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Comments
My suggestion was to to to Edmunds, look up both vehicles and see that there are very few options currently on the Ranger XLT vs the Tacoma.
I have a call in with the dealer as to the availability of the 4.0L SOHC 5-speed because I want the XLT SC 4x2. Will post my answer - I will order one if I have to!
2001 Ranger XLT SC 4x2, with Premium Group (sport buckets, 6CD in-dash, PW, PL, PM, remote entry, Cruise, tilt, leather wheel), and of course the 4.0 5-speed. Ya-hoo!
One thing, an option you NEED.
Calvan picture, making water, on a Tacoma TRD emblem...for the rear window with a "Ford Power" sticker above. . .
A fully dressed out Ranger XLT should be under $24K USD, I would think.
Anyway, while my Ranger was being worked on I took a stroll around the lot. They mut have had over 25 2001 Rangers on the lot from 4x2's to 4x4's. No way should a loaded Ranger go for 24K! Absolutly not! The highest MSRP I saw was about 23K tops.
Just a quick note to sparkplug.. Get the Ranger you won't be disappointed. Get the new SOHC 4.0 with a 3.73 limited slip rearend. This will do you just fine. If you can, get rid of those damn Firejunkers Ford puts on the Rangers. America's Tire/Disount Tire will take the tires in on a trade thus giving you a great deal on some new 31" or P265 all terrain tires of a much better brand. If you plan on doing any outdoors activity with the Firestones, beware, I believe they are a 4ply.
Your 98 was 19.5K, as I recall, my 99 was 17.4K(but mine lacked a lot of the options, was nice as it was). Pay about $600 to replace a window motor and $300 parts for a power mirror and you think twice about all those un-needed options.
Just added my "Squirrel, it's whats for supper" bumper sticker. . .
"A 2.7-liter four-cylinder powerplant is standard, but it has 40 less horsepower and renders the PreRunner gutless and boring."
Unfortunately, the PreRunner is available only with a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. That's really too bad, because a manual tranny mated to the V6 would be truly rippin'. Hopefully, Toyota will realize its mistake and offer a five-speed shifter."
"Be forewarned — if you've got a heavy foot, enabling ECT Power is like choosing between reasonable and unreasonable fuel consumption."
"On the highway, the PreRunner is a little noisy. Wind noise and drag could be reduced with a tonneau cover for the bed (that will save gas too),..."
"The front cloth bucket seats, while comfortable, are basic in terms of appearance and design. It would help if there were more adjustments than just forward/back and recline."
"The rear jump seats are to sitting what Wayne Newton is to music - once you get over the novelty, it's just darn painful"
"
enabling ECT Power is like choosing between
reasonable and unreasonable fuel consumption."
To use a popular adolescent term from my childhood, "No Duh!!"
but it has 40 less horsepower and renders the
PreRunner gutless and boring."
Leaving it with only 10 hp less then the most powerful Ranger option prior to 2001.
Some of us realize the figures on our paychecks is
OUR money,
not the governments. . .
Oh, your only 10hp down, but you do win on the price paid statistic. . .
And to think that this country was founded due to something like a 3% tariff on tea of all things.
And, I've never heard of anyone referring to the OHV 4L as gutless or boring.
Vince8; You mentioned the 3.73 rear end. I see that the option list on the Ranger XLT 4X4 Off-road Group states 4.10 axle ratio. Also, I asked the dealer if I could request a different brand of tire and he said "not at this point in time". Sounds like you may be able to in the near future but that is only a guess.
I think that this site is a great forum in which to discuss this stuff and that is really what it is here for no?
You work for small change, the govt keeps the rest . . ."
Sparkplug:
In jest only.
I love visiting Canada, enjoyed 2 trips to the National Parks west of Calgary, down from Lake Louise to Idaho. . .but!
Canada can keep that form of taxation and socialized meds.
