Doing a little research here. I'm gonna have to replace my old truck sometime within a year. I was hoping to get a half million out of it, still trying, but sooner or later I'm gonna have to give in and replace it. So I'm looking at a number of options and was wondering if you guys could help out and give an honest answer to the question of gas milage. What does your PICKUP get for gas milage.
Please, I am only interested in pickups. I don't care what your van gets or your Honda. We kinda like the idea of a four door pickup. More than likely have to be a compact....milage is very important, we drive A LOT. I get 20 city 26 hwy now and would like to get something that would get close to that.. I don't haul plywood, so a small bed isn't a hinderance. I'm looking at something two or three years old.
The Explorer Sport Track looks good as far as bed size and roominess but the milage figures leave a little to be desired.
My truck lost a fight with an automatic gate at a body shop a few months back. They fixed it and gave us a loaner for a couple of weeks. The loaner was a PT Cruiser. I had always considered one of these. After working out of it for one week, the paint smell really got too bad inside to consider one of them. Plus, I wasn't all that impressed with the milage, 22 Hwy was the best we saw.
Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
2003 SWB Ford V6 regular cab gets 24 MPG
Posted by Henry Barker (Member # 174) on :
George,
Why don't more of you run diesels?
Over here in Europe, most new full size Dodge, Chevy and Ford double cab pick-ups are diesels, perform really well and get much better mpg.
I have 2 deisels now, I know we pay more over here for gas, but larger trucks inthe Us run on diesel....is that not an option today, nice Cummins?
Posted by Brian Snyder (Member # 41) on :
Cause the quality of the diesel fuel in the U.S. is poor.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
George,
My '97 Mazda (Ranger) pickup (2.2L) still gets 23MPG city even with 140,000 miles on it. I don't know the highway number cause we don't have a highway here that's not constantly interrupted with traffic signals... so, that number is with a LOT of stop-n-starts, driving over hilly terrain as we're at the base of a set of mountains.
My truck has never needed to go into the shop, it's been real good to me. I did have to replace the thermostat a couple summers ago and yanked out the heat shield around the muffler (it rattled a little). Other than that, it's been trouble-free but I maintain the mechanicals too... and it rides as smooth as can be, even before I swapped out the suspension to lower it. The interior is also nice and quiet and comfortable if that means anything to you.
Henry, diesel engines aren't even an option for most vehicles in the US, except for a few of the larger pickups. There used to be diesels available in a handful of imported cars (Benz and VW) but even they're phasing it out.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
when i worked at the NAPA store we used IZUZU diesel p/u's. most of these had 200,000 mile or better on them. great mileage close to 30 a gal around town. now the down side with small diesels....no power, noisy, and did i say no power!!!! i dont think they make this small of diesel anymore for that reason. i looked a new NISSAN full size p/u, gas milage sucks....on the window sticker.....ford, chevy, and dodge full size all have a large diesels 5-7 liter. now feedin that big an engine still uses a lot of fuel. you might get 20-25 mpg on the higway with em.....but around town they are no better then gas. ive seen the TRUCKS show on spike tv, they got some performace upgrades for these big diesels but they never say what that added power band does to fuel milage. friend of mine has a dodge dakota, 4 cly. good mileage high 20's, but it wont get out of its own way. geo with your type of work, and your racing knowledge, you would be futher ahead to find a "classic" type chevy p/u, build a motor to your needs, and you will be the coolest when you got to stripe a job......there was one guy i saw a car show, had a 55 chev body set on a 80's frame. this give him the cool 55 look with the disc brakes and better suspension of the 80's. and you know how to build a 350 that would get 20+ mpg with the right gears and inside motor works.
Posted by Rovelle W. Gratz (Member # 4404) on :
Dodge Ram 1500 W/5.9 Liter engine.....14 MPG.
I can't stand the smell the of a diesel. Or the racket.
I worked around and on diesel generators for 20 years.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Yep, yer right, it ain't no truck, but it gets me around; and with a top speed of over 210kph it isn't a slouch, although it gets better milage than a pontiac firefly. On Highway it gets ~1000kms per 50 litre tank in town I get 600km.
Shop delivery van is a V8 E250 extended... all I can say is that it is more efficient than the Chevy Cube (16') that it replaced.
Wife drives a cherokee, also a guzzler and I wish I could get the 2.2l diesel engine for it that is standard in europe.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
No info from me George...I don't own a pick-up and really have no desire to own one.
BUT...What I wonder about is why a guy who makes AS MUCH MONEY as you would be concerned about gas mileage??? Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
95 siverado extended cab 181,270 miles 350 vortec v8 with throttle body fuel injection 19mpg hwy
Posted by Brian Snyder (Member # 41) on :
Mike - VW is actually offering more diesels now than in the last 5 years. They offer a diesel to the U.S. market in the New Beatle, Touareg, Jetta, Golf and Passat. I don't think it is legal for sale in California though.
