Best first vehicle is the GMT800 platform second is the Panther platform crown Victoria. These two vehicles deliver everything and more for low cost and high reliability with proper maintenance.
I’m a full size, V8 guy all the way. I’ve owned compact and mid size pickups and nothing beats the comfort, room, towing, payload, and power of a full size pickup truck.
Agreed, and in real world use youre going to get basically the same fuel economy between a V6 midsize truck & a V8 full size, at least thats been my experience. If youre towing something, the V8 might even win out MPG wise!
Number one thing to consider when buying the new driver their first vehicle: Get something they like and want to take care of. They need to love it as much as their cell phone.
I wish y'all did this video "buy or bust" style and showed the sale prices of these trucks! this makes me think back to my high school days when some kids' parents bought them a brand new Ford Mustang for their first car… it was entertaining watching them leave in the snow but I guess that's one way to learn how to drive!
For a teen. Two door or four door. Much better in an accident vs the extended cab when looking at trucks. Best is a two door so they can’t have a lot of friends distracting them.
That's funny, the truck they say you shouldn't get is the only kind of truck basically you see in the local high school parking lot in this little rural town I live in. A lot of them are even brand-new looking, lifted like hell with big ass tires. All I do is wonder where their parents work because there's no jobs around here and I know they didn't pay for it.
Lets say there is allot of debt in America lol. Today its hard to get credit if you don't have a good job and decent credit. But the last couple of years it didn't matter. Banks loaned to everyone.
I wouldn't consider buying a Tacoma unless I was buying one new. The resale value is insane and they're just too expensive used. As reliable as they are, the price makes them a poor value. I'd go with the Frontier. They're a great truck too and much more affordable. Plus, I root for the underdog. Nissan makes excellent V6 engines. My dad has owned a Tacoma, Ranger, S10, and Frontier. His Frontier had the supercharged 3.3L V6 and it gave him zero mechanical problems in 200k miles of ownership.
The frontier is definitely probably the first option you’d want to go with my first truck is a 2014 Nissan frontier and it’s still going after 130,000 miles. The fact that you can get them with hill descent and a diff locker and four-wheel-drive and etc. for way cheaper and it last just as long.
My first vehicle was a 1989 Jeep Comanche with a 2.5l four cylinder and a 4 speed manual trans. I agree with you guys a truck for a first vehicle is a good choice. Good video, lots of good advice. Keep up the good work!
Late 90s f150 with a 300 6, 4 or 5 speed if you want a manual because those things last forever and can be fixed at any parts store for basically $20. My first vehicle was an 84 Isuzu 2 door trooper with a 4 speed 4x4. Stupid reliable too.
@@dark9hades76 oh yeah definitely. Thats exactly what I meant. I mean even today you still see a lot of them on the roads. In my opinion thats a very good indication lol.
Absolutely... I bought a 2001 4.0 liter, extended cab, about 4 years ago. Been daily driving it ever since. Even the air works! 2500.00 bucks. Maybe 300.00 a year to fix little things going kaput...
My first car was an 84 Chevy K10 with a 4-speed manual; bought in 2002 for $2,000. She got me through Colorado blizzards and sparked my love for off-roading. Not the most-reliable thing I've ever owned, but it's been 21 years and I still have that truck.
I got my boy a full-size, regular cab, short bed truck. Except the automatic transmission, it was the perfect first vehicle. It’s great to have him run errands and haul stuff away as well.
Tacoma's are good truck's but the one they showed I wouldn't have, to many mods that could've caused damage. That air box & filter for one & the aftermarket stereo for two. The Nissan & Ford both would probably be good truck's. I have a 2008 F150 4.2 V6 with the 5 speed Manual & it has 280,000 miles & have never had absolutely any issues.
I'm never going to spend that kind of money for brand new driver. In fact, my 16-year-old is in the process of saving up money to buy my old Saturn Vue from me. $1500 gets him AWD, the 3.5L Honda engine with only 150k miles, and plastic body panels. Private party around here, the same vehicle would probably go for somewhere between $3k-4k but even that is far below the prices you guys are looking at here. I would love for him to have a full-framed vehicle but he wants to have the money for something before he's 18. Lol the prices right now are insane (though admittedly a bit better than they were a few months ago)
My first vehicle is a 2004 Ford freaking ranger it has 4x4 with the 4.0 v6 with around 160k mile on it still runs like a champ. I would recommend a ranger as first vehicle.
I have a experienced warning on the Nissan frontier! My step son has a 2012 model year. Just like the one on this video. He has had a ton of electrical issues, and transmission issues. He takes his to our local Nissan dealership for repairs. They "the mechanics" say to him, that he will continue to have alternator issues as well. They told him, to "if he has the means to" trade it in! His truck has 112 thousand miles on it. He gets the oil changed every 3500 miles, and air cleaner changed at same times. It's costing him in the thousands now, for I say "bandaid" repairs. I think they just clear the codes, and send him on his way. Then a full week later! Those problems come back. Slipping between gears, and such. I would strongly suggest, to not buy one. Specially when the Nissan mechanics say so.
Hmm not sure about that. I've got a Frontier and its basically the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. Now the first model years 05-09 had the smod issue and timing chain problem. That was serious for sure. I frequent the Frontier forums and much of what you claim is not what other owners are saying. Not even remotely so. Believe it or not that frontier is incredible reliable for most with its port injected VQ 40 motor and the 5 speed. Much like the second gen Taco in that regard. Just because your son got a dud does not mean every frontier is bad. Maybe you got one mechanic saying something but the are very reliable trucks. I know many who have put on over 300K without any major issues. The word bullet proof comes to mind. I suggest you research that before you make a fool of yourself trying to convince the world that the Frontier is a POS. Beiieve me, that is a very hard sell and outside those early years most won't be believing you.
