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Comments
they need to let other people know that the Ranger
has upgrades for very, very little extra money to
match or beat other compacts in payload, towing
ect..."
And what and where are these upgrades Vince?
- payload package for $150
- off-road package for $350
Both would probably cost 5X those amounts in aftermarket parts to add those options/functionality to the truck.
The off-road package is $336.
I'm thinking of getting a Ranger with a LSD, and will be doing mostly no-load or light load driving - only occasional heavy loads (Once every couple of weeks on average). Plus, I'm leaving behind my Integra, so speed/acceleration/handling will be missed. What gearing would be appropriate?
Thanks for any info.
The 3.08 is just too tall. The truck will always feel like it's bogging off the line. If it's the 3L V6 with an auto tranny, it will have trouble holding top gear on the highway if you should happen along a small hill. The 4L is better due to its abundant torque. It's terrible with the 4cyl. It just gets real annoying with all of the constant shifting.
The 4.10s sound too short for your application. I'd only get those if you've got either of the V6s and tow and/or off-road often.
I'd go with the 3.73s if you get the 3L and either of the 3.73s or 3.55s if you get the 4L.
Thanks again.
You can really wake up a 4L with about $500 in mods. Get a KKM Tru-Rev Induction Kit (www.kustomz.com for $90), a cat-back exhaust (Gibson or Borla, about $250), and a Superchip (www.smartyparts.com for $175, mention Ranger Power Sports). It really makes a huge difference. You'll be approaching 200hp and 260ft/lbs of torque.
Spoog, where does it say the Tacoma can pull 6,000lbs? With the new 4.0 SOHC in the 2000 Ranger it is now rated at 6,000 lbs!! Once again, nice try...
Happy Motoring. ;-)
Pocahontas,
Edmunds.com/Roving Host
I wouldn't mind V8 power either before the dino juice is all used up (just for kicks).
Hey CT, what are your thoughts on adding a pop charger in place of the stock air box?
Do you mean something like an open air filter element like a K&N FIPK?
I've got a KKM Tru-Rev Kit on my Ranger. It makes a bit more intake noise (but this is a nice V8 sounding type of noise). It also adds a couple of ponies and maybe 1mpg. They are definately a worthwhile investment especially when coupled with a decent cat-back exhaust. Mine was $90 from Kurtz Kustomz Motorsports.
http://cnnfn.cnn.com/2000/10/25/companies/wires/goodyear_wg/
I'm still waiting on a catback to come out for the Frontier. They are available for the older Nissan trucks, but not on the new ones. Gibson claims they are building one, but who knows.
I like my Gibson exhaust. The tone is great, and the both power and economy increases are substantial. But, I would have gone with one that had less pieces for easier installation. Mine had 4 pieces. It made lining them up and hanging everything straight kind of a PITA.
Maybe Borla has got something by now for your truck. The Gibson stainless systems are actually more expensive than the Borla stainless systems. The Gibson aluminized (what I've got) is a good deal cheaper. Using the 1/3 off coupon at Carparts.com, I got my exhaust for $190 including shipping.
While in school for a month I was able to rent a Ford Xcab XLT auto (I think it had the small engine), and also a Chevy S-10. I would just like to tell you what I experienced with all three trucks.
Taco-- love everything about it except two things: the seats could be more comfortable (1) and the cupholders are in a semi-bad spot (2)
That's all I can complain about--ergonomics.
Ford-- nice looking, the most comfortable of the bunch, but there were a few things I didn't like about it: stereo/cd sound was sad compared to my Toy(1). Also when I was going down the highway and hit a bump, it felt as though the whole back end was bouncing out of control and at an angle other than straight-- this actually made me nervous and I had to slow down (WAS doing about 75 in a 65 zone--- but to do that to me on a freeway??? Come on!!)(2). The last thing was the acceleration --- this truck had none(3). I had to stomp on it hard to get this heavy truck into traffic and then listen to the transmission almost blow up while it went through its gears.
