[QUOTE=jwfirebird;1597276]the issue with 6cyl s10s is the fuel mileage, the v8 half ton gets the same mileage so there is no reason to get a truck that is uncomfortable small and hard to work on[/Q


Agree the fuel mileage is the same and being a small truck its pretty small inside especially with 2 kids. I disagree with the comfort statement, that bench seat is pretty comfortable compared to some vehicles I have driven.

I forgot to add I refuse to buy any thing foreign, mainly due to the fact they are not American vehicles. Yes they may be built here in the states, but their profits go over seas. To the O.P. my recommendations is buy as your budget sees fit. No sense in being in major debt for a piece of sheetmetal and plastic.

Why 4 cylinder 4wd? That combo can be had in a jeep wrangler and is fairly useless.

Justin is spot on, the S10, Blazer, Jimmy fuel mileage with 4wd is no better than a full size Chevy truck. I do think the S10 is easy to work on, they just break a lot unless one takes a lot of proactive actions- then they are super dependable. They also rust a lot- if you go for a S10 try and get one from the southwest. Other than the fuel mileage and a lot of proactive repairs needes- the S10s are great vehicles. I would not consider a Colorado- horrible drivetrain, especially the engine which is prone to fail at 75k miles.

Sometimes size does matter for the driver. My Son has a 4wd ZR2 S10. When the trans failed, he drove my F-350 regular cab. He stated it was a lot harder to park, etc. He was glad to get the S10 back.

Having owned GMs almost exclusively since 1980, I would not purchase a GM because they are a american corporation. I would buy the vehicle that best matched my needs. GM has made many very sub-par vehicles for decades, buying a GM because they are a american nameplate gives GM no incentive to make the best vehicle they can. There is more to the "government motors" nickname than just the bailout.

I figured a 4 cyl would give me decent gas mileage and 4WD would enable me to do some off-roading. I like to hunt and ice fish and it'* hard getting around the frozen lakes with 2WD

There is a reason why most manufactures don't build a 4cyl. with the 4wd option. A 4 cylinder doesn't have the power especially in 4wd mode to pull itself thus using more fuel. To most customers I tell them its either fuel economy or towing which do you prefer. Now if you have 50k to put down on a truck, the New Silverado 1500 gets 24 mpg.

If it means that much, I wonder what it would be possible to bolt up transfer case and front drive train. That is a lot of weight, and I am having trouble distinguishing 4 and 6 cylinder engines based on fuel mileage.

Yeah I kind of assumed that but I thought I'd see if there was anything out there. Thanks for your input!

a early 2000'* standard cab 4wd, with 4.8 or 5.3 will get 20-22hwy and 16-18 local, depending on driver and terrain. and have plenty of power to do whatever you want. and i should have said s10'* are not comfortable for people like me, Im 6ft and 250, my buddies got a s10 and they tried to give me a s10 blazer at work one time once the guy saw what i had to do get in it and my knees in the dash he gave me something bigger. and for someone like me you cant get at anything in the engine or anything to service it. and its not like they get decent mileage so whats the point.

Someone your size, yea it would be a tight fit even with the seats reclined. We have a customer comes in he is over 6 ft and drives an aveo. I don't know how but he does. He reminds me of the movie police academy. lol.