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Frontier vs Ranger
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For caution's sake, I wait until at least the second or third year of production. Ford does seem to have quite a few cases of growing pains lately...
It seems like Ford is trying to get the next best thing to market before they get all of the bugs worked out. Then, they solve the problems as they arise. It's great for sales but unfortunate for the purchaser.
that don't see heavy duty use. Kind of like the pathfinder and the consumers it markets to. The typical buyers of the Xterras are more likely to do more offroading and heavier duty stuff than the pathfinder group. The unibody gets you a better ride, lower step in etc. which is more desirable in luxury oriented SUV's. But I don't know I could be wrong, what do you guys think?
What I find appealing is:
(1) AWD system - It's always on. And, you can lock it to 50/50 distribution. It's great for snow around my parts. My wife seems to have trouble deciding when and how to use my truck's 4x4 system.
(2) Excellent V6 - I've got the 2.5 Duratec (Escape has the 3.0 Duratec) in my SVTour. It's a very smooth, powerful engine. The Escape is rated at 28mpg highway too with the V6. That's damn near incredible for a V6 SUV.
(3) Size - I don't like the 4dr Explorer's overall size, and the 2dr Explorer has a good overall size but only 2 doors. The Escape seems good for DINK's (dual income no kids) like my wife and I. And, it should handle any rugrats for at least a few years when the time should come.
(4) It has a decent towing capacity of 3500lbs. That should easily take care of my 2 snowmobiles and trailer.
(5) Ride - It should ride like a mid-sized sedan with the visibility of a truck-based SUV. And, it's not a minivan!
(6) It's not a minivan!!!
(7) It's not a minivan!!!
(8) My wife won't go for the Saab 9-5 wagon or BMW 3-Series Sport Wagon.
I guess it's wait until Ford irons out the wrinkles then see what happens.
I kinda think eventually the SUV craze will die of its own success the same way the minivan popularity waned in the 90's. When the last "soccer mom" trades in her Caravan for a Explorer, the stigma will fly over and stick on the SUV instead.
My $0.02.
The Ford Escape will be more for the average user. The person who goes skiing, hiking, ect... Just gravel roads and already established dirt roads. The V6 in the Escape is going to blow all the others away when it comes to performance acceleration, the ride is also going to be more car like. I am sure we will see a shoot out betwee the RAV4/Xterra/CRV/Escape in the very near future.
As much as I rag on SUVs, I would and have defended their existence in other forums. To me, nothing is more sacred than having a choice, whether that choice is generally perceived as good or bad.
By extension, that is the same way I look at the compact trucks. I don't like the fact that Mazda and Isuzu trucks have turned into Ranger and S-10 clones. Not that I think Rangers and S-10s are bad truck, it's just that there are now that many fewer real choices. I actually quite liked the old Isuzu 4x4 - it had the versatility of 4WD without the hi-rise stance of most 4x4s nowadays.
I think BMW and a few others have found the right track here. It's called improve, improve, improve, and improve. Improve the current model and work towards a better vehicle. Don't just wait for a complete redesign to fix inherent flaws.
I think that SUVs are good vehicles. I think people that run out and buy the biggest SUV they can get their hands on as a status symbol are complete idiots.
As my primary vehicle must remain a truck for towing/hauling duties, I just need to convince my wife now that a 3-series sport wagon is a great sports car with a bigger trunk...
Xterra, which was named Motor Tend's SUV of the year, is an SUV meant for 4 wheeling, off-roading, etc. The rest are grocery-getters and I wouldn't dare be caught dead in one off road. The CRV by Honda is built on a Civic platform. It's basically an all wheel drive Civic. I don't know about the others, but I'd guess the Toyo is a Corolla or Camry type platform, and the Ford is Escape probably something similar.
The Xterra is basically an SUV version of the Frontier. The others are car platforms with AWD systems and slightly bigger tires. The most offroading they'll see is when they back over the flowerbed on their way to the supermarket.
The guy I talked to said they are selling like hotcakes (mostly to Gen-Xers, with a downpayment made by mom and dad) and the only other car he can recall that moved so quickly was the Mazda Miata a few years ago (remember when *everyone* just had to have a convertible Miata?). Of course,
there's always a segment of buyers out there who buy only the "latest and greatest" just to be hip. I guess those folks are contributing to Xterra's success.
What I didn't like about the X is that in order to make room in the back, there's no way for
the back seat to fold down. You literally have to take the back seat out of the vehicle and leave it at home. Also, for an SUV it was bit cramped.
