In the market; car/truck; Throw me advice, opinions, and reviews...

[EvasiveEF9]

Well, as some of you in this section may know, I'm leaving with the Marines in March. My two project EF's might be sold off (or at least one of them will be).

Nonetheless, when I come home, I want something I can throw my stuff in, probably end up doing a little traveling, reliable, has what an EF driver would consider luxury items (remote entry, power windows/locks, AC...LoL), preferably still gets decent gas mileage, and is pleasing to the eye. My budget is probably gonna be 25K$...preferably less unless I just fall in the love with the car. If it's a truck, I'd prefer between about 17-20K

Some of the vehicles I've been considering, I'm looking for goods and bads on in order to help me limit my ideas/options to fewer. I'm hoping to have some people who have worked on, in, around, own(ed), lease(d) these vehicles, etc, to help me with elimination.

These are the vehicles I've found most interest in (give or take on the years).

Trucks: I'd prefer a 4x4. I want it to be an automatic, as well. The downside is the lower gas mileage on any truck vs. a car...but I see myself getting alot of use out of it, especially with transporting my crap...

2004+ Ram (pref 4x4, will settle for 2 for the right price)
2004+ F150 (pref 4x4, will settle for 2 for the right price)
2005+ Titan (pref 4x4, will settle for 2 for the right price)
2005+ Tundra (pref 4x4, will settle for 2 for the right price)
2005+ Tacoma (4x4)
2005+ Frontier (4x4)

Cars: I'd prefer a stick with the exception of the BMW 3-series... They get good gas mileage, and I'd HALFWAY prefer a 4door, but if I find a good deal on a 2door, I'll suffice. Downside is lack of cargo/people space.

2000+ BMW 3series (prob. 328ci/i, or 330ci/i)
2000+ BMW M3 (if I find a good deal)
2005+ G35 coupe
2005+ Altima SE-R

Please post what you KNOW about the car. I'd prefer a lack in comments like "I think the _________ is ugly" or whatever. I'm more concerned with ability to hold value, reliability, etc in addition to the above.

Thanks to anyone in advance, and reps to anyone with really good advice.

[redrumracer]

my friend has an altima se-r and it is uber reliable. he drives it every day and takes it to the track to race often, and to my knowledge hasnt had any problems with it and still get decent gas mileage, and his is and auto though.

[EvasiveEF9]

I thought the SE-R only came in stick? Hmm...

Oh, well, I've looked at two, and took one to the street. I was highly impressed with the spacious-ness and quickness the four-door had...

Greatly appreciate the word on reliability. How long has he had it?

[redrumracer]

I thought the SE-R only came in stick? Hmm...

Oh, well, I've looked at two, and took one to the street. I was highly impressed with the spacious-ness and quickness the four-door had...

Greatly appreciate the word on reliability. How long has he had it?

he has had it for a couple years now. he bought it brand new.

[EvasiveEF9]

he has had it for a couple years now. he bought it brand new.

Outstanding...if I'm not mistaken, they hold value pretty well, too, and Nissan's have always been pretty well known for their reliability. The only bad thing I see with the Altima is no bed...but still has plenty of trunk space, and back seat area, with better gas mileage than a truck... Things to consider...

Thanks, redrum!

[Barefoot]

i drive a supercharged 05 f150 gas mile is ok with it. with the supercharger it puts me in the same mile range as the tundra. i havent had any problems with it. as for hold its value the f150 isnt it. f150 is america dime a dozen truck. i paid 22k for mines trade in value today is like 12-15k (well for the stock truck atleast) with 30k miles on it. the yoda holds value like a mofo.

[nreggie454]

If you have passengers taller than 3'5" then they won't like riding in the back of a G35 coupe. Big trunk though. About enough space for 3 dead hookers, maybe 4 if they are skinny.

[GIXXERDK]

04/05 Acura TL

[Blitanicle99]

Hmm... Ask the hick about trucks?

2004+ Ram... Great looking truck... mpg isnt anything great. And if you get the ones with cylinder shut off... the exhaust sounds like a joke and you cant modify it or get just gets pissed off.
2004+ F150... 5.4 Triton motor is not the most powerful thing... Reliable yes but you can do better if you want some power. Fords have the strongest frames and suspension you can get in a truck... But lack in their gas motors.
2005+ Titan... Dont get it. POS. The damn thing weighs soo much, normal lifts at shops have to use alignment racks to pick the stupid thing up. Weighing that much with a gas motor... ****ty mileage.
2005+ Tundra... Being a toyota fan, I like these.. my dad has an 04. He loves it. However he has the ext cab and honestly the back seats are a joke. If you get one get the 4 door style... Other than that... back window rolls down... quite powerful 4.7 motor that gets good mpg. My dad gets 22 on the highway with a bed cover thing. I havent even started playing with it and I plan on tuning it to get around 25 mpg.
2005+ Tacoma... The new Tacomas are sick. 4.0 motor and six speed tranny. Very powerful and seem to be a little bit bigger than the previous tacomas. I am 6'3'' and I was too tall for my 99 Taco. The new ones I feel that I am more comfy and have more head room. And... TRD package... Lockers and new Atrack system is awesome.
2005+ Frontier... Not a big fan at all nor impressed. I hated it when I drove it. Did not seem much different from my buddies 01 crew cab frontier.

