Toyota TACOMA vs Ford RANGER - VI

1356713

Comments

  • allknowingallknowing Member Posts: 866
    Ha!! Good one
  • aliveinchristaliveinchrist Member Posts: 1
    Does anyone know when the 2001 Tacomas will be roll-out??
    Thanks
  • cpousnrcpousnr Member Posts: 1,611
    Well gotta shout sometimes!

    While most people that post here seem to own a 4X4 it is not dedicated to that.

    I have posted many times regarding the very low suspension of the 2 wheel drive Tacoma. That is a very low to the ground vehicle which I measured as haveing just over 6 inches clearance at the differential. This is as compared to a Ranger at a bit over 7 inches.

    In regard to the 4X4 systems, generally, at least in my case, I am off-road maybe 5% of the life of the vehicle so far.

    In my particular case I:
    1. Needed a 4X4 truck to haul a 200 gal tank.
    2. Needed it to be inexpensive.
    3. Needed low financing.
    4. Needed reasonable reliability.

    I got:
    1. The tank fits in the Ranger nice and the 4X4 has not failed me.
    2. It was just a bit over 17K with nice but not all options. It had the options I needed/wanted.
    3. Financed by Ford for 4 yeas at 2.9% interest for a grand total of $1,200 fincance charge.
    4. Consumer Reports, Edmunds, Four Wheeler have all stated in more than one article that the Ranger is "a Best Buy", has good-excellent reliability and is worth a look if your on a budget.
  • cpousnrcpousnr Member Posts: 1,611
    I take it hunting, The Ranger gets me where I want to go. And I do not think a dressed out elk plus my gear will stress the 1260lb payload capacity.

    I do not hunt in Alaska so do not need a Land Rover class vehicle to gain access.

    So why payu 3-5K for features I will not use?

    I would RATHER keep my 3 kids in college than to say "Daddy wants a spiffy truck, you go get a job resulting in maybe lower grades if you want to stay in school."
    Heck my youngest is somewhere around a 3.3 average in hs Freshman year at the party school of Univ. of Northern Colorado. and not to be crass but he was not the sharpest tool in the shed in highschool.
  • mviglianco1mviglianco1 Member Posts: 283
    It is hilarious how you claim your opinions about looks to be fact. I really cant tell if you are being sarcastic or not. I sure hope you are.
  • spoogspoog Member Posts: 1,224
    Sorry my man, but your RANGER will NOt go where my TRD can go. You simply need a better suspension, better engineering, and a locker.

    IT was the "unanimous" decision by 4 wheeler for a reason. It wailed o nthe Ranger in every comparison test FOR A REASON.

    Do I need to post the comparison test again? Do I need to go on and on about how the Rangers suspension is based on the f150's highway based suspension? Do I need to quote 4wheelers comments that the Rangers suspension is a "highway" suspension? Do I need to go into how it just suffered on the trail?

    I dont think so. The Ranger is a nice trail truck, no question about it. But with a highway suspension and not one apsect of it developed for offroading, it's not a competent offroader.
  • allknowingallknowing Member Posts: 866
    Spoog, I agree that the TRD is a much better off-roader than the Ranger but, with the right driver, the Ranger can go about anywhere a TRD can. The Ranger driver may lose his kidney and whack his head on his roof a lot to get there but the Ranger is a pretty capable truck. If I have the choice though, which I do, I wouldn't leave the road without the TRD.
  • mmcbride1mmcbride1 Member Posts: 861
    I (along with most others) thought spoog was full of it a long time ago when he said that LR used Tacomas in their dealerships and for their offroad adventures. He is right. I was at Land Rover Denver East yesterday and I saw a Tacoma parked on the side of the building. It was all painted up with LR logos, etc all over it and had the dealer's name across the side in big letters. (Sorry, Vinny. I don't have a scanner or digital camera, so you'll have to take my word on this, although there is a guy who works at that LR dealer who visits Edmunds occasionally - his name is jdermody and you'll find him in the LR threads occasionally).
  • rangerknowhowrangerknowhow Member Posts: 25
    Thanks for bieng fair about this topic. Yes the Ranger may not the OFFROADER that a TRD is. But it is a damn good truck and less expensive. To me a TRD is for people that go offroad all the time, climb rocks, hills, and go through 3 feet of water. But ive seen better 4x4's and im sure other would agree. The tacoma is a bumpy ride on the highway and the ranger is better at this topic. But iif i were to buy a truck just for offroading, maybe i WOULD buy a TRD. But i dont see the point in buying a offroaderjust for commuting around town and down the freeway. Maybe the Regular toyota 4x4 has better on highway caracteristics, i wouldnt know i dont do my research on the Toyotas. And im sorry for the grunt about the Toyotas bieng ugly, but thats the way i feel, i never said it was a fact, its just an opinion. But i will hold my ground that offroadin is about 60 percent driver and 40 percent truck,and a good driver can get the ranger anywhere he needs to go. So dont think the TRD is all bad when ive seen better. (oh yea,you can always put a locker on a ranger and some good suspinsion
  • allknowingallknowing Member Posts: 866
    Believe it or not but I think the 4X2 Tacoma is kinda' ugly too. When they put the bigger tires and raise it up though, I think that it looks great. You're right that they can add to the Ranger to make it a better vehicle but only Toyota ,and I guess Chevy with the ZR2, seem to be doing that so far for some reason. Enjoy the Ford. I have one too and it's a great truck too.
  • briancabrianca Member Posts: 12
    I have to agree with the folks that said that they are both nice trucks. I drove a TON of trucks before I picked up my tacoma, and I did really like the ranger. I actually traded in a mazda b series for the tacoma and I loved that truck, so I don't have any prejustice against ford. I liked the looks of the tacoma, i actually liked the ride a little better (looks like I'm in the minority here), and I liked the fact that I could put a factory insured supercharger in it. I don't regret my choice for a second, but I don't think that the ranger is a bad choice either.