My first vehicle was a 1967 Chevy long bed step side with an inline 292. My dad bought it new in October of ‘66. I got it in ‘82. My current truck is a loaded ‘99 Tacoma.
I'd have to disagree with these choices on the pure fact of price. Most of these are for the younger high school students first car or a family who need a truck as a backup or another daily. Price is the most important part and even used these trucks are still $25k and up
Earlier this year I was able to purchase a 180k mile k2500 suburban for a cool $3500. Sure it’s a big block and with gas prices things wouod make sense, but the thing is cherry. I’ve done a few little fixes here and there but the truck has been so wonderful. And I would never hesitate to put a child of mine in it haha.
My first car was a 1984 caprice estate wagon, vinyl woodgrain edition. You could fit 4' by 8' of anything and close the rear tailgate. It pretty much was a full frame truck.
My first truck was an 85 ranger, I had two more rangers after it 88 and 99. My son just bought my 2015 frontier from me for his first vehicle. He loves it. The king cab seats are great for those 12 and under
MY first vehicle was mom's old old old air cooled VW Beetle. 34hp and manual 4-speed. Drum brakes. No way to excessively "speed" or do a lot of silly things. And here we are, suggesting a 3.3 liter V6 with 270hp is a "safe" "low power' option for a 16 year old. My oh my........
Been a 2nd gen Tacoma owner since ‘18. Mines a ‘10 OR V6/6M. That silver one has been rode hard and put away wet. Mine is a 140k mile cherry. All mods were done with TRD factory parts.
My first car? An 84 Camaro, that did 0-60 in around 14 seconds. I could get stuck in 3" of snow (MN). Converting what I paid to today's dollars, it'd be less than $3500. I think first-time drivers should be in something small/midsize and lacking power. I think starting with less makes you a better driver.
Would be great to see an Ike review of the F150 with the 3.3v6. No it’s not going to win any races, but it is still offered as the base engine on a new F150 and the engine has been out for half a decade without an Ike review
I live in Texas and have a 2017 Nissan Frontier King Cab. It has the 4 cylinder and has been fine for 87000 miles. I do not need to pull are haul heavy stuff. I do have a Colorado story about the truck though. We were on vacation near Cripple Creek CO in the truck. We were driving down a long dirt road(I think it was either 20 or 40 miles long) It was near dusk when we came upon a couple from Denver who had been riding a bike built for two down the road. Their tire had blown and they were stranded. We picked them and their bike up and took them to civilization. They had to ride in the uncomfortable back seat, but this was better than spending the night in the Colorado wilderness with bears and such.
I pretty much agree with you Andre. You make some good points. There are many "good points" to consider from a parents perspective. But this topic you have posted is mixed up. 1st truck or 1st vehicle? Title says 1 thing, conversation in the video goes back and forth. Points from a parent for a 1st vehicle is going to be all over the place. Look what Nathan got his girl. A small commuter vehicle. Nissan Leaf as I recall. He did not choose a truck or SUV or something that could go off pavement and or even be idealistic in CO. winters. My first vehicle was a 1963 Ford Galaxy 500 4 door.(Bday gift to me from my grandfather when I was 7yro)Forced me to turn a lot of wrenches fixing things every week. (great for experience, lousy for reliability)It sucked gas like no tomorrow and was gutless.(great to keep you close to home with friends chipping in for gas money, lousy for independent travel far from home)Lousy commuter choice. 2nd car was a 1982 Honda Accord Hatchback LX. 5 speed. (with AC) Reliability. MPG. FUN! Great commuter. 1st truck was a 1986.5 Nissan SEV6 Hardbody 4x4.(5 speed) BEST truck I EVER owned! Most reliable. Want a gutless, POS that is sort of safe for the kid? Get a 1983 chevy trailblazer 2.8 liter engine automatic transmission. They will have things to fix. And enough room for couple friends to chip in for fuel costs. lol
Great looking truck but (personally), I wouldn't want a new driver stepping into a beast like that (to them), start small, work up, also, to many blind spots for a new driver to grasp (especially small children around the truck (7-11's, etc.). My personal views and previous new driver teaching experiences. :)
I first learned to drive my parent's truck, and something I noticed pretty quickly is the extra visibility with something boxy. With a truck, you can see all 4 corners of the vehicle from the driver's seat which made it easy to park. The first time I drove a sedan, I hated it because the front slopes down so much you can't see where the end of your vehicle is. It is possible to park a truck with much more confidence just because you can see where it is. Another advantage to learning to drive in a truck, is that you get used to something large first so smaller vehicles feel small and easy to maneuver despite the lack of visibility.
My first car was a 2004 Honda Odyssey, my parents minivan, I now drive a 2015 Toyota Camry, but i like trucks and have always wanted one, I think the 2019 Ford F150 XL is the best out of the three, I would choose that one if i was looking to buy.
Best first truck I would recommend is a clean 10th gen. They are at the bottom of the deprecation curve and they are reliable as all hell and come in many configurations. I’d get my godson when he turns 16 a 10th gen lariat crew cab short bed with 4x4 of course with between 120-150,00 miles
My 98 F150 has been my daily driver for almost 25 years. I was fortunate enough to get it my senior year of high school (work truck model). About a decade later I used all the parts necessary from a salvage yard to upgrade it to an XLT level truck with keyless entry, power everything, factory alarm etc aside from my bench seat, vinyl floors and manual 4x4 transfer case. Never let me down and I've had to do very little to it aside from basic brake and suspension maintenance on wear parts.
The Nissan Frontier is the best first truck, it was my first truck got it with 98,000 miles on it and it currently has 130,000 and it’s still going I wouldn’t be surprised if I can get it to 400,000 miles.
One thing you didn't mention about the GM truck,and it applies to any brand. With a 1st time vehicle for a young person, having it jacked up so high,you can't see around you very well. With poor visibility and a lack of driving experience, that's a disaster waiting to happen.
