Good morning! It’s a new month, and we’re starting it out with a couple of trucks, ones you don’t see quite as often as the usual suspects. They’re very different beasts, but both recognizable as “trucks.” Which one fills that role better will be up to you to decide.
We ended the month yesterday with a couple of green coupes, and I’m not surprised that the MG won. That Firebird’s color is a lot to take, and apart from the crazy paint, there’s nothing particularly special about it. An MGB GT, on the other hand, is special no matter how ratty it is.
And make no mistake: That car is ratty. And according to one commenter who looked at it in person recently, it’s worse than it shows in photos. My advice, if you really have your heart set on an MGB GT, or another small British car like that, is to find the club nearest to you, go to a meeting, and talk to folks. Someone is bound to have one for sale, or know someone who does. You’d be amazed at the cars that change hands within clubs for less money than this one, in far better shape. The best deals often aren’t advertised.
Moving on: Yes, once again, I have used a movie reference in the headline, one that will probably sail right over David’s head. But that’s all right; we all know it. (Right?) A customized Toyota 4×4 like the one Marty drools over and eventually gets in Back To The Future is way beyond our meager price range these days, of course, but I did manage to find a couple of pretty cool old 4WD trucks for reasonable prices. Which one of them is worthy of taking Jennifer up to the lake? Let’s see.
1989 Nissan D21 Hardbody King Cab – $4,950
Engine/drivetrain: 2.4-liter overhead cam inline 4, five-speed manual, part-time 4WD
Location: Seattle, WA
Odometer reading: 162,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
“What’s in a name?” asks Juliet, in her famous balcony scene. Quite a lot, if you’re in marketing, actually. Naming products is part art, part science, and when you’ve just changed the name of your whole company, the stakes are even higher. Nissan, formerly Datsun, needed a good name for its new D21-series compact truck, styled in the US and meant to breathe new life into its competition with Toyota. Something strong, but friendly, and maybe even a little sexy. It settled on “Hardbody.”
For the first couple of years, the Hardbody carried over the same NAPS-Z four-cylinder engine from the 720 series. In this case, it’s backed by a five-speed manual transmission and a 2WD/4WD transfer case with a low range. It runs great, and has had a ton of work done, including a new clutch. The ad also claims it has a new timing belt, but the Z engine uses a chain-driven camshaft, so either the seller is confused or their mechanic is a bit shady.
Inside, it’s a good basic truck, with a bench seat and everything. Technically this bench can seat three, but pity the person stuck in the middle; not only do they have to straddle the shifter and the transmission hump, but they only get that truncated cushion to sit on. The inward-facing jump seats in the back of the cab are probably a more comfortable option.
It’s straight and, as far as I can tell, rust-free. It looks like there are a few dings, but that just adds character to a truck. I never could understand why these Nissan trucks shed the paint on their wheels, but they all seem to do it. A can of silver Rust-Oleum would brighten them back up, and probably make a word of difference to its appearance.
2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71 – $3,850
Engine/drivetrain: 5.3-liter overhead valve V8, four-speed automatic, part-time 4WD
Location: Frisco, TX
Odometer reading: unknown
Operational status: Runs and drives great
SUVs took over the US in the 1990s, and pickup trucks moved off of the farm and into the suburbs. But what if you needed an SUV that could also haul big items like a truck? Chevy had you covered with the Avalanche, basically a Suburban with the rear portion of the roof removed, and a clever “midgate” divider that could be raised to enclose the passenger compartment, or lowered to enlarge the bed space, at the expense of the rear seats.
Mechanically, it’s a GMT800 truck platform, including a 5.3 liter LS-style V8, 4L60E automatic, and push-button four-wheel-drive. This one has been in the same family since new, and they say it has been well-maintained. The ad does not, however, list the mileage on the odometer, which makes me think it’s a lot. That’s not an issue for the GMT800; a quarter-million miles are easy to come by. But it would be nice if they told us how many miles are actually on it.
There are some signs of wear inside, and the seat covers may be hiding even more. These are nice comfy trucks, though, and while it’s almost certain to have some electrical stuff that doesn’t work, the parts are available and it’s not really hard to work on.
The Avalanche’s funky looks are just part of the package; either you like it or you don’t. I couldn’t stand it when it first came out. I won’t say it has grown on me, but maybe I’ve gotten used to it, and everything else on the road has gotten uglier. The practicality and reliability overshadow the weird looks anyway. This one looks pretty clean, but I don’t remember the lower body cladding being quite that black. I think someone painted it somewhere along the line, hopefully not to conceal rust.
You’ve got lots of choices for used trucks these days, but when I went looking for trucks so I could use that headline (yes, I sometimes do the headline first), these two struck me as something special, something a little outside the norm, and both quite good trucks as well. Which one would you drive home?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
Nissan hardbody for me.
I’ve never liked the look of the Avalanche. Also, the Avalanche seemed to always attract a greater share of road raging assholes compared to regular Chevy truck drivers.
I can’t see a Nissan Hardbody and not think of the documentary Hands on a Hardbody. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it here before, but if you haven’t seen it it’s a facinating watch. It’s about a Nissan Dealership here in Texas that gave away a Hardbody every year to whomever could keep a hand on it the longest. The contest ran until (I think) 2005, when a contestant who was suffering from sleep deprivation and a load of mental stress went across the street to the Kmart and bought a shotgun and ended his life. Crazy stuff, and you can see the toll it takes on people in the documentary. It’s unbelievable how far some people are willing to push themselves for a free truck.
