What do you know about S-10s?

[Rupert]

Specifically, 1991 S-10s with 4WD and the 4.3L V6. Here is the link. Are there any weak spots I should look for? I'm po', and this truck is still a little steep for me. How are they offroad? I'm not gonna go rock crawling, but I definitly intend to take it where the 4WD is needed. Thanks!

[Catman]

Specifically, 1991 S-10s with 4WD and the 4.3L V6. Here is the link. Are there any weak spots I should look for? I'm po', and this truck is still a little steep for me. How are they offroad? I'm not gonna go rock crawling, but I definitly intend to take it where the 4WD is needed. Thanks!

They're rattle boxes.  I wouldn't buy one.

[footoflead]

Specifically, 1991 S-10s with 4WD and the 4.3L V6. Here is the link. Are there any weak spots I should look for? I'm po', and this truck is still a little steep for me. How are they offroad? I'm not gonna go rock crawling, but I definitly intend to take it where the 4WD is needed. Thanks!

They're rattle boxes.  I wouldn't buy one.

Agreed...there ok as long as you dont go any futher off road than a nice smooth gravel drive way...hit a pot hole and you'll run into problems..There not what your looking for

even though i've very anti-SUV, You might want to look that direction or if you want a truck get a REAL truck..(full size)

[Tom]

Overall they are mediocre to bad trucks IMO, but for what it's worth that specific example looks to be taken care of nicely.  The 4.3 is a solid engine, but I would be wary of an older, high-mileage auto tranny, expecially if you are po'.  At 3.6k, that looks pretty expensive, though the market could be different where you're from.  I don't think they were meant to do any offroading; how about a Toyota Pickup?  They're true offroad machines and aren't built crappily.

[Rupert]

Well, I drove it. It's actually in really good condition, but not really worth the three and a half Gs. It is sort of a rattle box, but the drivetrain is the part I care about. The PO (being sold by a third party... little sketch) put huge tires that rub on it.

A truck is preffered, but around here, they're really expensive unless you want 2WD or really crappy. There is no way I could afford a Toyota that worked well. So I'm thinking Jeep Cherokee from '88-93ish, Isuzu Trooper or Rodeo from a similar era, Dodge Raider/Mitsu Montero from same time, Nissan Pathfinder (same time), or maybe even a Suzuki Sidekick/whatever they call them. My budget is no more than $2200, but if I wanted to keep the same payments but on a different vehicle (which I don't), it's closer to $3200. I've found examples of all of those in my range, but I haven't actually seen any of them, so I have no idea of the condition they're in.

[Secret Chimp]

You could probably get an oooold Toyota for that price range...

BOOM!

[Rupert]

I see no pic. And I don't want an ooooooooooooooold Toy. Remember: I want 4WD

[Run Away]

It's all about the '73-'87 Chevy fullsizes.

Dirt cheap, everything about them. Super simple too.

[Rupert]

And they're friggin huge with engines that drink gas like I drink beer.

[Run Away]

Well, what's the point of having a truck then?
The 4.3L isn't that frugal. A 305 isn't that worse.

[Rupert]

The 4.3 is pretty bad, sure, but we're talking 5 mpg difference (or so). I really don't want a huge old truck anyway... And the point of a truck (for me) is to be able to go places a car can't, haul a bunch of stuff, and give me an excuse to not drive.

[Secret Chimp]

Heh... get a BRAT and stick some BFG's on it.

[Rupert]

While I'm at it, I might as well just get a UNIMOG. That'll go anywhere...    

[TBR]

Well, what's the point of having a truck then?
The 4.3L isn't that frugal. A 305 isn't that worse.

Yeah it is, the 305 is horrible on gas, even worse than the 350 is, I know a guy that used to have a '84 truck with the 305 and it got 13mpg while a 4.3l S10 will likely get 16-17 mpg.

[Run Away]

Well, what's the point of having a truck then?
The 4.3L isn't that frugal. A 305 isn't that worse.

Yeah it is, the 305 is horrible on gas, even worse than the 350 is, I know a guy that used to have a '84 truck with the 305 and it got 13mpg while a 4.3l S10 will likely get 16-17 mpg.

For all you know, that guy's truck was in really bad tune, and probably was. Just becaues ONE guy you know gets poor mileage because his truck is probably poorly tuned doesn't mean all 305s are pigs.

I have 3 uncles on my father's side, all 3 of them are potato farmers, and all 3 have used Chevy trucks their whole life. One of them still has every single pickup he's owned. He told me that his '80 with a 305 gets better mileage than any other of their 1/2 tons (all 350s) and all 5 Suburbans they have ever owned.

