Whatever happened to inexpensive pickup trucks? When I first started dreaming about my first car and watching the clbuttifieds carefully (around 1990), there were continually running ads for a Nissan Hardbody for $68 plus 195. Regular cab, 4 cyl., 5 speed, tiny tires, very basic interior (there might even have been some exposed metal on the door), AM radio, crank windows and manual locks. Not much vehicle but it was cheap, good on gas, probably ran forever, and had a pickup bed. Since then, the smallest pickups have slowly grown in size and advanced in basic options. So much so that that cheap basic transportation isn't available from any manufacturer. Now small pickups start around $14,000. That's a 100% increase in 15 years. Any opinions. Any idea if sky high gas prices might create demand and hence supply for tiny "econo trucks" again?
With that said, anybody selling a used truck as described above? I am in central texas. The ONLY option that I would be looking for possibly would be an extra cab truck. This is not a necessity but I am tall and do have two small kids who might be hanging out with me. The truck is for me banging around on weekends moving tools and supplies for projects so I want something cheap and economical that I don't have to baby and that can move around a lawn mower or occasionally lumber or tool boxes. I would even take something that needs engine or transmission work. Please nothing that needs body work or electrical. I'm not looking for a nightmare or something that is completely ragged out, I just want basic.
