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Road Test: 1999Toyota Tacoma Xtracab Four-Wheel Drive
PROS: The Tacoma is powerful, good-looking and competent off road.
CONS: The seats are the least comfortable we have ever sampled and the price is ridiculously high for a compact pickup truck.
The stiff Bilstein shocks transmitted road imperfections directly to the Tacoma's occupants,
though, making the ride uncomfortable on long stretches of irregular asphalt....
Off road the Tacoma TRD really shines
We think that the Tacoma is expressively styled, but not particularly attractive in its
base two-wheel-drive form. All Tacomas are afflicted with heavily sloped front fenders that swoop around the truck's wheel arches like a melting soft-serve ice cream cone. The effect is less unsightly on four-wheel-drive models, thanks to their black bumpers and larger wheels Nevertheless, we prefer the clean looks of the GMC Sonoma/Chevy S-10 or Ford Ranger/Mazda B-Series
pickups to the overdone Tacoma.
The Tacoma's interior accommodations also leave something to be desired. Put simply, the seats in the Tacoma are the worst we've ever sampled. When Edmund's staff members are dissatisfied with a vehicle's seats, we typically refer to them as lawn chairs. Well, our Tacoma drivers were wishing they had lawn chairs in this particular Toyota. The Tacoma's seats are so mushy and unsupportive that someone on our staff dubbed them "beanbags." If I were a beanbag manufacturer, I would be offended .
The rear seats are worse still. Two pieces of foam no wider than a pair of shoeboxes constitute the bottom cushions of the forward-facing rear seats. Two other pieces of foam, slightly smaller and less thick than the aforementioned articles, are mounted directly to the back of the cab to serve as the rear passengers' backrest. Scott Jacobs, Edmund's daredevil photo editor, absolutely
refused to climb into the backseat of the Tacoma. When yours truly attempted the feat, I found myself so cramped and claustrophobic that I was ready to climb out of the Tacoma's rear window.
Did we mention that there isn't much room in the rear of the Toyota Tacoma Xtracab? There isn't; nor is there a third door to make climbing in and out of the rear of the truck any easier. In today's three- and four-door pickup market, a two-door extended-cab model seems woefully outdated.
...Unfortunately, the Tacoma cannot haul its passengers in comfort, due to its unsatisfactory seats, nor can it make the most of its extended cab layout, since it has no rear passenger access doors. We think that these elements take the Tacoma out of the running for an everyday people-moving machine....
...The Tacoma's biggest demerit, however, is its price. Our test truck had a sticker that approached the a Toyota badge. Edmund's long-term Ford Ranger stickers for $5,000 less than the Tacoma, and has more equipment, more attractive styling, and a usable rear seat. It has also proven to be very reliable for our first 10,000 miles of ownership. Is the promise of Toyota reliability worth five grand? We don't think
so. Give us the Ranger and the extra $5,000. We'll put the money toward the purchase of a Wave Runner, thank you.
For hindsite, form edmunds regarding your post on the lack of an O/D switch on ranger:
Ergonomically, the Ranger has few faults; but those that it has are quite annoying. The overdrive switch continues to be a major pain.
Our managing editor claims that for every two times he had to move the shifter, he hit the overdrive button inadvertently at least once.
Even worse is the fact that this is not a particularly convenient place to hit the button when you really want to. A console or dash
mounting would make more sense.
Also, just heard somthing kind of interesting about the locker on the Toyota. A guy in another room says he has stickers posted on the doors of his truck saying not to exceed 5mph with the locker engaged and to only use the locker to pull another vehicle out of a jam. What is up with this?
From:
http://www.edmunds.com/newtrucks/2000/ford/ranger/xlt4wdsupercabsb.html
2000 Ranger Supercab 4X4
Pros:
Four-door entry, five-speed automatic and optional flexible fuel/electric powertrains, thoughtful interior.
Cons:
Room in extended-cab area isnt enough for adults, questionable front-end styling.
EDMUND'S REVIEW
Whether it's image or utility that attracts you to a compact truck, Ford stands ready to seduce you into its strong-selling Ranger. The standard engine on 4x2 models is Ford's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. A 3.0-liter flexible-fuel V6 is standard on 4x4 models, and a 4.0-liter V6 is available on all models. With the larger V6, acceleration is impressively brisk, especially from a standstill or when merging and passing. This engine is available with a five-speed automatic transmission. Its upshifts are crisp
and barely noticed, with just a slight jolt under hard throttle, and downshifts deliver only slightly more harshness. Push-button four-wheel drive, if installed, is a snap to use.
