I registered to this site to read about diesels. I don't post because I have no problems with my powerstroke. But my cummins has been a workhorse while the excursion is used as a pleasure vehicle. So I don't ask questions. And If I did want to find something out, I would search it and usually find what I need. Just because I have better experiences with other makes, does that mean I'm not allowed to view FTE? I mean I am not anti-ford, but it seems many people here only swear by ford and nothing else. I am not like that. I drive what is best no matter what make. Some companies make better trucks, some make better cars. I'm diverse also and don't stick with one brand.

 

My '91 F-350, 193,000, costs money to keep on the road, too.

But still less than a new truck.

You sure you don't want to fix your Explorer up? You'll probably be happy (and surprised) with the result, and will be able to spend your money on other things or save it.

 

For me to respect what you think, YOU have to respect what I think. I have a reason to love my Explorer, and that is because there simply isn't a vehicle out there that can do what my Explorer has already done. I cannot complain at all after 116K miles. I've never seen one small drop of oil burn away, and you would have to be a detective to think it has more than 10K miles on it. I don't think Ford is the greatest, but as for now, I have no reason to believe anything else is better. If Toyota makes a vehicle that gets 20 MPG city, takes redline runs every day, goes slamming around the beach, allows me to fully flatten the second seat into a 6' carpetted bed, rear a/c + audio controls...I still wouldn't buy it, but they don't make one anyway.

Oh yeah, and it has to run a 7.9 0-60 with its V-6 motor.

 

Its called a 4runner , but yea explorers are fun and reliable also.

 

My son's '99 Ranger 3.0 automatic has 90M miles and has been totally trouble free. He runs it fairly hard. I know he would get another one.

 

I owned a 1992 Ranger XLT. My dad owns a 1998 Ranger XLT. Both my ranger and my dads seemed very "loose" when they hit the 50-60k mile mark. Many rattles and "nickle & dime" problems that are rediculous.

I own a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. It is an extended cab, V6, 5 speed, 4wd with TRD package. My only regret is not getting the crew cab. It currently has 36k miles. It has NEVER been back to dealer. I do ALL maintenance on my truck. Mobil 1 every 7500 miles. This is my third Toyota truck. The others were a 1994, and 1995. Both were sold with 150k miles +/- with no major problems.

The ranger has the advantage with things like ext cab doors that open. A little more "plush".

My last truck was a 2001 Ford F-150 XLT Supercrew that was ordered LOADED. Waited 6s on it and was very excited. Truck cost 37k list/33500 paid. I sold it with 12k miles for $24,500. It had been to dealer 10 times in ONE year!! Three times for exterior trim, twice for slipping transmission, twice for piston slap (normal...BS), and THREE times for front windshield leaking. When I took delivery the paint on the hood was horrible. They exchanged with another new truck. Tried GA lemon law but it didnt "meet the requirements".

My wife has a 2000 Ford Taurus with the 3.0 Vulcan. It has 65k miles. Has been a good car except for the TRANSMISSION. The car had THREE tranny's replaced by warranty before it had 16k miles on it. It is now shuddering like before. As soon as it is payed off, it is being sold and we're getting a Toyota Highlander.

I am very PRO Toyota and (should be understandably) very ANTI Ford. I only registered because I could give some very good advice on THIS subject.

BUY THE TACOMA if you want a reliable, long lasting truck that will still have GREAT value down the road. The 3.4L V6 has PLENTY of passing power that you are looking for.

Buy the Ranger if you want a mediocre truck (at best) that will not have ANY resale value in 4-7 years and will spend a good bit of time in the shop.

 

One more thing. I dont know if you plan on "four wheeling" or not. But if you plan on it, you might want to consider the TRD package. For roughly $900 you Bilstein shocks, BFG tires, skid plates and an electric rear diff locker (NOT limited slip, but a TRUE locker with a dash switch)

The TRD package is not like the psuedo FX4 or Z71 packages. All they include are tires, skids, MAYBE upgraded shocks and some stupid sticker. Why even buy an offroad package if it is just for a sticker...LOL.

 

The FX4 Level II comes with a Torsen Diff. (Hardly psuedo)
I chose the regular FX4 Off Road with Limited Slip.
I bet I do more 'legitimate Off Roading' on my farm than you'll ever do, and guess what? No problems! I don't need a Locker Diff.

Toyota? No thanks, I've seen too many prematurely rusted out 'Toys" on the road berm.

I'll stick with Ford!

 

Torsen differentials are AWESOME. We have 3 of them on our Audi Quattro. We were out in ice and snow in December and wound up next to a Silverado 4x4 at a stoplight. Left the 2 young bucks in the Chebbie for dead when the light turned green. Needless to say they were very surprised to get toasted despite their best efforts. Torsens send the torque to the wheel that has the traction. Quattro has one front to rear, and one on each axle so power is always optimized.

