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If I added up the cost of all repairs and purchase costs, I think I would be about the same amount of the comparable import. But I know I've used and abused my ride for all it's worth, and it's still climbing on the second hundred thousand miles. I know you don't like Ford in General, and that's fine. You probably have had bad experiences with a Ford vehicle in the past, so all Fords must be junk, or something to that effect. I guess since I've had nothing but dependability and reliability from my "cheaper" compact truck, I may be biased. Ranger is my choice for safety, quality and quantity(of options). You just get more for less money in a Ford.
"Stang, your comments on the locker's upsetting a truck's highway manners are COMPLETELY erroneous, at least when we talk about the Tacoma"
I would find that statement invalid on any truck, even the precious Tacoma. I said nothing about a Locker affecting highway manners, just if ON-ROAD performance is important, that you should test drive a Ranger. That because it's suspension is set up for everyday use, not just the off-road. Check reviews other than off-road magazines for more. Also, the Limited Slip differential isn't on the Tacoma, to my knowledge. Your differential is open, until the locker engages and acts like a spool.
I just completed a deck mod. on my Toy and I would recommend to both Toy and Ranger owners. Engine can breathe so much more efficiently! Helps with gas mileage, but when you have to use premium like I do, maybe I am the only one who needs it. The price you pay to be supercharged:)
Also, the TRD Toys come with BFgoodrich tires NOT Goodyears. Again, this is on a 2001!
There are different packages for the Tacoma that are more suited for everyday road travel whose suspensions "are not just for the offroad." Maybe you should compare these to the Ranger. If good road manners are your thing, stay away from both the Tacoma TRD AND the Ranger 4x4 off-road package (and compact P/Us in general!). My point is that with these two trucks, which WERE DESIGNED for offroad, the Tacoma has consistently been the better of the two. No way, no how will a non-locker equipped vehicle EVER be as capable as a comparable vehicle with a locker. This fact alone means the Ranger takes a back seat to the Tacoma on the trails.
In my experience, and many people's experiences, Ford quality has always been a hit and miss kind of thing. There seem to be just as many people who hate their Ranger and Explorer as those who can't say enough good things about them. When speaking of Ford vs. Toyota, look at resale values, number of recalls, longevity and customer satisfaction surveys. There's still a huge gap. One only needs to read the business section of the newspaper to know Ford is being plagued with recalls and lawsuits (which are being settled for undisclosed sums) on their roll-over prone Explorers. And when was the last time thousands of Toyotas left the factory with slashed tires? Older safety issues include older Mustangs having gas tanks that would enter the car's passenger compartment and explode when the vehicle was rear-ended. Although the Ranger is the best selling compact P/U in America, due to the economy, it is now experiencing a decline in sales while the Tacoma's sales have INCREASED. Harder economic situations have always influenced the consumer to be more rational in their purchases.
Simple arithmetic tells me that although Toyota parts are generally more expensive than Ford parts, fewer repairs over the long haul mean lower cost of ownership. As I have stated, all the Toyotas I have ever owned EASILY went over 200K miles with no major repairs and all were sold for good prices within one week of being advertised. My experience with Ford, and many of my friends', has been much different. They were money pits after 70K miles and did not sell nearly as easily as the Toyotas. I guess I wasn't one of the "lucky" people who got a good Ford.
By the way, I don't look at vehicles as an investment. You invest in assets, whose value goes up with time (like real-estate). Vehicles are not an asset, they're a liability (value goes down with time). It's a proven fact that real-estate and on-going investments in stocks/mutual-funds/Roth IRAs ETC. over the long haul give the best return for the dollar. You could be doing so much more with that money you spend every month on never-ending car payments for vehicles you will never own.
ps. the new chevy "colorado", or new S10 next year will have a 270 horse inline 6 which, LOL, will anhilate your newly breathed upon tacoma. ford will follow with a new V8 option in the newly redesigned ranger for the same year (2003). both of which will NOT depend on premium fuel, like you must use, and both of which will be enlarged, furthering their advantages over your old-fashioned tinyota. im ROFLMFAO.
Either Vince has changed his user name or has a new Side-Kick.
LocoTaco
TX-TTORA
1. You didn't know what size tires you even have!
2. You thought your limited slip differential was
a full-time locker!