Plus, WE got Patrick Roy, by FAR the finest golie in history, to relocate here with a bunch of guys, to go after some silver cup. . .
Would LOVE to take the Ranger to some of the trails in Alberta and British Columbia. . .
Another plus for Canada, you guys got some great beer. . .
Maybe some day. . .
tire.
Good truck hunting, and let us know what you get either way, whether its a Ranger or Tacoma..
Get a Toyota and you probably won't ever have to replace those items. The only vehicles I've ever owned which had window motor problems were American cars, particularly GM with their lousy designs. The Fords I owned just became intermittent after a while but still worked. You get what you pay for. Pay now or pay later etc.
Power Window motor replaced, $785.
Cat convertor(Toy unique) $823, can get one for after market for Rangers for about $125
Heater blower motor (parts) $200
Head Gasket replacment $785
Rack and pinion replaced $675(was $300 on the Rabbit).
Parts are more expensive than the ones for my 82 VW Rabbit.
I paid $19,500 (in Alaska )for a 2000 Tacoma Xcab SR5 4x4 with 2.7L , 5-speed, 31" tires on 15" aluminum wheels, 4.30 gears,heavy duty shocks, skid plates on everything, 2 speed manual transfer case. It also has A/C , cruise control, CD player+cassette, chrome package, 60/40 split bench, tachometer,sliding rear window, various other options. No power windows or locks, but I didn't want those.
The truck kicks [non-permissible content removed] off road as-is, doesn't need any more power for that, especially the way it is geared. The only time I might like a few more horses is passing on the highway at 70mph, but it is still adequate.
I have always said that the Toyotas make good fast engines. The vehicles are generally high quality also.
But...
there are other alternatives, such as a Ranger, S10 etc.
They are, in general, much more expensive to repair when they do break.
I forgot to mention the pwr steering pump on the Celica. $550 parts and labor for OEM parts installed. Could do it for about $250 on a Ranger, I know I helped a guy do it on an 88 and the pumps are of simular design on my 99.
http://home.gci.net/~frankzone/Tacoriver3.jpg
Actually, it was from 2 cars, just to suggest when you DO fix things, and you will even on a Toyota, that the cost of parts in particular is
EXPENSIVE
compared to even a VW Rabbit which I do not consider a cheap car to maintain.
Toys are great cars till you have to fix them. But in fairness both Celica's are in the +185,000 mile range.
Got my money's worth out of them. Things just wear out after time. Also I was refering to new Toyota parts prices, not aftermarket or rebuilt.
How long would it take me to trailer my sleds up there???
I'd say you could do it in 5 days from where you are
Unique rear axle with an 8.5" ring gear,larger bearings,revised multileaf springs and added rear axle track bar,28mm front stabilizer bar,31 x 10.5" BFG's,locking differential,Sheild package,4 wheel antiloc disc brakes.
Picked up truck with 10 miles drove around for an hour.It was weird going from a 4 door full size to a compact,but I do like it.I was going to wait for the Ranger but the 0% financing was just to good to pass up plus my dealer extends factory warranty to 5 year bumper to bumper with them doing all routine maintenance.Truck is loaded even came with an alarm got them down to $21000. could of opted for $2000 rebate also but took 0% financing instead.Will keep everyone posted on how truck runs already looking into flowmaster 40 series along with K&N fipk.It is my first Chevy, It may not be a Ford but it is American.
Of the vehicles I've personally owned, only 1 has had major problems. It was a '90 Olds Cutlass Supreme Int'l with the H.O. Quad-4. It blew the head gasket and cracked the head.
I feel sorry for your friends who have had problems with their cars. Then again, I have no idea how they are treated and/or maintained. I have faith that any car (with a few exceptions here and there) can last 150K trouble-free miles with proper maintenance. But, I usually get sick of a vehicle before that point and the signs of general wear and tear.
