Subaru vs Midsize Truck for mountain roads

[txtransplant]

I think I may be willing to pay the Tacoma tax at this point after having test driven one, but they’re just so hard to find. Had a good one picked out but I was a day too late. Still debating the Subaru but I am leaning towards a Tacoma. Also looking at newer frontiers but not certain if I’d be willing to try it out.

I’d also look at Chevy Colorado if you want to avoid the Taco Tax. The off road trims are very capable. Maybe less reliable / more maintenance than Toyota? Worth a look though.

I will say - having hunted out of only SUVs, I would LOVE a truck bed. I’d DQ Subarus for that reason alone.

Edit to add: unless you’re going to tow a SxS, in which case I’d put 4Runner back on the board (a modern one that can tow). But I don’t think that’s where you’re headed with this.

 

[elkhunter505]

I’d also look at Chevy Colorado if you want to avoid the Taco Tax. The off road trims are very capable. Maybe less reliable / more maintenance than Toyota? Worth a look though.

I will say - having hunted out of only SUVs, I would LOVE a truck bed. I’d DQ Subarus for that reason alone.

Edit to add: unless you’re going to tow a SxS, in which case I’d put 4Runner back on the board (a modern one that can tow). But I don’t think that’s where you’re headed with this.

Makes sense to me. I have put the 4Runner back on the list after finding a few nice old ones on Facebook marketplace that would save me a ton on payments, but it feels like playing Russian roulette. I’ve also considered Colorados but I’m looking for a 6 foot bed and haven’t seen many of them in my area. I’ve been pretty attached to having a 6 ft right now because if I’m gonna spend that level of money, I want to get exactly what I want that could last for 10 years at least. I’ve also started entertaining Tacomas with 200K miles since they are a decent amount cheaper, especially the older 1997-2004 models but it does feel like I would be living dangerously.

 

[StupidLightweight]

I own an F150 and had a Tacoma for 8 years, but when I go hunting, I almost always take my wife’s car. On rough roads, the independent suspension and AWD is impossible to beat without going to a side by side. As others mentioned, ground clearance is the only limiting factor. You will hear lots of homo jokes, but for a one-car solution, Subarus are king—well, maybe queen…

 

[Hydra6]

I bought a GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 6.0 as my retirement truck - too many issues (stranded with $100 failed sensor plus 30+ days to get part, transmission worries, 6.0 V8 recall). Sold the new truck and looked at other trucks - more reliability issues, used trucks $$, new trucks crazy cost. Looked at my wife's 2019 Subaru Outback Touring 3.6R serving us great, no issues. Bought a 2021 Subaru Ascent Touring (the biggest Subaru) and it is serving me well for PRS. 99% of driving to PRS is highway or paved 2 lanes then the last few miles are bad dirt roads (muddy). I just tell my buddies that I am a Lesbian. I have noted more and more Subarus at the PRS events for same reasons - new trucks unreliable and costly. I kept my old 2015 Ram 1500 4x4 Hemi with 170k+ miles and if I need a truck I use that.

 

[TaperPin]

Tire chains make such a huge difference in snow and mud I should have made a different choice and not bought a 4 Runner, which has so little clearance it’s stupid. There’s also not a lot of storage so a full length roof rack is essential unless you camp out of a backpack. I dislike modern jeep products because of cheap wiring, but they are the easiest way to get a lot of tire clearance for taller tires and/or tire chains. If I were to do it over I should have bought a good used full size pickup.

Most of my hunting is out of established trailheads so they are generally good enough to get a car to in good weather or light snow.

I didn’t have a Subaru, but a 2005 vintage Hyundai suv that was simply built, easy to fix, reliable, and with all four chained up could go through more snow than 4 wheel drive pickups without chains, and had a lot of room. Even the factory roof rack was well made and carried a lot of weight. It survived two teenage boys learning to drive with only one clutch replacement at 100k. The biggest downside was the lack of any kind of low gear, so you could go down something and almost not have enough power to come back up.

 

[fngTony]

I don’t know if this is part of your consideration, but I’ll throw it out there anyway. The older I get the more I appreciate a soft ride off-road. Subaru are similar crossover SUVs will give you that assuming they’re capable of the given trail. Newer trucks even a 1 ton can ride pretty nice. Old trucks ride like shit there’s no two ways about it. They ride like shit. Middle-aged trucks from say the mid 90s through 2010 are hit are a hit or miss depending on the make model and suspension package but the heavier duty trucks of that era still ride pretty hard.

The other tough decision is that a brand new to slightly used truck can be almost the same cost of ownership as something a little older with a little bit more miles on it. Once you get to say over 10 years old and over 130,000 miles I think you can expect 10 grand on maintenance and repairs and that’s on something that isn’t showing any signs when you first buy it.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Once you get to say over 10 years old and over 130,000 miles I think you can expect 10 grand on maintenance and repairs and that’s on something that isn’t showing any signs when you first buy it.

Dont get me wrong, you buy the wrong rig on the wrong day and you can have some big bills to fix. But for the most part, thats a bit of a stretch.

 

[elkhunter505]

I don’t know if this is part of your consideration, but I’ll throw it out there anyway. The older I get the more I appreciate a soft ride off-road. Subaru are similar crossover SUVs will give you that assuming they’re capable of the given trail. Newer trucks even a 1 ton can ride pretty nice. Old trucks ride like shit there’s no two ways about it. They ride like shit. Middle-aged trucks from say the mid 90s through 2010 are hit are a hit or miss depending on the make model and suspension package but the heavier duty trucks of that era still ride pretty hard.