In short, I guess if I was a highway driver I "might" pick this truck, until I hit bumps on the freeway. That was scary.
S-10 A good truck. I still didn't care for the sound system compared to my Toy. The S-10 had a better center console and better storage than the other two. It also had excellent acceleration and ran real quick from stop signs and such. The ride "felt" more like a car than a truck because you sit so low in the 2WD(1). The worst thing about "this" particular S-10 was the rattles(2). At only 8K miles on it, it was rattling in several places and that turned me off for a truck with so few miles.
Other than the rattles this truck was alright.
Soggydog:
After driving these 3 trucks, I can honestly say that I would still keep the Tacoma. Especially the V6 5Spd. It's an excellent truck. If money weren't an option and I could get into the boonies, I would get the 4WD Taco before any other vehicle (even a jeep)!!! I like these Tacomas........
And that's why I wouldn't want a Ranger; because I like to feel more in control of my vehicle and the Tacoma and S-10 both had more control than the Ranger.
As far as interior goes, I think I stated that the Ranger also had the CD player and stereo (don't remember if the S-10 did or not). I also stated that I didn't like the sound systems as well as my Tacoma. That's my opinion and NOT yours. You make up your own opinion, O.K.???? If my Tacoma with 9k miles has no rattles at all, and an S-10 with 8k miles is rattling in several places, what does that tell me about quality? That tells me that it's not as good as a Tacoma on the interior. And that's my impression and opinion too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Crash tests??? So what!!!
If I get slammed into froom the side on any compact truck, my chances are slim to none on survival any ways. Trust me, that's how my Grandfather died two years ago.
All three trucks had virtually the same interior room space. The Ranger DID have more comfortable front seats (my opinion), but now that you mention it, I didn't like the sideways sitting rear seats (I've sat in them too, and it's very cramped). Again my opinion.
And I didn't buy a COMPACT TRUCK for its third door. If I wanted a third door, I would've bought a car or a bigger truck!!!! And I don't need those. I needed a light hauler with good power and my Tacoma does it for me just fine, MAYBE better than your Ranger and the S-10. I don't know because I didn't haul stuff with them.
But in my opinion, the Tacoma is TOPS!!!! If you don't like that, too bad.
Have a nice day
So I've taken my look and decided. And I like the Tacoma in many ways MORE than the Ranger and S-10. And if you don't agree, fine. Have a nice day.
I used to have a '95 Ranger that had the "bump steer" that you're describing.
They made some big revisions to the rear suspension in '98 to rid the truck of this problem. I bought a '98 a few years ago and haven't experienced bump steer in it or any other late model Rangers that I've driven out on the highway (at least 5 of different cab and bed configs).
miles has no rattles at all, and an S-10 with 8k
miles is rattling in several places, what does that
tell me about quality? That tells me that it's not
as good as a Tacoma on the interior. And that's my
impression and opinion too"
The numbers back up your info. JD Powersl ong term quaity tests, NHSTA sites, ect ect.
Don't worry about Vince, he's just a drunk redneck.
really an issue, keep in mind the vastly superior
braking system on the Tacoma. Thanks to a link
provided by Ranger owner cpousnr a few weeks ago,
we know that the Tacoma's superior brakes will take you from 55 to 0 in 110 feet while the deadly
Ranger brakes require an additional 30 feet at 140
feet from 555 to 0. Good brakes have kept me out of accidents and saved my hind end many times in the past.
So the only way to truly compare trucks is to drive new ones with the options that you as the potential buyer want. I worked at a Ford dealer and I can tell you horror stories of rentals with less than 10,000 miles that have been put through hell and, in some cases, more than their fair share of wrecks and repainting.
nothing comes close... because the Dakota is a mid-size truck.
Brian
Dakota is expensive. The reason I bought my Dakota is that it was a great truck at a lot less than most others. It is less expensive than the Supercrew, the Sporttrac and way less than any Toyota. Add the sweetness of the 4.7 V8 with real backseat room and it is a great bargain.