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Ford Ranger vs Toyota Tacoma - READ ONLY

401 messages,  Last post on Jan 07, 2003 at 6:34 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, Jeep Liberty, Truck

Messages Page 23 of 40

#221 of 401 ownership & experience by srunner01

Oct 31, 2002 (2:47 pm)

I have to say this forum is great. Lots of info on various trucks. Although it should only be for pickups, especially Tacos and Rangers. Can't see why anyone would compare a an SUV to a compact pickup, but everyone has a right to their opinions. The trucks I've owned below and opinions are based on my experiences. I wanted to share them with everyone.
  
My first truck was great. It was a limited edition 94 Chevy S10 SS. This production truck was built between 1993 and 1998 before the extreme took over. I loved the black exterior with the red SS emblems. The 4.3L was extremely powerful, only a couple of CC's smaller than the 4.8L V8. I believe truck trend's 0-60 for the 1993 model was 7.8sec. Very impressive for 1993 since the sport truck market was limited to the full size Chevy 454 SS and the Ford Lighting. The only complaints I had with this truck was the recalls with the wiper motor, AC unit, and ABS. It also gave me a couple of sensor problems. Aside from that it was a great experience until it was stolen.
 
My second truck, Ford Ranger Sport XLT, was probably the most comfortable truck to drive. It felt like a tall truck similar to the F-150. It was very attractive with the monochromatic bumpers and chrome rims. Ford is a great truck but it's hit and miss with Ford. Either you get a truck that constantly breaks down or one that will last as long as a rice burner ( 4cyl jap cars ). My major complaint was 3.0 engine. It had no power what's so ever. I installed a K&N filter to give it more power but It was replaced later because of the horrible engine noise. It's pretty embarrassing to have an engine screaming while everyone else is passing me at low RPMS. Imagine only having 150HP to pull over 3400 pounds. Aside from the engine knocking (see TSB), belts chirping while the AC was on and the lack of power it was a very attractive truck and fun to drive off road. I recommend you V6 shoppers to bypass the 3.0 and go with the 4.0L. Although fuel efficiency is a problem with the 4.0 it will pass once you open the throttle.
 
My third truck, Toyota Tacoma Srunner is by far the best truck I've every owned. It's impressive 3.4L has great power between 1800 and 5000. I love the manual transmission, lowered stance and white face gages. For a $20K your getting a truck that does 0-60 in 7.3sec (according to truck trend) which was quicker than the 01Dakota Dakota 5.9L, 01 blown Nissan Frontier and 01 Chevy extreme 4.3L. Since I bought it last year I've opt'd and installed K&N FIPK. I love hearing that engine roar at 4800 rpms in 4th doing 115MPH. Also Toyota offers a supercharger for the Taco under factory warranty built by TRD. HP is increased to 260HP, respectively. I know everyone doesn't buy a truck to speed, but it's fun to open it up if you have the power to do so. Besides, my speed is usually limited to hauling my bikes and traffic, which it does without effort. I happy to say no problems to report since I first purchased over 15 months ago and 24,890 miles later. It's just like the old saying, why fix it if it ain't broken, which I have to say goes with the 3.4L. It's a proven engine for the last 8 years. Don't get me wrong guys and gals, I loved my Ford and Chevy but since I've grown older, reliability and lack of shop visits is becoming more of a factor when I buy.

#223 of 401 by midnight_stang

Nov 01, 2002 (7:01 am)

Well TB, I love pretty much any mustang. While I love my bracket car, I would like something street legal to drive on the weekends. On that note I'll probably have to sell my '67 next year. That will be a good down payment on my next vehicle for sure. Any other project car I decide to purchase in the future would have to be something cheap. I don't like hunting down restoration parts or matching numbers as much as like good handling and acceleration. But your capri should be a good investment and a fun weekend toy. The reason I brought up the svo Mustang was because it is one of the rare breeds of mustangs that you don't see every day. Most people just think it is an aftermarket scoop and some rims, but it has quite a hot 4 banger made for canyon carving or autocrossing. I've seen modifications take that engine close to 300 HP at the rear wheels. Oh it seems Ford can build engines when they want to...
 