First vehicles 15k plus ? Haha not happening for my kids Get older Toyota or Honda no issues very safe. better off with civic or corolla maybe even old crv.
I considered a Nissan Frontier, but after having several as rentals I found some serious flaws. 1. The turning radius even on the crew cab short bed is heinous. I come from an F150 Supercrew with a 6.5' bed and the Frontier astonished me at how horrible the turning was. 2. The gas tank size and abysmal gas mileage. I had one in Seattle once and drove to Bellingham and back, barely 200 miles all highway, and had to fill the tank. Those two things killed it for me. But otherwise I thought it was a nice truck.
Get a RAV4 as a first car. Or a recent Pathfinder. Both are a bit more rugged than the respective Camry or Altima, and essentially as reliable. Maybe a CRV. Skip the Chevy and GMC versions - Equinox, etc. A truck is ok if you have a big parking spot at home and at work. But many people just starting out don’t have that luxury. And they burn a lot of fuel compared to a compact-midsized SUV.
Just bought a 04 tundra double cab brand new frame under it and zero rust on the body. Got it for 4900 and would take that tundra over any of those vehicles.
I learned to drive in an "almost truck." Was a 96 Ford Explorer. It was kind of worn out by the time I got to drive it, but I thought it was the coolest thing when I had it.
When my son turned 16 I didn’t want him running around with a bunch of kids with him distracting his driving. I put him in my old 79 Ford Courier that had a maximum passenger capacity of 3.
Ya'll had me laughing like crazy with the Chevy. I had a friend in high school and his dad gave him his 83 stepside chevy with 8 inch lift rolling on 40's super swampers. I don't know if people remember when you had to know something mechanically about your car before you could even drive it to school.
My son is getting a 97 land rover discovery. Its slow, sonue cant speed easily. it gets bad gas mileage, so he cant go very far. It is 4wd, so he cant get stuck or flood it out easily (big plus in South Texas) It has a 2 inch lift and 31 inch Goodyear duratrac tires. And the AC even works fairly well!
16 yr old me would have loved any of these choices and that’s why they are all terrible ideas 🤣 JMO your region will have a major factor in what your first vehicle is, teenage City dwellers it’s not likely to be a truck even if it snows etc it’ll likely be something boring like a early 2000’s FWD 4cyl car like a Camry/Accord etc or even the old family minivan would be ideal maybe even an older CUV or SUV. For the record my first vehicle was a 20yr old FWD Audi with like 100hp no airbags no electronic Nannie’s between tray sliding and other stupid things I still managed to allegedly get into trouble with that car 😂
My first vehicle was a 1966 international 1 ton 4x4 pickup. Original owner was the country. They used it to spray weeds. It was indestructible. 2 years later I had a Roadrunner.
I currently have a frontier pro4x and love it except for the fuel economy. It's really terrible on gas. Want to go back to an early 2nd gen tacoma, but with a manual this time. Manual is just so much more fun to drive even in a slower vehicle.
Yeah the Tacoma is definitely slower than the frontier I’ve driven both I own a frontier and I test drove a couple Tacoma’s and man they’re pretty slow.
Tacoma prices are crazy. That's why, this past weekend, my son and I picked up a 2000 Tundra. Slightly larger than a Tacoma, still reliable and thousands of dollars less!
Tacoma seating: it is almost like the height of a sports car...very close to the floor vs the Nissan. You seat higher up. Your knees are bent at a comfortable angle. The cab is higher than the Taco... I've got to ride both Taco & Frontier and noticed how they felt.
Everyone knows the best first vehicle is a 1989 Nissan Stanza with 245,000 miles on it... that has terrible brakes, a window defroster doesn't work, and can barely go up hills. 😁
96 Dodge Dakota Sport, reg cab, 2wd, short bed w/3.9L Magnum V6 + 5 speed manual as a first truck was perfect for a teenager to use, abuse, and learn how to drive and figure out how to fix.
Great content/advice as always. Never miss one of these behind the scenes auction videos. But please guys, get some "dead cat" microphone covers. The wind noise (It gets windy in Colorado? Who knew?) in this one was awful.
I'm going to steer toward the Frontier over the Toyota. You can get a newer one for less money than the Toyota and with less miles. The engine is quite a bit more powerful than the Toyota's and the Frontier does tow really well and doesn't search for gears. Easy to work on and super reliable and your not paying Lexus money for parts or repairs. They are a very underated truck !
My first school driver was a 1969 C-10 with a 3speed column shifter and a 327 V8... And a Dodge Bed. 😄 Definitely not a looker....and it was RWD. But, i had fun in it. 😊
I can’t believe you guys are still seeing $15k plus on high mileage used tacomas. I just paid $18k on a 2005 Ram 2500 Cummins, CCLB 4x4 with 135k miles. I’d never even consider the Tacoma at that price.. insanity
I like the F150s column shifter. My old minivan had a column shifter. I prefer regular automatic transmissions that have either a steering wheel column mounted shifter, like my old minivan and that F150 or a traditional console mounted lever, like my in my Toyota Camry and that little Nissan and manual transmissions. I don’t like CVTs and I don’t like “gear selectors” that are electronic buttons or nobs.
My brother had a 95 or so Ford f150 with the shifter on the column and i liked it because you could keep your hand there. Also the high beams were on the floor so you could just push the button with your left foot. Outside fo that the truck was junk--broke down all the time, the motor was a gas guzzler (5L) and rust rust rust---they think it was a flood vehicle.
Definitely Nissan King cab but I have auto with 2.5lt diesel, unfortunately 4.0lt V6 was not offer after 2011 in Australia. Second definitely Ford F-150 king cab the Toyota Hilux space cab didn’t have doors to access back seats but 4.0lt V6 has enough power.
