Poll
Question:
Out of the following, what would you rather live with:
Option 1: late 1990s Ford Ranger 4cyl, 4wd ext cab
votes: 5
Option 2: late 1990s Chevy S10 4cyl, 4wd, ext cab
votes: 1
Option 3: late 1990s Nissan Frontier, 4 cyl, 4wd, ext cab
votes: 8
Option 4: late 90's Toyota Tacoma, 4 cyl, 4wd, ext cab
votes: 3
I am considering the purchase of a small truck. I have an old Ford Ranger (86) but I want something newer and less quirky (mine is a diesel).
I don't need a V6 power or anything, and I prefer the 4 cyl performance for gas mileage. The only thing I'll be pulling is a bike or two on a class 1 trailer and a load of compost in the bed.
I say a "late 1990s" because I figure I'm getting something about 10 yrs old. They are cheap.
has to be 4wd and I need the ext cab for a place to put the USAS12 when I am driving. I like a crew cab, but I don't need it and don't want to lose the bed space.
and just so you know, i am not a fan of Toyota, I don't like them for some reason. toyota-philes please keep it to yourselves, yes, i saw the top gear episode..
I had a 95 Nissan 4x4 V6 - not so good gas mileage - 15mpg no matter what or where. But, it never had a single problem in 10 years and 90k miles. I wish I would have kept it.
mitt
Check out the Nissans in your price range. Plenty in 4x4 and they won't be expensive. They may be high mileage though, based on the age. S-10's don't seem to fare as well as Nissans and 'Yotas of a similar vintage. Might check out the Mazda trucks of that year, I see many of them on the roads ~
JM
My 2001 Frontier has been bullet proof in the 120k miles I've had it.
Quote from: Drjones on April 07, 2009, 10:36:10 AM
My 2001 Frontier has been bullet proof in the 120k miles I've had it.
what engine?
i had a frontier for about 2 years. hated it.
never had a problem with it, other than the funky 4x4, but..........just didnt do it for me.
check out a dodge dakota my '98 v6 has 230000 miles on it and still pulls around 18mpg, with minimal service trouble
Wait, so I can't vote for a toy or boobies? This poll makes no sense to me.
I'd say the Nissan given the options presented. Engine is a little weak, but it should be okay. You have to go back quite a way to get a Ranger with 4x4 & a 4-banger.
Not many options for 4x4 & 4cyl. If I remember right, you're from Michigan? S10/Blazer/Astro series has serious issues with the dash & components. They were cross-platform engineered. They all share major parts. Several big problems. Particularly the heater & 4whl drive. Everyone I know that owns one has had problems. My company had a whole fleet of Astro's for the Field Tech's. My uncle has a Blazer with many of the same problems. I'd stay away from any with real mileage. You might be able to get a Mazda with 4cyl, which is just a re-badged Ranger. Not sure...
Quote from: DCXCV on April 07, 2009, 10:47:59 AM
I'd say the Nissan given the options presented. Engine is a little weak, but it should be okay. You have to go back quite a way to get a Ranger with 4x4 & a 4-banger.
Ford/Mazda had the 4cyl/4wd out to '96 which is about right for me... they are also the highest mpg for the class between '96 and 2008 (according to fuel economy.gov) might have to look into that.. 19 city, 24 highway.
What about a toyota?
He don't like 'em.
Though given that building 4 cyl 4wd xtd cab trucks doesn't strike me as something that common, I'm not sure why one owuld dismiss one of the manufactuers that has done so for some years.
Quote from: NAKID on April 07, 2009, 11:19:49 AM
What about a toyota?
+1
Top Gear - killing a Toyota pt 1 - BBC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrk6vsb77xk#noexternalembed-lq-lq2-hq-vhq)
Quote from: ducatizzzz on April 07, 2009, 10:37:14 AM
what engine?
3.3L V6 Non-supercharged. 2 wheel drive. Standard shift. Crew cab.
Quote from: MrIncredible on April 07, 2009, 11:24:49 AM
He don't like 'em.
Though given that building 4 cyl 4wd xtd cab trucks doesn't strike me as something that common, I'm not sure why one owuld dismiss one of the manufactuers that has done so for some years.
its' true, i don't like them for some reason, i think it's legroom..
however, i've been trollign autotrader and ebay for a while and there are a bunch of the toys versus a handful of the others.