I’m not sure where it’s streaming, but here’s the trailer: https://youtu.be/_MjlCK1qvS8?feature=shared
The fact that they never did that for the Avalanche should tell you which is the better pick
Reminiscent of the film, “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?”
I’m going against the majority. I’m taking the Avalanche just because it’s less expensive. I had the same hardbody but in black way back. It was nice but I think it’s under powered for a 4×4
Both seem nice. But something is super sketchy with that Avalanche ad. Does that truck exist for sale? How do you not have the mileage? I usually steer clear of those ads that have a 1 for the miles. So Nissan is the winner.
I’ve driven an Avalanche, it’s a pig. The extra-cab Hardbody wins.
I don’t know that I’d want to drive one of the slowest vehicles ever made, no matter how reliable it is. So Avalanche for me.
I’ve driven that generation of Avalanche, they’re super comfy. But I agree with everyone else that something seems shady with that ad. I’m sure an Avalanche of problems are heading your way.
So I guess I can strap the booster seat in the middle and put the family in the Hardbody. Which is the truck my heart wants anyways.
I love Avalanches, and I’m a GMT-800 super fan, but I feel like the seller of this Avalanche is hiding something. The super glossy plastic, combined with the super shitty seat covers, and the missing center caps on the wheels … it’s throwing off the vibes of a vehicle that should be passed on.
Meanwhile, I also love a Nissan Handbody, and that one looks excellent. I’ll spend more for condition in this case, and take the little guy home.
If the Avalanche was a better example, I’d probably go for the Avalanche.
Hardbody is the better of the two options…except on price. Give me the Avalanche.
I would rather have the Nissan, but not at a grand more. Avalanche for me.
I could go either way here. I love a hard body, but the Avalanche is a versatile vehicle and I know the GMT800 vehicles like the back of my hand. I guess I’ll toss the Avalanche the bone because it is the cheaper option, but I could be happy with either.
It’s a strange comparison because everybody *should* pick the Avalanche based on price, features, literally every metric. But dammit, my lizard brain would choose the Hardbody every day of the week.
The Avalanch is all kinds of weird looking tho but.
I love Avalanches, but the condition of that one is telling me that one is a bad one. I voted for the Hardbody.
The Nissan King Cab is better, so that’s how I voted.
Remember that small Japanese trucks are so awesome that Detroit feels threatened and got soooo insecure and jealous that they have to keep the chicken tax.
This one is hard. The Avalanche has always been the only truck I could see myself actually buying, but I do love the older little trucks, and I have many memories of sitting in those jump seats in a slightly newer frontier. I went Avalanche mostly because it’s cheaper, and it’s something I would actually like to own, but the Nissan is likely the better option.
I will admit to bias. I know more about the Nissan and have a soft spot for it.
That said, I have no problems with the Avalanche. I have seen it be a lifestyle vehicle and, once it started to age out of that phase/style, get used hard as a work truck.
What can I say? The Nissan rings my nostalgia bell a LOT harder.
Hardbody. I considered the Avalanche an abomination when it was new, and my opinion hasn’t changed much in 22 years.
They are both decent choices so I’m letting the wrench decide. That Nissan looks easier to work on and I’m worried the missing odometer on the Avalanche wasn’t an oversight.
I expect this to be a blowout for the Nissan because everyone here loves small trucks but I will put a good word in as a former Avalanche owner that these are awesome and comfy trucks that can do a lot of work.
The Suburban basis makes for a better ride and amenities than any other trucks of the time, and the Midgate is more useful than you think.
The functionality of the Avalanche has always made me want one. I have no use for a truck so I don’t see it happening, but if I ever do get a truck, that’s what it’ll be.
It is always interesting to hear both sides. I find the 5K tow rating to be a bit of an issue, so I would want the rare 2500, or perhaps a 6.0 Cadillac version. but I would still be fine with eh 1500 for daily use. up to 2006 at least. after 2006 the 5.3 AFM situation scares me away usually.
I’m drawn to the utility of the Avalanche and I don’t find it’s looks too odd, but in the end, it’s too large a vehicle for my likes or needs. Always admired the Hardbody and it’s a manual, so the Nissan gets the vote today.
Seconded
These were almost indestructible if taken care of.
Nissan is the wiser choice imho.
I know the Avalanche will need more money spent from a maintenance perspective BUT its a more capable vehicle, having the ability to fold the seats down and have an opening from the bed all the way to the interior is game changing.
My father in law inherited a 2006 Chevy Avalanche with 36K miles and it doesn’t have the ugly black plastic outside like this one. It looks way better.
I think these look a lot better without the plastic cladding.
I don’t know, the avalanche is actually pretty reliable and far newer. I imagine parts for the Nissan are also somewhat harder to find currently. though I will say even Rock auto seems to be having parts and materials for even newer stuff go away a lot more lately.
I can imagine some friends offroading in that Nissan, without seatbelts, and the middle guy sliding forward for an unfortunate meeting with the gearshifter.
I’ll take it.
The Avalanche is better value, but a) I already effectively have that car (’02 Yukon XL), and b) that Nissan is almost exactly like the truck I learned to drive on, and they’re very difficult to find in not-thrashed-to-death condition.
Hardbody for me.
“The best deals often aren’t advertised”-Mark Tucker. I got a junkyard-or-us deal on a ’98 Civic in decent shape, from one of our friends neighbors. Can confirm not-advertised is generally better.
I think the voting will be close.
You had me at Hardbody, no need to read the rest of the article or see what the other vehicle is.
And this is why internet polls are innacurate kids.