I basically like trucks because I do a lot of fishing and it's easier to just throw my rods and gear in the bed rather than have to deal with putting them inside like in an SUV.
you must have gotten some bad info, the seats on the X do fold down, the seat bottom cushions come up and are stowed behind the 2 front seats
The Escape, Tribute, Rav4, CR-V, Grand Vitara, and a few upcoming others fall into the unit-body car-based SUVs. I think that the Escape/Tribute is based on the Contour platform or something similar.
The "average" buyer would probably be better off buying one of the car-based mini-utes. They're more efficient, ride more like a car, and most have all-time AWD available.
I wouldn't choose a car-based mini-ute for any sort of off-roading or serious towing duties (tho the Escape does have a decent tow rating with the V6). And, I don't like the styling on any of those little car-based buggers. Both the Cherokee and Xterra are appealling. But, I'll stick with my truck for now.
set the prices, not the dealers, if people weren't lined up to buy them, the dealers would have to discount them, this just says alot about how Nissan hit the nail on the head with the X, a year after introduction, they are still commanding right around MSRP. And I guess the ford dealers aren't "gouging" on the sport tracs either?
do you even read what you post, nowhere in any of those articles does it say "renault buys nissan" or "renault controls nissan" in fact it says,
renault buys a "major interest" and later, "this is not a merger" "each company will maintain its own corporate strategies" The only thing renault has is veto power and even the article says they can't change things with veto power. Well even though your own words have proven you wrong again,
I still ask, what does this have to do with Crew Cab vs. Explorer? Answer nothing. Now maybe you can go back to boring us with repetitious torque
whining.
I don't like the Grand Cherokee at all. It looks like a big tylenol driving down the road.
If forced to choose between the two, it would be real close, almost a toss-up. They're both good off-roaders, have extremely close engine choices (V6 for me), are about the same size, and cost around the same buck comparably equipped. To my eye, they both look real good too.
Please educate us like you said you would.
offroader.
Anybody remember the old jeep pickups? Years ago I had a neighbor who had an old one that could
tow just about anything. That truck was amazing for it's size. We used it a few times to remove some large stumps from a field and it just hunkered down and ripped them right out. Why's they stop making the pickup anyway?
cncman, I will find more articles about the Renault take-over of Nissan. Heck, if anyone just goes to Yahoo and types in Renault Nissan aquisition or somthing else of that nature all kinds of articles pop up.
Xterra's are expensive as all get out in my area. They are asking 23-25K!! In the ad next to it you can get an Explorer XLT for about 23,999!! I think with the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute, new RAV4 coming soon too, Xterra hype will level off in the next 6-9 months.
I think enough has been said on this, either show us an artice that says Renault buys Nissan or Controls Nissan and I will admit I was wrong, or just admit that you were wrong, those are the only two options I see, so far as the Xterra prices and explorer prices, all this shows is that people are willing to pay more for an Xterra than an Explorer, so, what's your point?
I saw some Motor Trend type show the other night where they ranked the top most "influential" vehicles and the first Jeep Wagoneer (complete with wood paneling) was near the top. Don't see many of those around anymore. It was almost like a huge station wagon. Also near the top of the list was the Chrysler Minivan (shudder).
I checked them out on their website and who knew....BF Goodrich hasn't actually made a tire in 10 years. Michelin makes them, but sells them under BF Goodrich name. Thought that was interesting. Anyway, I need a tire that's decent in the rain/snow, will still provide decent mileage and quietness on the highway, and will work for off-roading (obviously I don't mean off-roading that would require huge mudders or anythig).
I got the 15" firestone wilderness on my 98 king cab, 4 cylinder 4x2, I really had no tire opinions before, but I have been very happy with these. I have 21,000 miles on them and they look good as new, I have never had an unusual loss of traction,
only time I spin the wheels is when I gun it around a corner! I always rotate the tires every other oil service, I have been minor-offroading, washed out trails on the beach, muddy roads, etc and never have gotten stuck, I do recommend them.
http://link.yahoo.com/bin/query?p=Renault+Nissan+Merger&hc=0&hs=0
Keep trying to convince yourself that a company would give millions of dollars to another company for nothing. Renualt does have a controlling share in Nissan my friend. Tons of links that say so. And a couple that say the marriage isn't going too well either. Hmm......
Nissan was hurting terribly cncman, looking for capital/cash, trying Ford, GM, and even Diamler/Chrysler. Renault was the last resort. Renault is also not totally private company, the French government give them tax breaks and sometimes even funding!!
you really make me laugh son!, I never denied that Renault bought 1/3 of Nissan stock. Everyone knows that,and I even mentioned it before when you posted those last links that DID work, but you said Renault bought Nissan and Controls them, and Nissan is just going to get swallowed up by the French, and we should all run to the hills if we own a nissan because we won't be able to get parts or service anymore, that's ridiculous! Renault gave Nissan a cash infusion, and Renault gets some technology sharing, and access to mainly the asian market where they had none before, there are still no official plans to bring any renault to the US under a Nissan or any other name. Renault never bought Nissan like you said and does not control Nissan, Renault has veto power over certain aspects and has one of the best COO's cutting Nissan's expenses, Nissan is still it's own entity and so is Renault. And again, why are you even boring us with this? Even if someone believes your lies, it still has absolutely nothing to do with this comparison, maybe we can get back to the topic right after you admit you are wrong.