Well-controlled overall, with good steering feedback, Rangers handle easily, corner capably, maneuver neatly, and stay reasonably stable on curves. Occupants aren't likely to complain about the ride, either, though it can grow bouncy around town. Gas mileage isn't the greatest with the big engine and automatic. The four-door SuperCab--available in two- and four-wheel
drive--makes it easy to access the storage compartment from either side of the truck, a big assist when loading cargo and gear.
The optional rear doors hinge off the corner pillars of the cab and swing out 90 degrees from the doorsill. There are no B-pillars
to obstruct loading. Completing the Ford Ranger pickup line are regular cab, short- and long-wheelbase 4x2 and 4x4 models.
The Ranger is equipped with dual airbags and side-impact protection beams. The rear doors for 4x2 and 4x4 SuperCab models
also have side-door intrusion beams for extra safety protection. ABS is optional.
The optional suspension package for 2000 4x2 Rangers is called the XL Stance package. It includes the 3.0-liter flexible-fuel V6
engine, and Ford hopes to attract Ranger buyers who want that 4x4 look, but don't need the off-road capabilities.
The 3.0-liter flexible-fuel V6 can burn 100 percent unleaded gasoline, E-85 (ethanol) or any combination of the two, meaning
owners can fuel up on E-85 whenever it's available. When E-85 is unavailable, regular unleaded gasoline can be used with no
detriment to performance. Ford's Ranger continues to be available as an Electric Vehicle (EV). Qualifying as a Zero-Emissions
Vehicle (ZEV), Ranger EV is based on the regular cab, 112-inch wheelbase model.
Ford has had the best-selling small trucks in the country for years. Fun to drive, sharp looking and well built, the Ranger delivers a solid compact-pickup experience. Its most serious competition comes from the Dodge Dakota, which is slightly larger and offers V8 power.
But notice, Ford took pages from Toyota and put the front skidplate over the steering and also offered it's prerunner.
BUTTTT!
I STILL cannot find any data on a DOCUMENTED recall of the Toyota 3.4 V6 engine for the head or head gasket problem. HOW did they recall them?
Not in the theater sir!
Sand and I do not mix, not a beach person.
Hey you will never see me put a post here on Edmunds denegrating a vehicle parked next to mine. Is that all you have in life putting things or people down in life? Do you get a kick out of it? I wish you just be out front and say it that you hate Toyota. I know it and you know it.
Btw I don't think Cpousnr was slamming. He was correcting me for the comment about the overdrive item. I really don't think that is his style.
Yes, Toyota is over priced and overrated. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.
And I noticed not one Toyota owner commented on my post asking about a sticker located on TRD's. A guy in another room said there is a sticker on his door saying not to use the locker over 5mph, and only to pull someone out. What do you have to say to this?? If this is true, you just spent a whole lot of cash for what?
YOu see, a LOCKER is a tough, tough truck device. Its hardcore. Its not like the limited slip design meant for sedans.
In normal 4 wheel drive, one rear wheel turns, and one front wheel turns.
With a rear locker, both REAR wheels turn and one front wheel turns. What this does is enable SERIOUS, SERIOUS traction for tough trucks.
As you can see, a truck equipped with a locker doesnt think much of mud or sticky situations. It can get you out of rough spots that normal 4 wd just cant.
You can use the locker over 5mph, but running the rear wheels in 4whl drive and locked at high speeds could damage the diff gears. Also, Turning quickly in 4wd with the locker enabled is very difficult. Its basically made for straight driving up steep(hence the tacomas beautiful 4:10 gearing) or getting out of mud and slippery rocks.
Locking diffs are the real deal. Its not like the grocery getting limited slip designed for mommy-shoppers.
You better try Peterbilt, or Kenworth, or Mack.
Ha..Ha..Ha... but really now, they don't even use full size domestics. Ha...ha...ha...
Ranger: 1660lbs.
Tocoma: 1670lbs.
(BTW, I'm using your number for the Toyota. I didn't take the time to verify it.)
As for your Ranger payload capacity, your wrong.
The Tacoma beats it by 400 pounds. Check Edmunds.
