Spoog has dropped some bucks into his truck, no doubt. But his truck costed 26K!!. My God, I only paid 19.6K for a loaded Ranger. Air, tilt, alarm, ABS, buckets, CD, pwr, tow pkg, offroad pkg, keyless entry, and more. Say I added 2K in accessories, spray in bed liner, nurf bars, K&N air charger, rock guard, 31's, that still leaves me with a 4K advantage. For 4K I'm sure I could go have a supercharger put on along with some bilstein shocks and a locker and still come out ahead. Price spoog, you got took bud. And I notice you still knock the Ranger in a little boy kind of way. Enjoy your image. The Ranger is more equal to the Tacoma than you want to think. I didn't think trucks were supposed to be race cars also. Thanks Ford/Mazda for making a truck with value, not image in mind, a truck that is reliable and functional and at a realistic price!
Sushi: Don't know about Mazda, the stated clearance for the Ranger in the book is 7.4". spoog: Followed a white Toy into work today setup I think like yours. It is a sharp truck with a heck of a lot of clearance I will admit (like the way they handle the shocks in the rear). But for a guy with 3 in college, I had to go for the lower price. The Ranger so far works for me and will take me where I want to go hunting/fishing/etc and works fine at altitudes around 12,500 feet. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Toys, 2 of my kids have 87 Celica's with in excess of 150,000 miles on them. I also have owned a '71 Landcruiser, 76 Corolla, 78 Corona and the DOG 81 P/U. The treatment by Toyota on the P/U is what soured me. You just gotta balance price/fit/budget/quality/etc and go for it. A question spoog. On the 31X16.5 tires, what do you gain? Do they not reduce the effective rear end ratio? Also, do you know what the width of the rims are and does the turbo add only hp or torque too?
You say I got screwed on my tacoma purchase. Well, lets see. You paid 19.6 for cheap tires, air, cruise, power locks, and the " offroad" (LOL) package(which is a sticker and skid plates), and power windows. I paid 22.9 for air, power windows, tilt, cruise, power locks, 12 inches odf clearance, skid PLATES, gas tank cover, locking rear diff, offroad tuned bilstein shocks, clutch start cancel switch, larger tires, cascading antenna, bedliner, higher engine placement., and 30 more horsepower( not including supercharger).
Lets take your 19.6 price for your ranger and add to that price what I have STOCK on my tacoma for 22.9 1. Better tires 500$ 2. better ground clearance equals proffesional lift to get Ranger up to STOCK taco standards from 7.4 inches! = 700$ 3. Gas tank cover = 150$ 4. Locking rear diff =500$ 5. Bilstein shocks =400$ 6. Clutch start cancel switch= 300$ 7. 30 more horsepower=1000$ 8. Higher engine placement= complete redesign of Ranger, so Ill let this one fly........
Well Vince, your ignorance has shone through yet again. You see, I didn't OVERPAY for my Tacoma, In fact, My Tacoma is CHEAPER than a comparably equipped Ranger! YOur 19.6 k Ranger with my STOCK options added would total 23, 150(excluding supercharger). Thats right, my 22.9 Taco(excluding supercharger) is less expensive than a comparably eqipped Ranger!
See, don't play the "price" game unless the vehicles are EQUALLY EQUIPPED! Your Ranger does not come close to the stock options I have on my Tacoma. I could drive in on a chevy s-10 2wd and say " yeah. my truck is better because it is 10 grand cheaper than a tacoma 4wd". But that would be silly, wouldnt it?
Please stop posting your fact-less posts. Stop comparing prices on vehicles that aren't equipped the same.
Cpousnr you are right on whatever works you should get. Saw the Ranger Sport last nite not a bad looking truck. Are the Sports 4wd...just wondering? Actually I am into the Poncho muscle cars myself and own a F150 and had a MarkIII conversion van from Ford. They could never get those ABS brakes right and leaky AC turned me off.
What bugs me is that the Ranger has several advantages over the Tacoma and kinda of hoping someone would post it. It is not the price and not the head gasket if anyone is wondering.
Post the advantages of the Ranger that no one seems to know. Like I said before, I LIKE the Ranger. It's interior is really nice and it's a good truck for gravel roads. If there is an advantage to the Ranger, post it. I am not a vehicle "hater", and if there is solid info to back up a vehical, let it fly. Unlike SOME people, I dont hate a specific brand. Or a specific company.
But if someone goes around yelling " my truck is cheaper so its better" between two vehicles that are NOT similarily equipped, then I will pipe in.
Honestly I would post it, but why give ammo to an already heated debate. I really didn't think you were a hater Spoog...kinda of like a guy that tells it straight and not unlike someone else. It is obvious from what has been posted here and elsewhere there is an individual that is not a fair minded. He makes these distorted statements and when you refute him he doesn't have the decency to acknowledge his error. What kind of man is that?
hindsite and spoog, you both questioned the Rangers reliability/quality/offroad capability. I gave you site after site to visit and rebute your claims. I have never said I hated the Tacoma, or the Ranger was a "better" truck. You both just hate it that the Ranger and the Tacoma are more equal, neither one dominates. You guys don't hate Rangers, my a....! Read the previous posts bud! I am also finding hard now to believe spoog ownes this Tacoma. With a screen name of "spoog" and his alpha male remarks he sounds to be about 16 years old. Either his parents are very rich and bought him the truck, or he is dreamin about this truck. Also, Toyota has offered cheap financing/rebates for months now on the Tacoma. Why doesn't the Tacoma outsell the Ranger 4 to 1? I can tell you why, the Ranger offers what most truck buyers are looking for. Value/reliability/utility for a fair price. I am now starting to get reports and read that Tacoma's are being discounted and the dealers are a deal'n. This because of the Tundra and its price being so close to the Tacoma. Hindsite, you like a guy who tells it the way you want to hear it. I have so many options on my truck, I did't even list them all. I have everything you have, including 4whl ABS, CD, alarm, remote entry, tow pkg, pwr windows and locks, tilt, cruise, air, factory tint all the way around, I also got a credit for my new tires from the tire company. I only paid $200 for my tires. spray in bed liner - $325 nurf bars - $180 rock guard - $45 K&N air charger kit $150 Above I said I added 2K worth of extras, Now I see it is only really about 1K. I still don't know how my trucks ground clearance can be roughly the same as the persons Tacoma TRD at work with just 31" tires?? We both guessed he may have about a 1/2" advantage. Torques is what you want out of a truck more than HP also. I now have about 170HP with the K&N mod. I am also going to buy the Superchip. Placed the order yesterday after running into a guy with another Ranger. I notced the Superchip emblem in his window and decided to talk to him about it. He noticed a big difference and swears by them. So, I am going to take the plung. I would guess this will boost me to about 190HP when installed. Cost is $250. By the way he had a 1997 Ranger with 38K and the only problem he had was the radio! You paid 22.9K, I paid 19.6K. There is a 3.3K diff in price here not including add-ons. Now, you paid a TOTAL of 26K, I paid a TOTAL of 21.5K, now a diff of 4.4K! I believe with 4.4K I can do quite a few mods to the Ranger! But, I have other hobbies/priorities. Fact is this, I won't pay the extra dollars for image, you will! See ya in the hills!
Vince 8, your are NOT READING MY POSTS. Here is a quote from Vince:
" I have so many options on mytruck, I did't even list them all. I have everything you have, including 4whl ABS, CD, alarm, remote entry, tow pkg, pwr windows and locks, tilt, cruise, air, factory tint all the way around"
Vince you DO NOT have evrything my truck has. I have MORE stock options than you. I have clutch start cancel, 30 more horsepower, 12 inches ground clearance, locking rear diff, 31 inch tires, cascading antenna, power locks, mirrors, windows, higher engine placement for water "roading" standard skid PLATEs and heavy duty fuel tank cover, air, cruise, tilt,rear abs, 4 corner hooks in bed, bedliner, and TRD supercharger that gives me 260 HP. Those ARE my stock options. My NON-stock options are custom 300 watt stereo, custom sunroof, winch and aftermarket tow package. Respond to my actual words, not some made up world you post to.
Another quote from Vince:
"Why doesn't theTacoma outsell the Ranger 4 to 1? I can tell you why, the Ranger offers what most truck buyers are looking for. Value/reliability/utility for a fair price. "
Hey Vince, why doesnt A Ferrari outsell the Ford Mustang 4-1?