3. You didn't know you have part-time 4WD just
like everybody else (I guess the salesman
confused you with all that fancy "vacuum hub
locking system talk)! Points 1, 2 and 3 had
to be clarified to you in post 2444.
4. I still want you to explain how fender flares
and swaybars help you from bottoming out your
truck's suspension!
5. You didn't know ALL Toyota trucks are made in
the USA!
6. You don't even know when to use a rear-locker!
Believe me, if you're tackling the trail at
over 15 mph, no locker is even needed. Ever
heard of rock climbing? Of course not!
7. Ugh, if you're using speed and momentum to get
through spots on the trails, not only is a
locker not needed, but in most cases 4WD isn't
either. A good driver could take his truck to
places only using 2WD that an imbecile like you
would need 4WD for.
Despite your incoherent mumbo-jumbo slamming the Tacoma, you still haven't acknowledged the fact that in every professional comparison review of the Tacoma vs. Ranger done in every 4x4 magazine, the Tacoma has EASILY beat the Ranger. Sorry Tblunder, the professionals are more credible than your blundering fool self.
I bet the sales staff at your Ford dealership were overjoyed the day your naive self waltzed in. Poor thing, to have spent all that money thinking you had rear lockers and full-time 4WD! It's a good thing you didn't upgrade your P265 tires for 31" tires, ROTFLMAO!!! Or did you?????... You know what they say, though: "A fool and his money are soon parted." Too bad this ongoing learning experience has had to be such an expensive one for you...
Looking at the prices of two comparable p-ups I see a difference in price of $700, not $3000-$5000! Just like when I went to buy a pick-up in the first place, Toyota was the cheapest, then Ford, then Nissan. Evidently I just got a rotten Ford dealership! Sure am glad that I did.
Price of a 2001 Tacoma w/these options off edmunds
4-Wheel Antilock Braking System $507 $590 $520
Metallic Paint $0 $0 $0
Power Package with Mirrors $528 $660 $548
SR5 Package with Chrome $1,062 $1,180 $1,080
Sliding Rear Window $228 $285 $237
TRD Off-Road Package $1,097 $1,360 $1,137
Total Options $3,422 $4,075 $3,522
Invoice MSRP TMV
Base Vehicle Prices $18,429 $20,365 $18,722
Optional Equipment $3,422 $4,075 $3,522
Destination Charge $480 $480 $480
Total $22,331 $24,920 $22,724
Price of 2001 Ford Ranger w/options
Air Conditioning XLT/Edge $0 $0 $0
Limited Slip Rear Differential $251 $295 $255
Non-California Emissions $0 $0 $0
Power Equipment Group $344 $405 $349
Total Options $595 $700 $604
Invoice MSRP TMV
Base Vehicle Prices $20,701 $22,765 $20,872
Optional Equipment $595 $700 $604
Destination Charge $585 $585 $585
Total $21,881 $24,050 $22,061
-actually, I think you meant to insult me, not plutonious. (I was the one who pointed out your misunderstanding of tire sizes.) In any case, both a 265/70/16 tire and a 31x10.5/16 tire are the same thing. they're both considered 31" tires. If you do the math, a 265/70/16 tire actually comes out to something like 30.7" tall. But the 31/10.5/15 BF Goodrich AT KO's I have on my Explorer are only 30.6" tall. But they're still considered a 31" tire. Basically you just round to the nearest whole number.
"personally, the best specifically built truck for off-road is the ZR2 S10. it leaves your TRD in the dust when it comes to specific components."
-really? what specific components does the ZR2 have that the TRD doesn't? you mean like the suspension that hangs down below the axle?? yeah, that's real rugged.
I bet to this day the sales staff at his Ford dealership laugh about their ever-so-lucky encounter with this guy. Stuff this good only happens once in a blue moon. They probably have a framed picture of him in their break-room with some silly caption like "first customer in automotive history to buy a rear-locker and full-time 4WD equipped Ranger!"
Tblunder is the stuff of folklore and legend among Ford dealerships.
