need help making a decision

[winner]

well last year i got my truck, its a 1998 mercury mountaineer it has a 5.0L v8 (same engine used in the mustang mach 1) and i've done some asking around and some research and have found that its a great car and there were no problems with that year+model and well, my mom has been driving it some and is a little unhappy with it and does not really want me to have it because its gotta lot of "get up'n go" and not to mention its top heavy. currently the book value is rated at around 9k (i paid 1/4 that) and my parents gave me these options,

1. i can keep the mountaineer but have to keep it stock
2. i can sell it and buy a cheaper truck and modify it (im thinking a 03-05 chevy s10)

so i've come to you guys to get some opinions.

heres the pro's and con's

mountaineer,
pro's-
-nice interior
- its a 5.0L v8
- nice room in the back for friends/gf's
- its a really pretty car
- pretty low miles
- extremly realiable
- garage kept since new, only spent 1 night outside since it was bought off the showroom floor

con's-
- it rides like a semi-truck with absolutly no suspension
- it gets 12 mpg
- i have to keep it stock
- it just does'nt really fit my personality
- (this ones for tex) its a ford

03-05 s10,
pro's
- its a very pretty truck
- its got a decent sized bed
- i've always liked the bosy style
- lower insurance cost
- reasonably cheap (one with under 100k miles is about 4k-5k
- i can modify it (body kits, super charger, etc etc..)
- i think its fits my personality abit better,
- 23-28 mpg!
con's
- no back seat fun with the gf
- since most come with a 2.2L its defo not going to be fast when i get it
- i'll have to spend money to get upgrades i want
- most dont have leather seats
- defintly not a chick magnent

right now im kinda leaning towards the s10 but i really want to hear your opinion, and please dont turn this into a ford vs. chevy war

thanks guys!