    For the guy who was saying that he'd rather send his kids to college than pay extra for a tacoma. I agree wholeheartedly. I don't think anyone would say that the tacoma is more important than taking care of your family. I think an underlying assumption in this debate has to be that you can afford either truck without ill impact of other areas of your life. If you can't afford the tacoma the point of this debate is moot.

    vic..
  • allknowingallknowing Member Posts: 866
    You're not necessarily in the minority. I like the ride of the Tacoma better too.
  • cpousnrcpousnr Member Posts: 1,611
    I hav BEEN on 4+ rated passes with my Ranger.

    I hav POSTED pictures of Ranger ON 4+ rated and 3+ rated trails.

    I have traveled on at least 5 tough 4X4 trails of the Sangre's and had to BACK OUT of many tight places as the were IMPASSABLE.

    Now you going to try to tell my your Tacoma can with ease traverse 5 and up rated passes? That type of pass is traversed by highly articulated modified vehicles of which the Tacoma is not a member.
  • cpousnrcpousnr Member Posts: 1,611
    Boy, if you wish to personally attack me on this site, you had BETTER be prepared to PROVE what your so called superior vehicle can do. Because you look so bad shooting off at the mouth with nothing but a 3 year old article that put a bottom line Ranger up against a Top of the line Toyota. And NO I do not want to see that article again.

    Because I HAVE proven what a Ranger CAN and WILL do.

    YOU have shown me and this site SQUAT.

    All you talk about is racing from lights and muddy farmers fields.

    My Ranger has BEEN there, DONE that, HAULED loads in excess of a ton and still shines like a new penny when washed and runs like a top.
  • spoogspoog Member Posts: 1,224
    The Ranger is a nice town and trail truck, no doubt about it. But it is no TRD TAcoma.

    There is NOT ONE thing engineered on the RAnger with offroading in mind. NOT ONE. It's just NOT a Ford design philosophy.

    With me driving my TRFD you would NOT be able to go where I go. MY locker would get me out of mud that would swallow your trucks rear end.



    Face it Cspounser, 4wheeler, Petersons, Carpoint, Edmunds are right. The Tacoma IS a notch above other trucks in the 4 wheel drive department. There is no DOUBT about it.

    And if you think that your Ranger is as capable as a TRD TAcoma, you are living in DENIAL.

    Get over it pal.

    Lets take our rigs up in the Sangres. Lets trail for a couple weeks STRAIGHT, like they do in Africa. Then lets see which truck comes down the mountain in proper working order. lol.

    There is a REASON LAnd Rover and JEEP use the Tacos for their events and long offroad excursions.

    They are the BEST stock truck you can get for offroading, PERIOD.
  • dogbitedogbite Member Posts: 3
    allknowing, you are right about the driver being the most important component of the off-road combination. In the early '50's, before 4wd was common, my dad would take a '50 Chevvy, 6-cylinder with powerslide, glide, into the Sierras, above Smallville, around WW2 Jeeps that were stuck, over-heated and broken to fish in the High Sierras. Those were the days. 90% driver and 10% vehicle was more like it. My '69 Land Cruiser went everywhere and anywhere. My wife drove it on LA freeways, sans doors and top, before such vehicles caught on with women. dogbite.
  • cpousnrcpousnr Member Posts: 1,611
    it is time to ante up, spoog.