Knoxville, TN
i never said my ranger was full-time 4x4. i said it disconnects from the hub when not in 2hi. if you knew anything about fords pulse vacuum system, you'd know what that means. duh. i did misspeak when i said it had a locker. ford wouldn't be so dumb. it has a lsd, which works all the time. not an open diff that works none of the time, and a locker that only works after you've stopped. how convenient, another thing you never commented on. your stupidity shines through again and again. never answered my invitation either, you either f00ckin bring it or shut the 00ll up you rice burning knowledge for not moron. how many stars does your pepsi can have in side impacts and frontal collisions? yeah, i thought you wouldn't comment on that one either. how much is abs on a tacoma 4x4? uh huh. rejects, all of yas. im out for good. hope you like driving your pepsi can that cost you an arm and a leg. another thing not mentioned. panzies.
Something like Hancock Pass in Colorado?
http://members.aol.com/navchief1/hancock3.jpg
Or Tomichi Pass?psst, it is off in the distance in the picture from the crest of Hancock. . .
http://members.aol.com/navchief1/hancock4.jpg
Or the ability to get to places where you get views like this:
http://members.aol.com/navchief1/hancock5.jpg
Done in a Ranger, 11,000 ft elevation, no Toyota's in sight.
And your Tacoma would have gone true off-roading where? Still waiting for pics from you and spoog. . .
Before you attempt to ding the ability of my vehicle, you had best show me you can at least equal my ability. You have not done that.
I have been there and done it in my Ranger, cant say the same for you I suspect. . .
Just a reminder that the News & Views chat is on tonight (5-6pm Pacific/8-9 pm Eastern). Hope to see you there!
Tonight's topic is Styling: Does function trump style?
http://www.edmunds.com/townhall/chat/newsviews.html
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Host
Pickups & News & Views Message Boards
$135 - 4 wheel hi selector switch (which the Ranger has)
$300 - 4 wheel ABS (which the ranger has)
$250 - cruise control (which the ranger has)
This will bring the MSRP price difference to around $1400 between equally optioned trucks.
Also the Ranger has included 4 doors, which the Tacoma doesn't even offer? Sure, one can say the Ranger doesn't offer a true locker diff.. so I guess we can call it even? Although I bet more folks get more use from the extra doors than from the locker..
Then comes to actual selling price.. From my experience and that of friends and family, it is very easy to get a Ranger at just above invoice pricing. With the recent popularity in Fords X-plan pricing, there are a significant number of folks getting Ford vehicles for hundreds less than invoice.. The Tacoma on the other hand can be bought for less than MSRP, but is not discounted much as the Ranger.. So the real difference that most folks are paying for Rangers vs. Tacomas is in the $2000 to $4000 range.
Both trucks are equally likely of providing 200k and more of problem free miles as can be seen from both Ranger and Tacoma owners.. Both trucks have good initial quality and good durability..
Nobody here is really dinging the Ranger; rather, we're thwarting Tblunder's nonsense.
Oh well, not worth my time or effort.
I am not a truck owner (yet) but have been following this board for some time hoping to get a feeling on how people felt about their trucks. For the most part, most poster on this board have offered intelligent or at least cordial discussion about the subject. It appears that you can do neither.
why do you think that Ford is giving $2000 rebates anyway. Do you think they woke up one day and said "gee, we're overcharging the consumer, Let's be nice and give them some money back." If you knew anything about the law of supply and demand you would know that when people are not buying your product, you have to lower the price to make it more attractive. There is a $2000 rebate on the Ranger because the trucks are not moving off of the lot. Getting a rebate on a vehicle is nothing to be proud of. It just means that you are willing to settle on buying a vehicle most other people don't currently want. I could afford a Ranger right now but I would rather wait until I can get a Tacoma. It's a personal choice that each buyer has to make for themselves.
Your posts are so clearly biased to one sided it is evident that you have nothing to contribute to the topic. Do us all a favor and quit posting.
If you can get an equalivalent truck for less money, which would you choose?