I bought my 1st truck 2 years ago and I love it. its a 1994 F-150 RCSB 4x4 5.0 5 speed. it only had 106k on it and I get 19mpg with it on a regular basis. plus it was cheap when I wanted a squarebody but those are all roached out!
This is an excellent idea for a new driver of any age, whether if they are in their teens or 20's, as well as their 30's, 40's or 50's. A used pick-up truck or a used two-row or five-passenger SUV or crossover are the best, safest vehicles to purchase than a used sedan, a used hatchback, as well as a station wagon or a minivan. Any three-row, seven or eight-passenger SUV/crossover or a sports/muscle/exotic car, as well as any hybrid or electric vehicles are out of the question, when it comes to purchasing a used vehicle for a newly, licensed driver, because they need to gain constant driving experience first, in order to be fully licensed later in life. You focus on the vehicles that you need on a daily basis, which is most likely from point A to point B, not the ones that you plan to take a joyride in. For example, I can plan to purchase a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 mid-size SUV with the 3.6 L Pentastar V6 engine and the eight-speed automatic transmission for my first vehicle, because it only seats five passengers, they are popular and they are equally reliable. They are also great vehicles to use for commuting, for all-seasoned weather and for road trips. I do not need a Dodge Durango or a Honda Pilot for an SUV or a crossover, but I will eventually stay away from the Chevrolet Equinox with the 2.4 L Ecotec four-cylinder engine and the six-speed automatic transmission, because they are extremely unreliable and they have numerous amount of problems. Thank you very much and have a great weekend.
I really love the Tacoma, but its just so small. Im sure its fine for most people, but ive got a lot of hobbies that require a lot of gear (kayaks, bikes, paddles, big RC cars, long rifles) & on some long weekends, I want to bring a good amount of toys + camping gear. Small trucks start to get real cramp with all that gear. You also get about the same fuel economy as a full sized truck.
My recommendation for a first time driver is a very used, but dependable vehicle for the first several years. An accident is very likely to happen and why bash a new vehicle...😉
The original “Datsun” King Cab didn’t have rear seats, even as an option. They were about additional space behind the rear seats. Back then they were tiny!! They didn’t have anything other than a single cab until the king cab. The last gen Nissan Frontier, built until 2021 is as reliable, and for some years, rated as MORE reliable than the Tacoma. It’s a great truck. The Tacoma has a mythical level of reliability expectations. Buy the Frontier (not this one,,, 😂) because they are the best reliability, especially 2010 and newer. (I wouldn’t shy from a well kept older Frontier except the 2005 & 2006. F150 SuperCab 6.5 ft box is basically the same size as the SuperCrew 5 ft box. The SuperCrew feels smaller and has slightly better sight lines. The Tacoma 4 litre is still the best in my opinion, if it’s been cared for. Abused, it’s the same as anything else roughly. All good choices
@@LafemmebearMusic He is thinking the Kid will take it off road and sink it to the axial. Which in many cases might be exactly what happens. Even grown ups like doing that.
Thank you for bringing that up first car 66 Impala Super Sport Woodhill 4-speed hurts 61 Chevrolet Impala 3 speed in the column that will you know you drove it all
These are still too pricy for a first truck. Most people couldn't even afford to go buy these for themselves
Best first vehicle is the GMT800 platform second is the Panther platform crown Victoria. These two vehicles deliver everything and more for low cost and high reliability with proper maintenance.
I’m a full size, V8 guy all the way. I’ve owned compact and mid size pickups and nothing beats the comfort, room, towing, payload, and power of a full size pickup truck.
Ok
And sound!
I'm too tall for a midsized truck. Fullsize fits me and my family.
Agreed, and in real world use youre going to get basically the same fuel economy between a V6 midsize truck & a V8 full size, at least thats been my experience. If youre towing something, the V8 might even win out MPG wise!
Well then this video is not for w
Number one thing to consider when buying the new driver their first vehicle: Get something they like and want to take care of. They need to love it as much as their cell phone.
Not sure if they will love any vehicle 🤔 more than their cell phone
bad advice. kids have no clue what a "good" car is. unless they love 90's jdm vehicles.
manual... japanese....not molested.
If they at least like it, that will really help.
"Big bed, 6.5'". It is a sad commentary that a 'long' bed is what we called a short bed just 15 years ago.
yeah my 94 f150 is a RCSB and the bed is still 6 feet 9 inches. bigger than most pu beds today and its about as long as a new corolla lol
Yep, a “big bed” is an 8’ bed, not a 6’5” bed,
Yeah… agreed
I agree but my definition of big enough is to fit an atv in the bed with the tailgate closed. The 5 foot beds are just too little.
You can still get an 8’ bed with the extended cab.. Ford, anyway.
I still have my first truck since high school with 250k on it and still runs great. 08 f150 crew cab FX4.
What engine does your have? My first truck is a 2006 F-150 Ext. cab XLT with the 5.4L
I wish y'all did this video "buy or bust" style and showed the sale prices of these trucks! this makes me think back to my high school days when some kids' parents bought them a brand new Ford Mustang for their first car… it was entertaining watching them leave in the snow but I guess that's one way to learn how to drive!
A lot of these trucks are out of an 17 year olds price range..
For a teen. Two door or four door. Much better in an accident vs the extended cab when looking at trucks.
Best is a two door so they can’t have a lot of friends distracting them.
I have a 2014 F-150 xlt, and ever since I got it, I’ve learned a lot that’s good to know, towing, maintenance, drifting in the rain, donuts, etc…
That's funny, the truck they say you shouldn't get is the only kind of truck basically you see in the local high school parking lot in this little rural town I live in. A lot of them are even brand-new looking, lifted like hell with big ass tires. All I do is wonder where their parents work because there's no jobs around here and I know they didn't pay for it.
Lets say there is allot of debt in America lol. Today its hard to get credit if you don't have a good job and decent credit. But the last couple of years it didn't matter. Banks loaned to everyone.