    From spoogs post 85:

    "No one is going to accept some link of a bunch of
    meatheads yapping"

    You yap with no lead in your pencil, no proof, no nothing.
    Until you prove it, your yaping.
    Prove a TRD can go where I cannot.
    You will see where my Ranger has been very soon.

    Lets start with this where Rangers have gone:
    http://www.4x4now.com/trcois.htm
    Independence Trail System, Penrose, Colorado1988 Ranger XLT and 1986 Ford BroncoII

    http://www.4x4now.com/hr.htm
    4+ rated Hells Revenge, Moab, Ut. While not from the adventure of Bill Billingham and fordtech, you get the idea. They made it in Ranger XLT's, on of them in 4X2 low due to a malfunction in the front differential.

    Notice in the pictures an elevation change of maybe 1,500-2,200 feet.

    What is the elevation change on an the ILL. corn field where you say you take your Tacoma, maybe 50-100 feet?
  • cpousnrcpousnr Member Posts: 1,611
    You and I are not really in disagreement.

    I think the point of vince is you do not use the locker that much in 99% of the situations you get in off-road.

    Sounds like you really enjoy your Tacoma.
  • allknowingallknowing Member Posts: 866
    I respect your viewpoint and we probably do agree in most respects. I've yet to have an occasion that I needed the locker but it's nice to know that it's there. I understand what Vince is trying to say, but his locker comments imply that that's all there is to the TRD package while ignoring the more important suspension improvements. Once again, Ford just needs to implement a similar package to compete with the TRD. Anyway, That's how I see it.
  • allknowingallknowing Member Posts: 866
    Good pics by the way but I'm not the guy you need to convince.
  • allknowingallknowing Member Posts: 866
    I learned that when I found a guy in a Volkswagon in some of the back trails in Holcolm Valley(the high desert above Big Bear in California). I'm still not sure how he got there but he must be one hell of a driver.
  • trenttrent Member Posts: 86
    Great pictures!
  • cthompson21cthompson21 Member Posts: 1,102
    Nice pics. I don't think I'd walk down those trails let alone take my truck down them.

    I like the one of the Toyota guy standing OUTSIDE (no one is inside!!!) of his truck and videotaping while it crawls up a steep rock facing to demonstrate his extremely low gearing. What a nut!
  • dogbitedogbite Member Posts: 3
    allknowing the original, fully loaded Westphalia camper-van with it's unique drive system, discontinued due to expense, was amazing. The '50's bug could go just about anywhere with the right driver. If it overheated, stop, let it cool and proceed. Xtra 5 gal of gas and the Sierras were home. dogbite
  • allknowingallknowing Member Posts: 866
    Yeh I've heard stories about the VW's and their abilities. The VW I was speaking about was a bug with skinny tires and low ground clearance. I was in a full size 4x4 truck with big tire and had to be careful not to bottom out on the way to a deserted mine. The VW had to use some skill just to keep from scraping bottom and sticking.
  • dogbitedogbite Member Posts: 3
    yup, it's the driver. No more, no less. dogbite
  • spoogspoog Member Posts: 1,224
    First of all C, that first link was not a stock Ranger, was it? No, it wasn't.

    Secondly, there wasn't even a picture of a Ranger in the second link you offer. All I saw was Toyotas and Jeeps ( the choice of below 30k offroaders everyhwere).

    4wheeler and PEtersons are the ultimate source on the STOCK Ranger vs Tacoma issue.

    You say you "play with the big dogs", yet you bite like a little poodle.
  • cthompson21cthompson21 Member Posts: 1,102
    Actually, I would think that actual Tacoma and Ranger OWNERS to be the ultimate source about the trucks, not some writers who drive the trucks for a few days.

    You seem to give waaaaayyyy too much credit to the car rags.

    If some Ranger owner were to hand you your [non-permissible content removed] out on some mountain trails somewhere due to superior experience (I'd bet Vince or CP would be game and show you the ropes), are you gonna whip out that article and say: "Hey!!! They liked my truck better!!!"
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    I would love too@!@! take spoog out in his "superior TRD" into some real mountains and trails here in the NW. I know he would not take it on some trails in fear of scratching it too bad or denting it if you don't navigate correclty. I have been asking spoog for months and months for pics of his so call TRD that is supercharged. Fact is he doesn't own it, just likes to talk alot about it.
    I will say this once again, the TRD is a nice package no doubt. But at what price? The fact is we all talk about taking our trucks into the great outdoors, fact is this is maybe at most 10 maybe 15 percent of our total driving time. The majority of driving time for ANY 4x4 is on the highway or city streets. And of that 10=15 percent of offroad time the locker on the Toyota may get used 1 percent of the time? maybe 2 at most? If you use it more you don't belong out on the trails, nor do you know how or when a locker is supposed to be used. My whole point is you sure pay a whole bunch for a package that is used so little. Enjoy the sticker!
  • frank12frank12 Member Posts: 20
    Did anyone else see the new JD Power and Associates initial quality rating that came out a few days ago? Guess what, it wasn't the Tacoma that came out on top....It was the Chevy S10 in first place, with the GMC Sonoma second.....