Quote from: Jarvicious on April 07, 2009, 11:34:20 AM
+1
Top Gear - killing a Toyota pt 1 - BBC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrk6vsb77xk#noexternalembed-lq-lq2-hq-vhq)
Quote from: ducatizzzz on April 07, 2009, 10:22:53 AM
and just so you know, i am not a fan of Toyota, I don't like them for some reason. toyota-philes please keep it to yourselves, yes, i saw the top gear episode..
I'd go S-10, as long as you get the 4.3-l engine. I've never heard anything good about Nissan trucks.
Quote from: Sinister on April 07, 2009, 12:44:42 PM
I'd go S-10, as long as you get the 4.3-l engine. I've never heard anything good about Nissan trucks.
never seen a 4 cyl 4.3L engine...
I had a 94 Ranger just as you are looking for except it had the small V-6.
It got better mileage in all circumstances than my buddies 2WD 4 cyl.
The small 6 could smell a hill a mile away but had enough power not to be killing itself.
The 4 cyls are gutless.
Quote from: ducatizzzz on April 07, 2009, 12:47:57 PM
never seen a 4 cyl 4.3L engine...
Yeah, it's great: it has four cylinders and then two extra. Talk about Chevy innovation (and my lack of reading comprehension). [thumbsup] [bang]
S10's are poo.
4.3 v6 guzzles gas (mine got 14 on a great day)
I hate the 4 cylinders (anemic)
the 4x4 is a unreliable piece of electronic crap
couple that with a myriad of other electronic problems and me going though 4 transmissions in 20k miles in mine and I would not touch another one.
Since you don't like Toyota's (which would be my first pick in a small 4x4) I would go Nissan, then Ford (though I think they only have a 3 liter v6 in their 4x4 as the small engine.)
Quote from: ducpainter on April 07, 2009, 12:50:47 PM
I had a 94 Ranger just as you are looking for except it had the small V-6.
It got better mileage in all circumstances than my buddies 2WD 4 cyl.
The small 6 could smell a hill a mile away but had enough power not to be killing itself.
The 4 cyls are gutless.
fueleconomy.gov says the 94 ranger 4cyl got 18/23 while the v6 got 17/23, both with manual 5spd.
weird that they are so close, maybe i will look at the v6s too..
looking at the used market options, i might have to go Toyota...
i don't know why i have such an aversion to them, i just prefer the fords, maybe for looks and parts = cheap cheap cheap.
Quote from: ducatizzzz on April 07, 2009, 12:57:59 PM
fueleconomy.gov says the 94 ranger 4cyl got 18/23 while the v6 got 17/23, both with manual 5spd.
weird that they are so close, maybe i will look at the v6s too..
I got 25 on the highway. I don't do much city driving. ;)
Those highway speeds....mostly illegal.
Quote from: ducatizzzz on April 07, 2009, 12:59:12 PM
looking at the used market options, i might have to go Toyota...
i don't know why i have such an aversion to them, i just prefer the fords, maybe for looks and parts = cheap cheap cheap.
Since you mentioned that you hate them, I didn't put it in the mix. Toyotas are all over the place out here, and everyone I know who has one loves it. Most of them are on their second or third.
Quote from: Sinister on April 07, 2009, 01:03:09 PM
Since you mentioned that you hate them, I didn't put it in the mix. Toyotas are all over the place out here, and everyone I know who has one loves it. Most of them are on their second or third.
crap
dadgum yeeyaws makin' them trucks bettern us kin...
Quote from: ducatizzzz on April 07, 2009, 01:04:00 PM
crap
dadgum yeeyaws makin' them trucks bettern us kin...
I don't know; I've got 195,000 miles on my Chevy and she's doing pretty good.
Quote from: Sinister on April 07, 2009, 01:07:16 PM
I don't know; I've got 195,000 miles on my Chevy and she's doing pretty good.
Even American auto workers make mistakes once in a while. ;D
Quote from: ducatizzzz on April 07, 2009, 10:22:53 AM
and just so you know, i am not a fan of Toyota, I don't like them for some reason. toyota-philes please keep it to yourselves, yes, i saw the top gear episode..