I wouldn't consider buying a Tacoma unless I was buying one new. The resale value is insane and they're just too expensive used. As reliable as they are, the price makes them a poor value. I'd go with the Frontier. They're a great truck too and much more affordable. Plus, I root for the underdog. Nissan makes excellent V6 engines. My dad has owned a Tacoma, Ranger, S10, and Frontier. His Frontier had the supercharged 3.3L V6 and it gave him zero mechanical problems in 200k miles of ownership.
The frontier is definitely probably the first option you’d want to go with my first truck is a 2014 Nissan frontier and it’s still going after 130,000 miles. The fact that you can get them with hill descent and a diff locker and four-wheel-drive and etc. for way cheaper and it last just as long.
My first vehicle was a 1989 Jeep Comanche with a 2.5l four cylinder and a 4 speed manual trans. I agree with you guys a truck for a first vehicle is a good choice. Good video, lots of good advice. Keep up the good work!
Me too! That 2.5 was such a turd, especially with oversized tires, but man, I loved that truck.
When I was young, 20+, I moved a lot and my truck meant a lot to me in many ways.
Late 90s f150 with a 300 6, 4 or 5 speed if you want a manual because those things last forever and can be fixed at any parts store for basically $20. My first vehicle was an 84 Isuzu 2 door trooper with a 4 speed 4x4. Stupid reliable too.
those early 2000s Ford Rangers were amazing too. Underpowered compared to the ones you showed today, but theyre amazing little trucks
they last a long time if taken care of too
@@dark9hades76 oh yeah definitely. Thats exactly what I meant. I mean even today you still see a lot of them on the roads. In my opinion thats a very good indication lol.
Absolutely... I bought a 2001 4.0 liter, extended cab, about 4 years ago. Been daily driving it ever since. Even the air works! 2500.00 bucks. Maybe 300.00 a year to fix little things going kaput...
@@buyallmeans425 what’s the average gas mileage do you get or how much it is to fill up?
My first car was an 84 Chevy K10 with a 4-speed manual; bought in 2002 for $2,000. She got me through Colorado blizzards and sparked my love for off-roading. Not the most-reliable thing I've ever owned, but it's been 21 years and I still have that truck.
I got my boy a full-size, regular cab, short bed truck. Except the automatic transmission, it was the perfect first vehicle. It’s great to have him run errands and haul stuff away as well.
Tacoma's are good truck's but the one they showed I wouldn't have, to many mods that could've caused damage. That air box & filter for one & the aftermarket stereo for two. The Nissan & Ford both would probably be good truck's. I have a 2008 F150 4.2 V6 with the 5 speed Manual & it has 280,000 miles & have never had absolutely any issues.
I'm never going to spend that kind of money for brand new driver. In fact, my 16-year-old is in the process of saving up money to buy my old Saturn Vue from me. $1500 gets him AWD, the 3.5L Honda engine with only 150k miles, and plastic body panels. Private party around here, the same vehicle would probably go for somewhere between $3k-4k but even that is far below the prices you guys are looking at here. I would love for him to have a full-framed vehicle but he wants to have the money for something before he's 18. Lol the prices right now are insane (though admittedly a bit better than they were a few months ago)
I'd take that F150 for sure! Simple, cheap(ish), 4x4. Coming from an 01 Focus, I'm not expecting many luxury features in my vehicle.
My first vehicle is a 2004 Ford freaking ranger it has 4x4 with the 4.0 v6 with around 160k mile on it still runs like a champ. I would recommend a ranger as first vehicle.
I have a experienced warning on the Nissan frontier! My step son has a 2012 model year. Just like the one on this video. He has had a ton of electrical issues, and transmission issues. He takes his to our local Nissan dealership for repairs. They "the mechanics" say to him, that he will continue to have alternator issues as well. They told him, to "if he has the means to" trade it in! His truck has 112 thousand miles on it. He gets the oil changed every 3500 miles, and air cleaner changed at same times. It's costing him in the thousands now, for I say "bandaid" repairs. I think they just clear the codes, and send him on his way. Then a full week later! Those problems come back. Slipping between gears, and such. I would strongly suggest, to not buy one. Specially when the Nissan mechanics say so.
Hmm not sure about that. I've got a Frontier and its basically the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. Now the first model years 05-09 had the smod issue and timing chain problem. That was serious for sure. I frequent the Frontier forums and much of what you claim is not what other owners are saying. Not even remotely so. Believe it or not that frontier is incredible reliable for most with its port injected VQ 40 motor and the 5 speed. Much like the second gen Taco in that regard. Just because your son got a dud does not mean every frontier is bad. Maybe you got one mechanic saying something but the are very reliable trucks. I know many who have put on over 300K without any major issues. The word bullet proof comes to mind. I suggest you research that before you make a fool of yourself trying to convince the world that the Frontier is a POS. Beiieve me, that is a very hard sell and outside those early years most won't be believing you.
Very Helpful, thanks, Brendan and Aundre!
I learned to drive in a 1992 Mazda B2200 manual RWD in Canada, vinyl seat, no a/c, was a great truck!
My first truck was a lifted crew cab long bed f350 with a ranch hand on the front and a steel bumper on the back. It was a beast
For a full size truck, and reliable, I would argue a 2nd gen 5.0 is the way to go.
My first vehicle was a 1967 Chevy long bed step side with an inline 292. My dad bought it new in October of ‘66. I got it in ‘82. My current truck is a loaded ‘99 Tacoma.
I'd have to disagree with these choices on the pure fact of price. Most of these are for the younger high school students first car or a family who need a truck as a backup or another daily. Price is the most important part and even used these trucks are still $25k and up
Earlier this year I was able to purchase a 180k mile k2500 suburban for a cool $3500. Sure it’s a big block and with gas prices things wouod make sense, but the thing is cherry. I’ve done a few little fixes here and there but the truck has been so wonderful. And I would never hesitate to put a child of mine in it haha.