I'll tell you why. Not everyone can afford a 200grand Ferrari, but those who can will enjoy A SUPERIOR sports car to anything on the road. By your logic, Mariah Carrey has the best music because she sells the most albums. You are a pop culture JUNKIE, mistakingly equating quality with quantity.
Another quote from Vince :
"I still don't know how my trucks ground clearance can be roughly the same as the persons Tacoma TRD at work with just 31" tires?? We both guessed he may have about a 1/2" advantage. "
??????????? Did you read the post awhile back about the 4x4 Rangers ground clearance? It was even stated by some one else at 7.4 inches. There is NO WAY your Ranger without a lift can equal a trd tacoma with 31 tires. Sorry. Damn you are an idiot sometimes.
Another quote from Vince8:
. " I nowhave about 170HP with the K&N mod. I am also going to buy the Superchip . So, I am going to take the plung. I would guess this will boost me to about 190HP when installed(250$). "
LOL. First of all, have you had your HP tested after you installed the K&N filter? What were the diagnostics, and what shop did you have it tested? I highly doubt a K&N is going to give you 10 horsepower right off the bat. You are clueless. Unless you have the K&N exhaust, NO WAY are you getting ten HP from just the air filter.
Secondly, if you think you are going to get 20 horsepower for 250 dollars, you are insane. Who is going to install the chip? that costs a pretty penny too.
Another quote from Vince:
"You paid 22.9K, I paid 19.6K. There is a 3.3K diff in price here not including add-ons. "
I already made quite a clear point EARLIER about the fact that my TRUCK WAS MORE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE IT HAS MORE STOCK OPTIONS! NOT ADD-ONS! My add ons were a winch, custom stereo, custom sunroof and custom tow package. The rest was stock options. I ALREADY POINTED OUT THAT TO HAVE THOSE STOCK OPTIONS ON YOUR RANGER WOULD MAKE THE PRICE HIGHER ThAN MY PRICE WITHOUT THE SUPERCHARGER. What the heck is wrong with you? Can you comprehend the English language? Do you dance around the facts and points on purpose? You are making yourself look like a complete fool! Read the last few posts concerning Ranger aftermarket add-ons! Dance baby, Dance around the facts!
Another quote from Vince:
" I believe with 4.4K I can do quitea few mods to the Ranger! But, I have other hobbies/priorities. Fact is this, I won't pay the extra dollars for image, you will! See ya in the hills!"
what a fool. YOu have other hobbies and interests, yet you waste more time than I did thinking about chips and putting in air filters and other worthless " upgrades". I didn't have to screw around with my truck like you are doing now. In fact, you are spending more time and money trying to play "catch-up" with the Tacoma performance machines. Have fun playing catch-up! yOu can keep dreaming that 250$ will get you 20 extra horsepower, and you can keep trying to match what the tacoma comes with stock at the dealer. Good luck.
Oh, and I wont see you where my truck will go. With my setup, I can get anywhere, and out of most any sticky situation. If I see a smoking Ranger stuck in a 2 inch mudhole, Ill come buy and pull you out.
Ranger outsells Tacoma for a few reasons. A biggie being FLEET SALES. Budget Rent-a-Car rents the Ranger 4 door, and certain gov. agencies have to buy so called american cars also. That equals FLEET SALES. Good example being that the Ford Taurus outsold the Accord and Camary for years, because of FLEET SALES. The Camary just recently overcame the Taurus, without FLEET SALES.
The Ranger may be more equal to the TAcoma than it once was, but they are still not 100% equal. 4X4 Go anywhere truck or 4X4 Grocery getter, you decide
Vince, Here is one of your quotes from WELCOME TOYOTA TUNDRA discussion topic, "Although many people in these rooms know me to be a GM/Ford/Dodge crusader, I am fair. I just get sick and tired of hearing about how bad Ford/GM/Dodge products are. I would have left out the word fair.
You say we hate the Ranger when I have a 94 F150. You got to be kidding!!
There is a difference between the Ranger and Tacoma ground clearance. A Big one. The Ranger will always be playing catch-up in that category.
Cpousner wrote: "Yes itsure would make a difference in mud for high centering but but on 4X4 road you gotta pick the path to drive to avoid the rocks/holes. Kinda likeskiing."
I don't need to "pick a path", especially not on a road. My clearance is good enough to speed over small boulders and rocks. And if I do happen to hit one, it just bounces of my skid plates and heavy duty fuel tank cover(you should see some of the abuse that fuel tank cover has taken.....) As for deep holes in the road, my approach and departure angles are almost on par with a Jeep Wrangler. Thanks to my bilstiens, "obstacles" of this type in ROADS don't cause my tacoma problems. My truck is a serious performance machine, winch and all. The only offroad vehicles it fears are the decked out cj'7s, Toyota landcruisers, and hummers.
Hurray! I finally found out the true clearance for the Ranger 4x4. It's 9.9 inches with the rims and tires! The 7.4 was with those puny 14 inches. I am now seriously thinking about getting either a Ranger or a Tacoma. Tacomas prices just are sky-hi. There is no way I am going to get a truck like Spoogs because it is just way too much. I think I might just default to Ranger because it is more practical. I will decide ultimately when I go for the test drive though.
Sushi, The Frontier is not a bad truck. It does have a proven track record and a proven engine.
Heading down the Southern Tier to do some river running. Maybe I will catch up with the guy in the Ranger that got stuck the last time in the gully for lack of clearance. Good thing the Ranger has those big hooks in the front. They certainly come in handy. LOL
Joke of the day.
How do you make a 4x4 Tacoma with a V6 run like a 4x4 Ranger with a 4.0?
Joke of the day, The fool who spends 23 - 26K for a Tacoma!
Spoog, you paid one heck of a lot of money for your truck. The only options I don't have are your locker, S/C, and a cascading antenna, and your clutch start/cancel. Bottom line is you paid more, option for option you paid more. Read the review here at Edmonds. When you start adding options the Tacoma price racks up fast. I also note you keep calling me names. Why is this? Feeling a bit inferior? Price is price, you paid more. I have just as many options as you do and more, I know, I priced the Tacoma before deciding on the Ranger. Most people buy the Ranger because it is a better value, better utility, for a fair price. Also, your engine placement is about 3/4 inch higher than mine for intake. I have compared my truck side by side with a Tacoma TRD package. The guy at work is sitting right next to me watching me type this that owns one. We looked again 1/2" difference in clearance. Even he doesn't seem to understand many of your arguments. You don't seem to understand, I don't have stock tires on my Ranger. I am done with you. You say I dance around the facts. Did you not pay 22.9K? A total of 26K? I paid 19.6K, a total of 21.5K. This is a 4.4K difference!! A lot o'cash fool! Besides, I highley doubt you own this truck with the language you use. Your a kid with a dream. By the way the guy with the TRD package wants to know why the hell you paid 26K for your truck and why you need the S/C?
The Frontier V6 is not a proven V6 either. It is new. And at 170HP and 200ft/lbs of torque is extremly close to the 4.0 on the Ranger. If you go to the Nissan room you will see we had a little shoot out of our own between a Tacoma/Frontier/Ranger. The Frontier seemed to have to be revved quiet high in order to get the torque out of the engine.
hindsite/spoog - I have thrown fact after fact, page after page at you to see just how close to equal the Ranger is to the Tacoma. Price is an issue. Option for option the Tacoma is more than the Ranger and a whole lot more than a comparably equipped Frontier. So, you paid for your perceived quality/reliability advantage. Just got back from MT Hood again! Not one problem, didn't need a locker, or a cascading antenna. Had my truck in 3ft of snow, but have to admit, with chains. Had a blast, and for THOUSANDS, I say again THOUSANDS less!!
Hindsite you quote me from the Tundra room. I was fair, I gave the site of www.carpoint.msn.com to someone whe was questioning GMC reliability. Reliability ratings are not in yet for the Tundra. The reliability rating for the GMC are not that great. but for the Ranger/F150/250 line they are pretty darn good.
As for the Superchip. Go to the Superchip site and they explain how it can boots hp/torque. Just type in your search engine S U P E R C H I P spoog. Do you know what a search engine is? I read once again your rebutle and quotes of my entries. Bottom line is you paid a total of 26K, I paid a total of 21.5K. You have the advantage of a locker, a Supercharger, and the clutch start/cancel. And all of this for 4 THOUSAND dollars more! You really don't like that when you see the bottom line numbers of what you supposedly paid for a compact truck. Most people don't need a supercharger or a locker, or clutch cancel. The 4x4 guy I go to can't understand why you would need a Supercharger on a Toyota Tacoma?? The bed is so light all the trasfer of that power just goes to waste. Once again, most TRUE offroaders don't use Pickup trucks for offroading or rockclimbing!
