Welcome to another Shitbox Showdown! Okay, so we’ve done two major projects this week, and two minor fixer-uppers yesterday; how about today we look at two nice reliable cars you could jump in and drive across the country in tomorrow for under 2 grand each? The hell, you say? Well, you be the judge.
Yesterday’s vote was a close one. I don’t know if that’s because the vehicles were evenly matched, or because you all just flipped a coin and let the law of averages do its thing. The Caravan won by a mere twelve votes, and I think that’s the one I would choose. I’m more convinced than some of you seemed to be that the Mitsubishi’s problem is a minor one, but 120,000 fewer miles means a lot.
Oh, and about that intermittently-working speedometer on the Caravan: No, the odometer should still read correctly. It’s digital in these vans, and both the odometer and speedometer pick up a signal from the vehicle speed sensor on the transmission. The speedometer is just an electrical gauge; it isn’t like the old cars with a cable that drives a mechanism. Unless the vehicle speed sensor goes bad (which triggers a code, turns on the “Check Engine” light, and causes all sorts of other problems like wonky shifting), the odometer should be displaying the correct miles, no matter what the speedometer needle is or isn’t doing.
You’ll have no such worries with today’s choices. Just hop in, turn the key, and go – at least, if the sellers are to be believed. It does help that both of these vehicles are known to be reliable and durable anyway. Let’s check them out.
1996 Toyota Avalon XL – $1,700
Engine/drivetrain: 3.0 liter dual overhead cam V6, four-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Beaverton, OR
Odometer reading: 252,000 miles
Operational status: “Runs and drives great”
When the Toyota Avalon came out, I didn’t really give it a second thought – but then, a 22-year-old guy who drove a beat-up Chevy Nova wasn’t exactly Toyota’s target demographic. I serviced plenty of them at the garage, but they barely registered as anything more than a “big Camry.” But now, all these years later, this first-gen Avalon seems like one of the greatest used car bargains of all time.
I mean, it’s not a dream car or anything, but it’s comfy, reliable, and somehow often cheaper than similar Camrys. It’s basically a Buick LeSabre, only it’s a Toyota. Only one engine/transmission combination was available: a 1MZ-FE six cylinder driving a four-speed automatic, not far off from the Buick’s 3800/4T60E combo. Some early Avalons even came with a bench seat and a column-mounted shifter. Toyota was really gunning for the golf-course set with this thing.
But even a die-hard American car guy like me has to admit that this looks better than damn near any Buick that’s north of a quarter million miles. It’s clean, straight, and hardly shows any wear. The seller hasn’t had it long, so I don’t know how much history they can provide, but they do say it just passed a smog inspection, which is something. Not even a Toyota lasts forever, of course, but you could probably get another couple years out of this thing without much trouble.
That does, of course, mean that you have to spend a couple years driving a beige Toyota Avalon. But at only seventeen hundred bucks for something this nice, it feels like a sacrifice worth making.
1996 Mazda B3000 SE – $1,750
Engine/drivetrain: 3.0 liter overhead valve V6, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Newberg, OR
Odometer reading: 162,000 miles
Operational status: “Ready to use”
Mazda and Ford’s small truck history crossed paths more than once. The Ford Courier sold in the 1970s was a badge-engineered Mazda B-series truck. In 1982, when Ford’s own Ranger compact pickup was introduced, Mazda contined to sell the B-series as a competitor. A decade later, the roles reversed, and the B-series truck in North America became the fraternal twin of the Ranger. This is a Ford, built in St. Paul, Minnesota; it just wears Mazda badges, and some slightly different (and to me, better-looking) sheetmetal and trim.
Mazda B-series model names reflect the engine displacement. This is a B3000, meaning it is powered by Ford’s “Vulcan” three-liter V6, the same engine as millions of Tauruses and Aerostars. It’s a really good durable engine, and it gives a nice bump in power and torque over the four-cylinder, without being nearly as thirsty as the Cologne 4.0 liter V6. I guess you could say the Vulcan is the logical choice here. This one is backed by Mazda’s own M5OD five-speed manual, which is a good durable unit as well.
The ad for this truck is maddeningly terse, saying only that it “runs fine” and has “no major issues.” It’s a little banged-up outside, but the interior looks nice, and any good truck worth its salt should have a few dents. It goes with the territory. A good pre-purchase inspection would tell you everything you need to know, but at this price, a quick test-drive and poke around under the hood should suffice.
And if that weren’t enough, it’s an extended cab model, so you have a little more room to spread out, and a place to keep groceries dry. It’s tough, economical, decent-looking, and a stickshift; what more do you want?
New cars are too damn expensive; we know that. You can save a ton of money by driving cheap old clunkers, but the trick is to find the right one. Start with something with a good reputation, look for a nice clean example, and you’re ahead of the game. These two would do nicely. All you have to do is choose between the cushy old-man car and the happy little truck.
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
I think “both” is a perfectly acceptable answer but if I have to vote for one I’ll pick the truck for the lesser mileage and the utility value.
I’d turn my son loose on both of these but he bought a 2005 Ranger on Tuesday 🙂
The Avalon is better version of his first car, a Buick LeSabre and the Mazda is a Ranger. I like the 3.0, our 93 Ranger long bed had a 3.0 with automatic and was great on my backroad commutes but the 93-97 regular cab is cramped.
If the Mazda was 4WD I’d say yes. It’s more of a location thing, I just don’t like RWD pickups where I live. But I will defend the 3.0L Vulcan + M50D paring… that’s the most durable powertrain setup you were going to get out of Ford/Mazda at the time. Not quick.. but definitely sufficient.
“a 22-year-old guy who drove a beat-up Chevy Nova wasn’t exactly Toyota’s target demographic.”