My first car was a 1984 caprice estate wagon, vinyl woodgrain edition. You could fit 4' by 8' of anything and close the rear tailgate. It pretty much was a full frame truck.
My best friend had the sedan version of that vehicle. It was an absolute monster 😂
My first truck was an 85 ranger, I had two more rangers after it 88 and 99.
My son just bought my 2015 frontier from me for his first vehicle. He loves it.
The king cab seats are great for those 12 and under
MY first vehicle was mom's old old old air cooled VW Beetle. 34hp and manual 4-speed. Drum brakes. No way to excessively "speed" or do a lot of silly things. And here we are, suggesting a 3.3 liter V6 with 270hp is a "safe" "low power' option for a 16 year old. My oh my........
Tacomas & Tundras are always great trucks, the hard part is finding a good one with low miles & decent price. 👍🏻
Been a 2nd gen Tacoma owner since ‘18. Mines a ‘10 OR V6/6M. That silver one has been rode hard and put away wet. Mine is a 140k mile cherry. All mods were done with TRD factory parts.
What does “put away wet” mean?
Are you trying to sell yours?
It means not taken care of or abused.
@@chrisswann7578 nice. Never heard of that.
My first car? An 84 Camaro, that did 0-60 in around 14 seconds. I could get stuck in 3" of snow (MN). Converting what I paid to today's dollars, it'd be less than $3500. I think first-time drivers should be in something small/midsize and lacking power. I think starting with less makes you a better driver.
A stock GMT400 would be my go to. When there are problems, and there will be with any of these vehicles, it's by far the easiest to repair.
Agree 100%. I'm personally a gmt800 type guy. Riding in a 05 escalade
Would be great to see an Ike review of the F150 with the 3.3v6. No it’s not going to win any races, but it is still offered as the base engine on a new F150 and the engine has been out for half a decade without an Ike review
I live in Texas and have a 2017 Nissan Frontier King Cab. It has the 4 cylinder and has been fine for 87000 miles. I do not need to pull are haul heavy stuff. I do have a Colorado story about the truck though. We were on vacation near Cripple Creek CO in the truck. We were driving down a long dirt road(I think it was either 20 or 40 miles long) It was near dusk when we came upon a couple from Denver who had been riding a bike built for two down the road. Their tire had blown and they were stranded. We picked them and their bike up and took them to civilization. They had to ride in the uncomfortable back seat, but this was better than spending the night in the Colorado wilderness with bears and such.
I pretty much agree with you Andre. You make some good points. There are many "good points" to consider from a parents perspective. But this topic you have posted is mixed up. 1st truck or 1st vehicle? Title says 1 thing, conversation in the video goes back and forth. Points from a parent for a 1st vehicle is going to be all over the place. Look what Nathan got his girl. A small commuter vehicle. Nissan Leaf as I recall. He did not choose a truck or SUV or something that could go off pavement and or even be idealistic in CO. winters. My first vehicle was a 1963 Ford Galaxy 500 4 door.(Bday gift to me from my grandfather when I was 7yro)Forced me to turn a lot of wrenches fixing things every week. (great for experience, lousy for reliability)It sucked gas like no tomorrow and was gutless.(great to keep you close to home with friends chipping in for gas money, lousy for independent travel far from home)Lousy commuter choice. 2nd car was a 1982 Honda Accord Hatchback LX. 5 speed. (with AC) Reliability. MPG. FUN! Great commuter. 1st truck was a 1986.5 Nissan SEV6 Hardbody 4x4.(5 speed) BEST truck I EVER owned! Most reliable. Want a gutless, POS that is sort of safe for the kid? Get a 1983 chevy trailblazer 2.8 liter engine automatic transmission. They will have things to fix. And enough room for couple friends to chip in for fuel costs. lol
Great video
Thanks
This is NOT a vehicle for a first driver!! What are you guys smoking? Oh nevermind😂
It is Colorado
I would agree
Great looking truck but (personally), I wouldn't want a new driver stepping into a beast like that (to them), start small, work up, also, to many blind spots for a new driver to grasp (especially small children around the truck (7-11's, etc.). My personal views and previous new driver teaching experiences. :)
I first learned to drive my parent's truck, and something I noticed pretty quickly is the extra visibility with something boxy. With a truck, you can see all 4 corners of the vehicle from the driver's seat which made it easy to park. The first time I drove a sedan, I hated it because the front slopes down so much you can't see where the end of your vehicle is. It is possible to park a truck with much more confidence just because you can see where it is.
Another advantage to learning to drive in a truck, is that you get used to something large first so smaller vehicles feel small and easy to maneuver despite the lack of visibility.
My first car was a 2004 Honda Odyssey, my parents minivan, I now drive a 2015 Toyota Camry, but i like trucks and have always wanted one, I think the 2019 Ford F150 XL is the best out of the three, I would choose that one if i was looking to buy.
Best first truck I would recommend is a clean 10th gen. They are at the bottom of the deprecation curve and they are reliable as all hell and come in many configurations. I’d get my godson when he turns 16 a 10th gen lariat crew cab short bed with 4x4 of course with between 120-150,00 miles
My 98 F150 has been my daily driver for almost 25 years. I was fortunate enough to get it my senior year of high school (work truck model). About a decade later I used all the parts necessary from a salvage yard to upgrade it to an XLT level truck with keyless entry, power everything, factory alarm etc aside from my bench seat, vinyl floors and manual 4x4 transfer case. Never let me down and I've had to do very little to it aside from basic brake and suspension maintenance on wear parts.
The Nissan Frontier is the best first truck, it was my first truck got it with 98,000 miles on it and it currently has 130,000 and it’s still going I wouldn’t be surprised if I can get it to 400,000 miles.