Last time I checked, the Rangers were still outselling the Tacoma by a pretty large margin.
the law of supply and demand also states that there may be dry spells in the economy and therefore sales slow down. this does not mean that people don't want rangers, or any other truck for that matter. it just means the economy or niche in that particular market is slowing. you should know that by marking stuff down, you tend to bring in more revenue than by leaving it marked up. why is toyota offering 0% financing right now? is it that they can't move their stock? maybe, maybe not. its just so people will buy and move the economy or marketplace forward.
to dakar22, i suggest you looking at the 2002 ranger FX4 off-road package. it is probably the first exclusively built off-road package in which professional off-roaders were asked to design. it has alcoa forged aluminum wheels (very cool) with a gvwr of more than twice the weight of the ranger to help unsprung weight and to lessen a chance of bending a wheel on a rock or something, 31x10.50/15 BFG AT KO's, bilstein shocks, and steel skids front to rear. not to mention stainless steel towhooks, and a real manual transfer case, not a lever controlled by a computer, like you all have. it also has a Torsen limited slip, which according to what Ford says is what most serious off-roaders use aftermarket wise. just something to take a look at. it will be exclusive and probably rare.
also, last time i checked, this topic was Ranger vs. Tacoma. not all Tacoma. so whats with this not contributing to the topic stuff? if it weren't for me, there would be no "vs." in this topic. im also glad to see that you're so interested in what i have to say. cool.
yes, i am considering a frontier crew cab XE 4x4. one can be had for under $23000 retail price. AND it has a five star side and frontal crash rating. try equipping a similar tacoma crew cab 4x4. you're talking upwards of $27000. and yes i know they're japanese too, but they aren't overpriced and they do not leak. matter of fact, they are jd powers best compact. would i buy another ranger if ford offered a crew cab? heck yeah. and they will in '03, i may buy another one then. but for now, im enjoying my loaded ranger. for the price i paid for mine, which was like $50 over invoice, you may be able to buy a 4cyl. reg cab 4x4 tacoma. but that darn $80 clock, then you're over 20grand.
What did you expect, Einstein? You pop in here with your non-stop mumbo-jumbo, LOUDLY proclaiming to be some expert on 4x4s and slamming the Tacoma non-stop, yet you didn't know the difference between an LSD and a locker, or that P265 tires are 31" tires, LOL!!! This is BASIC stuff even my very non-mechanically inclined girlfriend knows!
You make fun of me because I paid a little more for my Tacoma, BUT AT LEAST I KNEW WHAT I WAS GETTING!!! Tblunder, in another 7 years or so, I will probably want another truck and will buy another Toyota. Will you save me from myself?
I myself, and the Ford sales staff, however, do wish you would stick around because you are absolutely hilarious. You make my day. It's rare encountering someone like youself that makes people laugh so hard. You truly have a gift.
Did not take it personal, just posting some recent off-roading pictures of class 5-7 trails Rangers have been on, mine with a PVH system. Still waiting on spoogs pics. . .
Pluto:
While a 265 tire is classed as a 31 inch diameter, the 31's and above have a bigger footprint, wider tread. I will take a 31X10.5X15 any day over the 265X16 just for the lower cost and wider footprint.
On flooded roads a taco will suck water with the best of them, results bent rods.
Read thru tbunders perhaps crass style and resolve that the FX4 appears to be a fine unit for the price and also understand that a taco and the 98-01 Ranger do use a computer to activate the 4x system to allow shift on the fly.
Spoog must be in the bathroom with the latest 4Wheeler issue. . .
All of the items you listed on the Ranger are there on the Tacoma, except for the Tacoma's locker diff vs. Fords limited slip.. (btw, even the tires are the same size)
Although Ford claims that Torsen limited slip is what real off-roaders use, that may be the case that if an off-road person was looking for a limited slip diff, they would choose Torsen. But there are alot of serious off-road fanatics that turn their noses up to anything that is not a full locking differential.
The other interesting statement:
"wheels with a gvwr of more than twice the weight of the ranger to help unsprung weight"
huh?
I guess your trying to say the rim's are rated higher than what the Ranger+payload are rated for. This is a statement of how strong the rims are.. . Probably what your trying to say is the rims are lighter yet stronger, as tires and rims are considered unsprung weight.. It looks like is you read something from a marketing brochure and didn't quite know what it really meant.
I never had any comment on Tblunder's remarks about my truck's shift on the fly, and I couldn't care less. As for flooding, I've never had any problems, but I also use common sense when I drive. It sounds again like Tblunder is speaking from experience when he talks about water leaking into a truck's cabin through the dashboard...
Unsprung weight? That's much more of an issue when we are talking about high-performance sports cars. Many people do not realize the biggest advantage of 4 wheel independent suspension is the huge reduction in unsprung weight. While it's still a factor with 4x4 trucks, the biggest factors are brute strength and articulation, hence live axles. If course, I realize the absence of a front live axle on the current 4x4 trucks with rack and pinion steering is a design compromise.
