy and have driven mostly full size vans and suv's. I was going to buy the Sequoia but there were none available at the time I took the pickup planning on a short term and  just couldn't get rid of it because it was such a comfortable ride. Way better than the Navigators I drove previously. The resale I'm looking at on the pickup is better than half of what I paid.

nolaegghead

Some of the trucks out there get better mileage than my 2900 pound Cayman S.  I'm sure my lead foot doesn't help matters.

I sold a 2001 F150 7700 4x4 (basically an F250) when it hit 220,000 miles (fleet vehicle I bought from work).  I let him have it cheap contingent I can borrow it whenever I need a truck.  That beast still looks great and runs great and it's at around 245,000 miles.

grege345

My work truck is a 2013 ecoboost. My personal vehicle is a f150 5.4. The mileage is near the same. Averaging 13 mpg. The ecoboost sometimes falls flat on its face. It's very strange but sometimes it happens when you don't want it to. The rear has already blown out with 60,000 miles on it. Mainly highway driven. I really like my personal f150 much more. IMO I think a dodge diesel more suits your style. For as long as you keep vehicles the diesel makes sense. Mileage on a diesel is exceptional with a cheap tuner add on. It may be overkill for 5000lb towing but you won't even know its back there. Can't say the same when it comes to the 4.6 ford. Bottom line. If I had to pay for a work truck it wouldn't be an ecoboost

nolaegghead

I'm a proponent of diesels for trucks.  They run forever and have torque for days.  Fuel costs more but diesel has so much more energy per gallon, and the high compression of the diesel engines is very efficient.

CarolinaCrazy

I just got a 2015 Toyota Highlander. We were between the Forerunner and the Highlander and decided on the Highlander for the 3rd row seats.

The reliability on Toyotas is off the charts (my last one was 15 yrs and 190K miles), and the Southeast Toyota dealers offer Lifetime warranty on powertrain. so if you plan on keeping the vehicle a long time, you will save a bunch when the seals go, or transmission wears.

Definitely check them out.

NPHuskerFL

Mine will pull down the house. But, the 6L V8 Vortec Chevy 2500HD 4x4 LT3 is not an economic Prius )

Legume

I have a 2011 f150 ecoboost 4x2 that I picked up used with a year and ~25k miles on it. Daily driver, good not great mileage but all the scoot I would ever need. It's a Lariat and it was under $30k, sticker was $39 when it was new.

I don't tow often but when I do it does really well - except the mileage drops waaay off below what an f250 super duty will give you if you're pulling a boat, camper, etc. Uhaul and you don't notice it. So, depends on how often, how heavy and how far you tow. Local, this would be great, distance and the mileage would be a disadvantage.

I've heard there are some that have had problems with their ecoboost, I have not. I drove the tundra with both engines and the ford 5L and liked this the best, Tundra with 5.7 second. Ford 5L seemed sluggish to me.

If you're really wanting to keep for a long time, I would look for a used f250 super duty.

Lit

@CarolinaCrazy‌ the 4runner has the option for 3rd row seating.

bigguy136

I have a 14 Tundra crew max. The size in the cab is huge. I was looking at the F-150 and Tundra. The quality in the Tundra won me over. If looking at the Ford, I would go with a super duty. Not to poke anyone but I feel the F-150 is a tick better than the Jeep.

KennyLee

Ladeback69 said:

I disagree about getting a better deal on a Toyota base model then the Ford. When ever I have delt with Toyota on any model they don't give you much of a discount. The Ford F150 is changing body styles to an all aluminum body which is 700 pounds lighter then the 2014. Dealers are offering great deals on the 2014. Now Toyota and Ford both have the largest crew cabs and think the best two trucks out there. The Ecoboast is a lot of fun to drive and has a lot of power. I wanted it when I got my 2011 in January of 2012, but SWMBO said I couldn't spend the extra $4000 to get it. I got a 2011 4x4 XLT Crew Cab for $22000 with trade in of $8000 and about $8000 off in incentives. I think the incentives are even better now on the 2014.

Perhaps things have changed since I bought mine new in '09, but then finding a base model Tundra in 4x4 was easy.  Sticker on my Tundra 4x4 was $32K and change and I walked out the door at $26K (no trade) after dealer discount and a mfg. rebate.  The problem I found at that time with Ford was all 4x4s I could find anywhere were completely loaded and all stickered well over $40K.  The sales reps said I could order a base model in 4x4, but they wouldn't discount hardly at all because it was special order. 

And I agree with what someone else said about looking at a used F-250 diesel.  That was my last truck before the Tundra.  They REALLY hold their value well too.  I bought it in '02 when it was three years old and had 60K miles for $24K, drove it for seven years and put 100K miles on it, then sold it for $11.5K, almost half what I paid for it.  Now that was cheap transportation. 