Teehee. My bad :)
Out of curiosity what are you going to be using the truck for, i.e.- daily driver, work truck, trailer hauling, etc?
Quote from: Jarvicious on April 07, 2009, 01:09:58 PM
Teehee. My bad :)
Out of curiosity what are you going to be using the truck for, i.e.- daily driver, work truck, trailer hauling, etc?
light work and motorcycle hauling -- in the bed and trailer.
Heres a hawt truck for you AND its local! Didnt see it on the poll, must have been an oversight....
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ctd/1111672966.html (http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ctd/1111672966.html)
[evil]
Quote from: Sinister on April 07, 2009, 12:44:42 PM
I'd go S-10, as long as you get the 4.3-l engine. I've never heard anything good about Nissan trucks.
You must ignore most posts then ;D There have been at least 2 on here that were good wrt Nissan trucks, and this isn't the first time this topic has come up.
Both Nissan and Toyota used to import their mini trucks into the US. They were the same global platforms that went to Africa, Middle East, Australia, etc. They were very good, low tech, and cheap to maintain. Now, both brands make bigger softened versions of the originals, which are less IMO.
mitt
Quote from: mitt on April 07, 2009, 01:21:34 PM
You must ignore most posts then ;D
Probably. I just know that I see more Toyotas on the road than I do Nissans. Toyota owners rave about their trucks; I don't hear much of anything from Nissan people.
Quote from: rgramjet on April 07, 2009, 01:21:16 PM
Heres a hawt truck for you AND its local! Didnt see it on the poll, must have been an oversight....
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ctd/1111672966.html (http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ctd/1111672966.html)
[evil]
fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck you man!
How can you get rid of a rare gem like a diesel Ranger? [laugh]
Quote from: superjohn on April 07, 2009, 02:54:37 PM
How can you get rid of a rare gem like a diesel Ranger? [laugh]
are you asking seriously? this model is not the early mazda engine, it's the later turbo mitsubishi. it's a great truck, engine is rock solid (astron 4d55t). stock, it is 86 hp but with easily-available mods, you can pull 115 out of it. or you can drop a mitsubishi 4d56t into it, which has an intercooler turbo and 160 hp in factory form (and 240 ft/lbs torque). they are still using these engines! i saw a video from australia of a Pajero with the 4d56t doing burnouts, it was tuned to around 220hp.
it's an antique and very rare, and i don't think i am doing it justice by using it for work. it's in great shape too and pulling 22/30 mpg, which is much better. with some tuning and cleanup, it can probably get around 25/35.
Quote from: ducatizzzz on April 07, 2009, 03:47:50 PM
are you asking seriously? this model is not the early mazda engine, it's the later turbo mitsubishi. it's a great truck, engine is rock solid (astron 4d55t). stock, it is 86 hp but with easily-available mods, you can pull 115 out of it. or you can drop a mitsubishi 4d56t into it, which has an intercooler turbo and 160 hp in factory form (and 240 ft/lbs torque). they are still using these engines! i saw a video from australia of a Pajero with the 4d56t doing burnouts, it was tuned to around 220hp.
it's an antique and very rare, and i don't think i am doing it justice by using it for work. it's in great shape too and pulling 22/30 mpg, which is much better. with some tuning and cleanup, it can probably get around 25/35.
I actually was being serious. I remembered an earlier thread where you described it. It sounds like you should keep it.
toyota, built in the good old USA
"In 13 locations across North America, more than 36,000 team members are producing* over 1.3 million vehicles, more than 1.5 million engines, and nearly 400,000 automatic transmissions per year. In fact, 11 Toyota and Lexus models are built in North America with parts purchased from hundreds of North American supplier locations.
Our annual U.S. spending on parts, goods and services with suppliers totals more than $28 billion** and counting, as Toyota continues to grow and build more vehicles, engines and transmissions in North America."
*Toyota vehicles and components are built using U.S. and globally sourced parts.
**Parts, materials and components (FY ending 3/08). Goods and services (CY 2007).
All data as of December 2007 except where noted.