I considered the Ranger, S-10 crew cab and Tacoma. Why did I go with the Ranger over the Tacoma? Ford X-plan pricing and 0% interest rates for three years for one. Because I had a lot of equity in my trade in I financed about $11,000 over three years at 0% (FREE money here guys!) and ended up getting a check back from the dealer for about $4,000.
Also, as far as I know right now, this Ford SOHC engine uses a timing chain vs: a timing belt in the 3.4 Tacoma. Timing belts need to be replaced at regular intervals. Timing chains don't. Since gas mileage is about equal I'm guessing that my overall operating expenses will be lower with the Ranger.
The quality of the Ranger exceeds that of the S-10, in my opinion. Quality in the Toyota's is always excellent but the 0% financing and the ability to find exactly the truck I wanted on a dealers lot is what swayed me to the Ranger. Tacoma's aren't that plentiful here in the Detroit area. Rangers are, hence a much greater selection from which to choose.
Looking through the posts here and at other sites I found that generally people are quite happy with their Rangers. So Ranger it is.
pluto, ill get some info on the leaky tacoma cabin for you. stay tuned bud. oh, my range is air tight, even with the four door cab (which you tacoma doesn't even offer) it does not leak one little bit in any powerwash. toys on the other hand, someone else just commented on their problems. but stay tuned, ill get some more info for you. i know you wont believe it, since your toyota is sent from the heavens, and its still worth, what'd you say? $19000? yeah, whatever you say. why dont you do some research on tires. maybe you'll realize that a 265/70/16 is not a 31x10.5/15, and that toyota no longer uses 31's on its tirds, which you originally stated was the case. oh, and concerning the FX4 to the TRD- one major difference. rear axle. Ford's is an 8.8 inch, its what i have. the FX4 is even beefed up more. your toyota maybe 6 inches at the MOST. also, the gvwr ratings need to be compared. ill let you do that pluto. since i know you wont comment on how the tacoma doesn't even come close to the rangers gvwr. and the debate rolls on with no comments on key points from the tacoma crowd. info right around the corner about leaky cabins and toyotas.
/direct/view/.ee94ba6/467
Cpounsr, you said that a 31/10.5/15 tire has a wider footprint than a 265/70/15 tire. how? 265 millimeters comes out to 10.44 inches. that's a pretty small difference, and that's also assuming that a 31/10.5/15 tire is ACTUALLY 10.5" wide. I believe on my KO's the width is actually 10.3".
Tbunder - so far you really haven't had any arguments about why a 31/10.5/15 is not the same as the metric equivalent. You just keep saying we're idiots and we don't understand. well, I'm listening. explain it to me.
I'm glad you understand that lower unsprung weight is better, but do you know why? The lower unsprung weight allows the suspension to be more controled by the springs and shocks which helps most at medium and high speeds like baja etc. It applies the same to street bikes, MX bikes, cars and trucks.. It however has no advantages if your out rock crawling..
Have you seen a 265/70/16 next to a 31x10.5/15. They are basically the same outside diameter and width.. According to Edmunds, the 2002 Tacoma TRD package has these tires.
I have to admit I don't know the actual GVWR of the Ranger vs. the Tacoma as listed by the manufacturer, however the listed max payload for both is right around 1500 lbs and the listed weight for both trucks is right around 3500 lbs, so it would appear the GVWR is about the same for both trucks at 5000lbs.
Please give your opinions, facts, observations and stories without calling other folks idiots when they have facts that conflict with your beliefs.
I would be interested in hearing from a Tacoma owner of the size of the rear diff. It was my understanding that the same rear diff on the Tacoma is used on the Tundra. This would imply either the Tacoma rear diff is more than adaquate for a compact truck, or that the Tundra has a weak rear end..
and bess, whats with you repeating what i said already too? unsprung weight, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what it means. its one reason the new Honda Fourtrax's come with a very lightweight aluminum wheel- 250, 350, and 400 ex's. and i dont think i ever talked about you or to you before, have i? so how would i know you're a ranger owner? nonetheless, the rangers im talking about are the '98's to '02's. no disrespect towards yours however. and naaaahhh, the ranger outweighs the tacoma by 500lbs at least. i know that there is an optional payload package that you can get that pushes GVWR to 5650lbs. i knew the tacoma is nowhere close, i just want pluto to admit it. and that 8.4" rearend someone listed...i wont believe that until i see proof. every toy diff. i look at, looks like a little electric motor stuffed under there.