I have an 2004 Chevy Colorado extended cab with the I5 (not a typo), 2WD and auto trans. I only have 2,500 miles on it and its averaging 20mpg. Fortunately, my 88 CRX has 210,000 and still gets 35mpg. Posted by DianeBalch (Member # 1301) on :
Our 4 wheel drive '95 Dakota gets about 17-20 mpg depending on the season.
The Diesel Passat gets 40-46 mpg.
ernie
Posted by bernie clites (Member # 4749) on :
I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota 4 door - V8. For a smaller truck it gets 13.5 - sucks. Gas mileage has been my biggest gripe. I think my Ram1500 got better than that. Miss my old Jeep pu that got 18 mpg no matter what. It just got old and didn't want to go anymore. Bernie
Posted by Jerry VanHorn (Member # 4704) on :
Chevy Dually, 454 v-8, 11 mpg. Posted by Mindy Cassingham (Member # 4802) on :
I know it isn't an option for everyone, but for me and my husband, we choose to drive old IH trucks. We pick them up for anywhere between $200-4000 - our fleet at it's height of our tour business had 8 IH travelalls.
Yes, the fuel mileage is poor - 12-15mpg, but the total cost of ownership balances that out well. Insurance tends to run under $50/month. So when figuring the total cost of ownership - fuel, insurance, repairs, payments/lease - we are always under $250/month.
Also, there is a HUGE "look at me" factor when driving a classic vehicle. People come up and ask about the vehicle and we always steer the conversation toward our business, when possible. We give out plenty of bizcards, brochures, flyers, whatever literature we've got on hand! We hope to get a nice panel van in the future - lots of space to letter and sign!
Attached is a small photo of our prettiest tour vehicles- always turned the heads and was unbeatable on the back country roads.
Our second tour rig had much better signage on it - my talented cousin did this one...
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
I'm 'temporarily' driving a '79 dodge half ton. I don't have actual numbers, but I know the fuel lasts much longer at 40-45 mph than at 50-55. It has a 318 V8, that I put a new cam and lifters in. The motor doesn't smoke, so I know it's running reasonably clean, but I feel irresponsible driving it,since a '76 Datsun half ton model 620 PU will do everything I need. (Except haul trailers.) The Datsun will even haul a load of oak firewood up a very steep and long driveway, if it has the 4 speed manual transmission. I don't know about the automatics in the 4 bangers, the ones I drove seemed not low geared enough, therefore doggy for hauling. I've got a bunch of parts for the model 620's, they left the truck basically the same from '73-'79, lots of interchangeable parts. That's my kind of vehicle. When I checked, it seemed like the Datsun was getting low to mid 20's for milage.
I realize this stuff is ancient, but I could probably work on the Datsun blindfolded, I know it pretty well. I drive the full size Dodge because it was easier to do the body work on it than the heavy mechanical the small truck needs. The Dodge is about to get a nice new paint job, I keep thinking about people's comments here regarding having a nice looking company vehicle, summed up by Karen Bush:" Immage is everything". Once the Dodge looks good, I want to start building the Datsun.
Posted by Don Hulsey (Member # 128) on :
Hey George,
My pickup hasn't been started in the past 4 years, so we won't discuss it's 15 mpg.
One of my customers had me letter an '04 Chevy 1/2 ton with the V-6. Six months later he returned with an extended cab version of the same truck with a 350. He said the reason he traded was because the V-6 never did better than 16 mpg. He decided for that mileage he would rather have the power of the 350. Turns out the 350 gets 22mpg city and 26 mpg highway. Both of these had the same shell on the bed, the type that is rounded in the rear, and makes the truck look more like a station wagon.
Posted by Mike Murray (Member # 840) on :
I've got an '04 Silverado SS. Sure it's not good on gas (the 6.0 liter is very thirsty), but for a truck, it's fun to drive and since there aren't many around, it gets a lot of looks.
Posted by Glenn Thompson (Member # 1851) on :
Bought one of those mew GMC Canyons a few months back and LOVE the truck. It is in the bodyshop right now, so I am renting a Ford sport trac.
Now to compare the two: The GMC Canyon is rated for 24 and 29 mpg, but when I have checked the mileage I am getting about 32 mpg for hwy. I find it roomier that the blazer we had before and roomier and more comfortable than the ford we are renting now. The Ford sport trac doesn't touch the mileage we get from the GMC and the ford seems smaller inside and is not comfortable for any distance driving. The ford has a couple of more options than our canyon, but I still wouldn't have it over the canyon.
