Pickup that gets best milage, need to buy 1

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by darcane

*shrug* depends on how you look at it.

You're right, considering all my miles. If you only look at commuting miles (No heavy loads or trailers), my recent average is over 20mpg. It doesn't take many miles at 14mpg to pull the average way down.

I have gotten a few trips at 20+ but the wind has to be just right, the moon full, and I have to throw salt over my left shoulder first and recite an incantation. So a couple of 20+ readings do not make for a good 20+ fe claim. IIRC looking through the pickups at the EM garage does not reveal much good luck out there for 20+.

[busypaws]

My other vehicle is 95 Toyota PU 4-cyl, manual, 2wd. I get 27-28mpg. I have never towed anything in it but have hauled 1400lbs of rocks,mulch... for various landscape projects around the house. It is the last year before Toyota switched to Tacoma name for the small PU. The scale at the landfill shows 2900 lbs (minus my 200lb) = 2700lbs. So it is pretty light. I don't know how that compares with later model Tacoma specs.
Only mod is upgrade to 15 inch rims, 205 tires, and alternator field switch. It's also missing front bumper from fenderbender 8 years ago.

[slowmover]

It's easy to average 20+ non-towing in a 2004.0 DODGE CTD (305/555 engine) 2WD or earlier with manual trans given reasonable terrain & climate by avoiding short trips and idling. The Cummins and Dodge collaboration begins with 1989 models.

Frankly, a non-business owner (IRS non-deductible miles) is still better off with a car and trailer. Diesel trucks are never cheap with certain repairs (transmissions and injectors, etc). I'd look at a Dodge Charger V6, personally. Did 27-mpg on a 10-day trip in a rental without trying, at all. With a WD hitch one can pull a substantial trailer.

.

[redneck]

Too bad the diesel Isuzu Pup and VW pick ups are no longer produced.

40 plus mpg.

>

[ecofreak]

Originally Posted by redneck

Too bad the diesel Isuzu Pup and VW pick ups are no longer produced.

40 plus mpg.

>

Toyota diesel pickups, the VW Caddy, and the diesel Isuzu P'up variant are all to be had on ebay for sub- $9000. You'd probably be best off with the one that has a timing belt and the least rust, as most other issues are less pressing and easier fixes.

Honestly, don't buy a pickup if you're hauling sub- 2655 pounds (the capacity the australian Holden Cruze variant has).

[CFECO]

Where can you get the Holden, here? My 81 Rabbit diesel PU got over 50mpg, it's a 5 speed and that was without the AC working. If I had the money for a new truck, $20K +, and wanted a pick up with the best mileage, I'd get a Rabbit PU and put in a newer VW turbo diesel. The old ones were OK, but the later turbo inter-cooled engines are much better. Plus it would pull the AC and have an automatic transmission.

[Frank Lee]

With a $20k budget for that, I'd also extend the cab (so I could sit in it).

[phunky.buddha]

Originally Posted by CFECO

Where can you get the Holden, here? My 81 Rabbit diesel PU got over 50mpg, it's a 5 speed and that was without the AC working. If I had the money for a new truck, $20K +, and wanted a pick up with the best mileage, I'd get a Rabbit PU and put in a newer VW turbo diesel. The old ones were OK, but the later turbo inter-cooled engines are much better. Plus it would pull the AC and have an automatic transmission.

I think he's saying to buy a Cruze and a trailer, since the Cruze is rated to tow that much in Australia and can probably do so in the US since it's likely the same hardware.

[morphector]

Why don't you get a small kei truck?


Some importer from canada
mini4x4.ca

That one gets an infinite mpg that way
The pic clearly shows the ''real size'' of them


I seriously don't know why they don't sell these in north america, tons of city/business would benefit from 40/50mpg trucks.

[CFECO]

LOL... Yes, that would be a good idea too, they were not made for large people.