One more thing- a lift on a IFS toyota won't give any more travel, just allow you to fit bigger tires. So they are a waste of money. You can swap in a solid axel on an IFS rig for about $2000 if you do it yourself. Although some people have done it for as little as $400.

Does the lift provide any advantage at all other than more ground clearance? Seems a waste unless you intend to offroad it. I just use my truck for towing and hauling parts. I'd almost prefer to a slight lowering for the lower CG and better handling. Seems like a lift would be a little detrimental to the truck's limits while towing.

I pefer 2 wheel drive, but I don't do any offroading. It would be fun I'm sure, but I have too many hobbies already. There are just more things to break on a 4X4. Also, the 4x4 trucks may require special care in use. Some can be damaged if driven in 4wd mode on the road. Better know how to tell if one is damaged or how the previous owner treated the vehicle before you buy.

Just my opinion.

lift is for the bigger tires, which is for ground clearance, and approach angles, yada yada yada.

since moving to cali, i have put my truck in 4by about 5 times. i admit, those five times, i wanted to get out and hug my truck, but every damn time i am filling it up at the gas station, i *****andmoan. btw, i have a chevy S10 with that ZR2 highlift package from the factory. hi output SIX cylinder doenst ever get better than 16 mpg on the freeway. it effen sucks. i bet that a V8 4x4 toyota, tundra will do the same. which will be my next truck probably. i need better towing ability.

I'm leaning towards a 4cyl 5spd 4x4 Toyota from '90 or so. Seems like they can be had for around $4-5K, would get decnet gas mileage, and should be fairly bombproof as long as they've been taken care of. That is the tricky part of course...

good choice, but be careful. you will be everyone's go-to guy anytime something big needs to get moved. that truck with a contractor lumber rack would be kickin A.

If you can set pride and cool factor aside-the only way to go is a minivan. I don't know about your instruments, but my guitars and amps will never see the back of a pick-up (which I've had btw).

Minivan pros:

-cheap-you can get a beauty for 5k

-decent mileage-20-25 mpg

-room-I've hauled engines in the back of mine, tons of car parts, sailboards and even a Laser on top, drunk friends (6), tandems, lumber in and on top, dogs, kids, camping equipment, guitars, amps, etc. Half the time I drive my minivan to races to view because it carries all the necessary paraphenalia-coolers, lawnchairs, grills....and if I can't see-I sit on top of it.

-great in foul weather-I've traversed the Rockies in terrible weather, endured glare ice in the Midwest, and lounged comfortably in 104 degree heat. Front wheel drive traction is killer.

-comfort-posh my friend. Dvds, MP3s, kegger, the road is your playground.

-power-I smoked a Z28 off the line with one of my Grand Caravans (ok-it was a *****ty Z, but hey!)

-stealth-minivans are invisible to the cops. I set my cruise at 75 and forget it.

Cons:

-Rolling birthcontrol. You better be hooked up before signing on to one of these-unless of course you're into divorced/unwed mothers looking for a place to stow their spawn.

-mass derision-get ready for ridicule. No man, and hardly any women, can resist belittling the minivan driver for being a suburban kumquat. Don't even think about the usual
macho-fication attempts to reduce this such as ski equipement stickers and window tinting. It just doesn't work.

-same hassle as pickups for hauling peoples crap. "Uh, Hey, do you mind....?"

ok sebring, back away from the keyboard! :)

just kidding, i teased my single, and dateless friend about his minivan, right up to the moment when 7 of us climbed aboard to go and eat during a snowboard trip. i still cant do it, unless i have kids. then i have other issues, and all of them will render me dateless.

That is horrible. I do better than that with my F350, crewcab, long box, power stroke. (really big pickup) In fact I have done better than that while towing my Ski Nautique. I don't see myself getting another gasser pickup ever

I was going to reccomend this. We have a 91 740, and bulletproof engine is absolutely correct! I don't think we've even changed the oil in that thing in the past 10k but it still starts up no matter what and runs flawlessly. Safe car, too.

You might want to look at a Saab 9-3. Up until 2002, the car was a four door body style with a hatch. A very usable trunk, a 60-40 fold-down rear seat, and cavernous cargo hold with the rear seat folded flat. Also fun to drive, but can be tricky to buy used. Best bets are from a Saab enthusiast or a from certified car from a Saab dealer.

Steve

no minivan. sorry. no minvan. no suv either.

Another criteria: has to have a stick. no slushbox. The Volvos seem to be mostly AT. The search continues...

I fit six drunk friends in my WRX once. Most of them 6'+ burly guys.

Did I mention they were drunk? And loud?

And shouting out the windows at 1AM in South Central LA?

Band equipment --> VW Van

There's no way I'd ever drive, let alone purchase, a minivan. If they got 200 mpg and were free to insure, I'd still keep our Expedition. Yes I have issues...

Go for the Toyota truck- you seriously can't go wrong.

I think minivans are cool! Although I'd be picky if I'd seriously get one. I'd get an 89-90 turbo Mopar 5speed or one of those AWD supercharged early 90's Toyota Previas.

The dodge turbo would be awesome, family hauler on the weekdays and drag strip monster on the weekends!

Ever see the movie Get Shorty? The Oldsmobile Silhouette-
The Cadillac of minivans. LOL

If I could find a Dodge Omni GLH I'd be all over it. But that's as far as I go...

The Omni GLHs are cool, but they are impossible to find and I believe they have a weak transmissions and many of the parts are unique to only that car. I think they have crappy electronics too. But they are fairly lightweight and make a cool sleeper car.

Yes!! A cool mini-van! Westphalia! Synchro all weather parte' mobile. Looks good at valet parking OR a Phish concert!

Island-you're a genius!

Hmmmmm. Compensating?:)

I've looked at various incarnations of VW van. If I went that route I'd likely go for a second generation (say, '71). The Westys are cool but can cost a lot to keep running (especially the synchros). The problem is I think I want something with functional AC...if I've got to get a "sensible" car (HA!), then I want some degree of comfort.

yeah, I know...I've grown soft.