Maximum GVWR (lb.)5100 for Toyota
Found both on carpoint.msn.com
And yes the Rearend is 8.4" in the Taco
Man, 8.8" rearend compared to 8.4", I better just put my stomper away and go for that 8.8" rearend. Give me a break. Find something substantial to brag about!
Does Ford offer a supercharger that is covered 5/60,000 mile warranty??
I knew you would swallow my bait hook, line and sinker with all this talk about unsprung weight. You keep touting the Ranger's rims as being light and reducing unsprung weight. Yet you yourself keep saying the Ranger is unstoppable with bigger, better tires. HELLO!!! BIGGER TIRES MEANS MORE UNSPRUNG WEIGHT!!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY???
"unsprung weight, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what it means." Those are your exact words. OK EVERYBODY, LET'S STAND BACK AND LET TBLUNDER EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT UNSPRUNG WEIGHT IS AND HOW ITS REDUCTION IS BENEFICIAL!!!
This just keeps on getting funnier by the minute!
Interesting how your OPINION on the Tacoma is the direct opposite of all the major 4x4 magazines' reviews and my personal experiences with my 98 Tacoma TRD. (its all about money and ads my man)
Get your facts straight. The TRD package doesn't come with the tires you mentioned; rather, it is equipped with with 31.5" 10 (what the?)R15 Wrangler GSAs. It also has the Bilstein shocks, oversized fenderflares (lets not forget these), heavy duty suspension, thicker sway bar and most importantly (which you don't have, I believe), a rear locker (but open diff 99.5% of time). So no, it's not all looks, the important features on the TRD are the ones you don't even see. I like BF tires too, I just bought a set of their all terrain TA KO tires after 50K miles on my Wranglers.
Big deal you have 210 horses versus Tacoma's 190. The HP war is always raging (how long's it been for toyota?), and the Tacoma is slated for a more powerful V6 in the near future as well (then you may have the same power as my current ranger, right when the ranger receives a new 4.6 V8). I still wouldn't trade my engine for yours, though.(nah, wouldn't want more power and more reliable timing chain) Sophisticated 4wd system? The staple has always been a lever-actuated system(still computer controlled) you->(don't tell me you have the push-button!)(get educated, rangers haven't had a push-button since '94), and the Toyota's transfer case has been the best one on the market for some time. (says who, the magazines? do you read Vogue as well?)
As is stands now, the consensus among the magazines and the compact 4x4 p/u community is the Tacoma TRD is the one to beat, and it has been for several years running now. (again, there's the M word again. that's probably why Rangers outsell them like 4to1, or something like that. lets just say its an absurd amount. but people still like the tacomas better. yeah.)
BTW, my drive-out price on my truck was $22,500, hardly 4 grand over a similarly equipped Ranger. (dude, my '01 ranger has stuff on it you haven't even heard of, and it was right at around $19465.) And I would like to see your Ranger, or any non-locker equipped vehicle for that matter, do better on the trails in the woods better than one WITH a locker. this is a good one-(uh, LOL, dude-that wouldn't be hard to do, since the fastest you can go is 15mph with your locker engaged. in everyday trails, or even intermediate ones, my lsd will more than make up the slack for not having a locker. situations where a locker is absolutely necessary, present themselves almost never, unless you're stuck- and with an open diff. most of the time for your tacoma, you'll be the one standing the better chance of getting stuck. the only time a locker would be great is when you're going out to use it exclusively, and only it to climb like you said rocks.