BTW, Ford of Europe's offerings have been selling very well to much critical acclaim. There's the Ford Mondeo, Puma, and Focus. All have enjoyed much success. The next gen Mondeo will most likely be a huge hit too (it looks very similar to a Passat).
http://www.detnews.com/AUTOS/howes/howes991019.htm
I think Ford may have blundered a bit with the Focus. It's a great competitor (and huge step up from the Escort) in the US market. But, it just can't go against the VW's and Bimmmer's running around with near the same pricetag. Maybe some of the big strides forward Ford has made with the LS will trickle down to the "lesser" models. I absolutely love a European driving feel. That's why I bought my poor man's M3 (an SVTour).
As for the Ranger vs. the Frontier debate I'll add my two cents. I currently own a 95 4x2 4-cyl. 5 speed Ranger XLT SC. It has been a great truck. It has 67k miles and other than a few minor electrical glitches it has been very good to me. A power house it's not, but it handles and rides well and I do enjoy driving it. My wife drives a 99 Pathfinder which as you all know has the 3.3 engine that is offered in the Frontier. It's no speed demon either but, it's adequate for us. I haven't actually decided what make or configuration truck I'm going to buy. If I go with a 4x2(most likely and practical scenario)I will more than likely end up with the Nissan. I like the Ranger but Ford doesn't offer a 4-cyl auto. in the SC. I like the Tacoma also but, It's expensive and sits a little too low for my tastes. If, however, I decide to say "to hell with gas mileage" and go for a 4x4 V6, I will be looking hard at the Ranger, Frontier and Tacoma. They're all pretty nice Trucks IMO.
(1) "wacky wipers" - wipers coming on for no particular reason sometimes spraying washer fluid too.
(2) door chime - the door chime will not turn off after the doors have been closed for a continuous bonging and an illuminated interior light.
I previously had a '95, and I had those glitches too. The wipers were cured by a new turn signal stalk of slightly different design (mine was covered under warranty). The door chime is caused by a sticking switch in the door latch mechanism. This can be cured with liberal application of WD-40 on the door latch. These are the 2 common electrical problems myself and others have experienced with this year of truck. Just some info for you if you haven't gotten them fixed. A new turn signal stalk, installed, will probably cost about $125 or so if I remember correctly.
Good luck on whatever you choose. Go out and have some fun test driving all those trucks. If you decide Ranger, I'd suggest 3L manual tranny for the best combination of power and mpg. You might also want to wait until the 2001 Rangers come out. They're due for an improved, more powerful 4-banger this summer and the SOHC 4L replacing the push-rod 4L (if you're really after some power). The Nissan is getting a supercharger for the 3.3L V6, and its numbers are similar to the SOHC 4L in the 2001 Ranger.
2000 Frontier KC XE 4.2 4cyl(Manual Transmission)
- Power Package
- Value Truck Package
- Value Plus Package
and with the floor mats and liner
If you go with ford again you will have a lot larger selection to choose from in the configuration you want. The frontier's options come in clumps.
IT just depends on what's out there by you, but I don't see a problem finding a loaded out one, if you do order, expect about 90 days, I doubt we will see much else when the 01's come out, they are due in august, the supercharger due in November. The only 4x2 01 I have seen was a desert runner, not the 4 cylider, but you can check out
freshalloy.com, they have some pics there. Good luck!
Ford hasn't been able to get the SOHC 4.0 in the Ranger yet due to capacity problems. They couldn't fill the demand for that engine in the Explorer for the first couple of years it was offered. In Ranger guise, the SOHC 4.0 is slated to put out 205hp and 235ft/lbs of torque. It should be available in the 2001 Rangers which should start hitting the showrooms sometime this summer, I believe. I haven't heard much on the 4-banger yet. Displacement drops from 2.5 to 2.3 liters. And, power is supposed to increase. I'd expect it to be slightly less than the I4's offered by Toyota and Nissan.
cncman,
I called a couple of dealers here and they said they're expecting the 01's in Sept. or Oct. Are they really scheduled for Aug. and the dealers just playing it safe by telling me fall? Just curious, I'm really looking forward to driving one.
Ordering takes 3 months, according to the salespeople I talked to, who didn't seem too enthusiastic about ordering a car/truck for some reason.