18th Jan 2023, 20:08
The Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are both about the same size as your old Tacoma, but if by "unfussy", you mean as devoid of electronics as that Tacoma... never gonna happen. Safety requirements alone for vehicles now would preclude it, even if there was anyone interested in buying.
20th Jan 2023, 17:05
Sure, there are both of the small trucks you mentioned. But they are IMHO sort of useless as trucks because both have such small beds. Both of them are 4 footers. Mine is a 6 footer and that makes all of the difference. I don't understand why because even today I still see a ton of ratty, beaten up C10's, Tacomas, Rangers and other old small trucks being used by contractors, landscapers and so on. There is surely as demand for people who want a truck to do work with but not in the huge size. The new small trucks seem to be aimed at city drivers.
21st Jan 2023, 00:40
Why pay insurance on a teeny truck? Get a full size 8 foot bed. Trucks have higher insurance than cars.
22nd Jan 2023, 14:14
Is that actually true? I can’t imagine a truck being more expensive to insure than a car that is 2X as powerful and might be more prone to racing and other stuff. 90% of cars on the road are faster than 100% of trucks.
23rd Jan 2023, 16:48
If I wanted a full size truck I'd get one. There are a lot of people like me who really dislike the current trend of making most trucks monster truck size. My truck is perfect for me and what I do and there is a reason Ford can't keep up with demand for the Maverick: Because again, not everyone wants a big truck that barely fits in the driveway.
27th Jan 2023, 15:40
Having cars and a truck, I asked my insurer why. Trucks are often used to go anywhere, even off pavement. Carry loads of all types. I have picked up stone, sand, and even driven to the landfill with lawn debris. They often are worked, not just driven empty. The 4 wheel drive also alerts them to maybe subject to off road use. Who races a pickup? I don’t. They also can be too heavy. So my full size is the most expensive. There may be a difference driving a 1996 vs a 2022 factored in. A new full size truck can be very expensive to buy. Ever see the prices? That means costlier to fix body damage.
29th Jan 2023, 15:56
Yes. Truck prices are now pretty high. The way I see it, full sized "luxury trucks" have replaced the gargantuan land yachts and Cadillacs that used to be what people in the US lusted after. The fact that the interiors of some of the upper trim level trucks from GM, Ford and Chrysler are akin to the interior of a German luxury car speaks volumes. Power, heated/cooled seats, large touch screens and even motorized steps for the exterior is a real far cry from my grandad's Ford which had a vinyl bench seat, crank windows and AC as an option. I feel they've gone too far with how fancy these things are now. I tend to use my truck to haul stuff and the idea of getting mud and stuff all over the interior of an $80k truck isn't my cup of tea
1st Apr 2024, 16:01
Well... It's been a about a year and a half since my last update so here is the latest. I still own it and there has been a few little things that happened to it and some issues aren't really its fault.
1: Me and my wife were driving it an hour away to get some yard supplies, and on the way back it started pulling HARD to the right and I could smell burning brakes. Pulled over and the right front brake caliper had completely seized. Luckily there was an auto parts store a few blocks away and I was able to replace the locked up caliper with a remanufactured unit in the parking lot. I'm not sure what caused that, but it's been fine ever since. I was just glad I was able to fix it.
2: The sun here is really doing a number on some of the rubber trim bits around the windows. But given the trim is 28 years old that can be expected.
3: There is a leak around the windshield. Years ago a rock hit it and it was replaced. I assume whomever replaced it scraped up the paint and now it's rusted. It's not a bad leak but I need to do something about it. It's the end of the rainy season here so no rush. But I'll need to take it to a body shop and have the rust repaired and probably a new window installed.
4: It started leaking oil. Not badly, but enough to make the underside of the engine and transmission all oily and gross. I eventually found that it was leaking from the valve cover. I ordered a new gasket and when I pulled the valve cover I found the original gasket had turned rock-hard and was also cracked. Replaced that with the new gasket and problem solved.
5: The driver side of the bench seat now has deteriorating vinyl on the side. Not much that can be done about that. Might need to have that looked at.
Other then that? It just runs and drives. I am now aiming for the 30 year mark with this thing.
1st Apr 2024, 20:25
"I'm not sure what caused that"
Reading your updates from the past it looks as though you changed the calipers before.
Did you, A: purchase them from the dealership? Or, B: replace them with a cheap "white box" aftermarket brand made in China?
If you went with option B, there's your answer.
Another thing could have been a collapsed brake hose. But if that was the case it would have immediately happened again.
3rd Apr 2024, 12:16
Most of the "aftermarket brand" brake calipers sold anymore are remanufactured originals, not new ones made in China or anywhere else.
3rd Apr 2024, 14:48
I replaced the calipers both times with remanufactured units. They're dirt cheap and on this truck it's maybe a 20 minute job to replace them. I think I was around $50 out the door. The last one lasted over 10 years before it needed to get replaced again. I think what might have happened is that the truck sat around for long periods of time during Covid. Could be that rust got into the cylinder.
17th Jan 2023, 21:38
And here is yet another Bi-annual update. Still own the truck. As with the last time - nothing to report on other than it runs and drives as it should. The only thing done recently was a major tune-up which included new plugs, wires, cap, rotor and a cleaning of the throttle body. At this point the truck is approaching the 28 year old mark. Nobody makes small trucks anymore unless you count the new Maverick - which has a 4 foot bed. It now actually gets compliments on occasion.
The only issue I have had recently is that we had some super intense rain storms out here in California and I noticed there was a few drips coming from the roof. So it's got a small leak. I just put a car cover on it. Problem solved.
I REALLY wish manufactures would once again make small, un-fussy, utilitarian trucks like these again. If Toyota started making them again they would sell them like hot cakes, because in a world of oversized, enormous trucks, there are plenty of people who would prefer something smaller.