The locker is a sales gimmick and a very expensive one at that. The locker will never be used by 80% of TRD owners in the conditions it was meant to be used in. And like you said the limited slip is better for turning and angle acceleration. The locker can only be used in straight away acceleration or pulling. And, you are trying to lecture someone about the difference between the locker and limited slip? The one who claims to go over objects in his path? rather than climb over them with your tires? C'mon spoog, the Toyota you so called own has never left pavement! My "grocery getter" has been more places, seen more dirt, rocks, gravel than most of these Tacoma owners have. Your putting too much faith into somthing very over rated.
Show me in the past where I slammed the Ranger in the past and not the bit with Cpousnr. You are the one that have posted false things about Tacoma and other vehicles. I've been in the middle in the past. Ask Cpousnr if you are not sure. I personally don't have a problem with my finances and maybe the prices are high, but then I can afford it without taking out a loan.
Well, I didn't see your question about the locker, but then I guess Spoog answered your question. thoroughly.
See you in the hills
"Continued noises from the drivetrain and suspension, and a new air leak around the driver's side doors"
and
"Disconcerting level of noise from both the suspension and drivetrain"
and
" Low speed "clink" coming from the transmission/transfer case area"
and
"Squeaking rear when loading or unloading cargo"
and
"Recall on cruise control cableloading"
and
"continues to pull to the right"
and
"it still pulls to the right, even after a front-end alignment"
and
"vehicle pulls to the right under hard braking"
and
" Snap, Crackle and Pop camping out under the dash"
I'm not trying to "Bash" the Ranger, but this is what us Tacoma guys are talking about when we question the Ranger's reliability.
I'll take my
"The seats are the least comfortable we have ever sampled and the price is ridiculously high for a compact pickup truck"
any day. If bad seats (Opinion) and Price are the price i have to pay, so be it...
-wsn
PS. Spoog you stated that farmers and loggers use toyotas. I live in farm country and have never seen a toyota (still living) on a farm. And as for loggers, I doubt you are correct there either.
Did the head gasket go yet on your new Tacoma??
If you gonna throw stones go look at the Ranger recalls. Quite a bit more than the Tacoma...
-wsn
no haul em, eveybody knows that now! Them toys for the yuppie, one with money, but no sense!
Good luck on them little toy tocomas now!
lol. You get an offroad tuned suspension, offroad shocks, A larger stablilizer bar, and a locking Diff, which is fantastic. Fourwheeler.com just RAVED about this setup,
and called the Tacoma " DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR THE BEST COMPACT PICKUP PACKAGE(or any size pickup) AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET".
Of course, you totally ignore the fourwheelr.com truck of the year contest because you are a biased fool.
Look Vince, I am getting tired of your ignorance.
The Tacoma comes with 4:10 gearing, a clutch start cancel switch, locking diff, offroad shocks, offroad tuned suspension, 6 lug nuts on the wheel, extra large brakes, a larger stablizier bar, ect. The fact that these features are avaiable through the dealership says alot.
Look, even 4wheeler.com saud the ranger DOESNT do everything well, but the Tacoma DOES do everything well.
In their Ranger review, here is what they said:
"The RAngers highway tuned supsension, and its pleasant people carying abilities are nice. But the 4wheeler truck of the year has to do everything, and do it WELL. THerefore, we present to you the 4wheeler pickup of the year, THE TOYOTA TACOMA, which led EVERY single performance test in this contest"
Yeeeeeeehawwwwww! Its nice to own the best.
Oh, and of rhtose of you who are new to the information age, heres the link to my reference:
http://www.fourwheeler.com/newtrucks/ptoty/98/
WOw!!!!!!
WINNER: TOYOTA TACOMA TRD
Although the compact Tacoma XtraCab itself is not completely new, the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) suspension and locking rear differential package is. The TRD Off-Road Package offers oversized fender flares, alloy wheels, 31-inch tires, Bilstein shocks, slightly softer spring rates, and an electromechanical, button-actuated rear locking differential, all for $1,690.
Our Surfside Green test unit came with the 3.4-liter, dual-overhead cam, 24-valve engine and five-speed manual transmission. The Tacoma came factory-equipped with the lowest axle gears of the test: 4.10:1. It was this combination of excellent gearing (First gear for the factory five-speed is 3.83:1) that made testers comment about how readily the Tacoma jumped off the line. In fact, during track testing, the Tacoma was substantially faster than the others, both loaded and unloaded (see page 30). Tract ion came courtesy of a more aggressive tread in the 31x10.50 Goodyear Wrangler three-stage GSA. We found it supplied surprisingly good cornering power on pavement, with plenty of potential for aired-down trail running.
