ford ranger or toyota tacoma

I would think that you would have to evaluate each vehicle on their own merits....some may be too far gone others may be easily restored to use.....even if the axel bearings are shot they are easy to replace and a simple compression test will tell you alot about the engine status.....might only need a valve job...who knows?

The day they put the powerstroke in a Yota I'll be first in line Seriously I think Toyota should consider a small diesel. After getting the F-250 for hauling we got a new diesel bug for long trips and as the wife's daily driver. It gets 49mpg if you can keep your foot out of the gas. This thing will zip, and is made to cruise on the interstate. I'm impressed with the low end torque of a diesel. We just picked up two cows in Tennessee. I was passing people up the mountains pulling a trailer in the F-250, and there's not even a need to shift down in 5th gear driving the bug. When I needed to pass I just pushed the gas, and the response was awesome. I find people in Mustang's look at you funny when a bug flashes it lights for it to move over A Toyota 4X4 with a diesel would be a dream 4-wheeling. Maybe they'll get smart as mass produce it.

Had them all will go back to an S-10 without hesitation. Never another ford yota ??? probably not.

mikell

Toyota has been making small diesel pickups since the 70s. They just can't sell them here because of our crappy diesel fuel and our strict emissions regulations.

they dont even make the s10 any more

First I have friend with a '91 2.3 Ranger that has 182k and still running strong. I'd say he has a chance at 250k. Thats him, I have no idea how you treat your engines/vehicles. A QUALITY rebuild of any engine should equal or exceed the life of the engine from the factory. Cant speak to cheapo assembly line rebuilds people buy to save couple hundred. They might not go very far. Might add, Ford hasnt used the "Pinto" 2.3 for 5 or 6 years now. I really have no knowledge of the present 4cyl used in Rangers. All I know is nobody is currently selling a 4 cyl 4wd pickup (I am not happy about it either). And have to put in a word for Nissan. In 70s they were top small pickup and a rugged little truck they indeed were. Still equal of a Toy for longevity, except their manual tranny may be little weaker than that in a Toy. Think Toy just had better ad dept than Nissan the last couple decades. And what Nissan was thinking with those stupid fake rivets on their fenders the last few years. Talk about shooting oneself in the foot.

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"What would you do with a brain if you had one?" -Dorothy

"Well, then ignore what I have to say and go with what works for you." -Eliot Coleman

what are some good older brands???

If you're like me, you do most of your own repair and maintenance on your vehicles and keep the vehicles untill hell freezes over. So, do yourself a favor and whenever you have to make a decision between two different vehicles, give a call to your local auto parts store. Ask them how much an alternator, starter, radiator and/or water pump would cost for the two vehicles your thinking of and whether or not the parts are in stock. If the parts are not in stock, ask them how long it would take to get them...you may be surprized!

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if you havent already said tell me what you people drive and if your happy with it and would you buy it again? thanks

ok colorado or whatever I have a new 4 door 2500 that kicks butt anyway

mikell

This is my problem. I never have the heart to put my them out of its misery. Kind of like having to shoot my horse. I take care of my stuff and usually drive them into the ground before I get a new one.

GR

I drive a 2000 Tacoma ext cab. 4cyl. My son will turn 16 next year, he'll get it and I'll be looking at a crew cab Toy to replace it. I've owned Fords Chevy, even had a Nissan(boy, did they see me coming). There is no way I'll spend my money on anything other than a Toyota. Also, it has been my experience that the SR5 package is well worth the money.

Okay ...
1973 Chevy 1/2-ton 4x4 pickup, longbed, 350 engine, TH350 automatic transmission.

It has out lasted: an '89 full-sized Chevy, a Chevy S-10, a GMC Sonoma, an Isuzu pickup, and a Dodge Dakota.

Happy? Absolutely!
Buy it again? Definitely!
NO computer/sensor issues.

what are the older nissans like?

I'm a rather die hard Toyota truck fan. I've had several 1-ton's, and currently have a comperable 4x4 because I got sick of getting stuck everywhere (all '86 22re 5 speeds btw). Friends, family and I have also had various Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Jeep, International, Nissan, Iveco trucks. Big and small. Since you're interested in the smaller trucks, I'll stick with them.

Iveco makes one of the slickest farm trucks I've ever seen. The bed slides, tilts, and drops down onto the ground. Any of the four sides can be dropped. Sips fuel and pulls several tons with ease. No 4wd, but a locking differential. With the cab over design, I'd hate to be in an accident with one. Zero "cool" factor.

International trucks are all old now. Rough as cobs, tough as nails. Good luck finding one, even better luck finding one that isn't rotted away to nothing.

Jeep trucks. Rules of manners dictate if you've nothing good to say, say nothing. I'll say nothing. It's a shame, as I'd really like to like a Jeep truck.

Dodge Dakota. New ones are pretty. Stubby bed. Good towing capacity.

Chevy S-10. Actually, no one I know has an S-10. Obviously, you're not buying a new one.

Toyota Tundra. I'd really like to like one, but I don't. They are short beds, flimsy beds, light towing capacity, etc. They do work well, but get beaten silly in short order. Very nice "yuppy" truck, which is sad.

Ford Ranger. I don't know the new ones, but as it's the only thing with a semi-long bed, I'd have to go look at them. It's got a lot more towing capacity than the Toyotas.

Nissan. Don't know the new ones, but I've heard good things about them. But it's from "yuppy" type drivers, who don't mind that micro bed. Strong engine. The old ones are comparable to the old Toyota trucks. Little more sporty performance.

Old Toyota trucks. Don't turn them into something they aren't. The 1-ton was a standard 2wd long bed with an extra leaf in the rear springs and bigger brakes. I've had several. Power is low, even with the fuel injected models. You're not going to go fast, especially with a load. 2wd models get stuck very easily. The 4 cylinder engine is nearly bullet proof. The 3.0 V6 comes with its own bullets to self destruct. Rust is what kills them all. The beds look nasty, but the frame rots away from the inside out. Interestingly, the 4x4 models have much worse frame rot issues than the 2wd models.

If I were to go out buying a new truck today, I'd be very inclined to get a Toyota Tundra. Here's my reasons:

I want a full sized bed.
I want good gas mileage.
I only need a standard cab.

Just with those three things, I've eliminated virtually all other trucks. Tis sad, but the trucks today are stationwagons with a micro bed stuck on the back. I have no need for the towing capacity of a F-350 or the like, and I'm not willing to pay the fuel bill on them. I've towed several tons with a Tundra with ease. There are things I don't like about it, such as the incredibly flimsy bed, velure interior, poor lighting, awkward 4wd mode switching and such. But overall, it's the closest to fitting my needs of any modern truck on the market.

foxtrapper, you're totally correct about the frame rust-through issues on the older Toyotas, Datsuns, etc.
We had more Toyotas with bad frames in the salvage yard I managed than any others. Chevy LUVS/Isuzu held second place; Ford Courier/Mazda were in third place. The frame and body seemed to hold up pretty well on the pre-'85 Datsun/Nissan though.

NOTE: For anyone who is looking at those old trucks ... check the frame area below the rear of the cab/ front of the bed. That's where most of the problems occur.