What truck for the winter?

[MikeStarrG35]

I am looking for a truck to buy/lease for winter use (and some summer use). It doesnt need to be gorgeous or have luxury or anything, all i NEED is 4x4. I dont want to spend much over 20k. I was looking at the nissan frontier. Anything I've overlooked? (basically, a beater)

Would you do this, or would you just buy winter tires/wheels for the G? I am just worried about the salt/potholes and such harsh conditions of winter. I drove my 04 5AT 1 winter, not sure if I want to drive the 05 6MT in this one. Thanks Guys

-Mike

[drewzer]

under 20k id try a nissan xterra maybe or a jeep. dont really know many trucks under 20k$ sorry

[GLuXuRy]

Look into Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontiers (like you said), maybe a used Toyota Tundra/ Nissan Titan im not to sure for under 20g's, my friend picked up a brand new 05 Tundra SR5 (no 4x4) V8 for 26 i wana say, or go with the an orignal gm truck

[WRAH]

Why not a FORD family plan F-150!?!

[Speedoholic]

I don't understand why people opt for big a$$ cars when it comes to 4x4 capabilities. IMO, a truck/SUV is an overgrown disaster waiting to happen. These high vehicles have a greater tendency to roll over, and if you look at statistics you will actually discover that most accidents in bad weather involve trucks/SUVs.

If I were you, I would look at a 4x4 sedan that will perform as equally if not better. I would probably look at the Subaru Impreza. At ~$18K (and even less if you negotiate), you get a terrific car with AWD capabilities.

My conclusion: DIE SUVs DIE !!!!

[partyman66]

Originally Posted by Speedoholic

I don't understand why people opt for big a$$ cars when it comes to 4x4 capabilities. IMO, a truck/SUV is an overgrown disaster waiting to happen. These high vehicles have a greater tendency to roll over, and if you look at statistics you will actually discover that most accidents in bad weather involve trucks/SUVs.

That's probably because most people drive SUV's these days, so it only makes sense that they would have a higher accident rate. When it comes to snowy weather.. from what I've seen, people in SUV's think they are invinceable and that their 4WD will allow them to speed or drive recklessly without increased risk. What they fail to realize is that 4WD only gets you moving better, and it doesn't really do anything to slow you down that the brakes can't do. And God forbid you should happen to have a pickup truck without 4WD... you're basicly just asking to spin out or skid backwards down a hill due to the lack of weight over the rear drive wheels.


I am also in the same boat and looking for a 4WD winter truck. Although a Jeep sounds like it would also be a fun summer vehicle, I've heard they are horribly unreliable and also expensive to fix... plus I can't tow my bike, trash or anything else significant in the back of it.

So far I've been mostly focusing on Toyota Tacoma's in the 1996-1999 Era, but they are onoxiously expensive considering most of them have upwards of 100K miles on them and are still driving a price of over $10-14K.

For this reason, I'm now seriously considering getting a 1999 or so Nissan Frontier, with a V-6, 5-speed and 4WD.. preferably in the 60-70K mile range.

I did some research on the net and found some factual info out about the Frontiers.. such as that the Frontier is geared very low and gets bad highway fuel economy, the V-6 engine has a timing belt instead of a chain(i hate that), and is slightly underpowered for a 3.3 liter engine(low compression engine). Can anyone offer me any input on the Nissan Frontiers abilities, reliability, problems, rust tendencies, etc. from firsthand experience with the truck?

[MikeyMike]

Toyota makes a really good pick up man, check into that one.

[WRAH]

What about ground clearence?

[WildWildWest]

a set of nokian snow tires on the g will be fine unless you NEED to dive through foot deep snow... we use the g as the ski car, sure it would be better as a front or awd, but you have to play the hand you play.

if you want a crappy truck just find a cheap used one, hope it makes it through the winter and sell it in the spring, still more than a set of tires but there you go.

[imnohero]

Maybe we define "beater" in a different way. To me, it's a "throw away" vehicle...who cares about color, if the radio of power windows work, vinyl seats?...you bet!. Small oil leak? Okay. What it's gotta have is a working heater/defroster, lights, decent tires and brakes, a new battery. The kind of vehicle that if you forget to lock it, a thief would think, "no thanks." And you sure don't need to spend $20K to get one of them...hell, you could spend more on a set of winter wheels and tires.

And having said all that: I'll 2nd W.W.West. Unless your planning on driving through a lot of deep snow every day, your 6MT with winter tires should be fine.

[Z06ified]

Originally Posted by Speedoholic

I don't understand why people opt for big a$$ cars when it comes to 4x4 capabilities. IMO, a truck/SUV is an overgrown disaster waiting to happen. These high vehicles have a greater tendency to roll over, and if you look at statistics you will actually discover that most accidents in bad weather involve trucks/SUVs.

I agree if all you need is 4x4 capabilities for winter weather, and nothing more, there is no reason to buy a huge SUV.

I bought my '99 Suburban 4x4 diesel because I needed to haul a lot of things for my house that I just bought and I'm remodeling myself. I also needed something that could tow my boat with ease, and handle whatever winter weather I encounter. If I didn't have all those needs, and just wanted a winter weather car, I would have bought something much smaller like a Jeep Liberty or Escape or something.

I can't stand people who buy huge SUV's but have no need for a huge SUV and never use its capabilities. And I REALLY hate people who drive huge SUV's like they're sports cars (those are the people who crash them all the time, especially in the snow). When I drive my Suburban, I drive MUCH slower, give PLENTY of distance between me and the car in front of me, and always take turns slowly. People just don't understand how much longer these heavy SUV's take to stop from highway speeds than a performance car does.

But some of us large SUV owner's actually have a need for them, know how to drive them safely, and use them for what they were built for. So don't hate all of us (although people like me are probably the exception rather than the rule, unfortunately)!

[IS300TOG35]

ill be going though my 3rd winter with my g on blizzaks. The first two were great! Havent gotten stuck once! The biggest fear I have driving my G in bad weather is somone else hitting me, not me losing control of the G.