| Author | Message | ||
     Tpoppa |
Durability, longevity, and operational upkeep cost - ability to haull a Buell or two down the road in the bed - lol Get a used 1st generation (98-03)Nissan Frontier with a V6. The 3.3l V6 is bulletproof and it will out-haul a new Chevy Colorado (5000lbs vs 3500lbs) | ||
| Bads1 |
I realize the Honda Element has no Bed. What it will do is haul a Buell inside it. Or put a trailer on it and it'll pull two small sportbikes no problem. In the inside it has just the same amount of room as a small pickup with the rear seats up. It'll blow everyone out of the water in the gas mileage department and it AWD. No carpet inside just a heavy rubber floor thats minutes to clean. Oh yeah if you buy a truck you'll need a cap so you can keep stuff dry in bad weather. A cap can cost as much as a small trailer. Rick your right its not truck but it sure is about the most versatile vehical I ever owned. | ||
| Captnemo |
I guess the real question is what is your price range ? | ||
| Aldaytona |
Explorer Sport Trac, it's a truck, it's a SUV, it's a Ford.  | ||
| Djkaplan |
One time, my best friend and I got into a huge argument over whose truck was superior; my GMC 1500 or his Ford F-150 (the first trucks for both of us, btw). We almost chained them up for a pull-off in front of all our friends to settle the dispute before we came to our senses. I sure don't want to argue about trucks, here, but I still have my GMC and my friend's F-150 literally fell apart under him. I win. | ||
| Kdan |
Bads1, give it up, it's got no Made in America sticker on it, nor does it have 400hp and big fat tires. But then again, I'm not compensating for anything. Did anyone else notice that the price of gas went up 11 cents yesterday? | ||
| Bads1 |
Ezblast, And if you were coming to say homcoming and you were trailering the bikes and staying lets say at the camp grounds by Road America you could do this.  No its not a truck but it actually does alot of crap for being small. Its roomy trust me. | ||
| Dbird29 |
Dodge is offering free Hemis in March. http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/01/dodge-offering- free-hemi-for-trucks-in-february/ | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
From personal experience: Chevy Silverado I had a 98 short bed single cab with a V6 and 5spd. It had over 150K when I traded it in and it looked and drove like new. It got good gas milage with the V6 and manual tranny, but had plenty of pep and decent hauling power. | ||
| Ezblast |
I dunno - that Element was a first choice a bit ago, wife thought I should ask around though - think I could fit two Blasts inside it in a worst case scenario? GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| Naustin |
For the money, you can not beat a Ranger. They are ridiculously cheap, at least if you buy them used, and they're a pretty decent little truck. I don't count the f-150 or the Silverado as small or mid-size. The Dakota is almost too big to call it a small/mid size and is really more of a mid/full size truck - esp. the v8 models, and Colorado is maybe cooler than a Ranger and has a neato in-line 5 (too bad it's not an in-line 6), but both are more expensive than the Ranger. The Best in terms of performance, mileage, resale value, and build quality, (for Small/midsize trucks) IMHO, is the Tacoma. But that's just my opinion, and if I was actually buying a small/mid size truck, I'd save the extra cash and buy the Ranger. | ||
| Bads1 |
Put it this way EZblast. A truck will cost a a few thousand more if not a couple then you need a cap or cover to keep things out of the elements. The Honda will run about 19-20 grand. A trailer heck you can find it cheap. Its just my honesst opinion. Best thing to do is go test drive one. I still think its friggn a ugly duckling of cars/trucks.... the step child type. But after owning it and using it for what it is,its one damn handy lil suv. | ||
| Ezblast |
Also I try not to trailer anything - I ride, but if a wheel bearing goes - I refuse to pay for towing - almost a grand last time - I'd rather throw the bike in the back and deal from there - lol - and since I plan to have a friend ride my other bike - lol - twice the fun could develop. Since I could buy a truck for todays tow prices - I am - lol GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Kootenay |
Pickup trucks...I've had a few, and the one I have now is the best so far. 95 Dodge Ram with a Cummins diesel. Just rolled over 430,000 km, and still going strong (well, I've replaced some running gear, but the engine will never die). I live and work in a mountainous area, and have to drive a lot of highway miles in all conditions, often carrying hundreds of pounds of tools and stuff, so I need a reliable truck I can afford to run--and run for a long time--hence the diesel. I had a 97 Ford F-150 on lease, and returned it early to buy this used Dodge, which has proven to be twice the truck while burning half the fuel compared to the Ford. Anyways, I know you're looking for a small to midsize truck. So am I--I don't really need the 3/4 ton, but I wanted a diesel, and although small to midsize diesel trucks are common everywhere else, they aren't available in North America. Yet. I'm told that we should be seeing a selection of smaller diesel pickups in the coming years, including the Dodge Dakota and possibly some from Toyota. The reason they aren't here now has to do with the quality of North American diesel fuel, which is not as clean as European diesel--and therefore, diesel engines can't meet emmisions standards for passenger cars and small trucks (this is why Volkswagon is not bringing 2007 model year diesel cars to North America). With diesel fuel standards becoming more stringent in North America in the near future, I'm hoping for some smaller diesel trucks. I'd sure like to have something like a Dakota which gets 45 mpg or so... | ||
