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I'm starting to look around for new vehicle. My current car, an old but steadfast little Mazda hatchback, is unfortunately nearing the end of its service life. I say "unfortunately" because it has been the best set of wheels I've ever owned: 42 mpg hwy and it never breaks down. But the wear and tear begins to tell: now the rad leaks, oil leaks, it needs new struts and new tires, and the transmission hesitates at every gear.
At the same time, since I'm an avid hiker and climber, I've been wanting a vehicle with better ground clearance than an ordinary car, so that I can drive the unmaintained web of old logging and mining roads that gives the only access to most of British Columbia's mountain country. I've coaxed my little Mazda up into some surprising places, but it's nervewracking to teeter atop the ruts, studying the path for any jutting rock that might disembowel the vehicle. I would find it less tiring to trudge up an extra thousand metres of loose scree than to have to drive the mountain roads like that.
Looking around the market, most of the so-called "crossover" stuff doesn't suit my needs, because those vehicles don't have substantially better ground clearance than what I got right now. So that brings me to look for a compact truck.
I hardly every carry more than one passenger, so seating capacity is not an issue. Nor is power or payload, since I'm not hauling much cargo or towing a trailer. After years of driving a perfectly gutless 1.6 L fourbanger, I've developed a level of serene patience at the wheel that would have astonished my younger self.
4WD would be nice, but it's not strictly necessary. I've seen what's possible with 2WD--I once helped get a Fiat 128 across the Sahara (mind you, not that I'd ever want to try that again).
I have to say the compact truck market right now has me a bit disappointed at first glance. First of all, where the heck are all the compact trucks? Most of what's called "compact" today are nearly the size of the F-150 I owned 20 years ago. And the compact SUV's don't resemble the small Suzukis, or first-generation Broncos, which would be exactly the sort of thing which I'm looking for now. Not to mention they're often loaded with all sorts of silly accessories as standard equipment.
Even the Ford Ranger p/u is only offered in 4WD with a 4.0 L V-6. I don't need a four-litre engine, ffs. At least it is actually a small truck, though.
I have one friend with a recent model Colorado, but he said the motor blew with less than 60,000 miles (~100,000 km)--replaced under warranty, but still a headache.
The Honda p/u gets good reviews, but the price is high and there are very few of them on the road in BC which means parts & service might prove difficult.
So I'll quit ranting on, and ask for suggestions. Anybody know much about the compact vehicles on the market? I'm looking for something basic, with a good past record of reliability, that's available on the North American market.
At the same time, since I'm an avid hiker and climber, I've been wanting a vehicle with better ground clearance than an ordinary car, so that I can drive the unmaintained web of old logging and mining roads that gives the only access to most of British Columbia's mountain country. I've coaxed my little Mazda up into some surprising places, but it's nervewracking to teeter atop the ruts, studying the path for any jutting rock that might disembowel the vehicle. I would find it less tiring to trudge up an extra thousand metres of loose scree than to have to drive the mountain roads like that.
Looking around the market, most of the so-called "crossover" stuff doesn't suit my needs, because those vehicles don't have substantially better ground clearance than what I got right now. So that brings me to look for a compact truck.
I hardly every carry more than one passenger, so seating capacity is not an issue. Nor is power or payload, since I'm not hauling much cargo or towing a trailer. After years of driving a perfectly gutless 1.6 L fourbanger, I've developed a level of serene patience at the wheel that would have astonished my younger self.
4WD would be nice, but it's not strictly necessary. I've seen what's possible with 2WD--I once helped get a Fiat 128 across the Sahara (mind you, not that I'd ever want to try that again).
I have to say the compact truck market right now has me a bit disappointed at first glance. First of all, where the heck are all the compact trucks? Most of what's called "compact" today are nearly the size of the F-150 I owned 20 years ago. And the compact SUV's don't resemble the small Suzukis, or first-generation Broncos, which would be exactly the sort of thing which I'm looking for now. Not to mention they're often loaded with all sorts of silly accessories as standard equipment.
Even the Ford Ranger p/u is only offered in 4WD with a 4.0 L V-6. I don't need a four-litre engine, ffs. At least it is actually a small truck, though.
I have one friend with a recent model Colorado, but he said the motor blew with less than 60,000 miles (~100,000 km)--replaced under warranty, but still a headache.
The Honda p/u gets good reviews, but the price is high and there are very few of them on the road in BC which means parts & service might prove difficult.
So I'll quit ranting on, and ask for suggestions. Anybody know much about the compact vehicles on the market? I'm looking for something basic, with a good past record of reliability, that's available on the North American market.
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