As well as the Tacoma performed on the track, it was on the trail where the premium import seemed most comfortable. Best-in-class ground clearance, the most aggressive tread of the bunch, and a crawl ratio of better than 40:1 made the Tacoma everyone' s choice for hill climbs and steep backside descents. Even our resident auto-tranny diehards had to admit that the lively throttle response, sure-grip clutch, and built-to-work gearing meshed together as well as any championship-caliber team. In each perf ormance-related category of our test, the Toyota won.
It's not often that our collection of testers agree on anything (in fact, never), but this year's Pickup Truck of the Year was a unanimous decision. Praises relating to the TRD suspension mentioned its ability to control rutted, seriously choppy terra in better than any other vehicle we'd driven. One tester went so far as to note that during a few moments of an effortless dry-wash run, it seemed the spirit of Ivan Stewart had taken over his body. This is a truck that can go slow or go fast, on pavement or off.
Ultimately, in addition to a strong engine, good tires, and supremely tuned suspension, the clutch defeat switch (the only one in a truck sold in the US.), lever-operated transfer case, and pushbutton locking rear differential were the icing on a toug h-truck cake. Although you have to pay a premium for a premium package, the TRD Tacoma, dollar for dollar, is the best on- and off-highway compact package (maybe of any truck) we've seen. This truck has features the others just don't offer, and they all w ork. And that's why it's our 1998 Pickup Truck of the Year.
Yeeehaaawww its nice owning the best!
Anyway, as for the Headgasket issue on the toyota V6, it is well documented. But actually, I learned it second hand. My BIL bought a new toyota X-Cab V6, offroad package a few years back somewhere around $25K.
At about 50~60K miles, he had a head gasket problem. The experts at Toyota fixed it real good. Under 10K miles later he shot a rod out of the block. Toyota took care of him by putting in a totally new motor. Good thing he bought that extended warranty.
Funny thing is he pampered that truck. It never even saw a dirt road. He peformed all maintenance ahead of schedule. He too believed that by "paying more" he would get his money back since it would "last forever." I guess not.
Since then, I bought a new Chevy and later a new Ford (for about what he paid for toyota, after trading the chevy, etc...) and neither have ever given me a problem.
PS. I love the four doors. Did you get our your skill saw and make any doors on that Toy yet?
yeah, yeah, yeah...
Toyota needs to hurry with a third door on their X-cab so you can easily get to the spare head gasket and your tools...he..he.. (sorry I couldn't resist)
Your constant postings of frivilous garbage wont make my recent posts go away.
Your arguments are weak here-say and myth more typical of the other cro-magnun truck groups on edmunds.
Please provide some sources for your dribbling.
I really hate taking fools to school. I bet you believe everything you read in the National Enquirer too. Use your mind boy!!!
Here is a FACT for you:
Ranger has 4 doors, Tacoma has 2 doors.
You what spoogygirl, now that is a fact.
around compact pickup on the market today."
Ouch Vince. Not according to the unanimous decision at 4 wheeler. Ouch.
Explain that JA...!
-wsn
PS Toyota wants to get the doors right before they do them. The ranger/mazda doors squeek off road. Alot
Here is another fact. My Ranger's 4-doors do not rattle, do not squeek, and they are a joy to use everytime I open one. Toyota waiting to "do it right" is the same lame excuse that GM keeps saying. I guess Toyota now equals GM.
PS. I can't remember the link (and don't have time to go check it again) but there is a recall/waranty on the toyota head gasket. I found it after browsing through the car trackers website and then following a link to "lemons." It's there. Go find it.
Yes, you're right. I'm not posting a fact, but you can find the fact I'm referring to.
Now be a good boy and fetch...
WSN, as I keep saying anyone who visits the NHSTA site and READS the recalls will see that over half are bogus and duplicates. Along with the ones that only pertain to certain build groups of Rangers.
