Thinking about leaving the Ranger club...

So I know this is early but I'm surfing the market for the next year to 18 months. I'm looking for a new or (most likely) a slightly used truck. I'm loosing my 00 Ford Ranger in my divorce I love that truck sooo much. But oh well, time for an upgrade. I'm looking for an extended cab 4x4. What I'm here for is to learn about the Taco world. All I hear from friends is if you want reliable go Toyota. Though with my Ranger 160k miles all OG. What I am most worried about is the trany. I am looking for a toy first, street truck second. My 08 R6s is my DD.
So if you guys could school on some things, maybe a few short stories and just maybe you guys can convert a Ford guy.

 

I went from a 2005 ford ranger FX4 was a good truck, but my tacoma is 10,000 times better (rough estimate)
welcome too, if you made the switch i seriously doubt you'd regret it , oh and much much higher resale value

 

Hey man welcome to TW, sorry to hear about the divorce

 

I drove an older Ranger ('95) for a few years and then moved onto my '11 Tacoma. And the Taco blows the Ranger out of the water (in comfort, driveability, power, miles per gallon, safety, and overall design etc). That may seem like an unfair comparison, but I've also been in numerous much newer Rangers and it's a disappointment to say the least.

I hope to welcome you to the Taco owners club officially when you decide to pounce on the upside of a divorce; getting a fresh start (without the nagging)

 

damn. Sorry to hear that man.

Tacoma's are better anyways

As far as wheeling trucks. 1st gen xtend cabs cannot be beat
Reliability x10000
resale value +100

Can't go wrong! You'll learn enough on the site to convert you, im sure

 

Welcome to TW!

 

What do you mean the 6 speeds are not very good? My buddy has a 6 speed on his jeep and loves it. Or are you trying to say that auto is just the way to go? Because I definitely want auto, but I'll get whatever.
But thanks for the responds. I am leaning more towards a Tacoma...

 

I had a 92 Toyota Pickup and put 186,000 miles on it and nothing was wrong with it. I traded it in for a Brand new Ranger and it was the biggest mistake I had ever made. That new ranger broke down 5 times in six months. I paid it off and finally sold it and got back to Toyota.

Welcome to TW

Good luck with everything and your search for a Tacoma

 

i dont have a 6 speed second gen, but i have read 1-2nd gear sucks because you have to be going really slow to shift into first and fast to shift into second, so when your in traffic and need to down shift you almost need to stop.

and at highway speeds in 6th gear the rpms are too high so the gas mileage sucks.


go first gen in my opinion, 95.5-04. only bad thing that i know of is frame rust

 

The throwout bearing in the 6speed seems to be a common problem. Get the 5spd auto.

 

Auto is better on these trucks. Way smoother, better fuel economy and far beefier.

The A750F is the same tranny pulled from the 4.7L V8.

 

Welcome to TW from Sparks, NV.
This is my 4th baby Toy and first 4x4 and first Tacoma
'77 372K miles
'84 290K miles
'95 140K miles
2011 2.5K miles
Still have the '95 so I don't have to haul firewood in the new one.
All 4 cyl manuals.

 

Did your '84 die at 290K?

 

Well yeah, first gear on these 6 speed granny are about a half step down from a normal first. You just treat second as your new first. And first for only hills and wheeling, imo.

 

im not reaaly a ford fan (ecspecially rangers) i think you will like the power of the 4.0. i have driven mainly chevys since i have been driving and i REALLY like my tacoma. there are a few things i wish i could change, but over all im happy. btw and welcome to TW! good luck.

 

Eh, I wanna go with the new look because I love the style. So, sadly, I am ruling out 1st gens all together. I'm just tossing up between new or slightly used. I might be able to pick up what I want new for 28k... Plan on walking in with cash from a bank So, I'm going to haggle them to all hell.
Oh, I have to have these wheels too.
Can anyone tell me how wide they are?
http://www.toyota.com/img/vehicles/2011/tacoma/accessories/fullext/TRD-BRONZE-Beadlock-wheel_405.jpg

 

Welcome. You chose wisely.

 

Oh, side note. Do the Reg cab's only come with the 2.7? Or can you get the 4.0 in them?

 

Welcome to TW! lose the ranger!

 

Well on a work perspective... The Taco blows the Ranger out of the water.

I've worked on plenty of Rangers and Tacomas both 1st and 2nd Gens, and I have to say that Tacos come out always being more reliable, comfortable and practical.

If you are function over styling, id go for a 1st Gen. Look for info here on the few issues they might have. But they are usually bulletproof apart from the ones that had rust issues, and Toyota took care of those and is still.