    SO where is the Tacoma in the list? Could it be the Tacoma is not as well built as the American made vehicles?

    So much for paying extra for a quality Tacoma....

    So spopog, still feeling so good about paying extra for a vehicle that isn't as well made as the American made vehicles that cost less?

    And your 3 year old articles don't apply here, so don't even try to post them again...

    Get over it....Toyota quality isn't what it used to be...
  • mviglianco1mviglianco1 Member Posts: 283
    The point is that when someone buys a Toyota they expect high quality and do not get all excited and fill out some annoying survey to make themselves feel better about their purchase. Really, who fills out surveys when they buy anything? I know I nor anyone I know would waste their time. To see what that survey really means compare it to the comments made by other sources regarding those same trucks.

    The only manufacturer who parades around the JD Power ratings is Dodge. All vehicles should be of high initial quality. If Toyota pays off fourwheeler I am sure that it is quite possible that Dodge is slipping some bills to JD Power. On another note, the other day I saw a full size Dodge Ram 4x4 run into the back of an Accord. No noticeable damage to the accord but the bumper fell off the Ram.
  • keith24keith24 Member Posts: 93
    what's happened to the toyota website? Ford's, too, for that matter.

    the last time i tried www.toyota.com, i came up with some milwaukee transportation site.

    www.fordvehicles.com just gives a 404 site not found error.
  • mviglianco1mviglianco1 Member Posts: 283
    I dont know, they both pull up fine where I am.
  • spoogspoog Member Posts: 1,224
    The 4wheeler test is a freakish amount of detail.

    I would take a few day test of performance figres, heating/cooling specific parts, offroading tests ect, run by a crew of experienced offroaders than some Yahoo Ranger owner who only picks up wood from home depot.

    Give me a break.

    The 4wheeler comparison and the PEtersons June Ranger vs Tacoma comparison ARE the best sources of comparison info on the CURRENT models of Ranger and Tacoma. The article IS 2 years old, but the models are still essentially the same. When will you realize that?

    The Tacoma was a unanimous decision for a very, very good reason.
  • cthompson21cthompson21 Member Posts: 1,102
    I think it has something to do with the "I Love You" virus. I heard on the news last night that it had clogged up their computer system, so the whole thing had to be shut down.
  • cthompson21cthompson21 Member Posts: 1,102
    When will you realize that it's opinion? When will you realize that they didn't even compare similarly equipped trucks?

    Just like talking to a brick wall.

    If you'd take the opinion of who drove a truck for maybe 3 days over someone who owned the truck for over three years, I think you're extremely naive.
  • frank12frank12 Member Posts: 20
    What? No repsonse to the American vehicles getting better initial quality ratings than the Tacoma?

    Come on now, you seen to have an answer to everything else! At least mviglianco1 tried to give a pathetic defense (we all know loyal Toyota owners are so proud to fill out questionaires saying their vehicles are perfect...see consumer reports for a perfect example)

    Or you just do not acknowledge facts that don't make your tacoma look like the best thing since sliced bread?

    Or is it just because your 3 year old articles don't apply here?

    I'm waiting!!!!!!
  • mviglianco1mviglianco1 Member Posts: 283
    Dont run into any compact Japanese cars with that Dakota of yours. Just kidding. You can have your initial quality rating if you want, its a meaningless award, 100% opinion.

    Your right, I spend all of my extra time filling out all the product surveys and usually talk for hours with telemarketers too.

    And who is "we" in "We all know..." ?
  • geewhiz3geewhiz3 Member Posts: 4
    I'm shopping for a Tacoma TRD 4WD extended cab. I got a buyer service quote of $23.8k out the door, fully loaded. It's a few thousand more than the competion but I'm sold on the quality of this vehicle even though it's made in the good old USA (Fremont, CA). The only negative information that is bothering me is that the seats are uncomfortable. I'm driving 90 minutes to and from my property in West Virginia. My wife and I are clearing a home site and building a road into our 15 acres of wooded mountain. Lots of stone hauling and off road work. I'm looking forward to a comfortable ride home after a hard days work out there. Does anyone have a thought on Edmund's opinion that the seats are uncomfortable. I would be going with the bucket seat version.
  • cthompson21cthompson21 Member Posts: 1,102
    If they're that terrible and you really want the truck, why not just replace the seats with something from the aftermarket? You could probably get a couple of luxurious and comfortable bucket seats for a grand or so.