To each his own. I wouldn't hesitate to buy any of the compact trucks out on the market now, except the Hombre (that is a really lame name, just couldn't live with it). I don't fall into either of the "Buy American" or "If it's from Japan, it's superior" crowds. I buy the best value with my hard earned dollars.
I guess what I'm saying is that I don't see a connection with the reliability of a Ranger and that of a Mustang or Villager. What not just talk about the Ranger?
I'm not defending Ford. It seems like they've got their heads up their collective a$$es more often than not.
Oh, well...that name kind of says it all. . ."
I wouldnt call it a cheap shot, just trying to add some commentary. I find it a wee bit hypocrytical to post reviews like this after consistantly putting calling out others for the same thing.
Man, the Tacoma is a fine, fine vehicle.
Cspousner doesn't like to admit it, but he knows they are just the best built trucks around, especially for outback duty. Nice pics.
Spoog, can't take it because Rangers can offroad and for a whole lot less $$. And now Ford has answered Toyota with their own offroad version, along with a SOHC V6 that stomps the Tacoma!
See you in the Cascades! can't wait for snow...
I just can't say that I have the same observations as you. Maybe this is due to most of my friends and family owning later model (mid-90's and newer) vehicles and maintaining them properly (some, like my father-in-law, over maintains his trucks). Vehicles tend to put on miles faster here in the sprawling expanse of Chicago, and they wear quicker due to the drastic climate changes and salt-caked roads (my truck gets about 12K per year, and my car gets about 22K per year), so people tend to trade them sooner. The booming economy doesn't hurt either.
I do agree that the domestics back in the 80s had very poor quality. Ford seems to have worked out many of its problems. But, it seems that they're looking more at volume lately and getting the latest and greatest on the showroom floor as soon as possible (Escape, Focus) when there are still some pre-production bugs to work out. GM seems to be improving lately. Chrysler seems all over the board, it's a roll of the dice with them.
Oh well, in any case competition makes the end product, whatever it may be, even better for us.
Lately, I've been thinking of getting a V8 powered truck a couple of years down the line. It shant be too long before the fossil fuel age is over, and the mighty roar of a V8 is replaced by the whine of electric motors. Pity.
http://www.rrorc.com/Anniversary2000.html
As for everything switching to electric, I thought the same thing in the late 70's when they were going to phase out V8's before fuel injection became common. It didn't happen then and I doubt that it will now.
Today's engines can easily be modified to run on hydrogen, and the necessary fuel cell technology has been developed. The only real barriers are high efficiency storage technology, a distribution system, and a high volume production system. I'm sure they'll probably come on line when gas hits $5/gal in the next 10yrs.
If I were going to pick a V8 truck right now, it would be a toss-up between the Tundra, Dakota, and Lightning. Decisions, decisions.
you do not need a .300 WIN standing by for the
bears, but this is a bunch of Rangers in Ohio that
in my opinion match ANYTHING shown in the Tacoma
pics. Except for one thing, that is not a rocky
bottom that that one Ranger, grille deep, PUSHING
water, is in. It is a muddy bottom.
http://www.rrorc.com/Anniversary2000.html\\
Your link doesn't work. WHEN will you learn? you have not provided ANY pic that even COMES CLOSE to the ones Tacoma Frank and I have posted. Everyone here has already tld you that.
My uncle had a Ford f150 since 90. It was the full size v8, primarily a work truck, 4x4.
What did he buy last week? A Toytoa Tundra. now, in mot the biggest Tundra fan, so I asked him why he bought it. His answer was this:
" The truck just felt very, very well put together. Everything from brake response to steering to highway noise. All the seals were tight, and the trim all matched up".
This is a guy who had MONTHLY repairs on his f150 to keep it going to 170k miles. He had to replace the suspension many times. The vehicle was basically DEAD at 100,000 miles, but he kept it alive thanks to a plethora of mechanics and cheap parts stores.
One thing he really likes about the Tundra is the 30 point lube system underneath, to maintain the drivetrain and other parts.