The other tough decision is that a brand new to slightly used truck can be almost the same cost of ownership as something a little older with a little bit more miles on it. Once you get to say over 10 years old and over 130,000 miles I think you can expect 10 grand on maintenance and repairs and that’s on something that isn’t showing any signs when you first buy it.

I agree with your statement about the relaxed ride. My F150 bounces me all over the place but it’s not my number 1. My number 1 is reliability by a mile. Everything else after that is so wishy washy in my mind that I am stuck in analysis paralysis. Right now I’m looking at two Tacomas, a 2001 and a 2017. The 2017 has been at that dealer for long enough that is gives me pause. They’re both wildly overpriced which does suck but seems like no matter what I look at, they’re overpriced. Ones an XtraCab and the other is a Double Cab with a long bed. Basically I’m sitting on the fence about do I get something that gets me point A to B until I finish my PhD or do I get something I’m going to try and keep as long as possible. I’m doing everything in my power to not fall into the analysis trap because it’s a very long trap for me normally but it ain’t working.

 

[Steve300xcw]

. Right now I’m looking at two Tacomas, a 2001 and a 2017. The 2017 has been at that dealer for long enough that is gives me pause. They’re both wildly overpriced which does suck but seems like no matter what I look at, they’re overpriced. Ones an XtraCab and the other is a Double Cab with a long bed. Basically I’m sitting on the fence about do I get something that gets me point A to B until I finish my PhD or do I get something I’m going to try and keep as long as possible. I’m doing everything in my power to not fall into the analysis trap because it’s a very long trap for me normally but it ain’t working.

The 01's a solid rig for the most part. Kinda that last era before the got a pile of gizmo's wired into them. Throw a set of OEM ball joints at it for piece of mind and then rock on.

The aftermarket stuff for the tacomas seems to mostly start around 2005 fwiw

 

[fngTony]

Dont get me wrong, you buy the wrong rig on the wrong day and you can have some big bills to fix. But for the most part, thats a bit of a stretch.

My company just spent $6500 on a bunch of minor to moderate repairs on a 06 Chevy. We declined (for now) shocks and tires which would put it at $8k. No internal motor or transmission stuff just leaf springs, bolts, front suspension, extra labor to torch and cut sized bolts, cooler lines, intake gasket, full front brake job and several other things.
@elkhunter505 Those old Tacomas are pretty solid with some areas of rust concern. The next generation up was similar other than the frame recall so check that if you’re getting serious about one.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Did you guys not look at it before you bought it?

 

[elkhunter505]

My company just spent $6500 on a bunch of minor to moderate repairs on a 06 Chevy. We declined (for now) shocks and tires which would put it at $8k. No internal motor or transmission stuff just leaf springs, bolts, front suspension, extra labor to torch and cut sized bolts, cooler lines, intake gasket, full front brake job and several other things.
@elkhunter505 Those old Tacomas are pretty solid with some areas of rust concern. The next generation up was similar other than the frame recall so check that if you’re getting serious about one.

The guy says it’s rust free and I’m gonna go take a look at it this weekend. If it meets my expectations, it may be what I end up buying. I have a nephew who will be driving age in about 5 years that I could sell/pass it down to for a first vehicle. Looks insanely clean for the age of it, but we’ll see when I get over there.

 

[Steve300xcw]

trd? 3.4 or 2.7?

 

[elkhunter505]

trd? 3.4 or 2.7?

Trd 3.4 with an automatic.

 

[fngTony]

Did you guys not look at it before you bought it?

I think that was a question for me? We owned it for a long time. It was just kind of your back up vehicle never really got much done to it other than oil and tires. So basically neglect that added up which is something that you could get from a purchase.

 

[WRO]

Trd 3.4 with an automatic.

I loved mine, cheap to fix, easy to work on, and it never needed it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Steve300xcw]

Trd 3.4 with an automatic.

Thats a good solid setup. Ball joints and a timing belt just to have a base to go from. IIRC snip one wire and the Elocker will work whenever you want it to.

 

[180ls1]

I agree with your statement about the relaxed ride. My F150 bounces me all over the place but it’s not my number 1. My number 1 is reliability by a mile. Everything else after that is so wishy washy in my mind that I am stuck in analysis paralysis. Right now I’m looking at two Tacomas, a 2001 and a 2017. The 2017 has been at that dealer for long enough that is gives me pause. They’re both wildly overpriced which does suck but seems like no matter what I look at, they’re overpriced. Ones an XtraCab and the other is a Double Cab with a long bed. Basically I’m sitting on the fence about do I get something that gets me point A to B until I finish my PhD or do I get something I’m going to try and keep as long as possible. I’m doing everything in my power to not fall into the analysis trap because it’s a very long trap for me normally but it ain’t working.

You need to seriously consider a Lexus. Same 4x4 as those tacomas.

LX470/570
GX470/460

Dollar for dollar the GX 470 will give you bulletproof reliability and a HUGE comfort upgrade over the Tacoma.

 

[elkhunter505]

Thats a good solid setup. Ball joints and a timing belt just to have a base to go from. IIRC snip one wire and the Elocker will work whenever you want it to.

The owner did the timing belt about 15000 miles ago so seems like a good thing.

 

[elkhunter505]

You need to seriously consider a Lexus. Same 4x4 as those tacomas.

LX470/570
GX470/460

Dollar for dollar the GX 470 will give you bulletproof reliability and a HUGE comfort upgrade over the Tacoma.

I’ve been curious about these as well but I think I want a truck bed more than I want a cab. But I’ll shop around on marketplace and see.