It's a Nissan... it will eat you alive at around 170 thousand miles. Ask me how I know 😌
Very surprised not to see 99-06 GM trucks. Cheap, reliable, and badass still to this day
My first truck was an 88 GMC Sonoma for $400. y’all are talking 8k-15k as affordable 😂
I have had 4 nissans in my 35 years of driving and had some of the best times and little to no issues at all
One thing you didn't mention about the GM truck,and it applies to any brand. With a 1st time vehicle for a young person, having it jacked up so high,you can't see around you very well. With poor visibility and a lack of driving experience, that's a disaster waiting to happen.
First vehicles 15k plus ? Haha not happening for my kids
Get older Toyota or Honda no issues very safe. better off with civic or corolla maybe even old crv.
I considered a Nissan Frontier, but after having several as rentals I found some serious flaws.
1. The turning radius even on the crew cab short bed is heinous. I come from an F150 Supercrew with a 6.5' bed and the Frontier astonished me at how horrible the turning was.
2. The gas tank size and abysmal gas mileage. I had one in Seattle once and drove to Bellingham and back, barely 200 miles all highway, and had to fill the tank.
Those two things killed it for me. But otherwise I thought it was a nice truck.
year?
Get a RAV4 as a first car. Or a recent Pathfinder. Both are a bit more rugged than the respective Camry or Altima, and essentially as reliable. Maybe a CRV. Skip the Chevy and GMC versions - Equinox, etc. A truck is ok if you have a big parking spot at home and at work. But many people just starting out don’t have that luxury. And they burn a lot of fuel compared to a compact-midsized SUV.
Just bought a 04 tundra double cab brand new frame under it and zero rust on the body. Got it for 4900 and would take that tundra over any of those vehicles.
I learned to drive in an "almost truck." Was a 96 Ford Explorer. It was kind of worn out by the time I got to drive it, but I thought it was the coolest thing when I had it.
When my son turned 16 I didn’t want him running around with a bunch of kids with him distracting his driving. I put him in my old 79 Ford Courier that had a maximum passenger capacity of 3.
Ya'll had me laughing like crazy with the Chevy. I had a friend in high school and his dad gave him his 83 stepside chevy with 8 inch lift rolling on 40's super swampers. I don't know if people remember when you had to know something mechanically about your car before you could even drive it to school.
My son is getting a 97 land rover discovery. Its slow, sonue cant speed easily. it gets bad gas mileage, so he cant go very far. It is 4wd, so he cant get stuck or flood it out easily (big plus in South Texas) It has a 2 inch lift and 31 inch Goodyear duratrac tires. And the AC even works fairly well!
Best beginner truck is a previous gen Ford Ranger
I wonder if had that red beard when he was shopping his first truck. Majestic!
16 yr old me would have loved any of these choices and that’s why they are all terrible ideas 🤣
JMO your region will have a major factor in what your first vehicle is, teenage City dwellers it’s not likely to be a truck even if it snows etc it’ll likely be something boring like a early 2000’s FWD 4cyl car like a Camry/Accord etc or even the old family minivan would be ideal maybe even an older CUV or SUV.
For the record my first vehicle was a 20yr old FWD Audi with like 100hp no airbags no electronic Nannie’s between tray sliding and other stupid things I still managed to allegedly get into trouble with that car 😂
My first vehicle was a 1966 international 1 ton 4x4 pickup. Original owner was the country. They used it to spray weeds. It was indestructible. 2 years later I had a Roadrunner.
The King Cab refers to the front seating position compared to other compact single cab trucks.
I currently have a frontier pro4x and love it except for the fuel economy. It's really terrible on gas. Want to go back to an early 2nd gen tacoma, but with a manual this time. Manual is just so much more fun to drive even in a slower vehicle.
Yeah the Tacoma is definitely slower than the frontier I’ve driven both I own a frontier and I test drove a couple Tacoma’s and man they’re pretty slow.
Tacoma's aren't exactly known for their phenomenal fuel economy either. Just saying
😆. The Tacoma near me, used, are insanely priced! Way too high to be a first vehicle.
Tacoma prices are crazy. That's why, this past weekend, my son and I picked up a 2000 Tundra. Slightly larger than a Tacoma, still reliable and thousands of dollars less!
My parents bought a 2002 ford ranger with the 4.0 engine and 4x4 for my first vehicle and I really like it
Tacoma seating: it is almost like the height of a sports car...very close to the floor vs the Nissan. You seat higher up. Your knees are bent at a comfortable angle. The cab is higher than the Taco...
I've got to ride both Taco & Frontier and noticed how they felt.
That F150's gotta be some government special. I've never seen an aluminum F150 with a center console and column shift; only the Super Duties do that.
20:40 Hey Andre...looks like that one even has cruise control. ;)
“Mowing… across the terrain” lol
I would run away from a truck with BOSS audio/Rough Country anything.
Everyone knows the best first vehicle is a 1989 Nissan Stanza with 245,000 miles on it... that has terrible brakes, a window defroster doesn't work, and can barely go up hills. 😁
Ahh the ole stanza! Had an '87 with 5 spoke walmart hubcaps and two 10"s in the trunk. Still miss that car
Toyota pickups are crazy popular here in the Pacific North West. And as such, they can fetch crazy stupid prices...
Frontier over taco allday. Love that green Chevy tho
96 Dodge Dakota Sport, reg cab, 2wd, short bed w/3.9L Magnum V6 + 5 speed manual as a first truck was perfect for a teenager to use, abuse, and learn how to drive and figure out how to fix.
Glad I saved my 2006, 1st gen Ridgeline to pass on to the grandkid, bought a new one in 2019. Ground issue with the GM
Well done as always. Andre is magic and starting to really like Brendon.