    Never buy a vehicle you have serious doubts about. You'll just regret it in the long run. It sounds as if any of the compact 4x4's would fill your needs too. Have you bothered to shop around at all? The worse that can happen is to find something you like better or affirm your decision to go with the Tacoma.

    Later,
    -C
  • devil1devil1 Member Posts: 74
    I used to own the original 95.5 Year Taco when it first came out. I have no idea what they are talking about with the seats unless they have changed. They seemed actually very comfy to me. They aren't very "cushiony" but they are nice and firm and wrap around you well.

    They were much nicer than the bench seat on the Nissan truck I had.

    Sometimes car reviewers just have to complain about something.
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    geewhiz, have you checked the crash ratings for Tacoma? at www.crashtest.com and www.carpoint.msn.com? Might change your mind after read these. What else did you test drive? Tell me what you know about the Tacoma?
    23.8K! YEEEEEE OUCH! Gotta love that TRD sticker! and got to give Toyota marketing credit too. Like I keep saying over and over and over, I don't think a 23.8K Ranger even exists? I paid 19.6K for a totally loaded Ranger XLT. Do you know what I could do to a Ranger with just 2K worth of aftermarket parts???!!!
  • allknowingallknowing Member Posts: 866
    I've got a 2000 TRD Tacoma with the bucket seats and they seem very comfortable and supportive, both on the road and off, to me. They feel as good as the seats from my last car, a 300ZX, in which Edmunds liked the seats. I don't have any idea why Edmunds doesn't like the seats.
  • allknowingallknowing Member Posts: 866
    I went to crashtest.com as you again, as you suggested to geewiz, and the Ranger still has an Unacceptable death rate. The high death rate in the Ranger makes it a better vehicle than the Tacoma? I know that there are more Rangers on the road but I believe that they factor that in.
  • allknowingallknowing Member Posts: 866
    my enlish sucked in the last post. S/B "I went to crashtest.com again, as you suggested to geewiz, and the Ranger still has an Unacceptable death rate".
  • allknowingallknowing Member Posts: 866
    Actually, the Mazda scored best, not the S-10. The GMC was second then the S-10. I have to give it to GM as they did well. I wouldn't get too cocky though my friend, Toyota scored in more categories than any other manufacturer.
  • spoogspoog Member Posts: 1,224
    Frank-

    They are pretty much meaning less. The questions they ask are:


    1. Are you happy with your vehicle


    ect.



    How about if I REPOST the FIVE YEAR LONG TERM reliability J.D. Powers study?

    These are vehicles from 93 that were tested for five years. Needless to say, the Top SUV was the fourrunner, the top pickup was the Tacoma, and the top full size SUV was the landcruiser.

    All Ford models except the Econoline Van finished well below the average mark.

    This was a FIVE year study.
  • spoogspoog Member Posts: 1,224
    Remember, what seems like a comfortable seat when you sit in it for 5 minutes might not be a comfortable seat for 4 hours.........

    It all has to do with proper support.
  • allknowingallknowing Member Posts: 866
    One more note geewhiz, if you're doing a lot of off-road work and you want the best comfort available, the Toyota is worth the extra bucks as far as I'm concerned. I won't repeat my past favorable comments, however, as you can look them up if you'd like. I don't need to bore everyone in this forum again.
  • cpousnrcpousnr Member Posts: 1,611
    http://www.billgart.com/truck.html

    that, while not stock, more than likely costs in the range of a TRD Tacoma. However, I would THINK that the Tacoma may be at a disadvantage against THIS Ranger. . .

    For the record, you will NOT see my truck on the Independence Trail System. Even though I drive within 3 miles of it everytime I go to Westcliffe.

    More single pics to follow showing the ability of a Ranger to keep up with the pack. I contacted the people that went to Moab and the pics from the trip are in works. Will provide the link.

    My Ranger has been on Medano, Hayden, Blanca Peak (to the point of Jaws 1, but no further, I am not stupid and do not want to destroy the truck) and Gerogia pass's, all 3-4 rated trails, plus numerious unnamed side trails.

    I do not think I have ever disagreed that Tacoma is a fine machine. Just offering less expensive options.,
This discussion has been closed.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.