Safest truck? Help!!

MySweetAGL · Aug 16, 2008

We're looking to buy a used truck, a couple years old. Between the IIHS, NHTSA, and Informed for Life, it seems there is no "good" choice. I'm getting so frustrated. If a truck has good NHTSA and IIHS ratings, it's "above average risk" on Informed for Life. *sigh* We need one ASAP, as my daughter is in school now and dh will be taking her back and forth to school, with ds tagging along for the ride. Right now he has an old Chevy 1500 and it's not doing it for us. Bad crash ratings, no top tether ancors, seat's not deep enough (ds's Scenera hangs over the edge a bit). So really, anything newer would be better than what he has now, but I still want to get whatever's safest.
We're looking at the following (with 4-door option): Nissan Titan, Dodge Ram 1500, and Ford F-150.
Please help!

jen_nah · Aug 17, 2008

When looking at the IFL website for a certain vehicle model remember to look at if it was tested with or with out SAB (side curtain airbags). If it says with out remember those that do offer SAB will far better in testing and just may have never been tested. It is to my understand NHTSA & IIHS only test options that are standard equipment. It hasn't been until recently that auto manufactures started making SAB standard equipment.

I know the new '08 Silverado have really good crash ratings with NHTSA/IIHS & IFL.

Guest · Sep 9, 2008

The newer ones are all about the same. Don't go more than 4 yrs old or so. I wouldn't stress too much over it.

The other thing is, do you need a truck? Why not an SUV or minivan? If it's for your husband and your kid will rarely be in it, you're really stressing over nothing if they're all about the same.

And why those 3 models? Why not a Tundra or a Honda Ridgeline or a Chevy Silverado?

Melanie · Sep 11, 2008

codex57 said:
And why those 3 models? Why not a Tundra or a Honda Ridgeline or a Chevy Silverado?

:yeahthat:

If you don't need a truck for heavy towing or hauling, I love the Ridgline. I think it's a very good truck for the majority of truck owners. My parents have one and I am so impressed by it. Car seats install very easily too.

popsicle · Sep 12, 2008

Our '07 F-150 held up very well to the wreck we just had. The entire front end is a crumpled mess but the cab is fine. I know it wouldn't do as well in a full side impact, but no full size truck will. We will be replacing it with another F-150.

Guest · Sep 15, 2008

Melanie said:
:yeahthat:

If you don't need a truck for heavy towing or hauling, I love the Ridgline. I think it's a very good truck for the majority of truck owners. My parents have one and I am so impressed by it. Car seats install very easily too.

Yeah, we have a Ridgeline. AWESOME truck. Like most people, we don't need a full size pickup cuz we don't tow monster things. We got a bed extender so the bed is a usable length. The trunk is what convinced us to get it, cuz I'm not a truck guy but we wanted a truck bed to haul all sorts of crap (got our first house). It's ugly as sin, but usability is amazing. Since the back seats flip up, they say you can put a full size mountain bike back there without taking the front wheel off. I dunno about that, but I stuck a 50 inch Vizio plasma tv from Costco IN THE BOX back there.

Safest truck? Help!!

MySweetAGL

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jen_nah

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