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Toyota Tacoma vs. Ford Ranger, Part XII - READ ONLY
1840 messages, Last post on Oct 02, 2002 at 4:10 PM
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What is this discussion about? Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger
#1684 of 1840 Test drove a 2002 Ford Ranger by plutonious
Sep 23, 2002 (5:57 pm)
4x4 X-Cab with the 4.0 V6 and auto-tranny today. Here are my impressions:1. Good power, but didn't feel any more powerful than my 3.4 Tacoma. 'Course, that's a difficult comparison because my truck is a manual transmission.
2. Ranger willingly revved up to 5500 RPMs for upshifting when pushed. In comparison, seems like I'm really pushing my Tacoma's engine when I go past 4000 RPMs.
3. Ranger's interior was comfortable but the seats really need a headrest. I wouldn't want to get rear-ended and have my head wrap around the back of those short seats in the Ranger.
4. Despite people's claims the Ranger has a better, more civilized ride on real-world roads, I couldn't feel it and I drove over the same roads I drive on with my Tacoma.
5. Ranger stickered for about $23,800 and was not loaded. No PW, PL, off-road package, bedliner, fancy alloy wheels, 31" tires, etc. I bought my Tacoma TRD with these features (and more) for $22,500 drive-out. Still wondering if the Ranger's price advantage is "real."
6. For as much talk I've heard about the Tacoma's thin doors, the Ranger's seemed very lightweight and the sound/feel of the door handle was cheap. Seemed like you had to turn the crank more than necessary to lower the windows.
7. Styling - I don't care for it. I don't like the tall, plastic bed caps or the hood bulges. It looks gimmicky and juvenile.
8. My biggest complaint - the brakes. Absolutely horrible. Though the brakes began to grab immediatly after pressing pedal, the truck kept coasting, no doubt the ABS being the culprit. Hard braking in my truck is a violent, head-jerking experience, even without lock-up and proper braking techniques. I hate ABS and am glad I didn't pay extra for that "standard" feature.
9. Seemed like the Ranger's steering wasn't as quick, meaning it took more steering wheel turns to get the effect I'm used to.
Overall, I'm still convinced the Tacoma is the better truck. I don't think the newly updated 2002 Ranger has an edge over my 1998 Tacoma.
#1685 of 1840 pluto. by bess
Sep 23, 2002 (6:36 pm)
On the ABS. I doubt that you were even tripping the ABS circuit when doing just normal braking..On the few times on my Ranger and SuperDuty when I was braking very hard or hitting major bumps braking at high speed, I could feel the ABS kick in. When it does, you can feel it pulsate through the pedal..
On pricing: Most Rangers can be drivin off the lot at prices that are more than $2000 less than MSRP. What trim line did you test drive? Most Rangers are at least at the XLT level which you get power everything. However to get the larger tires, you have to go to the FX packages, which MSRP around 24.5k, but sell at around 22.5K
According to the safety ratings, the Ranger did better than the Tacoma for the drivers side head injury ratings..
#1686 of 1840 by allknowing
Sep 23, 2002 (7:11 pm)
Nothing new with the ladies jeep vs. the Tacoma discussion today I guess.#1687 of 1840 S/C Tacoma performance by 2k1trd
Sep 23, 2002 (7:14 pm)
Well i finally raced my 01 Tacoma TRD 5spd at the track the other night and pulled a 14.5
94 mph with it just the way i drive it on the street without any tricks or icing the blower down before runs.So basically the blower gives you about 2 seconds quicker in the 1/4 mile. 