-source: http://www.toyota.com/about/our_business/operations/manufacturing/ (http://www.toyota.com/about/our_business/operations/manufacturing/)
Quote from: superjohn on April 07, 2009, 04:26:31 PM
I actually was being serious. I remembered an earlier thread where you described it. It sounds like you should keep it.
if i had the time, i would keep it and restore it, but it's a 1986 and a real antique. i love it. however, i need a bigger cab'ed truck and i'd like something that i don't cringe everytime i nick the paint!
Quote from: ducatizzzz on April 07, 2009, 04:46:56 PM
i'd like something that i don't cringe everytime i nick the paint!
Sounds like an excuse to get a truck you
don't like ;D
Quote from: MrIncredible on April 07, 2009, 04:52:30 PM
Sounds like an excuse to get a truck you don't like ;D
well, like as in it works well and will last and isn't new... not that i intend to beat on it
TOYOTA with the 22-re....one of my friends has 370,000 miles on it and it is still running smoothly [beer]
Quote from: Mac_48 on April 07, 2009, 06:11:44 PM
TOYOTA with the 22-re....one of my friends has 370,000 miles on it and it is still running smoothly [beer]
i had a 77 Celica with a 20R and it clocked 280k miles. of course, the entire car was rusted thru, the dash was rotted and the passenger seat had a hole in the middle!! POS!
Another vote for Toyota. My '86 22R has 265,000 miles on it and is still going fine. The 4WD is bulletproof. The only thing I don't like is the gas mileage. It isn't very good and it's probably due to the little 4 cylinder motor working too hard dragging the heavy 4WD around. I *think* the newer V6's actually get better mileage than the 4 cylinders but I'm not sure of that. I hate spending money on new trucks and by continuing to run the Toyota has kept me from having to buy a new or newer one.
Parts are expensive from the dealer, but...you rarely need them and many are available from NAPA. I think the OEM parts are better, but I'm not convinced they are twice as good for twice the price.
my 2 cents = My wife had a 96 Toy 4 runner 3.someshit or another i hated that truck head gasket went out 2 times first taken care of under recall and then again out of my pocket. All sorts of other issues. Forget driving uphill without the automatic shifting every 2 seconds turned me off from that brand permananetly.
Thanks for reminding me of a very horrible time in my life. :'(
lol.....the 3.slo is not worth it's weight in manure [laugh] it is the worst thing toyota has EVER designed [bang] that said the 20r, 22r, 22re, and the newer engines are amazing. The 3.4L V6 engines and later are great for v6's. any 4 cyl they make is bombproof...I'm sorry you had to deal with the engine form hell causeofchaos :-\
Quote from: ducatizzzz on April 07, 2009, 11:45:53 AM
its' true, i don't like them for some reason, i think it's legroom..
How tall are you?
I'm 6' tall and I don't have an issue with legroom in mine.
Quote from: Rameses on May 03, 2009, 01:47:19 PM
How tall are you?
I'm 6' tall and I don't have an issue with legroom in mine.
7'4
jus kiddin
i'm 6'1
Late 90's Toyota's are nice, but I love my 92.
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Toy003.jpg (http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Toy003.jpg)
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Toy001.jpg (http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Toy001.jpg)
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Toy002.jpg (http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/Toy002.jpg)
What about one of thise little Kei trucks?
JM
FWIW my son has a 2000 Ranger with the Mazda dual spark 4-cyl, and hit 200k miles last month. The engine still runs like it was new.
However, this is the base model 2WD, single cab. I don't know if Ford offered that engine in 4WD ext. cab that year.
Didn't you just get that diesel last year? What's its problem?
Quote from: Bun-bun on May 04, 2009, 07:50:36 AM
FWIW my son has a 2000 Ranger with the Mazda dual spark 4-cyl, and hit 200k miles last month. The engine still runs like it was new.
However, this is the base model 2WD, single cab. I don't know if Ford offered that engine in 4WD ext. cab that year.
Didn't you just get that diesel last year? What's its problem?
I got an '86 ranger diesel and it's an antique. I don't want to be driving an antique. The Mitsubishi engine is great, but parts are hard to come by. This truck ought to be owned by a collector, not someone who wants to haul manure. Plus, its 2wd and no extended cab, which I definitely need.