The TRD package is an overated, overpriced well marketed piece of work by Toyota. Most folks who buy this truck will NEVER use the locker as it is intended to be used for. Lockers are for those who rock climb, snorkle and don't care whether their truck gets dented, scratched or gouged. Even the guy at work who owns a TRD has hardly even used is locker! Lockers are found on those hardcore offroad type of vehicles that don't have a sunroofs! LOL. So, most who buy this package buy the sticker.
We can all quote review after review in favor of the Ranger or Tacoma. Facts are facts. The Rangers still outsells the Toyota even after 12 Years!, The Ranger costs less option for option.
4 doors are available. The Ranger/Mazda are the best ALL AROUND compact truck on the market today for most buyers. The sales figures show this.
By the way, the TRD package is considered a "bargain" by 4wheeler.com. Also, the reason the locker and other great options are on the Tacoma is because it IS a tough truck ready for some serious offroading. Here you go:
WINNER: TOYOTA TACOMA TRD
Although the compact Tacoma XtraCab itself is not completely new, the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) suspension and locking rear differential package is. The TRD Off-Road Package offers oversized fender flares, alloy wheels, 31-inch tires, Bilstein shocks, slightly softer spring rates, and an electromechanical, button-actuated rear locking differential, all for $1,690.
Our Surfside Green test unit came with the 3.4-liter, dual-overhead cam, 24-valve engine and five-speed manual transmission. The Tacoma came factory-equipped with the lowest axle gears of the test: 4.10:1. It was this combination of excellent gearing (First gear for the factory five-speed is 3.83:1) that made testers comment about how readily the Tacoma jumped off the line. In fact, during track testing, the Tacoma was substantially faster than the others, both loaded and unloaded (see page 30). Tract ion came courtesy of a more aggressive tread in the 31x10.50 Goodyear Wrangler three-stage GSA. We found it supplied surprisingly good cornering power on pavement, with plenty of potential for aired-down trail running.
As well as the Tacoma performed on the track, it was on the trail where the premium import seemed most comfortable. Best-in-class ground clearance, the most aggressive tread of the bunch, and a crawl ratio of better than 40:1 made the Tacoma everyone' s choice for hill climbs and steep backside descents. Even our resident auto-tranny diehards had to admit that the lively throttle response, sure-grip clutch, and built-to-work gearing meshed together as well as any championship-caliber team. In each perf ormance-related category of our test, the Toyota won.
It's not often that our collection of testers agree on anything (in fact, never), but this year's Pickup Truck of the Year was a unanimous decision. Praises relating to the TRD suspension mentioned its ability to control rutted, seriously choppy terra in better than any other vehicle we'd driven. One tester went so far as to note that during a few moments of an effortless dry-wash run, it seemed the spirit of Ivan Stewart had taken over his body. This is a truck that can go slow or go fast, on pavement or off.
Ultimately, in addition to a strong engine, good tires, and supremely tuned suspension, the clutch defeat switch (the only one in a truck sold in the US.), lever-operated transfer case, and pushbutton locking rear differential were the icing on a toug h-truck cake. Although you have to pay a premium for a premium package, the TRD Tacoma, dollar for dollar, is the best on- and off-highway compact package (maybe of any truck) we've seen. This truck has features the others just don't offer, and they all w ork. And that's why it's our 1998 Pickup Truck of the Year.
Yeeeeeehaaaw!!!!!!!!!!!
Heres the Ranger review(notice it finished a distant second in unanimous voting!!! Holy cow!)
Following in the footsteps of its close relative, the '98 Ranger adopted many of the mechanical modifications incorporated into the Explorer two years earlier. Among the biggest changes include an entirely new double A-arm front suspension with light-duty torsion bars. The new IFS, combined with an all-new rack-and-pinion steering setup (which offers its own steering fluid cooler), won high praises from our testers over our 800-mile test. Specifically, the Ranger scor ed well in Highway Performance categories that centered around maneuverability and long-distance cruising. Testers noted the new steering proved especially quick to react in tight-chicane situations. No doubt about it: This new Ranger out-handles, out-ste ers and out-corners any Ranger before. By a mile.
We would characterize the drivetrain, specifically the transmission, as biased for highway performance as well. All 4.0-liter Rangers (and Mazdas, for that matter) ordered without the manual tranny get the first five-speed automatic transmission offer ed for any pickup. Our testers split over the need and/or usefulness of a mileage-biased transmission geared for empty-load flatland running. Those in favor noted the nearly seamless transitions from one gear to the next, and how the transmission itself c ould, if the vehicle was driven right--no jackrabbit leadfoot starts--tack on another 50,000 miles of life to the engine.