#1688 of 1840 pluto....dont believe you by tbunder1
Sep 23, 2002 (9:54 pm)
there is no way any ranger priced at "$23500" doesn't have everything. it just isn't possible. if you don't believe me, just go to their site and build one. every XLT gets 16" aluminum rims on 245/75's, which are in essence a 31" tall tire. ill believe there wasn't a bedliner, as these don't come stock in any truck 'cept for the new '03 S10's (update your info there bud). go measure the top of your tacoma's seats and the top of ranger's- the ranger's are higher even though no head restraint. plus, you don't know what you're talking about. the '02 isn't "all new and redesigned". the '03 is still the same as the '01, which was the year it got a little redesigned. the bulged hood is to make way for the intake on the new 4.0 SOHC that went in in '01. the plastic bedcaps come off with allen bolts in five minutes, but are very handy when hauling anything, help prevent bedrail scratches and dents. all in all, i think you must have liked it to tell lies like it didn't even have power windows and locks which is impossible. every ranger built except for the XL's have power windows. remember? you toyota guys harped on it for months- ford making everything standard. you gotta go back to like '93 to get a stripped down XLT. i had one with nothing but cruise and tilt. if you hate ford's so much, why waste your time? what's this, the second time in a year you've looked at ranger? me think you're finally seeing the light. i mean, what is your truck five years old now? the new FX4's are quite nice eh? heck, even the newer TRD's are sweet compared to your old design. welt, i gotta go find my lipstick. i know i dropped it when i was pulling that wimpy underpowered tacoma up the hill. 190 horses just won't get you the same places that 210 horses will. LMAO. allknowing- and you call my ride a girl's ride. and who's got more power and torque? ROFLMFAO hehe, haha#1689 of 1840 pluto, tbunder by sc0rpi0
Sep 24, 2002 (7:01 am)
pluto: get a digicam and take a picture of the sticker.tbunder: plastic bedcaps help protect bedrail against scratches and dents? Wait.......if we were to believe you, bed only got scratched and dented on a Tacoma, not on Ranger.
You can roll on the floor laughing all you want.....but wait, you don't even have a truck anymore. Got enough grocery bag hooks and lipstick holders?
#1690 of 1840 Relax scoprio by midnight_stang
Sep 24, 2002 (7:06 am)
It's not a popularity contest, or who can get the most ribs in. No truck is invulnerable, but we know which one has more stories about sheet metal problems.#1691 of 1840 pluto by eagle63
Sep 24, 2002 (7:36 am)
I'm a little skeptical too. I don't see how any compact truck could sticker for almost $24000 and not have power locks, windows, etc. In fact, I don't even know where you'd find a vehicle without those features, short of specially ordering it.I agree with you about the plastic bed rail things and the hood. My biggest beef with the Ranger is the chubby looking front end - it's definitely out of proportion with the rest of the vehicle.
#1692 of 1840 eagle & bundy: Give pluto a break! by rickc5
Sep 24, 2002 (8:38 am)
He may have been looking at a Canadian Ranger.#1693 of 1840 Test Drive impressions of 2002 Tacoma TRD by dmould
Sep 24, 2002 (9:23 am)
I drive a 2001 Ranger SuperCab XLT 4x4 Off-Road with the 4.0L SOHC and 5-speed manual. I test drove the Toyota as I have always been interested in them, and wanted to see if it was any better than my Ranger. Here are my impressions:1. The truck I tested was an automatic - no manuals on the lot. The 3.4 engine was definitely less powerful than my 4.0L. It was a little noisier as well.
2. The Tacoma's ride was very similar to the Ranger - no better, no worse. Pretty stiff around town.
3. The Tacoma's steering ratio was significantly slower and less accurate than the Ranger's, not as nice to drive on pavement. Had to crank it more in the parking lot.
4. The Tacoma's so called 'sport seats' were pretty soft, but still comfortable. You sit closer to the floor in the Tacoma.
5. The Tacoma's stereo sounded decent due to high-mounted tweeters in the doors. I changed all the speakers in my truck to co-axial Pioneer's and it sounds great now. Would rather have the in dash CD6 in my Ranger than the single CD/cassette in the Tacoma.
6. My Ranger has 4 doors, I could not live without them now, so convenient.
7. The brakes felt very similar to the Ranger. Both trucks stop with very little pressure on the pedal.
8. I would like the chance to try a manual transmission Tacoma. The one thing I don't like is the tranny in my Ranger. It is notchy, and the shifts must be pretty slow to engage the next gear easily. Not like a Honda!
9. The doors on the Toyota were thin. The interior is narrow - my left leg came into contact with the forward part of the armrest on the door. There is a little more space in the Ranger.
10. The Tacoma TRD still stickers $5000 CDN more than a loaded Ranger FX4. Based on my test drive, the truck is not any better. The new FX4 Ranger offers the same Bilstein shocks, and a locking differential, as well as great tires. I will wait for the next generation Tacoma in 2004, with the 245hp/283 lb-ft all-aluminum 4.0L V6. If I was to get another small truck now, it would be a V8 Dakota.
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