What is a clutch cancel? Wanna know what I think of the Spoog vs. Vince 8 battle? This is from my own experience. Toyota is more of a fun truck. Ranger is more of a work truck. Go take your Tacoma Off-roading. I would love to have one to eat up the mountain. Unfortunately, I don't play with mountains that often, and there are fleas out of my wallet. A ranger/mazda is more economical, and I will be doing more work than playing on a mountain. When Ford puts out the SOHC, do you think the current 4.0 will drop in price, or will they discontinue it right away? I heard Frontier has a pretty good torque curve.
I just purchased a 1999 Toyota Tacoma 4x2 single cab pickup (5 speed) for 10,595 from a dealership here in Bossier City, LA. It's a very basic truck although it does have cloth interior, chrome package, AC, etc. It was stickered at around 14,500. I love this truck. With 142 hp, it has enough power to satisfy me. Four years ago, I bought a Chevrolet S-10 pickup but had to get rid of it three years later because it was a lemon. I lost a few thousand dollars on that truck and vowed never to buy a GM product again. You can't argue with the track record of Toyota Trucks, that's for sure. I hope that I can get around 200,000 miles out of this truck. Has anyone out there managed to do so with their Toyoya pickup? If so, I'd like to hear about it.
Hw spoog, lighten up. You and vince need to go someplace, hook a chain to your frames and, you know, see what happens.
sushi: The 9.9 is dead center front. Spoog needs to tell us the clearance at his rear punkin
My point on the last posting was that my Ranger will make it just fine on 4wd roads and off road. Medano pass is not an easy climb. If you hit mud like that Landcruiser I saw a couple of weekends ago and high center, all the power in the world will not help you. For under $18,000 this Ranger will do just fine for me.
A smart 4 wheeler WILL pick their path when on a 4wd road/area. It just makes common sense.
I never questioned the quality of your truck spoog. You have a nice one. Just do not be so condescending to my truck. I bought what I could afford, one that will get me where I want to go where the larger elk hide, it's style is pleasing to me and it better fits my 6'3" 255 frame (compared to the Toyota). Plus, if you remember from a previous post, Toyota did not stand behind their product when my '81 p/u engine/trans self destructed. That experience (I had complained 3 times in the warranty period, once to the zone manager) which cost me $3,200 1984 dollars to fix soured me on Toyota.
With sushi doing more work than playing in the mountains and a wallet filled like mine, what do you think his choice might be?
First, spoog its is cpousnr, Chief Petty Officer US Navy Retired.
Tale of the tape for my Ranger: Front: Center 10", sides 9 1/2" Xfer Case: 9 1/2" Rear: 8 1/4" dead center, 9" on the axcel. with 235X15 tires.
I do not think, just by looking at a Toyota side by side with my Ranger that your 12" clearance is on the rear end. A 4" difference would be real noticable. The Toyota may be 9 - 9 1/2" there but what does yours measure?
As I understand it, if I go to 31X10.5X15 tires, I gain an inch correct? If so, as vince8 said, there is about an inch difference (not a lot of difference)
Price? Could have gotten the Ranger for $15,900 but was not a recent college grad so $400 more. Opted for lower finance so paid $1,000 more hence the cost of about $17,300. Sdded skid plates installed myself($103 and $23) so up to $17,426.
You asked for some of the advantages for Ranger? Here are some plus some washes: Base Price? Ranger $17,968, Toyota $22,542 Toyota +25.45% Towing max? Ranger 9500lb, Toyota 5000lb Ranger +90% HP? Ranger 160, Toyota 190 Toyota +18.75% Torque? Ranger 225, Toyota 220 Ranger +2.2% Stab Bars? Ranger 2 (F/R), Toyota 1 (F) Ranger advantage Brakes? Ranger std 4whl anti-lock, Toyota $507 Ranger advantage Tire lock? Ranger std, Toyota $30 Ranger advantage GVW? Ranger 5120lb ($64), Toyota 5104lb neither advantage
What I have said all along is look at all the options, Ranger, Tacoma, Nissan, Mazda etc. and see what the best is for the situation at hand. Ranger and Tacoma are more equal than you wish to admit spoog. Better is relative to what I need/desire.
The Ranger/Mazda is more equal to the Tacoma than a lot of Tacoma owners want to believe. I have tried to show hindsite/spoog this for weeks now. Giving them reliability data, pages, internet sites they obviously decide not to read. It is no secret the Tacoma is one heck of an expensive truck. I have also never said the Ranger/Mazda is a better truck, just a better value and has features that the everyday users want for a fair PRICE. They feel the history of the Toyota validates this extra cost. I did research before buying my truck, with cash. Anyone who does reasearch will see the Tacoma is overpriced and overrated. He paid 26K for a compact truck or should I say race car?? The ground clearance on my Ranger is 11 3/4" with 31" tires. Spoog, I know a good doctor. Even the guy who owns a Tacoma I know isn't this anti Ranger. Whew, hope he is gone.
Another plus for the Ranger, passive anti-theft. Cannot start the truck without the coded key. Not offered on Toyta, go get a club or aftermarket setup.
Consumer Reports, an independent evaluater that takes input from owners rated the verhices as followes (I will paraphrase) for 1997, 98, 99:
Ranger: Check rated. Excellent truck. Excellent ride. Excellent construction. With the exception of brakes, average or above in all rated areas.
Tacoma: Not check rated. Unimpressive. Harsh ride. Bad seats. Flimsy box, easily dented/bent. Average or above in all rated areas, which it deserved.
well in my town where we use truck EVERY day for rought tought work, The tacomas simply beat the little ranger for reliability. And i simply love to beat a 4.0l ranger a the red light down my street with my Tacoma.
Ranger:Check Rated recommended Buy "Althought this top-rated compact pickup has been around for years, periodic tweaks keep it up to date. A shutoff switch lets you disable the passengers air bag to prevent injuty to small children. The 4.0-liter V6 sounds harsh. A 5 speed automatic transmission is new this year. The ride is bumpy but reasonably quite and the front seats are supportive. Depreciation average, predicted reliability average."
Tacoma:Not check rated recommended. " This truck is disappointing. Though its powertrain is responsive, especially with the optional V6, the handeling is unimpressive. Bumpy curves make the truck leap and bound. The optional antilock brakes are hard to find. Without them, stops are horrendously long and the truck tends to spin out on wet pavement. The Tacoma jitters uncomfortably on smothe roads and kicks and snaps on poor ones. The seats are low and lack support. The climet control woks fine. depreciation average, predectied reliability, better than average."
From the 1998 Consumers Reports Buyers Guide:
Ranger: "Rides and handles well particularly for a pickup truckInterior is quiet and well laid out.Redesigned for 1998.
Tacoma:"An unimpressive compact pickup truck. Expect slow steering and an awful ride. The non-antilock brakes performed poorly. The cargo box is rimmed with flimsy sheet metal."
I like the handeling of my Ranger with Standard anti-lock brakes. The box is built well.
If you are honest, you only use the 4x4 off road mayby 1% of your time. I bought for utility. I haul 150 gal of water, trees for planting, tools and twice a yard of dirt. No problems. 18-19mpg in town, 22-3 (25 was my best) on the highway.
Avril-sun and spoog, I don't race my truck, I work with it and it is too valuable. Perhaps at 49 I am something you may not be.
Only car I race is my 64 GP and 65 GTO and that is done with care rarely. Good to see that someone has done some research on the Ranger & Tacoma. Actually both subjective assessments hit their mark squarely. Only question left is the reliability issue and the Ranger is on the new model side. . Okay, now show me an article where the Ranger is equal to the Tacoma in off roading?
Still no one has said the major disadvantage in the Tacoma.
This is for Vince Foreign VS Domestic The constant bashing of "domestics" is driving me mad! To claim that Americans just can't build anything, we are behind in Technology, we are lazy, [non-permissible content removed]!. I work for a Japanese company and am always improving, or having to modify a robotic system or fix their equipment to meet American standards! This inferior complex some of you have makes me sick!
A while back you tried to equate owning a Tacoma as being not American made and and the loss of jobs. Whoa...you work for them and you have the nerve to say that previously. Fact is your as bias as they come.