Trucks to consider... Chevy/GMC... I drive one and love it. Vortec motors are known to last forever... hell there is a club for 250k 500k and 1 million miles. I take mine all over... camping... offroading... to the track... all over the south east... LA.. Miami... SC, NC... Going to Indiana soon and I am not gonna worry about breaking down because I trust the damn thing. Ive got a 5.3 the bigger of the motors untill the 6.0 came out. I get about 22-23 mpg on the highway with a custom tune and its still running rich and my timing is off. I can hope for 25 with it corrected.

Next... if you have that kind of money you might want to consider a Diesel truck. If I had the cash, I would definately switch. Dodge makes the best motors when it comes to diesels... Cummins rules hands down. Fords... have the best frame and suspension... and GMC has their allison transmissions. I personnaly think the Duramaxx is a piece of junk and is not a commercial grade motor. The ford motors are international motors... stay way from the 6.0... You want the 7.3. The 6.4 is also not that great. When it comes to dodge... Go after a nice commonrail which is the 2002+ style. Yes everyone has heard about dodge transmissions sucking but take care of them and they will last. Its the idiots that do neutral bombs with 500+ hp that give them a bad name. Ive seen guys with 3-400k on their original tranny and those are the guys that pull for a living. Another thing youll notice that the guys that haul for a living either have a Dodge of some year or 7.3 Ford.

If you have any questions or anything... Im a truck/Diesel freak. Let me know.

[EvasiveEF9]

All have been repped, and when I have time to reply my thoughts and some things I heard today (about trucks) I'll be back to do so...but right now I'm on the run trying to pass my 91 honda civic through emissions :jerkit: Can't wait to have a vehicle that's less of a pain in the ass. Granted...it will be missed...

[Blitanicle99]

No problem man. Glad to help.

[Barefoot]

No problem man. Glad to help.

dat right

[SE-Rious1]

04 f-150/SE-R or M3

[allmotoronly]

2004+ Ram (pref 4x4, will settle for 2 for the right price)
2004+ F150 (pref 4x4, will settle for 2 for the right price)
2005+ Titan (pref 4x4, will settle for 2 for the right price)
2005+ Tundra (pref 4x4, will settle for 2 for the right price)
2005+ Tacoma (4x4)
2005+ Frontier (4x4)

Why did you leave out GMC/Chevy? They hold their resale value much better than other american made trucks. They are also very reliable. My dad owns a business, and over time has used most of the different makes of trucks as delivery trucks. The fords always are the least reliable and require the most work. The dodge's fall apart (body wise) quickly, but he has 2 chevy's with over 200k miles right now that are still on the original engine/trans. One ford F150 he had had to have the engine replaced twice in a year. He only uses GM trucks now for work and as well as his personal truck.

The new tundra's are pretty cool. If you want a good reliable american made truck, go with GM. If you want something foreign made, go with toyota.

for $20k you may be able to find a 2004 Z71 with around 30k miles. My dad just sold a 2003 Z71 a few months ago for $16k with 80k miles, so they are definitely some out there.

[SE-Rious1]

Why did you leave out GMC/Chevy? They hold their resale value much better than other american made trucks. They are also very reliable. My dad owns a business, and over time has used most of the different makes of trucks as delivery trucks. The fords always are the least reliable and require the most work. The dodge's fall apart (body wise) quickly, but he has 2 chevy's with over 200k miles right now that are still on the original engine/trans. One ford F150 he had had to have the engine replaced twice in a year. He only uses GM trucks now for work and as well as his personal truck.

The new tundra's are pretty cool. If you want a good reliable american made truck, go with GM. If you want something foreign made, go with toyota.

for $20k you may be able to find a 2004 Z71 with around 30k miles. My dad just sold a 2003 Z71 a few months ago for $16k with 80k miles, so they are definitely some out there.

no GM/Chevy he wants to truck to last awhile i think lol

[allmotoronly]

no GM/Chevy he wants to truck to last awhile i think lol

lmao. I'm only going on my family's personal experience with the last 20 years that my dad has owned a business and owned all these different delivery trucks. the GM model's last the longest, hands down.

[Barefoot]

no GM/Chevy he wants to truck to last awhile i think lol

not really. its more like NO AMERICAN he wants to truck to last awhile i think lol. would have got yoda if i had a few extra 1000 to pay with.