I’ve been a home owner for over a year now and I’m getting really sick of having to borrow a car every time I need to buy/move/borrow something larger than a computer monitor.
For examples:
-During the October storm I went to home depot, picked up a 12VDC sump pump, battery, and some PVC to plumb it in. Went back to the Jetta in a hurry, folded down the seats, threw in the 10’ PVC pipe, and slammed the trunk shut just to find out that my car is 9’ 11 3/4" long. Progressive bought me a new windshield.
-My future step-father-in-law gave me his old patio table, which I’m excited to have. It’s still at his house because I have no way to get it home.
-My fiance gave me an air hockey table for Christmas. I had to have a friend drop it off.
-My parents gave me a table saw for Christmas. It’s sitting in their basement in Rochester until the next time they come up with their minivan.
-I want to build some work benches, but I have no way of getting plywood.
-Everytime I do some drywalling, I’m the guy in the aisle with a utility knife scoring and folding the sheets into 3rds so that I can fit them in my car.
I might have to scratch the Frontier idea. My fiance’s mother is a safety Nazi and it’s worn off on me. The Frontiers don’t do so well in crash tests.
Newer Ford Rangers can be had for dirt cheap. A Supercab Ford Ranger might work nicely. The only person that ever rides in the back with any regularity is my dog, so as long as there’s some form of a door for her that’s all I really need. 
Some of the newer ones are decent looking. (My fiance doesn’t allow “hick” trucks.) Thoughts?