Small pickup, needs to seat 4 adults; help.

I've come the conclusion that I can't fight this feeling anymore that I need a pickup truck. But I live in downtown Toronto. It needs to be small so I can get it in my laneway. It also needs to haul two adults and two teenage children (near full size). Manual would be great, but not required. I really would prefer 2wd. Looking at all the small trucks. Any stick out as being the best in show? I'm trying to cap price at $10K.

Truck will be used as a daily, tow the race car (under 3.5K pounds total weight car and dolly), and be able to take a small camper back for race weekends and getting out of town.

Thanks,

Jeff

PS A very nice and well maintained 2009 SAAB 9-3 will be available soon.

Not sure what you're going to get in a smaller truck for that price. I would have said crew cab Colorado with 4cyl/5spd, but even though it will do it, it's not rated for that tow capacity. The auto is.

the crew cab s10s only came in v6 and auto afiak but cheap to maintain and cheap entry cost i assume

otherwise the answer is toyota

the nissan frontiers have reliability issues

Either the Tacoma or the Canyon crew cabs will seat 4 adults. Note, anything called an extended or access cab in a small truck will absolutely not seat 4 adults, the rear seats are at best for cargo. Being from Alberta I'd of course tell you to get the biggest, diesel truck you can get

Small is relative and I know downtown Toronto so I know you may want REALLY small. Which makes your question difficult to answer.

The Second generation (1997–2004) Dodge Dakota is the best "small" truck in its era. 4 door version made in (2000-2004). Nothing speaks to its capability more than the head of GM trucks giving up on his vow to beat the Dakota after buying 15 or so Dakotas for evaluation. What comes close is the same GM truck division thanking Chrysler/Dodge for botching the redesign for 2005. LOL

For a really small "truck" maybe think Subaru Baja?

dare I say it?

Ridgeline.

Thanks for the quick feedback. My lot is 17.5 feet wide, my garage is 16.5 feet wide (but 26 feet deep). So I need small.

I don't think I could even get that in the lane way.

Whats a lane way? Is that what we call a driveway?

Exploder Sport Trac. More room in the back than most quad cab mini trucks, should pull 3500 lbs without issue(especially as you don't have tongue weight to worry about)

Plus it was built for the purpose you speak of.

yamaha wrote: Exploder Sport Trac. More room in the back than most quad cab mini trucks, should pull 3500 lbs without issue(especially as you don't have tongue weight to worry about) Plus it was built for the purpose you speak of.

As much as I hate to admit it, this seems like the correct answer to me.

Does it have to be a pickup truck? Small or mid-size SUV work? Exploder?

wlkelley3 wrote: Does it have to be a pickup truck? Small or mid-size SUV work? Exploder?

Sport trac is kinda the best of both worlds in this case.

bravenrace wrote: Whats a lane way? Is that what we call a driveway?

Yes.

turboswede wrote: dare I say it? Ridgeline.

I don't understand what people have against the Ridgeline. For 95% of non business buyers of pickup trucks it is perfect. Sure, you aren't going to pull a gooseneck with it, but the office parking lots full of pristine full size trucks around here tell me that lots of people don't need the capacity new half find offer. In exchange for this the Ridgeline gets you car like ride and handling, what's not to like?

In reply to ShadowSix:

Nor do I. A very vocal minority here at GRM do not like them, even if the GRM staff loved theirs. The wife even considered one until she sat in the back of one and realized how uncomfortable it would be for passengers, which was 99% of the need we have.

A lot of people don't like them (Ridgelines), which is why the sales are horrible, plus they're ugly (imho of course).

BTW, the RidgeLine is about 6.5 feet wide and the Explorer SportTrac is about 6 feet wide. So 6 inches difference.

The Ridgeline and the Explorer are about 17 feet long.

Jeff, Explorer Sport Trac. Most of them came with the SOHC 4.0L V6. Careful, they use timing chains and to change the right side requires pulling the motor. Listen for a rattling noise under light throttle. I don't think they ever came with the 5.0. The Explorer did and that is widely acknowledges to be the best package. A 5.0 2wd Explorer in Canada would be a unicorn though - almost all were 4wd or AWD.

My Explorer pulled 5500 lbs without a problem with the 4.0/5R55 combo.

5R55 transmission is known for a 2-3 shift "hang". Not normally a terminal problem. Watch for the revs to go up slightly on 2-3 shift.

Cotton wrote: A lot of people don't like them (Ridgelines), which is why the sales are horrible, plus they're ugly (imho of course).

It's because they're 4 doors. If it were a 2 door truck, they wouldn't be ugly and they wouldn't be able to keep them on the lots. Everybody knows that.

*Please note, for those of you that are overly sensitive, or looking to start an argument, the above was only intended as a humour.

ShadowSix wrote:

turboswede wrote: dare I say it? Ridgeline.

I don't understand what people have against the Ridgeline. For 95% of non business buyers of pickup trucks it is perfect. Sure, you aren't going to pull a gooseneck with it, but the office parking lots full of pristine full size trucks around here tell me that lots of people don't need the capacity new half find offer. In exchange for this the Ridgeline gets you car like ride and handling, what's not to like?

I have a co-worker who had a Ridgeline - he replaced with a Full Size GM. The GM gets better mileage loaded AND unloaded and is twice the truck a Ridgeline is. An under-stressed V8 is often better than an over-stressed V6

ShadowSix wrote:

turboswede wrote: dare I say it? Ridgeline.

I don't understand what people have against the Ridgeline. For 95% of non business buyers of pickup trucks it is perfect. Sure, you aren't going to pull a gooseneck with it, but the office parking lots full of pristine full size trucks around here tell me that lots of people don't need the capacity new half find offer. In exchange for this the Ridgeline gets you car like ride and handling, what's not to like?

It is the classic problem with humans that we often times don't want what is best for us! That is it. We will never understand that human condition.

5ft-3in tall driver with 5 kids, two in strollers still. Need to drive them all over the township. MINIVAN!!! nah lets get an Excursion with that lift kit!!! oh wait they don't make that anymore SUBURBAN YES with lift kit!!

In reply to Jeff:

What exactly is the need for the truck bed? Just asking to help narrow it down.

In reply to Advan046:

Was hoping to put one of those slide in campers for weekend long events. But you need a 6ft bed for that so it might not work out.