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
i have a 4 door toyota tundra v8...probably gets 16-20 mpg...if you got a tacoma v6 i'm sure it would get better milage.
Posted by William DeBekker (Member # 3848) on :
98 Mazda B3000 4WD V6 Slighty Oversized tires Hurt my Milage a little. Don't drive a heck of a lot only has 34000 miles on it but get around 18 city 22 hiway
Posted by Bob Peach (Member # 2620) on :
98 Isuzu Hombre extra cab(S-10 Chevy w/ different front sheetmetal) 4.3 Chevy v6 w/4WD 5 Speed stick, gets 22 hiway with 100,000 mi.on it.
Posted by Tony McDonald (Member # 1158) on :
My 2003 Dodge Dakota 4wd has a 4.7 litre v8 and might get around 12 to 14 mpg. That's really the only thing I'm not liking.
Posted by Frank Magoo (Member # 3950) on :
George; it's not what you're looking for, but, I chose to build vs: buy when that time came. My '89 Suburban weighs 6280 dry and gets 24-25 mph on highway; 20-22 in town...all through use of gearing,torque, cam timing, electronic fuel-injection, and aerodynamics. I built an airtight box in rear to house what paint/thinner I need, never get smell inside. Plus dog uses it as platform to scope out passing scenery. Total cost is way less than new and I know for fact it will go at least 200,000 and I can fix it anywhere there's a gm parts store. Plus, if I so desire, it's top-end will scare ya.....just my thoughts on subject..... Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
My '04 F-150 supercab is suppost to get about 14-18 but I haven't had it long enough or driven it enough to really check it out.
Tony, my '03 Durango had the same engine and I think I was getting about 17-18 in it.
I do know 1 thing, I have the 6.5' bed and made the appointment for the Rhino liner to be sprayed in while I was at the dealer picking the truck up. Best thing I ever did. It's not the real slick one that feels like those $99 drop-in bedliners, it's the grippier one. I can open the tailgate, gently slide materials in it and drive away The lumber I've brought home this week never moved.
Posted by Mikes Mischeif (Member # 1744) on :
My F-250 Crew cab with the V10 gets 10mpg whether it's at idle, highway, city or plowing snow.
...At least it's consistant
Mike
Posted by Judy Pate (Member # 237) on :
My 2000 4 door extended cab Chevy Silverado gets 16 in town and 19 on highway. Perhaps a crew or extended cab GMC Canyon or Chevy Colorado is what you might be looking for. Gas mileage sure sounds good! Judy
Posted by Scott Pagan (Member # 2507) on :
97 Ford Ranger 4cyl 5spd 23-26mpg (only the cheap stuff, 87 octane) mostly highway travel work/back.
Posted by Ron Gibbs (Member # 3882) on :
My 2001 Ford Supercrew gets about 18 city and 20-22 highway with a 5.4 .I would recommend this truck to anyone!
Posted by Ron Gibbs (Member # 3882) on :
My 2001 Ford Supercrew gets about 18 city and 20-22 highway with a 5.4 .I would recommend this truck to anyone!
Posted by Ryan E Young (Member # 2325) on :
Gas mileage? It use to be how fast is it! Man your getting older by the day.You might need to get some dash board measurements so you will know if you will be able to see over the top of the steering wheel. You old Goat! Got to go me and Joey Madden are going street racing!
Posted by Bill Cosharek (Member # 1274) on :
I don't think you're gonna find too many newer trucks with better fuel economy. True they are aerodynamically designed for less wind drag, but the mpg's don't seem to increase. Wouldn't this suggest that today's engines are actually worse for fuel economy? Think about it!
There are constants to every equation. In this case, it seems to be the mpg. If there was less wind drag and more efficient engines, then the mpg's should increase also. But since it's not, there must be a trade-off between the other two.
My 2001 s10 gets about 22, last I checked. But I'm still tryin' to figure how this fuel gage reads. Plus it seems like this required 87 octane fuel is evaporating without being driven. I checked for leaks and couldn't find any. Also recently, replaced the gas cap with a new one. (needs a key )
Posted by Robert Richards (Member # 3244) on :
99 DODGE 1500 4 wheel drive, Extended Cab, ( 4 doors) Around town @ 12 to 14 mpg, on the road @ 14 to 15 mpg. Not much on mileage, but rides like a car and has plenty of get-up & go. 80,000 miles and no trouble so far.
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
2004 4X4 Silverado Z71 Crew Cab 1/2 ton (new short box).
Had it a couple weeks....the computer says it's averaging 14.7 mpg all around. Haven't had it strictly on a highway trip yet, so not sure what highway only is. Has the 5.3 litre V8.