Only car I race is my 64 GP and 65 GTO and that is done with care rarely. Good to see that someone has done some research on the Ranger & Tacoma. Actually both subjective assessments hit their mark squarely. Only question left is the reliability issue and the Ranger is on the new model side. . Okay, now show me an article where the Ranger is equal to the Tacoma in off roading?
Still no one has said the major disadvantage in the Tacoma.
This is for Vince Foreign VS Domestic The constant bashing of "domestics" is driving me mad! To claim that Americans just can't build anything, we are behind in Technology, we are lazy, [non-permissible content removed]!. I work for a Japanese company and am always improving, or having to modify a robotic system or fix their equipment to meet American standards! This inferior complex some of you have makes me sick!
A while back you tried to equate owning a Tacoma as being not American made and and the loss of jobs. Whoa...you work for them and you have the nerve to say that previously. Fact is your as bias as they come.
The Ranger has 44 recalls in the same amount of time.
It looks like the story tellers have gone home, and the truth seekers are out now.
If Ford cant get things like brakes right, who knows what else they screw up on the vehicle that ISNT recalled?
And you wondered why Toyota gets its reputation of being a quality product. Maybe because they dont let poorly put together junk out their factory doors like Ford obviously has done with the Ranger. You wonder why a Toyota costs a bit more. Well, as you can plainly see, you get what you pay for. 44 recalls in 10 years is laughable. Talk about quality control isssues.
You wonder why Rangers rattle and overheat with rough use.
The site where I got these documented FACTS is the National Hghway and Safety trnasportation site. They list all recalls for all vehicles.
Well, as we learned here today people, B.S. walks and the facts talk.
I didn't want to have to do this research, because I like the Rangers interior and its functionality for the price.
But several posters just wouldnt accept the fact that the Ranger is a lower quality vehicle than the Tacoma, and that Toyotas repuation as "quality vehicle maker" is/was hard earned through stats like the ones I posted.
Ford just lets mistake after mistake leave the factory. Their overall quality control is OBVIOUSLY lacking in comparison with Toyota. In fact, in some of those Ranger recalls, they go on for several years because ford either couldnt or decide not to fix the problem IN the factory!
Who knows what else they let slide by.......
Fires, explosions.....yikes!
now, does anyone want me to dig up some info on the Tacoma vs. Ranger offroad?????
As you can tell, I like TO DO research..................lol
Cpousnr, I was expecting the truck to ride like a truck. This comment is not meant to be a disparaging comment against the Ranger, but a personal opinion on my expectations of what a truck should ride like. One question regarding that report did the article differentiate between base Tacoma, 4WD SR5, TRD 4WD, and the 4WD limited?
Show me an article where the 4WD Ranger w/Off Road Package & 4.0 V6 engine is equal to the 4WD Tacoma with TRD & 3.4 V6 engine?
because there was "cutting and pasting" going on which caused a text "wrap around" problem. The posts are still present and may be viewed by clicking on the "Hidden Response" but will not interfere with the proper operation of the software. Hopefully, other posters to this topic will not have to try and follow text which is off the screen.
Please don't try to post anything what is greater than the width of the note window! If you're going to cut and paste, trim it to the width of the window!
Front Porch Philosopher SUV, Pickup, & Aftermarket and Accessories Host
Man, you have a lot of time on your hands. Anyone who reads these will see about half are for window glazing and improper labeling, aftermarket parts, speedometer problems, items that in no way affect the safety of the Ranger. So I give you about 20 - 23 real recalls over the last 10 years 89-99. Not bad since the Ranger out sells the Toyota truck almost 4 to 1. If you don't know what 4 to 1 means, it means for every ONE Tacoma sold, FOUR Rangers are sold. Once again jumbling the numbers in your favor. How many Rangers do you think were built over the last 10 years in comparison to Toyota trucks? And, the Ranger has been the best selling compact truck for the last 9 years! Don't worry, I will find the sales numbers and post them within the next few days. Also, the few that Toyota have are pretty serious. Even CR gives the Ranger good ratings in comparison. You went all the way back to 1990. Now, check www.carpoint.msn.com for reliability ratings for Toyota Trucks/Tacoma will ya!!!!!. Explain this one?? I still don't understand how the Ranger/Mazda can outsell the Tacoma 4 to 1 if the Tacoma is so superior?? No, its not all fleet sales either. So, the argument that sales don't matter, are you telling me the Taurus is better than the Camry because the Taurus doesn't sell as many Camry's?? The Ranger outsells the Tacoma because it is a better value, more useful, more comfortable, less money for the same options. It is no secret here that the Tacoma is a very pricey truck. As for offroad comparison, please refer to the Edmunds review right in your own backyard!! Even Edmonds doesn't feel the extra cash is worth it! They would rather take the extra cash and buy a jet ski! Spoog, I ordered my truck, I know option for option the Tacoma is more. During my search I priced the Tacoma/Frontier all loaded with options. By far the Tacoma was 2 - 4K more at 3 different dealerships.
Well, seems that Spoog did a lot of research on recalls. Kind of brings up old memories with my Ford truck. Certainly from what is shown Ford holds no equal in the amount of recalls. Is this a reliability issue or a design flaw in the various components?
The question has been posed in a previous post of mine and negates price & sales as irrelevant in this discussion. Since, the central question has been asked which truck is better off-roading the response should address that question.
Show me an article where the 4WD Ranger w/Off Road Package & 4.0 V6 engine is equal to the 4WD Tacoma with TRD & 3.4 V6 engine?
Hey Vince, how do you like them thar numbers? LOL. Welcome to "Ford Country"
"Driving my Ranger to the Dealer down the road to get the recall fixed." lol.
I wouldn't consider a leaking gas line that could cause explosions "not serious".
I wouldnt consider a stuck throttle body that causes the truck to suddenly accelerate off a forest road off a cliff "not serious".
Get real. Those two problems exist in 98-99 models, the one you own. Oh, also, the 98-99 Rangers have 12 recalls!!! Better forget that "superchip" and use that DOWN TIME for your recall repairs! lol.
As for quality vs. quantity, you still dont get it. You get what you pay for. Mariah Carey sells the most records, so she must be your favorite musician? I wonder.
Why would people buy a Ferrari when they can get a mustang? lol.
As for Carpoint, they rely on Advertisers for revenue. The National Highway Transportation and safety institution does not.
These are the facts. Choose to do with them what you will. Nice try, by your argument has failed. I PROVED that the Tacoma is a higher quality vehicle in terms of quality control coming out of the Factory.
I think I will go enjoy a nice rattle-free ride in my nice recall-free Tacoma. Maybe I'll wave when I pass the Ford dealer. lol.
HindSite----This will ANSWER your ignored question as well about the offorad prowess of Ranger vs. Toyota
Here are the results for the Toyota Tacoma portion of the FOUR WHEELER(offroad emphasis) Magazine 98 pickup of the year(99 ranger and taco are same trucks) Enjoy! :
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.
Here is the Ranger portion of the Tacoma vs. Ranger test for the best overall compact pickup. Funny, Everything I have been saying is backed up by this knowledgeable offroad AND onroad review board. Enjoy!:
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 . And it's made in plants with a reputation for quality. 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. --------------------------------------------- Here is the URL, check it out yourself. The photos are pretty cool, showing what the trucks went through.
Well well. I guess the truth is always a little hard to swallow......
Sure, people like to spout myths and false statements, but thats only human. When I said the things I did on this group, I meant them ,and knew them to be the truth. I presented fact after fact, but was ignored by folks who just don't want to hear the truth.
1. I said the Ranger is a good highway and city truck=true 2. I said the Tacoma costs more, but it was because it has features you cant get on other trucks=true 3. I said the offroad prowess of a Tacoma surpasses ALL pickups and is closer to the capabilities of the Jeep Wrangler=true 4.I said the reason that the Tacoma has choppy highway ride is because it is an offroad monster=true 5. I said the Tacoma is a performance MACHINE, not your usuall grocery getter=true. 6. I said the Tacoma has better quality than the Range=true.
All of these statements were swiftly and decidedly backed up by fact today.
Thanks for reading. Im sure any prospective buyers will find this information EXTREMELY helpful in their purchase of a Tacoma or Ranger.
Oh and Vince, no hard feelings. Ill be partially seeing you in my rearview mirror swallowed up in that dust cloud. LOL!
spoog: Thanks for the numbers and articles. The rear end on the Tacomas I have seen, with 31X10.5s do not look that high.
To all, remember that the title of this is not specifically which truck is better off road. However, that may be the deciding factor for some.