On the trail, we found the automatic transmission to be a double-edged sword. The smoothness of the First-to-Second shift, combined with the inherent low-end grunt of the engine, was almost enough to overcome the taller gearing. And in the end, voting followed individual preferences for manuals versus automatics. Two testers noted both the manual transmissions (Mazda and Toyota) felt more "in control" on the twisty low-range trails of Truckhaven, where face-down compression braking was very helpful o n steep-trail crawling. In low-range, our automatic Ranger offered a rather delicate 22.8:1 crawl ratio (First x axle gear x low-range); the Mazda and Toyota offered 34.4:1 and 40.4:1 gearing, respectively.
Likewise, where the stiffened front suspension cleanly handled all paved-road obstacles thrown in its path, the Ford IFS had trouble keeping up with the broken terrain of dry washes, hill climbs, and washboards. Admittedly, it is a rare vehicle that c an manage all the extremes with equal aplomb, but several testers commented that the Ford liked to spring a little bit quicker (and hop higher) off the rolling whoop-de-doos. For the most part, we found the sacrificed off-highway capability to be greater than the gained on-highway performance, and for that reason it didn't score well in the parts of our test that are most heavily-weighted; however, that isn't to say testers weren't squabbling among themselves to get into the Ranger for the highway drives up the mountain.
Finally, testers showed their traditional colors by not favoring the dash-mounted rotary dial ("looks a lot like an A/C control--and no Neutral") of the Borg-Warner 44-05 electronic transfer case. The 44-05 never gave us a lick of trouble--we submerge d the gearboxes under freezing water, as well as subjecting them to high-heat, dust-blasted wash runs--and by going to a dial, floor space opens up, but our scorers' preference is for a lever-actuated system, or anything with a Neutral position, regardles s of the floor space it takes up.
Like any good four wheeler, we found the Ford Ranger could do several things quite well, scoring highly in On-Road Ride and Handling and Interior Comfort. To us, the new Ranger is a nice-looking, comfortable truck that is easy to drive and easy to own . But the Pickup Truck of the Year has to do it all pretty damn well, and it has to be great off-highway. And so we introduce our 1998 winner. .......
The TOYOTA TACOMA
WOW! The tacoma won every single performance category!@!!!!! EVER SINGLE ONE!!!!!!
Yeeeeeehawwwwww its nice owning the best!!!!
Its a government site, and completely neutral.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/
Just point and click to find your year, model, and make. It goes back a long ways.
Good luck
Spoog of course tell everything negative about the Ranger and everything positive about the Tacoma. And one very large note he seems to have forgot to mention is price.
Ranger - $21,475
Tacoma - $26,205
This is almost a 5K difference!!. Do you have any idea what I could do with 5k of options to a Ranger Spoog??
Also try www.carpoint.msn.com, Popular mechanics to name a few more. Check the internet also for Ranger sites, there are tons of them with very good feedback from both good and bad.
This really depends on what you are going to use the truck for? The 2.7 doesn't cut the cake in the 4x4 department. The 3.0 is far superior in what matters most, TORQUE. Granted the 3.4 has more HP but the Torque is about even. If you go and look at the 0-60 times between a Ranger 4.0 and the Toyota 3.4 there is only about a .5 second difference. Check fourwheeler and Edmunds on this data. I just don't get why people are so hyped up on 0-60 times in trucks or 4x4's? Another good point is the limited slip Ford/Mazda offers is available in EVERY level of truck. The locker is only available in the TRD. The Toyota normally comes with only an open axle.
Good hunting.
http://www.toyotarepair.com/
I suggest all them toy owners bookmark this one here. Good luck on them toys now!
Went to my sons Basic graduation at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. Saw some nice 4 wheeling areas in Mark Twaine N.F. but no time to drive them. Then went hunting. Got snowed out hunting, just do not like tenting in 10 deg. and 4-10 inch snow storms. Going back down tomorrow. The Ranger preformed flawlessly up in the mountains, 9-10,000 feet in snow up to 8-10 inches on top. Tough seeing rocks coming out, banged the skidplates a couple of times. Must say the wipers iced up easily and had to run the defrost high making it a furnace in the cab. Even had to pull a Toyota Corolla out of a ditch on the way back.