| Kdan |
You guys are talking about those girl trucks, right? This was my last truck. Back when a truck was a truck and all 3 gears were shifted manually.  I called it, 'The Pace Car Of The Apocalypse" The Element is still more useful though. | ||
| Wolf102 |
 this is the truck i just bought.runs great and i have no payments.i am going to use this to haul my s2. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Okay, can we cut all the bullshit here? Get a used 1st generation (98-03)Nissan Frontier with a V6. The 3.3l V6 is bulletproof and it will out-haul a new Chevy Colorado (5000lbs vs 3500lbs) A Colorado can tow up to 4,000 lbs (not 3,500). A 2003 Nissan Frontier will tow 3,907 lbs. Dead even. The 5,000 lbs you tossed out there was the GVWR (of which a Colorado is the same). By the way, if you opt for the V6 in the Nissan, the Superchrager dictates the need for Premium gas. Littlebuggels...don't buy that Dakota, get the mitsubishi raider..same exact truck, longer warranty, and cheaper...my buddy sells them, the V6 has as much power as the V8 with better mileage and the cost is about $4000.00 from Dakota to Raider...check it out before you buy. A Dodge Dakota starts at $19,880. A Mitsubishi Raider starts at $19,890. The Mitsu is in fact $10 more, not $4,000 less as claimed. The warranty is a little better (by 2 years). The Colorado warranty is better than both. The V6 makes 210hp and gets 15/19mpg (4WD), the V8 makes 235hp and gets 15/20mpg. More importantly, the V8 makes 60lbs more torque. The Honda Element can tow 1500 lbs. I can't find a spec on how much you can load over the rear axle, but I'd be willing to bet a Buell exceeds the specified limit if tossed inside. Just because the tires aren't blown out and the bumper isn't dragging on the ground doesn't mean you're not overtaxing the suspension. If you want to get a trailor to tow your bike, most any car out there can handle about 1000 lbs anyways. Anyway, baring that, I would go with the Isuzu veriosn of the colorado/canyon... IDENTICAL trucks, except, MUCH MUCH cheaper... something liek 6k difference....BUT, all the optins are the same, EXCEPT, I dont think the Z-71(or what ever its called now), is available... The Isuzu i-290 starts at $12,989, and the Colorado starts at $14,595. Again, not the claimed $6,000 difference. And the warranty on the Chevy is still better. My choice on a midsized pickup? The Chevy wins hands down for what I would need it for. The Dakota seems good, but Dodge has left a bad taste in my mouth (worked in a garage for a LONG time as recently as a year ago). The Rangers are cool, reliable, but people don't steal them because they look kinda ugly (though not as bad as an Element). Plus, they're just not enough truck for my tastes. (Message edited by xl1200r on March 02, 2007) (Message edited by xl1200r on March 02, 2007) | ||
| Easy_rider |
Been more than happy with my '97 extended Silverado, currently at 156,000 miles. Was happy with my S-10 before that at 250,000. My neighbor works at a Honda supplier and has an Element. A little too plain inside for me and can barely get out of it's own way, but it suits him and his hobbies well. Mountain bikes don't have gas tanks, though. Do you really want that in the vehicle with you? All in all, all of the above have their positives and negatives. Need to know more about your day-to-day driving. | ||
| Rotzaruck |
EZ What have you started now? I hope you weren't looking for a consensus. I don't want to get involved in this struggle, opinion versus opinion. It's just beneath my dignity. But think what's important. Who's opinion really matters here? Buells are undoubtably happier in Chevy's. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I've owned S-10, Rangers and now a Dakota. Whoever says "its almost too big to be considered a mid-size" must not have ridden in the back seat. This truck is a mid size with an excellent power package available. I have a 4.7l V-8 and it's plenty to pull my 18' fishing boat at less than 3k rpm. While getting decent gas milage. I can drive up to my lake home in Land O Lakes (265 miles from SE Wis) on 3/4 of a tank (18 gal) while driving 75. My S-10 and Ranger were both rvvving over 3k and working hard. If you're looking for a truck, buy a Dakota with a V-8. SUV? Durango. Van? shoot yourself. That Honda Element is about a good looking as a painted toaster with black plastic trim. | ||
| Bads1 |