[BMWDave]

While I'm at it, I might as well just get a UNIMOG. That'll go anywhere...  

Some unimogs costs 4K, or so I have heard.  But the gas part of the equation wont be to your liking :P  

[Tom]

While I'm at it, I might as well just get a UNIMOG. That'll go anywhere... 

Some unimogs costs 4K, or so I have heard.  But the gas part of the equation wont be to your liking :P

So what?  He'll have one of the coolest vehicles in existance.  People will come up to him on the street and say, "Hey, aren't you that guy with the Unimog?  Here's five bucks, man!  You rock!"

[giant_mtb]

While I'm at it, I might as well just get a UNIMOG. That'll go anywhere... 

Some unimogs costs 4K, or so I have heard.  But the gas part of the equation wont be to your liking :P

So what?  He'll have one of the coolest vehicles in existance.  People will come up to him on the street and say, "Hey, aren't you that guy with the Unimog?  Here's five bucks, man!  You rock!"

LOL!

[BMWDave]

While I'm at it, I might as well just get a UNIMOG. That'll go anywhere...?

Some unimogs costs 4K, or so I have heard.  But the gas part of the equation wont be to your liking :P

So what?  He'll have one of the coolest vehicles in existance.  People will come up to him on the street and say, "Hey, aren't you that guy with the Unimog?  Here's five bucks, man!  You rock!"

Yup, a unimog is one of the coolest vehicles around.  But jeep in mind that they are absolute monsters in terms of size.

[TBR]

Well, what's the point of having a truck then?
The 4.3L isn't that frugal. A 305 isn't that worse.

Yeah it is, the 305 is horrible on gas, even worse than the 350 is, I know a guy that used to have a '84 truck with the 305 and it got 13mpg while a 4.3l S10 will likely get 16-17 mpg.

For all you know, that guy's truck was in really bad tune, and probably was. Just becaues ONE guy you know gets poor mileage because his truck is probably poorly tuned doesn't mean all 305s are pigs.

I have 3 uncles on my father's side, all 3 of them are potato farmers, and all 3 have used Chevy trucks their whole life. One of them still has every single pickup he's owned. He told me that his '80 with a 305 gets better mileage than any other of their 1/2 tons (all 350s) and all 5 Suburbans they have ever owned.

Another guy that used to own a 305 equipped truck got 12-13 mpg (don't remember for sure) and the same guy that owned the first truck owns a '85 Camaro with the 305 that gets just 14-15mpg (and its engine has been rebuilt).  

[Run Away]

Either way the lower initial purchase price and probably insurance would offset the few mpg less the fullsizer gets. A freeer breathing intake and exhaust would bump up power and fuel economy, since those things are so restricted from the factory.

When I was looking for a car last summer, I was looking for either a Chevy 1/2 ton (2wd in my case), a 240SX or a Civic. It would have costed me $550 Canadian to insure the pickup for the whole year, and I was 16 at the time.

[Rupert]

Shit, if I could find a UNIMOG for $2k, I'd do it. But that ain't gonna happen.

[footoflead]

You gonna keep the miata....


I'll take it off your hands  :D  B)  

[BMWDave]

Shit, if I could find a UNIMOG for $2k, I'd do it. But that ain't gonna happen.

You never know.  Check out these sits:

http://www.sodetrac.com

http://www.unimog.net/

[BMWDave]

I've only been looking for a little and I saw a unimog for 6,900.  If I see anything around 2K, I'll let you know.

[BMWDave]

I found a Unimog in Texas for 1800 firm, but the ad was posted in December.  I think unimogs in the 2K range are out there, you just need to look.

[Rupert]

I'll check out the UNIMOGs... BTW, there are only a few old full-size Chevy's for under $3k in the Tryck Trader... Wierd, huh?

[BMWDave]

I'll check out the UNIMOGs... BTW, there are only a few old full-size Chevy's for under $3k in the Tryck Trader... Wierd, huh?

Do a lot of checking around on the internet. I read that Unimogs can be found from 2K, for a little rusty, running version from a private seller.  I am sure they have them out there, it will just need to be unearthed :)

[footoflead]

Whats gonna happen to the miata....I'll take it off your hands for ya...  

[Rupert]

OK. $4000 takes it! It's in great condition with a new top. I just changed the oil. The brakes need bleeding (still air in the lines), it could use a new alternator belt, and a little touch-up paint but that's about it! Where do you live?