From Kelly Blue Book (kbb.com), under 1999 Ranger:
"The new Ranger may be the best compact pickup truck on the market. Its driving qualities leave the other trucks in the dust, yet it offers plenty of power and hauling capacity to get the work done. Handling is superb for a pickup and the optional five-speed automatic offers impressive response, making this truck a good companion for everyday driving.
Mazda is selling mechanically identical models, the B-2500, B-3000 and B-4000, each named for engine displacement. The styling is completely different, however, giving each a distinctive appearance. While the Ford looks tough, the Mazda looks sporty. They are both good-looking trucks and a debate rages as to which is more attractive. Mazda B-Series trucks offer a compelling alternative to the Toyota Tacoma, with the Mazda delivering more truck per dollar."
Not printing the Tacoma article but it was very favorable and yes they were impressed by the TRD package.
The combination of the above, plus the independent Consumer Reports rating swayed me to a Ranger. I do not want a truck that has the tendency to "spin out" on wet roads and as I use the box, more than likely more than spoog or hindsite, I wanted higher quality in these areas. I wanted a truck that performs best where I drive it 99% of the time.
It does not impress me when people comment that their thrill is to "...beat Rangers at lights..." Not too tough when gearing/hp is in excess of the Ranger. If that is a persons greatest thrill, that is a very shallow person.
Spoog finally provided very good data regarding the Tacoma with TRD package. You are right spoog the info will be extremely helpful. But if you have one, as you are blasting around off-road, give me a wave when I come down from off-road in the Colorado Sangre's with my elk in the box. Cause the Renger has and will again get me there spoog. By the way, I bought a nice Winchester Model 70 stainless steel .300 Win Mag, Burris Black Diamond scope, some Hornaday custom ammo and a Beretta M96 .40 S&W pistol with some of the money I saved on the Ranger.
It all breaks down to personal choice as to what you want to drive and what you are going to do with it.
Comments
Price spoog, you got took bud. And I notice you still knock the Ranger in a little boy kind of way. Enjoy your image. The Ranger is more equal to the Tacoma than you want to think.
I didn't think trucks were supposed to be race cars also.
Thanks Ford/Mazda for making a truck with value, not image in mind, a truck that is reliable and functional and at a realistic price!
Engines
Trannies
Options
Warranties
Resale
Relability
Price
Off capability
How about it edmunds? I know you guys did a long term Ranger, and a Tacoma review, but how about a comparison review......?
-wsn
Don't know about Mazda, the stated clearance for the Ranger in the book is 7.4".
spoog:
Followed a white Toy into work today setup I think like yours. It is a sharp truck with a heck of a lot of clearance I will admit (like the way they handle the shocks in the rear). But for a guy with 3 in college, I had to go for the lower price. The Ranger so far works for me and will take me where I want to go hunting/fishing/etc and works fine at altitudes around 12,500 feet.
Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Toys, 2 of my kids have 87 Celica's with in excess of 150,000 miles on them. I also have owned a '71 Landcruiser, 76 Corolla, 78 Corona and the DOG 81 P/U. The treatment by Toyota on the P/U is what soured me. You just gotta balance price/fit/budget/quality/etc and go for it.
A question spoog. On the 31X16.5 tires, what do you gain? Do they not reduce the effective rear end ratio? Also, do you know what the width of the rims are and does the turbo add only hp or torque too?
air, cruise, power locks, and the " offroad" (LOL)
package(which is a sticker and skid plates), and power windows. I paid 22.9 for air, power windows, tilt, cruise, power locks, 12 inches odf clearance, skid PLATES, gas tank cover, locking rear diff, offroad tuned bilstein shocks, clutch start cancel switch, larger tires, cascading antenna, bedliner, higher engine placement., and 30 more horsepower( not including supercharger).
Lets take your 19.6 price for your ranger and add to that price what I have STOCK on my tacoma for 22.9
1. Better tires 500$
2. better ground clearance equals proffesional lift to get Ranger up to STOCK taco standards from 7.4 inches! = 700$
3. Gas tank cover = 150$
4. Locking rear diff =500$
5. Bilstein shocks =400$
6. Clutch start cancel switch= 300$
7. 30 more horsepower=1000$
8. Higher engine placement= complete redesign of
Ranger, so Ill let this one fly........
Well Vince, your ignorance has shone through yet again. You see, I didn't OVERPAY for my Tacoma,
In fact, My Tacoma is CHEAPER than a comparably equipped Ranger! YOur 19.6 k Ranger with my STOCK options added would total 23, 150(excluding supercharger). Thats right, my 22.9 Taco(excluding supercharger) is less expensive than a comparably eqipped Ranger!
See, don't play the "price" game unless the vehicles are EQUALLY EQUIPPED! Your Ranger does not come close to the stock options I have on my Tacoma. I could drive in on a chevy s-10 2wd and say " yeah. my truck is better because it is 10 grand cheaper than a tacoma 4wd". But that would be silly, wouldnt it?
Please stop posting your fact-less posts.
Stop comparing prices on vehicles that aren't equipped the same.
Cpousnr you are right on whatever works you should get. Saw the Ranger Sport last nite not a bad looking truck. Are the Sports 4wd...just wondering? Actually I am into the Poncho muscle cars myself and own a F150 and had a MarkIII conversion van from Ford. They could never get those ABS brakes right and leaky AC turned me off.
What bugs me is that the Ranger has several advantages over the Tacoma and kinda of hoping someone would post it. It is not the price and not the head gasket if anyone is wondering.
Post the advantages of the Ranger that no one seems to know. Like I said before, I LIKE
the Ranger. It's interior is really nice
and it's a good truck for gravel roads.
If there is an advantage to the Ranger, post it.
I am not a vehicle "hater", and if there is solid info to back up a vehical, let it fly.
Unlike SOME people, I dont hate a specific brand.
Or a specific company.
But if someone goes around yelling " my truck is cheaper so its better" between two vehicles that are NOT similarily equipped, then I will pipe in.
It is obvious from what has been posted here and elsewhere there is an individual that is not a fair minded. He makes these distorted statements and when you refute him he doesn't have the decency to acknowledge his error. What kind of man is that?
I am also finding hard now to believe spoog ownes this Tacoma. With a screen name of "spoog" and his alpha male remarks he sounds to be about 16 years old. Either his parents are very rich and bought him the truck, or he is dreamin about this truck.
Also, Toyota has offered cheap financing/rebates for months now on the Tacoma. Why doesn't the Tacoma outsell the Ranger 4 to 1? I can tell you why, the Ranger offers what most truck buyers are looking for. Value/reliability/utility for a fair price. I am now starting to get reports and read that Tacoma's are being discounted and the dealers are a deal'n. This because of the Tundra and its price being so close to the Tacoma.
Hindsite, you like a guy who tells it the way you want to hear it. I have so many options on my truck, I did't even list them all. I have everything you have, including 4whl ABS, CD, alarm, remote entry, tow pkg, pwr windows and locks, tilt, cruise, air, factory tint all the way around,
I also got a credit for my new tires from the tire company. I only paid $200 for my tires.
spray in bed liner - $325
nurf bars - $180
rock guard - $45
K&N air charger kit $150
Above I said I added 2K worth of extras, Now I see it is only really about 1K.
I still don't know how my trucks ground clearance can be roughly the same as the persons Tacoma TRD at work with just 31" tires?? We both guessed he may have about a 1/2" advantage. Torques is what you want out of a truck more than HP also. I now have about 170HP with the K&N mod.
I am also going to buy the Superchip. Placed the order yesterday after running into a guy with another Ranger. I notced the Superchip emblem in his window and decided to talk to him about it. He noticed a big difference and swears by them. So, I am going to take the plung. I would guess this will boost me to about 190HP when installed. Cost is $250. By the way he had a 1997 Ranger with 38K and the only problem he had was the radio!
You paid 22.9K, I paid 19.6K. There is a 3.3K diff in price here not including add-ons. Now, you paid a TOTAL of 26K, I paid a TOTAL of 21.5K, now a diff of 4.4K! I believe with 4.4K I can do quite a few mods to the Ranger! But, I have other hobbies/priorities.
Fact is this, I won't pay the extra dollars for image, you will!
See ya in the hills!
Here is a quote from Vince:
" I have so many options on mytruck, I did't even list them all. I have
everything you have, including 4whl ABS, CD, alarm,
remote entry, tow pkg, pwr windows and locks,
tilt, cruise, air, factory tint all the way around"
Vince you DO NOT have evrything my truck has.
