The automotive fetish I’m least likely to indulge in is my love of compact pickups. My need to tear through corners, occasionally carry passengers and save gas keeps me from taking the plunge.
That said, I have a love of Japanese compact pickups. I like that they are more functional in appearance and less isolated than their sedan counterparts and the Nissan Hardbody, in particular, has always appealed to me. Their underdog reputation, versus the all-conquering Tacoma, strong powertrains and sleek looks all play a part in my preference, and I feel they don’t get the respect they deserve.
Of course, when it comes to obscurity, the Nissan can’t match the Mazda B-series or Mitsubishi Mighty Max, at least not in this country.
And then there’s always the Isuzu trucks, the last generation of which we got as the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. Of all the most recent compact trucks, these were my favorites, despite being panned by critics (they’re not always right, you know).
I’d like to know if our readers favor any of these more obscure models, or if they prefer the more traditional choices or even the larger models, like the ever-popular F-series. Anyone here have a favorite pickup or a least-loved model? Do you prefer a four-cylinder or V6? Japanese or American? Share your thoughts.
A Peugeot 504 Dangel 4×4. In french Park Ranger-guise. This was the vehicle I dreamt to have when I was a child.
I just picked this one up. I hope it lives up to it’s reputation!
1992 2.6L 4×4
That would be the truck I’d get today too. Let us know how you like it.
Our 1996 Ford Ranger XLT, no contest!. Owned that truck for over 6 years. 4 cylinder stick, A/C, PS, PB, sliding back glass, standard cab, short wheelbase. Red, of course! Tonneau cover for the bed.
If my 1984 Dodge Rampage had been as reliable as my 1992 Toyota short-bed — or if the Toyota and looked and handled like the Rampage — I’d still be a compact-truck driver.
But they didn’t so now I tow a utility trailer.
Dodge Ram 50. I loved that truck.
20R powered 75 Toyota Hilux. Will haul 2000 lbs all day long, and has ALWAYS started for me. Most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. Sure, it’s needing new paint for the third time now, but as soon as it warms up, she’ll get a new coat. Bone simple to work on, a semi-trained monkey can do it ( and I qualify).
My stepdad had a 77 Toyota Hilux pickup truck when I was a boy. It was powered by a 2.2 litre 20R engine that would do anything a big truck could do. Although it wasn’t a diesel engine, it had the torque of a diesel engine. 90hp and 122ft-lbs of torque. Not much by today’s standards, but for a compact truck, quite impressive. If you need a bigger truck, buy a Tundra or its predecessor, the T100. But if you need a small pickup with a good engine, you can’t do better than a Toyota Hilux. I’d buy another one. 🙂
I’ll take a post-’98 Ranger thank you. Wouldn’t touch a Toyota with a 100m cattleprod with the frame rot they get around here. First gen Dakota would be my second choice.
If I were buying one, I’d go Tacoma – never seen a line of trucks that hold their value quite as well. But I’ll forever be a little partial to the Ford Ranger. I learned to drive stick shift on a regular cab 2WD green 1994 5-speed.
A Volkswagen T2 pick-up with a double cab. Lots of great youth memories, dating back to the early seventies. It was light blue, a color you saw a lot on T1 and T2 vans and pick-ups.
I also have an irrational love for Jeep’s Forward Control trucks.
I always had a thing for the Rangers, ranging from the first extended cab 4X4 to base model. For work, I had a ’96 base with a stick and vinyl seats and 680,000 miles that would not die, no matter how much abuse it got in stop and go traffic between two low-paid courier drivers 21 hours a day. We had a base 2000 Ranger with over 210,000 original miles with little maintenance until the damn new guy didn’t like the fact that it didn’t have a/c and proceeded to run it down the highway for 20 miles in 4th gear on a 100 degree day (allegedly). I also liked the Dakotas too, even though my brother-in-law has one as a second vehicle that has nickle and dimed him for over 3 years, has always shifted hard, and keeps rusting out, no matter how much bondo he puts in to it.
Owned an 89 Ranger STX Supercab, 2.9 V6 and 5 speed. Nice truck, a favorite. Currently own a 2006 Colorado Crew Cab Z71 with the inline 5. A nice contrast, these 2 trucks. The Colorado has a much nicer ride and feel compared to the front twin traction beam suspension. The Ford had a nicer feeling interior with better plastics compared to the Chevy. Both are winners. Also had a soft spot for the 93 and 94 Ranger STX 4X4. I must be the only one who like the large billboard style side stripe treatment of that truck.
Special mention to the Comanche. Probably the best looking American small pickup.
My aunt and uncle had a Datsun PL521 1600 pickup truck.
My best friend bought a Mitsubishi Mighty Max new and I was genuinely impressed with the quality of the truck and the refinement of the engine. It lasted a long time.
The Isuzu Hombre is pretty cool, but I LOVE the Nissan Pickup.
I really liked my ’85 Nissan regular cab. Had the 2.4 liter 4 and a 5 speed. It was a fun little truck. Wish I still had it. My neighbor has a Mazda B2000. Not sure the year, 1986-ish. Those trucks got rave reviews when they came out and I wouldn’t mind having one now.
I’ve found S-10’s and Rangers to be very durable. The advantage they have over the Japanese trucks is the more wide availability of parts. The old Iron duke S-10’s were simple, cheap and dependable. the 96 and later 4.3 motors were bulletproof and very powerful if you were used to a 4 cylinder. My daily driver is a 4.3 S-10 with 361,000 miles on it and going strong. It is a std cab with a 7 foot 2 inch bed. I’m looking at possibly getting a colorado with 4 cylinder 4wd and a manual transmission. the S-10 ZR2 is also a very sweet ride,
Had a 1982 Mazada B2000 Sundowner Sport. What a nifty, tough little truck. It was slooooow as hell, but it rode comfortably and it had a pair of one of the most comfortable bucket seats I ever sat in. The seats with the courdury fabric. I drove my little B2000 for 12 years racking up 180,000 miles.