My first vehicle was a truck...78' GMC 1/2 ton.. 250 straight six..High school 1994' $100..owned it till 2001'
Great content/advice as always. Never miss one of these behind the scenes auction videos. But please guys, get some "dead cat" microphone covers. The wind noise (It gets windy in Colorado? Who knew?) in this one was awful.
Gmt 800 GM is where its at with the LS v8.tow, haul, reliability, cheap parts and less than 4k for a decent one
I'm going to steer toward the Frontier over the Toyota. You can get a newer one for less money than the Toyota and with less miles. The engine is quite a bit more powerful than the Toyota's and the Frontier does tow really well and doesn't search for gears. Easy to work on and super reliable and your not paying Lexus money for parts or repairs.
They are a very underated truck !
That's not a tuner button it's just a throttle controller to adjust your throttle response.
My first school driver was a 1969 C-10 with a 3speed column shifter and a 327 V8...
And a Dodge Bed. 😄
Definitely not a looker....and it was RWD.
But, i had fun in it. 😊
I can’t believe you guys are still seeing $15k plus on high mileage used tacomas. I just paid $18k on a 2005 Ram 2500 Cummins, CCLB 4x4 with 135k miles. I’d never even consider the Tacoma at that price.. insanity
I like the F150s column shifter. My old minivan had a column shifter. I prefer regular automatic transmissions that have either a steering wheel column mounted shifter, like my old minivan and that F150 or a traditional console mounted lever, like my in my Toyota Camry and that little Nissan and manual transmissions. I don’t like CVTs and I don’t like “gear selectors” that are electronic buttons or nobs.
My brother had a 95 or so Ford f150 with the shifter on the column and i liked it because you could keep your hand there. Also the high beams were on the floor so you could just push the button with your left foot. Outside fo that the truck was junk--broke down all the time, the motor was a gas guzzler (5L) and rust rust rust---they think it was a flood vehicle.
Definitely Nissan King cab but I have auto with 2.5lt diesel, unfortunately 4.0lt V6 was not offer after 2011 in Australia. Second definitely Ford F-150 king cab the Toyota Hilux space cab didn’t have doors to access back seats but 4.0lt V6 has enough power.
I like manuals for young drivers because it's almost impossible to use your phone while driving....
I bought my 1st truck 2 years ago and I love it. its a 1994 F-150 RCSB 4x4 5.0 5 speed. it only had 106k on it and I get 19mpg with it on a regular basis. plus it was cheap when I wanted a squarebody but those are all roached out!
This is an excellent idea for a new driver of any age, whether if they are in their teens or 20's, as well as their 30's, 40's or 50's. A used pick-up truck or a used two-row or five-passenger SUV or crossover are the best, safest vehicles to purchase than a used sedan, a used hatchback, as well as a station wagon or a minivan. Any three-row, seven or eight-passenger SUV/crossover or a sports/muscle/exotic car, as well as any hybrid or electric vehicles are out of the question, when it comes to purchasing a used vehicle for a newly, licensed driver, because they need to gain constant driving experience first, in order to be fully licensed later in life. You focus on the vehicles that you need on a daily basis, which is most likely from point A to point B, not the ones that you plan to take a joyride in. For example, I can plan to purchase a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 mid-size SUV with the 3.6 L Pentastar V6 engine and the eight-speed automatic transmission for my first vehicle, because it only seats five passengers, they are popular and they are equally reliable. They are also great vehicles to use for commuting, for all-seasoned weather and for road trips. I do not need a Dodge Durango or a Honda Pilot for an SUV or a crossover, but I will eventually stay away from the Chevrolet Equinox with the 2.4 L Ecotec four-cylinder engine and the six-speed automatic transmission, because they are extremely unreliable and they have numerous amount of problems. Thank you very much and have a great weekend.
Interesting segment on used vehicles .
I really love the Tacoma, but its just so small. Im sure its fine for most people, but ive got a lot of hobbies that require a lot of gear (kayaks, bikes, paddles, big RC cars, long rifles) & on some long weekends, I want to bring a good amount of toys + camping gear. Small trucks start to get real cramp with all that gear. You also get about the same fuel economy as a full sized truck.
My recommendation for a first time driver is a very used, but dependable vehicle for the first several years. An accident is very likely to happen and why bash a new vehicle...😉
I got a unicorn, '13 Tacoma TRD offroad with >60k miles. All stock.
The original “Datsun” King Cab didn’t have rear seats, even as an option. They were about additional space behind the rear seats. Back then they were tiny!! They didn’t have anything other than a single cab until the king cab.
The last gen Nissan Frontier, built until 2021 is as reliable, and for some years, rated as MORE reliable than the Tacoma. It’s a great truck. The Tacoma has a mythical level of reliability expectations. Buy the Frontier (not this one,,, 😂) because they are the best reliability, especially 2010 and newer. (I wouldn’t shy from a well kept older Frontier except the 2005 & 2006.
F150 SuperCab 6.5 ft box is basically the same size as the SuperCrew 5 ft box. The SuperCrew feels smaller and has slightly better sight lines.
The Tacoma 4 litre is still the best in my opinion, if it’s been cared for. Abused, it’s the same as anything else roughly.
All good choices
Ummmm is the oil light illuminated on that Tacoma?
Giving a new driver a 4wd for their first truck is asking for trouble
Why?
@@LafemmebearMusic He is thinking the Kid will take it off road and sink it to the axial. Which in many cases might be exactly what happens. Even grown ups like doing that.
1$ and a free long horns meal with a glass of wine
More mass, sure... But also lower crash worthiness overall. And depending on the age, lack of 4 wheel discs/ abs.
good choices but usually parents get vehicles 20 or 30 years old for lower prices. i like chevy stepside.
Thank you for bringing that up first car 66 Impala Super Sport Woodhill 4-speed hurts 61 Chevrolet Impala 3 speed in the column that will you know you drove it all
Plus Toyota 4wd has a higher C.G. so you can roll it much easier than a car!