I have MORE stock options than you.
I have clutch start cancel, 30 more horsepower,
12 inches ground clearance, locking rear diff,
31 inch tires, cascading antenna, power locks, mirrors, windows, higher engine placement for water "roading" standard skid PLATEs and heavy duty fuel tank cover, air, cruise, tilt,rear abs,
4 corner hooks in bed, bedliner, and TRD supercharger that gives me 260 HP. Those ARE my stock options.
My NON-stock options are custom 300 watt stereo,
custom sunroof, winch and aftermarket tow package.
Respond to my actual words, not some made up world you post to.
Another quote from Vince:
"Why doesn't theTacoma outsell the Ranger 4 to 1? I can tell you
why, the Ranger offers what most truck buyers are
looking for. Value/reliability/utility for a fair
price. "
Hey Vince, why doesnt A Ferrari outsell the Ford Mustang 4-1?
I'll tell you why. Not everyone can afford a 200grand Ferrari, but those who can will enjoy A SUPERIOR sports car to anything on the road.
By your logic, Mariah Carrey has the best music because she sells the most albums. You are a pop culture JUNKIE, mistakingly equating quality with quantity.
Another quote from Vince :
"I still don't know how my trucks ground clearance
can be roughly the same as the persons Tacoma TRD
at work with just 31" tires?? We both guessed he
may have about a 1/2" advantage. "
???????????
Did you read the post awhile back about the 4x4
Rangers ground clearance? It was even stated by some one else at 7.4 inches.
There is NO WAY your Ranger without a lift can equal a trd tacoma with 31 tires. Sorry. Damn you are an idiot sometimes.
Another quote from Vince8:
. " I nowhave about 170HP with the K&N mod.
I am also going to buy the Superchip . So,
I am going to take the plung. I would guess this
will boost me to about 190HP when installed(250$). "
LOL. First of all, have you had your HP tested after you installed the K&N filter? What were the diagnostics, and what shop did you have it tested? I highly doubt a K&N is going to give you 10 horsepower right off the bat. You are clueless. Unless you have the K&N exhaust, NO WAY
are you getting ten HP from just the air filter.
Secondly, if you think you are going to get 20 horsepower for 250 dollars, you are insane.
Who is going to install the chip? that costs a pretty penny too.
Another quote from Vince:
"You paid 22.9K, I paid 19.6K. There is a 3.3K
diff in price here not including add-ons. "
I already made quite a clear point EARLIER about
the fact that my TRUCK WAS MORE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE IT HAS MORE STOCK OPTIONS! NOT ADD-ONS!
My add ons were a winch, custom stereo, custom sunroof and custom tow package. The rest was stock options. I ALREADY POINTED OUT THAT TO HAVE THOSE STOCK OPTIONS ON YOUR RANGER WOULD MAKE THE PRICE HIGHER ThAN MY PRICE WITHOUT THE SUPERCHARGER.
What the heck is wrong with you? Can you comprehend the English language? Do you dance around the facts and points on purpose? You are making yourself look like a complete fool!
Read the last few posts concerning Ranger aftermarket add-ons!
Dance baby, Dance around the facts!
Another quote from Vince:
" I believe with 4.4K I can do quitea few mods to the Ranger! But, I have other
hobbies/priorities. Fact is this, I won't pay the extra dollars for
image, you will! See ya in the hills!"
what a fool. YOu have other hobbies and interests, yet you waste more time than I did
thinking about chips and putting in air filters and other worthless " upgrades". I didn't
have to screw around with my truck like you are doing now. In fact, you are spending more time
and money trying to play "catch-up" with the Tacoma performance machines.
Have fun playing catch-up! yOu can keep dreaming that 250$ will get you 20 extra horsepower, and you can keep trying to match what the tacoma comes with stock at the dealer. Good luck.
Oh, and I wont see you where my truck will go.
With my setup, I can get anywhere, and out of most any sticky situation. If I see a smoking Ranger stuck in a 2 inch mudhole, Ill come buy and pull you out.
See you in my rearview mirror in the hills!
The Ranger may be more equal to the TAcoma than it once was, but they are still not 100% equal. 4X4 Go anywhere truck or 4X4 Grocery getter, you decide
Here is one of your quotes from WELCOME TOYOTA TUNDRA discussion topic, "Although many people in these rooms know me to be
a GM/Ford/Dodge crusader, I am fair. I just get
sick and tired of hearing about how bad
Ford/GM/Dodge products are. I would have left out the word fair.
You say we hate the Ranger when I have a 94 F150. You got to be kidding!!
There is a difference between the Ranger and Tacoma ground clearance. A Big one.
The Ranger will always be playing catch-up in that
category.
Cpousner wrote:
"Yes itsure would make a difference in mud for high
centering but but on 4X4 road you gotta pick the
path to drive to avoid the rocks/holes. Kinda likeskiing."
I don't need to "pick a path", especially not on
a road. My clearance is good enough to speed over small boulders and rocks. And if I do happen to hit one, it just bounces of my skid plates and heavy duty fuel tank cover(you should see some of the abuse that fuel tank cover has taken.....)
As for deep holes in the road, my approach and departure angles are almost on par with a Jeep Wrangler. Thanks to my bilstiens, "obstacles" of this type in ROADS don't cause my tacoma problems. My truck is a serious performance machine, winch and all. The only offroad vehicles it fears are the decked out cj'7s,
Toyota landcruisers, and hummers.
The Frontier is not a bad truck. It does have a proven track record and a proven engine.
Heading down the Southern Tier to do some river running. Maybe I will catch up with the guy in the Ranger that got stuck the last time in the gully for lack of clearance. Good thing the Ranger has those big hooks in the front. They certainly come in handy. LOL
Joke of the day.
How do you make a 4x4 Tacoma with a V6 run like a 4x4 Ranger with a 4.0?
Turn on the AC and put 1500 lbs in the bed.
Joke of the day,
The fool who spends 23 - 26K for a Tacoma!
Spoog, you paid one heck of a lot of money for your truck. The only options I don't have are your locker, S/C, and a cascading antenna, and your clutch start/cancel. Bottom line is you paid more, option for option you paid more. Read the review here at Edmonds. When you start adding options the Tacoma price racks up fast.
I also note you keep calling me names. Why is this? Feeling a bit inferior? Price is price, you paid more. I have just as many options as you do and more, I know, I priced the Tacoma before deciding on the Ranger. Most people buy the Ranger because it is a better value, better utility, for a fair price.
Also, your engine placement is about 3/4 inch higher than mine for intake. I have compared my truck side by side with a Tacoma TRD package. The guy at work is sitting right next to me watching me type this that owns one. We looked again 1/2" difference in clearance. Even he doesn't seem to understand many of your arguments.
You don't seem to understand, I don't have stock tires on my Ranger.
I am done with you. You say I dance around the facts. Did you not pay 22.9K? A total of 26K? I paid 19.6K, a total of 21.5K. This is a 4.4K difference!! A lot o'cash fool! Besides, I highley doubt you own this truck with the language you use. Your a kid with a dream. By the way the guy with the TRD package wants to know why the hell you paid 26K for your truck and why you need the S/C?
hindsite/spoog - I have thrown fact after fact, page after page at you to see just how close to equal the Ranger is to the Tacoma.
Price is an issue. Option for option the Tacoma is more than the Ranger and a whole lot more than a comparably equipped Frontier. So, you paid for your perceived quality/reliability advantage. Just got back from MT Hood again! Not one problem, didn't need a locker, or a cascading antenna. Had my truck in 3ft of snow, but have to admit, with chains. Had a blast, and for THOUSANDS, I say again THOUSANDS less!!
I read once again your rebutle and quotes of my entries. Bottom line is you paid a total of 26K, I paid a total of 21.5K. You have the advantage of a locker, a Supercharger, and the clutch start/cancel. And all of this for 4 THOUSAND dollars more! You really don't like that when you see the bottom line numbers of what you supposedly paid for a compact truck. Most people don't need a supercharger or a locker, or clutch cancel.
The 4x4 guy I go to can't understand why you would need a Supercharger on a Toyota Tacoma?? The bed is so light all the trasfer of that power just goes to waste. Once again, most TRUE offroaders don't use Pickup trucks for offroading or rockclimbing!
Wanna know what I think of the Spoog vs. Vince 8 battle? This is from my own experience.
Toyota is more of a fun truck.
Ranger is more of a work truck.