Off topic again, I was driving to the store today and aparantly an avalanche behind me was in quite a hurry. He tried to pass me for about a block and a half, and he was really revving it. Unfortunately, he could not clear my bumper until we hit a stop sign. Guess those straight six's can't compete with a 10 year old ford 2.3l automatic. I didn't even know he was racing until I heard the exhaust outside my driver side window. Of course weight had a bit to do with it... Big ole avalanche vs a 93 Ranger Reg cab.

#224 of 401 stang..... by tbunder1

Nov 01, 2002 (9:16 am)

what year is your svo? and the capri i have was handed down to me by my father. he bought it new in '84 when i spotted it on the ford lot and thought it was a camaro with its huge front spoiler, quad lights and bosch driving lights, and of course that hood scoop which only the 2.3 RS Turbo's got. the 5.0 RS's didn't get the scoop. also, it got the articulated ford sport seats with the square head restraints. but get this, it is loaded, but no power locks. weird huh? it's all original. ;o)

#225 of 401 Actually I don't have an SVO by midnight_stang

Nov 01, 2002 (11:03 am)

but who knows what I'll find in the future?

#226 of 401 hehe by tbunder1

Nov 01, 2002 (2:03 pm)

yeah, that's what i always say.
but if you do get an SVO Mustang, i'd try for an '86. they were the most powerful and had dual exhaust. but the '84, being the first year, would be cool too. i think after '84, they got headlight that were flush with the front grille. the '84's were recessed back into the headlight frame. but the hood scoop on all were functional for the intercooler.

#227 of 401 Here's something for the hotrodders to dream about by midnight_stang

Nov 06, 2002 (1:49 pm)

www.stangparts.com
I am playing with the idea of purchasing a late 93-95 5.0l and putting that into my Ranger. Seems to be a fairly easy conversion from what I hear. All I need is the drivetrain(Engine, Trans, rear end), and probably a specially fabricated driveshaft. Anyways that could all be done for about 3-4k, versus the cost of a brand new truck...

#228 of 401 nice, maybe by mjbwrtr

Nov 06, 2002 (8:10 pm)

i will do that to my truck eventually...keep track of the work on it and post it on www.therangerstation.com the guys will be glad to see it.

#229 of 401 A Ranger pulled me out of the mud...... by issisteelman

Nov 07, 2002 (7:09 am)

Well, all you Ranger fans will love this story. I didn't bag a buck this past weekend but I did have one hell of an adventure in the Great North Woods. Our buddy gave us the wrong directions to the hunting camp that we were supposed to be staying at. That is not difficult to do when you consider that where we hunt there are no street signs. Needless to say, we ended up going up a mountain on a very old logging road that had several very large washouts. In fact, we really put my Tacoma to the test. It was bitterly cold and snowing like crazy. Well, eventually we got to a point on this logging road where the mud was so deep that my Tacoma got stuck, and I mean really, truly stuck. The truck was buried in mud up to the top of the fender flares. Needless to say, my buddy and I were a little nervous considering that we were 20 miles into the woods on a dead end logging road at the top of a mountain with no way out and bitter cold temperatures (and it was 9 PM at night). I truly thought we were in for a long night of walking out of the woods. Just when I thought all hope was lost, I saw head lights come around the corner. And, lo and behold, it was a Ford Ranger. Another friend of ours in our hunting party was also given the wrong directions and he followed our tire tracks up the mountain. And, his little Ford Ranger was able to eventually pull us out (it still took about 45 minutes of work to finally get us out of the mud). I will never again bash a Ford Ranger since it was a Ranger that save me from a long, cold night of walking. It seems obvious to me now that both the Tacoma and Ranger are capable off road vehicles.
 
It should be noted, however, that the next morning we inspected our vehicles and his Ranger absorbed a lot more damage from the off road experience than my Tacoma. I don't know if that was shear luck or not but again, both trucks were able to make it most of the way up an old mountain logging road that most of you city slickers wouldn't ever dare consider driving on. Take care and I'll see you in the most remote, muddy places on the face of the planet......Steelman.

#230 of 401 steelman by sc0rpi0

Nov 07, 2002 (8:20 am)

Heh....on my very first offroad trip (a week after I bought the truck), I pulled a Ranger out of mud too.
He got stuck at the entrance to the park where we offroad in San Antonio, in grass. It wasn't even that much mud...more like wet grass and ground. I suspect it was the drivers' fault (While I was trying to pull him out, he had his parking brake on).

Messages Page 23 of 40

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