Great Quick Truck: Chevy S10 Xtreme

I'm always looking for extremely cool cars and seeing if I can find them for an extremely good price and expertly, I found a 2000 Chevy S10 Xtreme on Craigslist that just needs a water pump. Even factoring in another $1000 to completely repair it, it would come out to $1800 as the truck itself is $800!

That's an xtremely nice truck.

We all love the S10 and Chevy had built one that was boosting, I believe, and this is the slower, more common version. This one has 195 hp with 235 lb-ft of torque which isn't bad for a small truck. The 0-60 is somewhere in the mid 5 seconds? Also, I know they made a very limited number of these, maybe a few thousand.

Now, these trucks are most commonly lowered and cruised in. This trim came lowered and if I am not mistaken, the turbocharged truck that it replaced comes with a warning that the truck is not really for off road use because it's too low. That one had something like 280 hp so if you can find one of 800 or so, you're so lucky. As to what that model is called, I couldn't tell you. Google replies with ridiculous amounts of information on turbocharging S10s. Who would've known?

In the 1990s, 195 hp was a lot so these trucks are quick as I like to say. Not fast but quick. However, you get a longbed or that plus an extended cab and forget it. You're honestly better off buying a Chevy Silverado around the same year if you go that route.

I know that sounds harsh but remember, this is a small truck. The Vortec in the Silverado is an iron block LS1. If you haven't caught on, I'm mainly talking about 2000 and up models.

These trucks came in a small cabin, short bed style and then later GM included the option of extended cab which was a three-door and even a crew cab with four doors. They also started making long-bed S10s. The older ones are all short.

This white one is what you want. The Xtreme is going to become a classic so even though any S10 is a good truck in my opinion, you may want to hold out for one of these. If I wasn't moving (again!) and I had $800 to play with, I would be all over that truck I mentioned.

You might want to keep it stock if you want to retain the value but ultimately, it's a nice, cheap truck that you can do a number of things with. These trucks can be work trucks, lowriders, or racecars. It's not often that you get that combination in a truck. I think Chevy nailed it with the S10, Xtreme or not.

- Rokas Kirvelis

Instagram: rokask1