Depending on how young you (and your car) were, your Chevy Nova might have actually been built by Toyota at NUMMI.
Nope. ’78 Concours coupe with a 305 and an automatic. A real Nova. Well, almost.
I figured as much. I just got a chuckle out of how weird the automotive world is sometimes…
M5OD for the win! Not even a contest this time.
Especially since the Toyota is 90,000 miles older.
I know the “3.slow” has a bad reputation for being, well, slow, but it’s a sturdy engine in Ranger and B3000 applications. Replace the oil pump drive (if it wasn’t done at 150000 miles), and you’ll have decades of use from that little pickup.
Came in ready to vote Avalon. Decided to vote for a bench seat.
That Mazda is so much cleaner than I expected.
Can’t go wrong with either, but as a dyed-in-the-wool Ranger fan, I’m going Mazda. The Vulcan isn’t particularly powerful, but 140 hp is sufficient, and the manual gets the most out of it. This one being a Cab Plus is gravy.
For Sale – 10 year old Toyota Beige
I have a 10 year old Toyota Beige for sale. It is in good condition except for a small dent in the corner of the back bumper and a dirty windshield since the wipers stopped giving soap. I have driven it carefully every day since I bought it new, except a few days when I was sick and had to stay in bed (I have a doctor’s note to prove). My Toyota Beige has a 4 cycle, 170lb motor and a 5 gear problematic transmission. It is very easy to drive and gets great gas mileage. I always buy gas for it at Al’s Shell on Olive St. So it never has had bad gas. Al’s older brother Moe also cleans the windshield when I am there, so it’s actually not that bad.
The interior is very nice. It has carpeting and lots of room for 4 people to be comfortable. It is possible for a 5th person to ride in the back, but it’s not as comfortable for them. The radio is only one way though, you can’t talk to it like with those new cars, but is still sounds good and gets all the evangelical channels nice and clear. There is lots of room in the trunk, especially if you take out the extra wheel. You can easily get a big cooler and lots of stuff in there to go to the beach, although I have not actually ever gone to the beach with it.
I want to sell this car soon because I was recently diagnosed with extreme boredom disorder and I need to turn my life around. A person on the internet said they would pay me $3000 for it, but I am told not to trust internet people and also I would like more money for it. It is a really nice car. I might also be willing to trade for a Toyota Active Outdoor Lifestyle Look, if it’s 10 years old or newer.
I’m sorry I don’t have any pictures to send. The cord on my phone is not long enough to take outside. But you are welcome to come and take a look at it anytime. Just let me know so I will actually be here with the car when you drop by. You can reach me at superguy723@geocities.com
No angel fire???
They both seem like smokin deals but everyone needs a truck like that.
If I didn’t already have two reliable long haul highway capable vehicles, I’d go Avalon all day. If memory serves me, I think it was engineered by the same team that did the “million mile Lexus” – needless to say, it has miles to go before it sleeps.
What I don’t have is a vehicle that can truly do the dirtywork. I don’t need a bigass truck for that, the FoMaz will do nicely, thank you.
C. All of the above
Having owned both at one point in time, this is the correct answer. I voted for the Truck, because I could use a truck more than the Avalon, but the Avalon is the better of the two.
I KNOW THAT TRUCK, I AIN’T NO STRANGER; I KNOW THAT TRUCK, IT’S A FORD FUCKING RANGER
I’m surprised by the results. Really expected a 90% win for the Mazda.
Knowing that I don’t fit the Mazda nailed the Toyota for me. I need to move the seat all the way back in the Ranger/B, and at that point my head hits the lowered crossbar in the roof: it’s DOA for me.
Both, however, would make great vehicles if you needed to get another one for a kid. And could probably be sold without losing money after a few years.
Fair. I remember an extended cab being one of the selling points for me the last time I bought a minitruck. Regular cab was a squeeze but the extended cab let me get my legs where they needed to be.
That dome house is blowing my mind
Cost to replace that roof wouldn’t be cheap.
Avalon’s are quite nice and this one is exceptionally clean for a 1/4 million miles. But I imagine in the end the little lowrider truck would be ultimately more useful since it would likely only get used sparingly.
Gotta say I’m surprised by the results, I didn’t think either vehicle would walk away with it today.
That truck is an incredible deal. That said, while I’d like an upgrade from my beater Frontier, the B3000’s towing, cargo capacity and mileage are all notably worse.
Manual, truck, under $2k
No offense to the yota but I know what I need.
One of the best purchases I ever made was my 2000 S10 5 speed for $1000
The Avalon is a decent deal, but I’m all over that Mazda. Not only would I keep it, it’d be a great chance to teach my family manual. I learned on a Ranger of this vintage. If it weren’t a plane fare away, I’d probably see if it’s still for sale. I’m guessing it won’t be for long.
How about I give you $3450 and take them both. Not really in the market but I’m certain I could give them both a nice detailing and flip them both for a tidy profit of at least $500 each.
Opa is correct. Only I’d keep ’em both. I’ve had 2 Avalon’s from this era (1995 & 1999) and they’re great cars. Also had the Mazda in the guise of a Ford. Also terrific. Great deal for $3450.
Gimme that Ford-za truck. I have no need for the Avalon as I already have my reliable DD bases covered, but something that can do the dirty work for cheap would be a welcome addition.
Actually looking for something like the truck for my son. I would probably scoop it up if I wasn’t on the opposite coast. That truck would list for double that in the DC area.
I’d happily take both, but the heart wants a 5-speed mini truck, so it gets my vote. I agree that the Mazda version is a bit better looking. I particularly like the black “frame” around the side windows. I always thought that was a sharp detail. The Rangers of this era always looked a little derpy to me. They got better looking in later years with refreshes.
If that Mazda was here in GA, I might go for it. Although, my dream truck is a 1982 GMC S-15.