 

The new Rangers may be better...they need to be. The ones in the past were not that great. Granted...I have seen a few Rangers with 200k+ miles.

The 80 and very early 90's model Toyota's were prone to bed rust. But like all vehicles...they have improved.

If anyone has a loaded 2002 Ranger with around 36k miles and drives about 24k/year let me know. We'll get together in about 5-8 years and see who's is still running. Then we'll put a for sale sign on them and see whose sell's first and for more? Any takers?

I'll admit...I have a bad taste when it comes to Ford's. I have owned three...and ALL three have had way more than their share of problems. Problems are one thing...but repeat problems are another. The Taurus for example. Since owning it I have found out the transmission has been prone to failure for well over a decade, even though they have made "improvements". Can they not fix it...or do they not have the ability. There is no excuse for it.

I drove the hound out of my 1994 4wd 22re to 155k miles. Sold it to a guy to use as his "pasture" truck. He had an F-350 PSD. Later told me he relied more on my old truck...especially after 3 transmission failures. Ford can never seem to get their SD line together. Either they have the engine right (7.3PSD minus the cackle, and their tranny is crap. They get the tranny right - Torqueshift, and their motor isnt right).

Get your head in the game FORD!!

 

Firescooby,

My buddie's Ranger has 225,000 miles on it and he drives it all over the eastern U.S. And I've owned two Ford trucks way past 100K and one past 85K which I traded for my new one. There is no way you can say Rangers are junk compared to Tacomas. The people who have trouble with Rangers are the people who never take care of them and follow the recommendations in the owner's guide.

Second..what's this about a psuedo off road package?? The ONLY thing Toyota has over on Ford is the locking differential. And even that can be a bad thing because unlike the limited slip, IT can only be used off the pavement. So I'd still rather have Ford's torsen limited slip.

And the Ranger has more skid plating (which has saved my biscuits a few times on the trail already), more power, and a more dependable four-wheel drive system.

 

Hmm

Who has the best selling compact truck

Ford

What about 1/2 tons?

Ford

What about Diesel trucks?

Ford


You don't have best sellers with shoddy designs.

True, there are few bad apples, and unfortunately we encounter them as buyers.

Have you ever seen a "perfect first year vehicle"?

There is no such thing.


as far as your statement on the ranger values vs tacos...You had better check out edmunds or kbb.

I just traded my 00 ranger with 80K (that's right 80k trouble free abused miles in 3 yrs.)

Neighbor's taco had 60k and was a 01, and had more bells and whistles, plus was an auto vs my 5spd, and he traded his for another vehicle as well.

My neighbor paid 4k more for his taco new, and when he traded it off, he got 1K less than my ranger even though it was 20k lower on miles and it had a auto.

 

I've looked at Tacoma's, mainly just comparing them to Rangers. I am pretty biased towards Rangers, but the Toyota's just seemed cheap compared to the Rangers and definately not worth the extra price tag you pay for it. The base prices are comparable but you get lots more standard with a Ranger. I have pretty much determined that the Ranger is the prefect vehicle for me. It is just the right size with good power, and very reliable.

 

I just LOVE these people that keep perpetuating the myth about the Superior Japanese Resale. Just what IS depreciation? It's the difference between what you actually PAID for your vehicle, and how much you got for it when you sold it. So, take your Toyota that you probably paid sticker or close-to-sticker and subtract the price you sold it for. Now take the Ranger MSRP, subtract the hefty discount that you can get on them (if you're paying more than invoice, you're paying too much), subtract a SUBSTANTIAL ($2,000? $2,500? $3,000?) rebate, and THEN subtract what you got for it when you sold it. You now have the TRUE cost of owning the Ranger, and I doubt it's much more than that of the Tacoma.

 

Hey, everybody thinks they drive the best truck. What matters is you like what you drive. I really like my truck, just wish I had more cab room (crew cab).

I will probably buy a FS diesel next time. Right now...Dodge/Cummins would be my choice. I almost bought a stroke in 2001, and if I had...barring the problems I had with my Screw I would probably still have it. As of right now...the problems that the new 6.0 is having to me is rediculous. The new reflash cuts out the pilot injection, which was one of the main reasons it was quiter. Now many people that bought the new PS for the quitness...now have a loud diesel. As for Chevy...that truck is hideous.

I almost traded my Tacoma in on a 2001 Dodge 2500. With 36k miles and needing tires they offered me 17,500. When I didnt come back they called and said they could do better on their offer. I thought this was pretty good considering it has 36k and 2 years old and I only payed $22,800 OUT THE DOOR!! Plus, my truck is loaded minus the automatic.