Go take your Tacoma Off-roading. I would love to have one to eat up the mountain. Unfortunately, I don't play with mountains that often, and there are fleas out of my wallet. A ranger/mazda is more economical, and I will be doing more work than playing on a mountain.
When Ford puts out the SOHC, do you think the current 4.0 will drop in price, or will they discontinue it right away?
I heard Frontier has a pretty good torque curve.
cab pickup (5 speed) for 10,595 from a dealership
here in Bossier City, LA. It's a very basic
truck although it does have cloth interior, chrome
package, AC, etc. It was stickered at around
14,500. I love this truck. With 142 hp, it has
enough power to satisfy me. Four years ago, I
bought a Chevrolet S-10 pickup but had to get
rid of it three years later because it was a lemon. I lost a few thousand dollars on that truck and vowed never to buy a GM product again.
You can't argue with the track record of Toyota
Trucks, that's for sure. I hope that I can get
around 200,000 miles out of this truck. Has
anyone out there managed to do so with their
Toyoya pickup? If so, I'd like to hear about it.
Thanks,
Jessica
sushi: The 9.9 is dead center front. Spoog needs to tell us the clearance at his rear punkin
My point on the last posting was that my Ranger will make it just fine on 4wd roads and off road. Medano pass is not an easy climb. If you hit mud like that Landcruiser I saw a couple of weekends ago and high center, all the power in the world will not help you. For under $18,000 this Ranger will do just fine for me.
A smart 4 wheeler WILL pick their path when on a 4wd road/area. It just makes common sense.
I never questioned the quality of your truck spoog. You have a nice one. Just do not be so condescending to my truck. I bought what I could afford, one that will get me where I want to go where the larger elk hide, it's style is pleasing to me and it better fits my 6'3" 255 frame (compared to the Toyota). Plus, if you remember from a previous post, Toyota did not stand behind their product when my '81 p/u engine/trans self destructed. That experience (I had complained 3 times in the warranty period, once to the zone manager) which cost me $3,200 1984 dollars to fix soured me on Toyota.
With sushi doing more work than playing in the mountains and a wallet filled like mine, what do you think his choice might be?
Tale of the tape for my Ranger:
Front: Center 10", sides 9 1/2"
Xfer Case: 9 1/2"
Rear: 8 1/4" dead center, 9" on the axcel.
with 235X15 tires.
I do not think, just by looking at a Toyota side by side with my Ranger that your 12" clearance is on the rear end. A 4" difference would be real noticable. The Toyota may be 9 - 9 1/2" there but what does yours measure?
As I understand it, if I go to 31X10.5X15 tires, I gain an inch correct? If so, as vince8 said, there is about an inch difference (not a lot of difference)
Price? Could have gotten the Ranger for $15,900 but was not a recent college grad so $400 more. Opted for lower finance so paid $1,000 more hence the cost of about $17,300. Sdded skid plates installed myself($103 and $23) so up to $17,426.
You asked for some of the advantages for Ranger?
Here are some plus some washes:
Base Price? Ranger $17,968, Toyota $22,542
Toyota +25.45%
Towing max? Ranger 9500lb, Toyota 5000lb
Ranger +90%
HP? Ranger 160, Toyota 190
Toyota +18.75%
Torque? Ranger 225, Toyota 220
Ranger +2.2%
Stab Bars? Ranger 2 (F/R), Toyota 1 (F)
Ranger advantage
Brakes? Ranger std 4whl anti-lock, Toyota $507
Ranger advantage
Tire lock? Ranger std, Toyota $30
Ranger advantage
GVW? Ranger 5120lb ($64), Toyota 5104lb
neither advantage
What I have said all along is look at all the options, Ranger, Tacoma, Nissan, Mazda etc. and see what the best is for the situation at hand. Ranger and Tacoma are more equal than you wish to admit spoog.
Better is relative to what I need/desire.
Well nice to see a retired enlisted guy from the Navy here . . . grade E7 or E8? I am retired from the Army myself with a grade O4.
The ground clearance on my Ranger is 11 3/4" with 31" tires.
Spoog, I know a good doctor. Even the guy who owns a Tacoma I know isn't this anti Ranger.
Whew, hope he is gone.
Another plus for the Ranger, passive anti-theft. Cannot start the truck without the coded key. Not offered on Toyta, go get a club or aftermarket setup.
Consumer Reports, an independent evaluater that takes input from owners rated the verhices as followes (I will paraphrase) for 1997, 98, 99:
Ranger: Check rated. Excellent truck. Excellent ride. Excellent construction. With the exception of brakes, average or above in all rated areas.
Tacoma: Not check rated. Unimpressive. Harsh ride. Bad seats. Flimsy box, easily dented/bent. Average or above in all rated areas, which it deserved.
Ranger:Check Rated recommended Buy "Althought this top-rated compact pickup has been around for years, periodic tweaks keep it up to date. A shutoff switch lets you disable the passengers air bag to prevent injuty to small children. The 4.0-liter V6 sounds harsh. A 5 speed automatic transmission is new this year. The ride is bumpy but reasonably quite and the front seats are supportive. Depreciation average, predicted reliability average."
Tacoma:Not check rated recommended. " This truck is disappointing. Though its powertrain is responsive, especially with the optional V6, the handeling is unimpressive. Bumpy curves make the truck leap and bound. The optional antilock brakes are hard to find. Without them, stops are horrendously long and the truck tends to spin out on wet pavement. The Tacoma jitters uncomfortably on smothe roads and kicks and snaps on poor ones. The seats are low and lack support. The climet control woks fine. depreciation average, predectied reliability, better than average."
From the 1998 Consumers Reports Buyers Guide:
Ranger: "Rides and handles well particularly for a pickup truckInterior is quiet and well laid out.Redesigned for 1998.
Tacoma:"An unimpressive compact pickup truck. Expect slow steering and an awful ride. The non-antilock brakes performed poorly. The cargo box is rimmed with flimsy sheet metal."
I like the handeling of my Ranger with Standard anti-lock brakes. The box is built well.
If you are honest, you only use the 4x4 off road mayby 1% of your time. I bought for utility. I haul 150 gal of water, trees for planting, tools and twice a yard of dirt. No problems. 18-19mpg in town, 22-3 (25 was my best) on the highway.
Avril-sun and spoog, I don't race my truck, I work with it and it is too valuable. Perhaps at 49 I am something you may not be.
Mature.
Still no one has said the major disadvantage in the Tacoma.
This is for Vince
Foreign VS Domestic
The constant bashing of "domestics" is driving me mad! To claim that Americans just can't build anything, we are behind in Technology, we are lazy, [non-permissible content removed]!. I work for a Japanese company and am always improving, or having to modify a robotic system or fix their equipment to meet American standards! This inferior complex some of you have makes me sick!
A while back you tried to equate owning a Tacoma as being not American made and and the loss of jobs. Whoa...you work for them and you have the nerve to say that previously. Fact is your as bias as they come.
Still no one has said the major disadvantage in the Tacoma.
This is for Vince
Foreign VS Domestic
The constant bashing of "domestics" is driving me mad! To claim that Americans just can't build anything, we are behind in Technology, we are lazy, [non-permissible content removed]!. I work for a Japanese company and am always improving, or having to modify a robotic system or fix their equipment to meet American standards! This inferior complex some of you have makes me sick!
A while back you tried to equate owning a Tacoma as being not American made and and the loss of jobs. Whoa...you work for them and you have the nerve to say that previously. Fact is your as bias as they come.
My rear diff is 12.5 inches from the ground.
90-non
91-none
92-none
93- one(seatbelt sticker
94 -none
95 - 3 recalls
96- 2 recalls
97-no recalls
98 1 recall
99 no recalls
Well, thats a total of 7 recalls in ten years.
The Ranger has 44 recalls in the same amount of time.
It looks like the story tellers have gone home, and the truth seekers are out now.
If Ford cant get things like brakes right, who knows what else they screw up on the vehicle that
ISNT recalled?
And you wondered why Toyota gets its reputation of being a quality product. Maybe because they dont let poorly put together junk out their factory doors like Ford obviously has done with the Ranger. You wonder why a Toyota costs a bit more. Well, as you can plainly see, you get what you pay for. 44 recalls in 10 years is laughable.
Talk about quality control isssues.
You wonder why Rangers rattle and overheat with rough use.
The site where I got these documented FACTS is the National Hghway and Safety trnasportation site. They list all recalls for all vehicles.
