Good morning! To start the week off, we’re looking at two little trucks I know quite well, having owned trucks very similar to both of them in the past. They both treated me pretty well, and they both seem like fair deals (at least, these days; I paid considerably less for both of mine). Which one will you pick? We’ll see.
On Friday, you had your choice of all eight vehicles from the week. I figured either the Acura Legend or the Lexus LS400 would come out on top, and I was right. Despite a salvage title on the Acura, and some seriously hinky inconsistencies in the LS400’s ad, the Japanese luxury liners took home a 1-2 finish.
I’m with you on the Acura, but I’d want to know the story behind the title. The Lexus just doesn’t interest me, but hey, that means I won’t be fighting any of you for the next one that comes up for sale. It’s all yours. There’s still something about that Cavalier convertible that really appeals to me, though; maybe just because it has been convertible weather around here for the past few days.
Of all the vehicle types that have gone extinct over the past couple of decades, I think I miss cheap little pickup trucks the most. (And no, the Maverick doesn’t count; too many doors, too many gadgets, and not enough pedals.) It bothers me that I can’t walk into a dealership and drive out in something like a basic little Ranger or Mighty Max anymore. I feel like I should have bought one new while I had the chance.
I have had a few used compact pickups over the years, however, including an ’84 Mazda, and an ’88 Toyota. Both of them got sold in favor of something “nicer,” and in both cases, I still sort of feel like that was a mistake. Rectifying that mistake now would cost me, though; I paid $600 for my Mazda and $1,000 for my Toyota. Apparently they aren’t that cheap anymore. Which one of these is worth the new price? Let’s take a look.
1984 Mazda B2000 SE-5 – $3,300
Engine/drivetrain: 2.0-liter overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Anderson, SC
Odometer reading: 166,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
If you’re old enough, one look at this truck will bring to mind a jingle. You know the one I mean. Mazda’s selling point with its trucks in the ’80s was value; more features for less money than the competition. A few different trim packages were offered; the one I had was a “Sundowner,” which had more chrome trim, and plain steel wheels with dog-dish hubcaps. This one is an SE-5, the “sporty” model, with blacked-out trim, stripes, and white spoked wheels. But apart from the trim, it’s exactly the same as the one I had, right down to the silver paint and blue interior.
The B2000, regardless of trim, is powered by a 2.0 liter single overhead cam four. Nearly all of them came with a manual transmission; you could get an automatic, but no one did. How times have changed. This one has a five-speed stick, with brand-new clutch hydraulics, and runs and drives great. The seller has also replaced the carb, the starter, and the fuel pump.
It looks pretty clean, but definitely well-used. This truck was nobody’s baby; the bed shows the scars of untold toolboxes, piles of lumber, and bags of mulch casually tossed in. But that’s all right; it’s what trucks are for. The seller says a topper is included as well, but it isn’t shown in the photos. If you put a topper on it, though, you can’t use those awesome rope hooks on the sides of the bed.
It isn’t all that rusty, but then, neither was mine, and that was in Minnesota. In fact, the only trouble I ever had with rust was the fuel pickup tube inside the fuel tank; it rusted off halfway up. Took me ages to figure out why it kept stalling when the tank was half empty.
1986 Toyota Pickup – $3,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.4-liter overhead cam inline 4, four-speed manual, RWD
Location: San Fernando, CA
Odometer reading: 224,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives fine, but won’t pass smog
Toyota’s small trucks have long been seen as the gold standard, and for a good reason. They’re as tough as nails, give or take a little rust, and a timing chain guide or two. Top Gear tried to destroy one and failed, and millions of tradespeople haven’t had any better luck. A quarter-million miles on the odometer is the norm; half a million or more isn’t unheard-of. The one I had didn’t run particularly well, but it always started, and never let me down.
The secret to the Toyota truck’s success is the 20R/22R engine, a simple overhead-cam four-cylinder that doesn’t put out a whole lot of power, but seems to run forever. It has two weaknesses, and mine suffered from both of them: its feedback carburetor is notoriously finicky, and its plastic timing chain guides are prone to wear, causing a terrible rattle on startup. If the chain gets loose enough, it can throw off the valve timing and make it run like crap. I worry that this one may be suffering from a loose timing chain. The seller says it runs all right, but backfires on deceleration, and failed emissions. The carb, distributor, plugs, and wires are all new; it ought to run like a top.
This is a really basic truck, with vinyl seats, rubber floors, and only a four-speed manual transmission. It looks nice inside; the seller recently re-did the upholstery and door panels. It has a nice camper-style topper with some built-ins; it could be used as a teeny-tiny RV for one or two people, if you were so inclined.
Apart from the emissions issues, the biggest problem is this body damage on the driver’s side. This truck got hammered by something. The cab itself looks like it took the worst of it; that’s a problem, because that’s not something that can be easily removed and replaced. The seller says the door still opens and closes fine, but I have my doubts.
The bad news is that nobody makes these little trucks anymore. The good news is that a bunch of companies made them by the millions for at least a couple of decades, so there are still plenty of them to go around. You have to go outside the rust belt to find them, like these two, but they’re out there. You’ve got your choice between a legendary Toyota that needs a little fixing up, and a slightly-less-legendary Mazda that looks a little tired, but still willing. Which one are you taking?
(Image credits: sellers)
I’ll still take the risk on the Yota…it looks so good in that blue and I love those trucks. I’ll fix the damage, whatever it takes its worth it to me
I like both but prefer recent mechanical work as opposed to recent interior work when buying slightly used and the paint scheme on the Mazda looks better.
I want the Toy, mainly because it has the larger engine. My dad had a B2000, and it felt very slow to drive. But that price is too high for either.
I’m quite familiar with that era of Mazda trucks which is why I’m picking it. The biggest weakness is the carb which the seller has addressed (assuming it was done correctly). Definitely my jam.
It was a toss-up until the body damage on the Yota. That tipped things in favor of the Mazda.
If the Toyo owner drops the price by 800 to fix the engine and body I’ll take it, otherwise i’ll take the mazda.
Stripes and white spoke wheels make that Mazda look like it has the heart of a terrier.
That’s the winner for me!
I don’t want to do both bodywork and engine work, so the Mazda wins even though I’d rather have the Toyota.
I can’t with that Toy. Those old Mazdas are criminally overlooked.
Anybody paying the Toyota tax for that, is too far gone to help.
I’m going Mazda, as those are really good trucks. I’d be tempted to go with the Toyota just so I could lift it, swap in a transfer case and D60s front and rear, and have a fun trail rig I wouldn’t have to worry about hurting, but the Mazda is just too nice to pass up.