Tips on Buying Cars: Looking for a used four door truck, dodge dakota sport, medium sized dogs


Question
Jeff,
My husband and I are looking at getting rid of his 1997 Nissan 4WD extended cab with 167k miles.  We are looking for a rig that will fit our lifestyle with one child that is 20 months and planning another kid in the next few years.  We have two medium sized dogs that will most likely have to ride in the bed in crates.  
We have only done research online at this point looking at trucks with four doors and probably a short bed, no more than 4 years old.  We have thought about the Nissan Frontier, Dodge Dakota Sport, and Ford F150.  The Toyota Tacoma seemed a bit expensive for a used truck, so we haven't looked at that one much.
Do you happen to have thoughts on these three and what might be our best option?  Or even if there is something else out there that might work better that we haven't thought of?  4WD isn't a "need", but a nice to have since we live in the Portland, OR area.  If the rig doesn't come with a canopy, we will probably have to get one for the dogs and camping gear.  Our other car is a 2000 CRV and that is packed full for an all day excursion with one car seat, all the kid stuff and two dogs.  
I appreciate any suggestions you might have.
Thanks very much.
Christina

Answer
The Japanese trucks do tend to cost more to purchase used, but they also hold their value a little better.  However, you currently own a 10 year-old truck with a lot of miles, so resale is probably not a big priority in your shopping (and, if you continue to own a vehicle that long, it shouldn't be).  Whatever you purchase, I highly recommend a LONG test drive; that short spin around the block that most dealers want you to take don't reveal a trucks true personality.  Better yet, rent each of the models you're considering for a long weekend- that will prove to you which vehicle you'll be happiest with.  And make sure you and your husband take turns driving, with each of you riding in the back seat for a few miles.  All of these trucks tend to have very little room in the back; as your kids grow up, ask yourself, "would they be comfortable back here over the next several years?"  If you can do without the 4WD, then skip it.  A 2WD will get better mileage and have a better ride, it will be less complex making it more reliable and cheaper to repair in the long run.  You'll find some great deals on used 2WD trucks in an area where everyone needs (or THINKS they need) 4WD to get around, like my neck of the woods (Rochester, NY).

Beyond that, I can only offer my personal opinion on these vehicles.  I've never been a big fan of the Dodges:  the 6-cylinder models are under-powered, and the V8s are quite thirsty.  A full-sized Ford F-150 or Chevy/GMC 1500 will get the same OR BETTER mileage than the mid-sized Dakota.  As for the Frontier, consider a 2005 or newer.  All-new design based on the Titan, and a big improvement over the previous generation.  I've had several Fords over the years, Rangers and F-150s.  The newest 150 (introduced in 2004, and NOT the "Heritage" model) is one of the quietest, most refined trucks on the market.  The one I had actually rode better and was quieter than my Lincoln Town Car!  (Shows you how far trucks have come...)  They also have the compact-to-midsize Explorer Sport-Trac, but that might prove a bit small, and you'd get one or maybe two miles per gallon more than the 150.  Same goes for the Chevy S-10/ Colorado trucks; the S-10 never had a great reliability record, and you can do better (from a design and engineering standpoint) than the Chevy Colorado/ GMC Canyon twins.  

The only other choice you might have is an SUV for the family and dogs, then tow a small enclosed trailer behind for the luggage and what-not.  You'd have a lot more choices than the "4-door-pickup-with-a-little-bed" models we've discussed here.  Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot and Nissan Murano would top my list in those kinds of vehicles.  Please don't hesitate to reply if you have any follow-up questions.