Posted: Jul 07 2007 at 7:29am | IP Logged

If you want something to look beefy, then why you going with a 2wd?

You're best bet would be to get a 02-04 SE model.  They share the same frame between the 2wd and 4wd models.  And 2wd models sit a little higher than the previous years.  SE because those are the ones that mainly had power everything. 

To be quite honest though, this is going to take a lot more searching than just finding out what year and model to get. 

Posted: Jul 12 2007 at 3:54pm | IP Logged

I'm looking for a 2x4 because of the better gas mileage. I just need help with what models match the features I am looking for. Thanks for the suggestions.

Posted: Jul 15 2007 at 10:39pm | IP Logged

The jump seats in the 02-04 are a joke... even small children complain about them.  I know because I had an '03 King Cab.  Also there are no 3rd or 4th doors on them so access is also difficult.  The Crew Cab is your best bet for usable room inside.  All the V6 02-04 2wd were refered to as Desert Runners and will look like a 4wd.  The XE was available with the A/T and the power package added PW, PL, and CC.  The SE had all this plus leather wrapped wheel, the roof rack (on the crew cabs), body color front bumper flares and mirrors... the bumper and flares could be had as an option on XE's.  From what I recall the biggest difference was that the SE had the LSD standard... IIRC.  The MPG was nearlly identical at 17/20 for the 2wd and 16/20 for the 4wd (non SC).

As far as MPG goes you'd be better off with the 05 and up.  I went from a '03 KC 3.3L 180hp 4wd 5spd to a '07 CC LB, 4.0L 240+hp 4wd 6spd... a lot more truck with a lot more power with a lot more room and gained about 3mpg in town and HWY.  So if I were you I'd look for an '05 King Cab V6 2wd Nismo or SE.

Happy Hunting!

Nate 

Posted: Jul 15 2007 at 10:43pm | IP Logged

The MPG they said for the 2wd 2.4L was a joke, and no where near what it got.  I got around 19/24 stock, then 22/27 after I did the K&N filter, exhaust, and bed cover.

Posted: Jul 16 2007 at 4:39am | IP Logged

The advertised mpg for my '03 was 16/20, in actuality I got about 15/18 and no change when I added the K&N and tonneau cover.

For my '07 is advertised as 17/21, I typically see 18/22... with or without the tonneau, no K&N just yet.

2008 is the first year for the new EPA mpg test, I am curious to see how the numbers change.

Posted: Aug 11 2007 at 12:05am | IP Logged

You should consider an '05, which is the first year of the newer model.  In the RWD option they are very affordable now.  The crew cab option has excellent back seat leg room.