My truck is almost 4 years old now. Funny that only now Ford is making something that might give it a run for its money! But I'm not holding my breath... (what's so special about today's rangers? only thing they've done is put the SOHC 4.0 in it, and changed the front-end a little. really the FX4 is just special wheels, tires, shocks. my ranger has basically same tires, same skidplates, and gearing.)
i think you just had a brainfart my main man. you stated, for those who can read pluto's constant contradictions, that the tires i listed as original equipment (265/75/16) weren't what came on TRD's, but rather the 31.5"x10.50/15. is this not correct? read for yourself you hypocrite. tell me, when did they start making 31.5"x10.50/15 sized tires? yeah, i know what you meant, but you were still wrong. i think you may have actually learned something, but are too good to admit it.
and if you would read what i said about rims, all i said is that the new Alcoa rims which come on the new FX4 Ranger are specially made. they're forged aluminum and very lightweight to help reduce unsprung weight, along with being able to support more than twice that of the Ranger's GVWR. which is according to the 2002 Ranger brochure, 6450. check it out at the dealer if you don't believe me. im sure the number you got off carpoint is for a standard Ranger 4x4 with base suspension and 15" wheels and tires. but like i said earlier, there is an optional GVWR. and the FX4 is even higher since it is beefed up. one more thing to mention, the Ranger in all its glory, has a 4.10 final drive. i believe, if im not mistaken, the tacoma is just 3.73. is this correct? usually lower gearing helps in, what do you call it? rock crawling? (no rocks in Iowa) hill descending, etc.
tell me tacoma guys, where's your argument for the water leaking, the safety issues, the still old fashioned two door cab? etc. funny, how you keep quiet on what you can't defend. your rants are very amusing in that you always seem to swerve several issues. tah tah.
No, I was just pointing out that there is a reason that a rebate is there. Whether is due the model not selling as well at the current time or the manufacturer overestimating demand and making too many units. The 4 cylinder tacoma's had a $500 rebate earlier this summer so they weren't selling as well as the 6 cylinder models.
I decided on a Tacoma because I wanted the Double cab with 4 doors along with the longer bed. It seems that most auto makers think that if you want the crew cab then you don't care about hauling anything and you get stuck with a 4 foot bed. Ranger currently doesn't offer a crew cab and the Nissan Frontiers looks don't appeal to me.
I'm sure there are many happy Ranger owners just as there happy Tacoma owners. Everyone has to make their own choice and much of what I had read in here has been insightful. However, people need to stop making the personal attacks on each other just because they feel their vehicle is the best. Don't we have enough crap going on in the world without people attacking each other in here?
turbo_Guy--->Good luck and good choice with the Ranger. Amidst all the mud throwing here, you'll find that generally the highest regarded compact p/u's are the Tacoma and the Ranger. This spring Ranger was the 4th best selling vehicle in the USA, and best selling compact truck for over 15 years. Ford makes some tough trucks, that's why the F-Series has just over passed the VW Bug in lifetime sales volume. The options are varied, the standard features outdo most, and amount of truck you get for the money can't be beat. Come back and let us know how it all goes!
Pluto--->Derogatory comments and insults towards others only really show proof of one's own character.
(me originally)"if highway and on-road manners is what you want (and will be driving over 95% of the time) you might want to test drive a Ranger [which happens to come ] with a LSD."
(edmunds) "Well-controlled overall, with good steering feedback, Rangers handle easily, corner capably, maneuver neatly, and stay reasonably stable on curves."
(pluto)"Stang, your comments on the locker's upsetting a truck's highway manners are COMPLETELY erroneous, at least when we talk about the Tacoma. The Tacoma's rear locker can be be engaged at will by the driver only when needed, then turned off. The rest of the time it's good old LSD, "
(me)"I said nothing about a Locker affecting highway manners, just if ON-ROAD performance is important, that you should test drive a Ranger."
(pluto)="My remarks were aimed at your statements about REAR LOCKERS upsetting a truck's road manners. That IS what you said, and it's true for trucks with full-time lockers."
I didn't mean to mislead you, just that Rangers are made for more common (read: ON-ROAD) conditions, and that Rangers can come with an LSD. LSD effectively gives you 2 wheel drive, while an disengaged locker gives you 1 wheel drive. We must just be under different methods of thinking, because I am not buying my next ranger for off-road purposes. There will be an occasional camping trip or what-not, but for the money and options Ranger can't be beat. (6 disc cd, A/C, tachometer, 4.0l v6, 4 door extended cab, ABS, 5 speed auto(even though I want a stick) and superior crash and accident ratings).
smgilles--->Maybe Ford doesn't want a S/C'ed Ranger to eat away sales of the Lightning? Just a thought.