Opinions on the best truck on the market today?

[axemaster911]

Im going to buy a new 2006 truck. I want to get some opinions on the best there is as far as durability, and long lasting reliability in the half ton, 4 wheel drive category. Man, I love the Nissan Titan with its over 300 hp V-8, and monstrous good looks, but most the V-6s now are around 240 hp, and would work for me. The Toyota Tacoma, and Honda Ridgeline fit the bill, but I just cant figure out which, if any other is the best in the long run.
Any one got views on this?

[Hammurabi]

How comfortable are you sitting in each of the trucks? If my memory is correct the titan is more spacious than the others.

[R. Shackleferd]

While I personally don't drive a truck, my dad had a similar need for 4x4 and reliability for winters in New Mexico (among other things). He asked a mechanic his opinion on the best engine available. He responded with Chevy Silverado (which is what my dad ended up purchasing). The mechanic said if everyone drove those he would go out of business.
I would also say to check out Consumer Reports, either the magazine or online. They just released this year's auto issue. Yet if you're buying brand new, they may not have a whole lot of tested stats on those models yet...but you could at least see patterns of reliability on models throughout the years.

[PonyOne]

From what I know about trucks...

-The Silverado is great, and IMHO probably has the best combination of guts and durability. Labor is really cheap too.

-The Tacoma is probably the most reliable thing out there (Toyota trucks are nigh upon impossible to kill), and they look alright to boot... torque and hauling capabilities are less than a full-size like the Silverado, but if you don't need all that power then why pay for the lower mileage?

-The Titan is spacious and rides pretty nice; the V8 is gutsy and torquey, don't know how it stacks up to the American boys in terms of those figures but it feels really, really solid.

-The Ridgeline is basically a Honda Pilot minus the back part. It's a totally different beast from all of the above; probably the most civilized ride, but the least space and the least loadbearing by proxy.

[PRSplaya]

I used to work in a parts house, and still have a friend who works there, and he is one of the most knowledgable people on vehicles I know. They sell more Ford and Chevy truck parts then anything else. They sell the least parts for Dodge, with Toyota and Nissan falling just behind.

If I were to buy a brand new full sized 4x4, I would go with a Dodge Ram. I like the way they drive, and prefer the interior layout over Ford and Chevy by a long shot. I've never driven or ridden in a Titan, so I can't speak for it, but I really don't like it's looks. If I were to get any truck I wanted, I would probably go with a 2002-4~ model Toyota Tacoma. I used to have a 95-1/2 model Tacoma which was, and still is, the best truck I've ever owned or driven.

[axemaster911]

PonyOne, and PRSplaya, you guys seen it just the way I have, that Tacoma is going to be hard to top, and if I was stuck in Irac back in 2003 that is what I would want to be in for my run to the border.
Much obliged.

[BLS33]

if you want durabilty buy a deisel, cummins (doge) or duramax(chevy) , i would stay away from powerstroke (ford), deisel engines last for a very long time, and as far as torque and power go gasoline engines cant come close. If you use a chip on a deisel engine (if you can screw in a light bulb you can do that) your numbers will be extremley high and you will run at maximum efficieny but they are expensive...

also if you buy a ford or chevy you will never have to look for a part, all so easy to find

[6strngs_2hmbkrs]

I was trying to find this video, but I can't for the life of me. anyway, in the video, they were trying to kill a toyota truck (tacoma? I'm not sure) they ran it into a brick wall, they chained it down to a rock along the shore, and it got pounded with waves all night, they lit it on fire, and they finished by putting it on top of a building, and imploding the building beneath it. it still ran, after all of that. they are practically indestructable.

other than that, I know nothing about trucks, sorry! :o

[Akira]

I was trying to find this video, but I can't for the life of me. anyway, in the video, they were trying to kill a toyota truck (tacoma? I'm not sure) they ran it into a brick wall, they chained it down to a rock along the shore, and it got pounded with waves all night, they lit it on fire, and they finished by putting it on top of a building, and imploding the building beneath it. it still ran, after all of that. they are practically indestructable.

Holy carpola, that is impressive!

I just watched something on TV where some guys built the worlds biggest vacuum cleaner... 20ft tall, and it worked really well. In an hour or so they're gonna build the worlds biggest guitar and amp, and actually play it!