Smokinpig

I am with @jeepster47. I have a 2014 grand cherokee limited 4x4 but with the V6. I love it, no problems in 18 months and I can get 25 miles to the gallon on the highway.

Eggcelsior

Granted, I don't tow anything with my A3 tdi but going diesel was an awesome decision. I nearly doubled my mpg for the same sized engine and the torque pull is orgasmic.

loveTheEgg

Wolfpack said:

Lit said:

What size boat? My parents pulled a 19' key west from Florida to Arkansas and then towed it back to Florida the next year in a 2wd 4 cylinder Tacoma. You would probably be fine with a 6 cylinder 2wd Tacoma unless you need the 4wd for snow. I just bought a 4 runner a couple months back and unless you are going used there are not alot of 4wd option for $35k out the door and new from what I found.

Just my opinion but, boat ramps and 2wd can be a recipe for disaster- wet, steep ramp and you may not get the boat back out of the water.

But again depends on your ramps and weight of boat.

2wd would be fine for a lighter boat

I pull a 19' pontoon boat with a 2011 Honda Pilot 2wd. It's a front wheel drive also and it will yank that boat out of the water with no problem. The Piolt has been a great SUV to me.

Dobie

@Lit‌ the boat will be likely an inshore bay type and not overly large 20-22 ft so I dont need a superduty type truck. I just need something that can tow when I need it, handle slippery steep ramps and run the beach without fear of sticking it hence the 4X. BUT when Im not towing (most of the time) its not killing me on fuel cost. @DaveRichardson‌ the turbo worries me as Ive heard the stories of engine failures. @Ladeback69‌ I was looking forward to the 15 F150 with the aluminum body but now the fuel numbers are out and its not as much difference as hoped for. Ford has cut back production on the 14's because of the new style coming out so will have to see what might be left and what the incentives to move them are. @Legume‌ whch ecoboost motor do you have? How many miles on it now and any maintenance issues? @grege345‌ a ecoboost with 13 mpg sucks, you can get that type mileage in any naturally aspirated V8 I would he upset with that. @NPHuskerFL‌ how about we fish together I supply the boat and you the truck

Little Steven

bigguy136 said:

I have a 14 Tundra crew max. The size in the cab is huge. I was looking at the F-150 and Tundra. The quality in the Tundra won me over. If looking at the Ford, I would go with a super duty. Not to poke anyone but I feel the F-150 is a tick better than the Jeep.

One of the great things about the Toyota is the nose is short. I don't have the crew max and I have tons of room in the back seat. That gives me a seven foot box without the wheel base and  mall parking headaches.

Dobie

Smokinpig said:

I am with @jeepster47. I have a 2014 grand cherokee limited 4x4 but with the V6. I love it, no problems in 18 months and I can get 25 miles to the gallon on the highway.

Jeeps have been in my drive way 20 plus years and had two Grand Cherokees at the same time ( current 97 and wifes 2005 that got traded last year) but Fiat ownes them now and my experience with them has been mixed on maintenance before that. 20 years ago my wife worked for a Jeep dealer so it made sense, we had friends in the business. But now we dont and if you look at the independent rankings the quality isnt there. If the quality was there Id get a GC 4X and be done with it. Im not really a truck guy and the bed will rarely get used.

NPHuskerFL

Brilliant! I'd be happy to tow that bad boy B-)

Wolfpack

loveTheEgg said:

What size boat? My parents pulled a 19' key west from Florida to Arkansas and then towed it back to Florida the next year in a 2wd 4 cylinder Tacoma. You would probably be fine with a 6 cylinder 2wd Tacoma unless you need the 4wd for snow. I just bought a 4 runner a couple months back and unless you are going used there are not alot of 4wd option for $35k out the door and new from what I found.

Just my opinion but, boat ramps and 2wd can be a recipe for disaster- wet, steep ramp and you may not get the boat back out of the water. But again depends on your ramps and weight of boat. 2wd would be fine for a lighter boat

I pull a 19' pontoon boat with a 2011 Honda Pilot 2wd. It's a front wheel drive also and it will yank that boat out of the water with no problem. The Piolt has been a great SUV to me.

I would agree on the front wheel drive- it's the rear wheel drive ones that can cause you an issue. I've seen plenty of people spinning rear wheels at a steep ramp at Falls Lake.

Dobie

No disrespect to any Honda owners out there but they dont make a real 4X or truck IMO. We just got the wife a CRV and love it. If I didnt need to tow and need 4 X I would buy another in a heart beat.