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Parker Kligerman couldn't have looked more vulnerable. He had just completed a 200-mile race at Michigan International Speedway, driving with brio and making a daring late pass to win. Now he sat before reporters, a microphone in one hand, the other arm wrapped protectively around his ribs. A mop of toffee-colored hair swept over his eyes and ears. The blemishes on his cheeks threatened to outnumber the bristles on his chin. He spoke of returning home to Westport, Connecticut, for his high-school finals before next week's graduation.inline_mediumwraptextright27342706/features/racing/1001_parker_kligermans_big_adventure1001_16_z+parker_kligerman+nASCAR_nationwide_series_dodge_charger.jpgTrue

Months in Fleet: 9
Mileage to Date: 33,556inline_mediumwraptextright27592360/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/0912_2009_dodge_ram_1500_december_update0912_01_z+2009_dodge_ram_1500+rear_three_quarter_view.jpgTrue

As a person who enjoys doing small-scale outdoorsy work or towing the odd small camper, car, or boat, I really like "small" trucks like this Toyota Tacoma, the Nissan Frontier, and the Dodge Dakota, among others. Compared with their full-size kin, such pickups are generally more economical both in initial cost and upkeep, and they're more reasonable daily drivers. This particular Tacoma, however, sports a ton of options and costs nearly $8000 more than a base crew-cab Tacoma. I must admit, though, that its most costly option, a TRD off-road package, makes this Toyota a more desirable truck to me, as it's equipped with lots of four-wheelin'-friendly additions, such as a locking rear differential, skid plates, tow hooks, and an off-road-spec suspension. It's no Ford Raptor, but I'm sure this Toyota could get the job done on most trails that aren't super hard-core.inline_mediumwraptextright27436390/reviews/editors_notebook/0912_2009_toyota_tacoma_double_cab_4x4_v6_sr5_trd0912_06_z+2009_toyota_tacoma_double_cab_4x4_v6_sR5_tRD+front_passenger_interior.jpgTrue