Fun truck for 2 weeks !!!!

fair, I just respect the diesel option.

 

Roger that. Still not sure I can click the "like" button

 

I passed a pep-boys spec'd gladiator the other day, I did want to vomit. But they can fit 35s off the shelf (on some trims), DC swaybars off the shelf, diesel option, and a really decent aftermarket market for them. So, I have to give them some respect. I respect them more than the GMs, I've at least heard of some happy Gladiator owners. Ever GM owner I know regrets it, even the babymax owners!

 

the diesel has been discontinued...too many issues

And with all that...Happy this is over for you Bronze. What ashit show!

 

Thank you ... me also. Looking at trucks as we speak!

 

What about a gladiator?

I didn't know the diesel was out. If that's the case, I'd be suspicious. Also funny that they killed it off because of issues.....I don't think I'd REALLY be in one, but I do like the idea of beach mode.

 

I agree with you on the styling. I was going to give it ( AC cab) a serious consideration as a replacement for my '15 Taco but then the reality set in that the AC cab was a unicorn to begin with, then trying to spec it how I'd want it was going to be even harder. I started keeping track of how many times that I opened one of the rear doors for access and it was more than I realized. ( grocery store/ shopping, throwing coats/boots back there, getting access to the little storage box where the tie down straps are kept, ect.. I realized that not having the swinging small doors would be a hassle for me, although I'm sure that most of the squeaking and wind noises will be eliminated by basically have a solid B pillar in place of a door.

 

I worked for ford as an engine tech for 32 years, retired late 22….
I bought a Tacoma and your ford picks wasn’t even an option for me knowing what I know…
Let alone they don’t compare in the styling dept….

 

Before I bought my 4Runner I took a loaded up Gladiator for a test drive. It was good looking, excellent off road capability but it felt like I was in military vehicle (been there done that) with limited visibility and no creature comforts. I'm not into any overlanding and my old ass loves comfort and quiet. The Tacoma gives me some of that and enough capability to do what I do.

 

I'm sure there will be many times when I will say I wish it had a door but not a deal breaker at all. I back my truck into my garage and the passenger side is on my house door side and the way the swing lines up I won't have to always be closing a door to walk around it each time I take stuff out. With that passenger seat down my shopping bags with handles will be easy to grab

 

The Jeep Gladiator's torque-rich diesel 3.0-liter V-6 will end production after the 2023 model year. To commemorate the engine's run, Jeep has introduced a limited-production FarOut edition, which is based on the top-of-the-line Rubicon.

 

They built a successor to the M715 without even knowing it.

 

It’s amazing to me that anyone can complain about the Tacoma’s possible unreliability and maintenance cost and then seriously discuss a fucking jeep

 

As a side note regarding those military jeeps. When I went to Airborne school they taught us to release our chutes harnesses in case we were being dragged by the wind once we hit the ground. To "simulate" it they pulled up in a jeep with a 2x bolted to the rear bumper and 3 sets of d-rings bolted to that. 3 soldiers laid down on their backs and harnesses hooked to the jeep. Then they drove all over the field dragging us until we successfully released both harness straps. They didn't stop until the last guy released. Needless to say if you didn't get it done quickly, when you were done you felt like you got the shit kicked out of you and the inside of your clothes were filled with rocks, branches and dirt! Fun times!!!

 

i mean i know loads of people with newer jeeps and have no issues lol

 

so the 2.3 ranger is a good truck i loved mine but the thing i dislike was the 10r80 trans... they have now fixed the cdf drum issues but mine had the failure and thats why i no longer have it....

2.7 i have in my current f150 and tbh its a great truck but the 2nd gen 2.7 had issues which we all remember in the broncos and the f150s dropping valves... the gen 1 2.7 is a lot better (its what i have) but still does have an issue where if you start hearing something rattle the timing chain guide is worn out and needs replaced plus ya know plastic oil pan because ford lol. i do love my truck thou its great!

 

Oh, the bed sides look stupid on the ranger, there is that for sure. But the 4th gen tacos don't look stunning either in my opinion.

Ah, fair, it is a tin-box like truck, lots of bells and whistles but not a lot surrounding comfort and drive. Depends what you're looking for, I bounce mine off trees for fun.

I had one of the 4.0 I6s. I should have never gotten rid of that jeep.
That said, anything made today pretty much across the board is going to be "okay". In the CANUS market, there's so many computers and sensors that everything is going to have issues somewhere.

Why didn't you like the AT? I do think 10 speeds is too many, 6-8 is good on a mid size V6. But I haven't heard anything about issues with that AT. Other than the 5.0 good ol' buys hammering the piss out of it and then complaining about it.

oooo good to know. I knew about the oil pan, not a fan but I know there's a lot of workarounds. If I lost my tacoma, today, I'd be looking at a 2.3 ranger or a 2.7 F150 (since they killed the 3.3 F150, which would have been my number 1), so that's good to know as an oh shit I need a new truck piece of information.

 

for me the 6th gens look kinda funky on the front of the rangers. they look like they have a bull bar built into the bumper so its funky lol now the raptor version looks so sick and are really comfy! the 4th gen taco (sorry not sorry lol) are probably one of the ugliest and un-comfiest trucks and cheap feeling one i have driven! but again this is me i do not like the 4th gen at all lol

all rangers with the 10r80s had a cdf drum failure where the truck would fail to shift...(also the 2.3 is a turbo 4 not a v6?) it was really bad on the late 21 models and early 22 models so mine... it either would slam into gear, not shift and sit in high rpms, slip, or just not even shift into drive... that truck left me stranded 4 times and ford at the time wouldnt do shit with them because they wouldnt believe owners until the transmissions started to blow up and need replaced...

now currently ford is actually doing something for them! if you go in now with a 5th gen ranger and state it has shifting issues they will give you a loaner and take the truck and pull the trans and fix it... but back when i had mine i got sick of having to ride my supermoto in cold and rainy weather because my brand new truck with 20k miles wouldnt shift into gear... so i traded it in on a 15 sr5 tacoma wish i would have kept it tbh....

yuup and that is true i plan to swap my plastic oil pan for a metal one sometime this upcoming year. i also plan to swap my 20gal tank to the oem 36gal tank to extend my range because why not lol. now this is for the 2.7 eco boost model (not sure if they made different ones tbh lol) i personally love this truck and was shocked at how much i like it! the best part is mine has the 6r80 not the 10r80 and it shifts so much better then the 10spd personally.

 

There are loads of people with 2024 Tacomas and other 2.4t Toyotas without issues also, but garlic farts is still afraid of the turbocharger

 

Yeah the 2.3 is a turbo I4, the 2.7 is a TT V6. That engine (the 2.3) was hammered on by the mustang guys for a couple years before the Ranger application, so it's taken some abuse. I really liked it when I test drove it, but the 10 speeds did feel like it didn't know what to do with all of them. I say that, as I own a turd gen AT tacoma................

No issues with the 6, I thought the 10 was a good transmission, but I haven't looked at it for real lately. I'd F with it in an F150, but it just seems too clumsy and too many gears in the Ranger. BUT it does leave the door open to mod a 5.0 into a ranger (buy buying a stock ranger raptor would probably cost the same, or less, and be factory....)