xl1200r, The Element can handle the weight of the Buell without doubt. Figure I have put 2 full grown men at 200 lbs. each in it and no sag in the rear and it goes like the weight isn't in it and thats with another 2 full grown men in the front. I also put carpet cleaning equipment in it daily that weighs more then or just as much in the back and have been for 2 years. You know nothing about the Honda. I own it and know. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I suggest one of these:  | ||
| Rick_a |
Is that a Ural? The Suzuki dealer next to our shop has one. My wife actually likes them. Hell naww. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Yep, a Ural Patrol. Two wheel drive and all. I will have one eventually as my snow bike. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
No-one has mentioned a van yet, lower loading height, better security, & you can sleep in it too. Go for a Sprinter diesel if you can get one, It's a Mercedes with a mopar badge. Best tool you'll ever buy. | ||
| Kdan |
Endless possibilities!!  | ||
| Ezblast |
That Ural - I keep picturing my wife driving it, dog riding in the side car, all the tools and extra parts strapped on - road tripping - wish those things could go faster than 60 mph though. GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Xl1200r |
xl1200r, The Element can handle the weight of the Buell without doubt. Figure I have put 2 full grown men at 200 lbs. each in it and no sag in the rear and it goes like the weight isn't in it and thats with another 2 full grown men in the front. I also put carpet cleaning equipment in it daily that weighs more then or just as much in the back and have been for 2 years. You know nothing about the Honda. I own it and know. Bads1, I thought I clearly stated that i was unsure of what the rear axle could handle. Maybe you decided to ignore that ingot. And I refuse to believe that a 166hp engine will seem just as powerful with 4 people in the car as it does with just 1. Regardless, don't go throwing around that I don't know anything about the Honda. I do know a few things about Honda - they tend to give versatility at the expense of practicality (The Ridgeline has a lockable trunk in the bottom of the bed which holds the spare tire - I bet that will be tons of fun you get a flat with a load of mulch in the back). In any event, I have spent quite a bit of time under all kinds of vehicles. You don't see what anything is capable of until you get under one. In other news, I did a little more research. An Element weighs 3,567 lbs with an automatic transmission (talk about the fat kid). The GVWR is 4,450 lbs. That leaves a carrying capacity of a measly 883 lbs. Toss in 4 adults and a tank of gas and you've exceeded the GVWR of the truc- er, car...box??? Whatever it is. It all comes back to using the right tool for the job. Would you pound a nail into a piece of wood with an electric drill? So why would you try to haul around a motorcycle with nothing more than a car-based station wagon? The Element woudln't be a bad choice if you needed it for some light duty hauling inside, or for pulling a 1500lbs trailer. It does have leg up on towing capacity compared to most things its size. But the Element was designed for active lifestyle youth, regardless of who's actually buying them. Beach parties and mild camping trips are the name of the game, not heavy duty hauling. | ||
| Ezblast |
Two stripped Blasts are not heavy hauling - lol - BAR widths are 29" and 31" - one forward and one backed in - is there enough space - I can pick up either to move around to tie down. I just wanted to know - could never find an answer, so considered trucks - worst case scenario - could it carry 2 stripped Blasts and 3 adults - 2 being pissed off - lol GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Bads1 |
And I'll say it again....I put 4 adults in it all the time no problem. I own a cleaning business that most of my things are on sight and stay there. But I also do residental carpet cleaning and I put 3 machines in every time I go out. One is for stairways,and the other two are carpet cleaning units. they weigh about 150 lbs with chemical in them.The stair unit about a 100 full. Then I have vacuum's and various chemical's and detergents. Once inside I'd say I'm close to 550 lbs. Does the Element sage?? Not at all and I don't feel the weight at all. Sorry I've been doing this every day for 2 years without issue. Also the dealer see's this thing loaded when brought in for maintance,they say nothing. Where on this thread has Ezblast said he wanted to carry mulch. Guess I'm not the one that no read so good. What you just said.... The Element wouldn't be a bad choice for light hualing or 1500 lbs trailer....what do you think I've been saying for crying out loud. The Blast weigh's jack. It can be put inside through the side door's. The bike weigh's less then my equipment. A 166 HP motor has no problem doing the job. I just got ride of a 2002 4Runner that the 6 in it is 180 HP. It'll tow a couple snowmobiles and loaded in the cargo area with a weekend of Supplies without flinching. Mine hasn't done that but my in-laws all the time and they have passenger's in the back to boot. |