Do you really think the head gasket issue was well documented? I could never find a recall notice on it at the site spoog posted. Regardless, Toyota did fix the problem.
Maybe there are more issues listed on the NHSTA site because there are so many more Rangers sold? Just a thought. But do look what vince says and READ exactly what the notices are, many are not that significant. On the recalls, the 2 that stand out on Ranger are the fuel rails and cruise issues, neither of which effect my vehicle. So I really do not care about them. I DO think Ford should consider more QA at their wiper switch sub supplier. Seeing lots of people having problems with that but thats a nit.
Gotta pack for tomorrow. Ready to turn over 19K tomorrow. . .just had the XLT since January.
"Ford Country, look at that truck. . ."
I bought my 99 ext cab 4x4 TRD for 21k
"In my area, NW, a TRD for 21K? No way, No how.
The dealer would laugh you out of the showroom."
Interesting comment Vince......
Say, how would you KNOW if you would be laughed out of a Yota showroom for offering 21k for a TRD? What experience have you had with this situation?
Obviously you have tried this yourself? Because thats the ONLY way you would be qualified to comment on it. If not, you have made yourself out to be the presumptious biased dude that you are.
ranger called the adrenalin it will have the sohc
V6 and will be supercharged somewhere around 280
hp..."
Sounds like the stats from your supercharged TRD?
Let me make a point. The superchargers are nice toys but one BIG thing you loose on installing one is the life of the engine. From what I have READ, I have know first hand knowledge, other than a turbocharger on a 1977 Kawasaki 1000 motorcycle, the engine needs rebuild in about half the time. We burned out that KZ engine at around 40K. That would put a rebuild potentially necessary on both the Tacoma or a S/C Ranger at under 100,000 miles.
Just CONSIDER that before you add a turbo/supercharger on a vehicle. The high cost of installation is just the beginning of your expenses.
Unacceptable conditions for me. My Ranger 4.0 works find for my needs in it's current state. I will add a Kurtz Kustom Tru Rev induction kit for better breathing though. Hey $100 for snapper acceleration, 5 inch raise of the air intake, reusable air cleaner and maybe 5-10 more hp is rather cheap mods in my opinion.
I dont see it for sale anywhere.
As for my charger, it is gauranteed with the engines warranty. I have also spoken with many
mechanics and toyota service depos who say it wont cause any harm to the motor.
I don't understand your comments in Post #364. Yes, I wasn't one of the blind fools who immedialty ran down to the Toyota showroom. I shopped and drove EVERY truck in this class at different trim/option levels. I read and researched also. I still don't know why your even around. You don't even own a Tacoma or a TRD S/C Tacoma at that. You may want to tell everyone excaclty how many miles the supercharger is warrantied for also. It is not as long as the engine will last as you make it sound like.
http://www.edmunds.com to read the story.
Here is a few words Edmunds had on their longterm
test of a 98 Ranger XLT:
PROS:
"As far as compact pickups go, many of us here at
Edmunds.com feel that the Ranger is the crème de la
crème. In fact, it gets our nod for best
2000 compact pickup."
"...we like how our Ranger looks. It's got sporty
styling without being over-bulbous like some of its
full-size brethren."
"Its bright red paint, flared fenders, and tall
stance give it a serious and imposing presence, not
unlike an emergency vehicle."
"That raised height does have its advantages in
terms of visibility. We like to see as much of the
picture as we can in car-dense L.A., where
everyone seems to have a knack for running into
each other."
"Inside the Ranger our praise continues. Most of
us are happy with the
seats and the ergonomics. All controls are within
easy reach, and are clearly marked."
"Climbing into the BMW today, with its upmarket
Harmon Kardon, proved disappointing; its much
more expensive setup didn't match the Ford in
sound quality."
"Climate-control knobs and dials are equally
well-marked"
"The mating of the five-speed automatic
transmission and engine drew praise this month."
CONS:
"Disconcerting, however, is the fact that our
center armrest has broken off after only 16,000
miles."
"hauling capacity to be a bit of a disappointment"
"Unfortunately, squeaks now plague our Ranger, the
most noticeable of which coming from the rear
suspension."
Ho hum, Consumer Reports multiple year repeat
choice as "Best Buy", Four wheeler choice once as
best buy 4X4 and second place once for 4 wheeler of
the year and now Edmunds choice as best small
truck for 2000.
Ho hum. . .