Ill post the URL in a few.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
Well, as we learned here today people, B.S. walks and the facts talk.
I didn't want to have to do this research, because I like the Rangers interior and its functionality for the price.
But several posters just wouldnt accept the fact that the Ranger is a lower quality vehicle than the Tacoma, and that Toyotas repuation as "quality vehicle maker" is/was hard earned through stats like the ones I posted.
Ford just lets mistake after mistake leave the factory. Their overall quality control is OBVIOUSLY lacking in comparison with Toyota.
In fact, in some of those Ranger recalls, they go
on for several years because ford either couldnt or decide not to fix the problem IN the factory!
Who knows what else they let slide by.......
Fires, explosions.....yikes!
now, does anyone want me to dig up some info on the Tacoma vs. Ranger offroad?????
As you can tell, I like TO DO research..................lol
I was expecting the truck to ride like a truck. This comment is not meant to be a disparaging comment against the Ranger, but a personal opinion on my expectations of what a truck should ride like. One question regarding that report did the article differentiate between base Tacoma, 4WD SR5, TRD 4WD, and the 4WD limited?
Show me an article where the 4WD Ranger w/Off Road Package & 4.0 V6 engine is equal to the 4WD Tacoma with TRD & 3.4 V6 engine?
because there was "cutting and pasting" going on which caused a text "wrap around" problem. The posts are still present and may be viewed by clicking on the "Hidden Response" but will not interfere with the proper operation of the software. Hopefully, other posters to this topic will not have to try and follow text which is off the screen.
Please don't try to post anything what is greater than the width of the note window! If you're going to cut and paste, trim it to the width of the window!
Front Porch Philosopher
SUV, Pickup, & Aftermarket and Accessories Host
Who doesn't have a dog in this fight!
Anyone who reads these will see about half are for window glazing and improper labeling, aftermarket parts, speedometer problems, items that in no way affect the safety of the Ranger. So I give you about 20 - 23 real recalls over the last 10 years 89-99. Not bad since the Ranger out sells the Toyota truck almost 4 to 1. If you don't know what 4 to 1 means, it means for every ONE Tacoma sold, FOUR Rangers are sold. Once again jumbling the numbers in your favor. How many Rangers do you think were built over the last 10 years in comparison to Toyota trucks? And, the Ranger has been the best selling compact truck for the last 9 years! Don't worry, I will find the sales numbers and post them within the next few days.
Also, the few that Toyota have are pretty serious.
Even CR gives the Ranger good ratings in comparison. You went all the way back to 1990.
Now, check www.carpoint.msn.com for reliability ratings for Toyota Trucks/Tacoma will ya!!!!!. Explain this one??
I still don't understand how the Ranger/Mazda can outsell the Tacoma 4 to 1 if the Tacoma is so superior?? No, its not all fleet sales either.
So, the argument that sales don't matter, are you telling me the Taurus is better than the Camry because the Taurus doesn't sell as many Camry's??
The Ranger outsells the Tacoma because it is a better value, more useful, more comfortable, less money for the same options. It is no secret here that the Tacoma is a very pricey truck.
As for offroad comparison, please refer to the Edmunds review right in your own backyard!! Even Edmonds doesn't feel the extra cash is worth it! They would rather take the extra cash and buy a jet ski!
Spoog, I ordered my truck, I know option for option the Tacoma is more. During my search I priced the Tacoma/Frontier all loaded with options. By far the Tacoma was 2 - 4K more at 3 different dealerships.
Show me an article where the 4WD Ranger w/Off Road Package & 4.0 V6 engine is equal to the 4WD Tacoma with TRD & 3.4 V6 engine?
LOL. Welcome to "Ford Country"
"Driving my Ranger to the Dealer down the road to get the recall fixed." lol.
I wouldn't consider a leaking gas line that
could cause explosions "not serious".
I wouldnt consider a stuck throttle body that
causes the truck to suddenly accelerate off a
forest road off a cliff "not serious".
Get real. Those two problems exist
in 98-99 models, the one you own. Oh, also, the 98-99 Rangers have 12 recalls!!!
Better forget that "superchip" and use that DOWN TIME for your recall repairs! lol.
As for quality vs. quantity, you still dont get it. You get what you pay for.
Mariah Carey sells the most records, so she must be your favorite musician? I wonder.
Why would people buy a Ferrari when they can get
a mustang? lol.
As for Carpoint, they rely on Advertisers for revenue. The National Highway Transportation and safety institution does not.
These are the facts. Choose to do with them what you will. Nice try, by your argument has failed.
I PROVED that the Tacoma is a higher quality vehicle in terms of quality control coming out of the Factory.
I think I will go enjoy a nice rattle-free ride
in my nice recall-free Tacoma. Maybe I'll wave when I pass the Ford dealer. lol.
Here are the results for the Toyota Tacoma
portion of the FOUR WHEELER(offroad emphasis)
Magazine 98 pickup of the year(99 ranger and taco are same trucks) Enjoy! :
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.
-----------URL and Ranger portion forthcoming----
Funny, Everything I have been saying is backed up by this knowledgeable offroad AND onroad review board. Enjoy!:
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 . And it's made in plants with a reputation for quality. 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.
---------------------------------------------
Here is the URL, check it out yourself.
The photos are pretty cool, showing what the trucks went through.
www.fourwheeler.com/newtrucks/ptoty/98/index.html
Well well. I guess the truth is always a little hard to swallow......
Sure, people like to spout myths and false statements, but thats only human. When I said the things I did on this group, I meant them ,and knew them to be the truth. I presented fact after fact, but was ignored by folks who just don't want to hear the truth.
1. I said the Ranger is a good highway and city truck=true
2. I said the Tacoma costs more, but it was because it has features you cant get on other trucks=true
3. I said the offroad prowess of a Tacoma surpasses ALL pickups and is closer to the capabilities of the Jeep Wrangler=true
4.I said the reason that the Tacoma has choppy highway ride is because it is an offroad monster=true
5. I said the Tacoma is a performance MACHINE, not your usuall grocery getter=true.
6. I said the Tacoma has better quality than the Range=true.
All of these statements were swiftly and decidedly backed up by fact today.
Thanks for reading. Im sure any prospective buyers will find this information EXTREMELY helpful in their purchase of a Tacoma or Ranger.
Oh and Vince, no hard feelings. Ill be partially seeing you in my rearview mirror swallowed up in that dust cloud. LOL!
Thanks for the numbers and articles. The rear end on the Tacomas I have seen, with 31X10.5s do not look that high.
To all, remember that the title of this is not specifically which truck is better off road. However, that may be the deciding factor for some.
From Kelly Blue Book (kbb.com), under 1999 Ranger:
"The new Ranger may be the best compact pickup truck on the market. Its driving qualities leave the other trucks in the dust, yet it offers plenty of power and hauling capacity to get the work done. Handling is superb for a pickup and the optional five-speed automatic offers impressive
response, making this truck a good companion for everyday driving.
Mazda is selling mechanically identical models, the B-2500, B-3000 and B-4000, each named for engine displacement. The styling is completely
different, however, giving each a distinctive appearance. While the Ford looks tough, the Mazda looks sporty. They are both good-looking trucks and a debate rages as to which is more attractive. Mazda B-Series trucks offer a compelling alternative to the Toyota Tacoma, with the Mazda delivering more truck per dollar."
Not printing the Tacoma article but it was very favorable and yes they were impressed by the TRD package.
The combination of the above, plus the independent Consumer Reports rating swayed me to a Ranger. I do not want a truck that has the tendency to "spin out" on wet roads and as I use the box, more than likely more than spoog or hindsite, I wanted higher quality in these areas. I wanted a truck that performs best where I drive it 99% of the time.
It does not impress me when people comment that their thrill is to "...beat Rangers at lights..."
Not too tough when gearing/hp is in excess of the Ranger. If that is a persons greatest thrill, that is a very shallow person.
Spoog finally provided very good data regarding the Tacoma with TRD package. You are right spoog the info will be extremely helpful. But if you have one, as you are blasting around off-road, give me a wave when I come down from off-road in the Colorado Sangre's with my elk in the box. Cause the Renger has and will again get me there spoog. By the way, I bought a nice Winchester Model 70 stainless steel .300 Win Mag, Burris Black Diamond scope, some Hornaday custom ammo and a Beretta M96 .40 S&W pistol with some of the money I saved on the Ranger.
It all breaks down to personal choice as to what you want to drive and what you are going to do with it.
Gonna answer my question on the 31X10.5 tires?