I know in another post I said I'd never buy a GM again....but when it came down to it, the F150 SuperCrew I priced out came out to $4,000 more than the Chevy Crew Cab....because of rebates and the family GM employee discount. I just couldn't justify the extra $$$$.
Kissy....I'm jealous. I like my new Chevy Crew a lot...but I REALLY would have liked the new F150.
Posted by Dusty Campbell (Member # 4601) on :
I don't think you wouldn't buy one of these, but... '72 Chevy 3/4 ton. 402(6.6L) Quadrajet 4 Barrel. About 8 mpg. If I drove conservatively, probably around 12. If I didn't love it, it would be history.
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
George,
Ranger XLT with a tonneau cover....trust me on this.
Rapid
Posted by Bill Foshay (Member # 4526) on :
Mileage reports from teh wonderful world of escorting.. Remember this is with light bars on the roof, and maybe an overhead sign.
My own 92 Toyota, 22RE with an automatic, has never gotten more than 25MPG. It has an eight foot bed and wnt fast enough until the last 20,000 miles (out of 270K).It once got 14MPG, with roof sign, bad winds, and speeds way too high for the loads we had. Normally I could count on 20 mpg.
My current sweet ride, a '89 22R ( carb) with the five speed gets the awesome MPG of 27-29MPG I think the worst it has gotten is about 24, and it has once exceeded 30 MPG. Plus it goes a whole lot faster then the auto, and it has white doors ona blue truck and everyonge thinks it's some sort of whacky rural police car..lol...Too bad no AC.
S-10's get 21 MPG in V6m 25 in four cyl. Rangers get 18 MPG V6, haven't seen any 4 cyl escort rangers.
Have heard several 4.3 Chevy owners report mid twenties, and one 305 V8 owner claimed the same.
Explorer owners while not pickups report 16-20 MPG but normally on the low side.
A recent Full size Dodge diesel reported 16mpg to start with but it has increased to 17 mpg with 2000 miles.
THe best mileage I have heard was a VW Passat TDI wagon that got 45-50 mpg.
I wish someone would start making diesel minitrucks again. I'd buy a diesel Toyota!
Hope that helps some...Gott ahith the sack and get some sleep before tomorrow's work.
Posted by Stephen Broughton (Member # 2237) on :
I read so much on this site of the restrictions that certain US states put on the use of certain vehicles and yet you guys still drive around in huge 5 and 6 litre V8 barges that give frankly ridiculous mpg and still you complain on the price of a gallon of fuel yet drive these things, the best I could say is get a petrol powered engine and have it converted to run on LPG.
Posted by Robert Root (Member # 758) on :
1998 Toyota Tacoma. Four banger with manual and 178600 miles. It gets around 28 to 30 on the highway using regular gas if I don't put my foot down too hard. Almost all of my driving is on the highway. Oh yes, lots of pep and almost zero in non-maintenance repairs.
Rob
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
I have a 1996 Chevy Silverado with a 6-foot bed and an extended cab.
I dunno about the milage...maybe 16 MPG, but it seems to use a lot of gas in a short period of time. Lately its been leaking antifreeze too.
It is on its 4th transmission due to some computer glitch thing. It is the first Chevy I ever bought (used) and I doubt I'd buy another. As it stands, I still have to pay on the damn thing till 2009. Buy then I'm sure it will be sitting in Marshall's Scrapyard. Love...Jill
Posted by EPatzer (Member # 135) on :
2000 Dodge 1500 4x4, 5.9L auto gets about 15mpg Hiway, and about 12-13 city. Traded a smaller truck and won't look back! Hauled too much big stuff in one load rather than a lot of little loads!
Posted by Laurie Goretski (Member # 3821) on :
This is lauries old man, In 2000 we ordered a new silverado ext.cab in the most basic options (stick shift & all). We needed a back seat to allow legal seating for our two kids who were raised on many installation trips. we had a 91 chevy work truck;4.3 ltr v6. I loved that truck and good milage too. I just sold it last month for $800 because it's days were numbered at 156,000. Now this 2000 has also been a great truck, it has a 4.8ltr v-8, 2wheel dr. It has an 8' bed and we all need that as sign guys. the milage on the 2000 is in the low 20's which I am very happy with seeing how we are not sacrificing any space to a mid or compact size truck. ( I laugh when I see sign people with a sign hanging over the tailgate of a 6.5' bed!) One drawback is that the 4.8 ltr was underpowered to pull heavier loads such as our hillbilly letterhead condo on wheels. So we bought a 2003 silverado HD with a 6.0 Ltr. this is where it hurts! it gets 13mpg daily/ 9mpg on the way to Atlanta Ill. in 2003. It has Nuts, but is not our most practical choice... So we have to work a little harder to feed the beast. Get a 4.8 ltr to handle any sign related use and get some elbow room too.
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