What truck would you get?

This is a hypothetical question given the current new truck market.

Would you buy a new Tacoma?

Access Cab SR SX V6 4x4

or a new Ford Ranger

Super Cab STX Fx4 4X4

Neither truck is available in a manual, the Ford has a rear locker. The Toyota does not. The Ford is a few thousand more, but both trucks are close in price.

 

Since you asked me, I wouldn't get either one. I wanted a DCSB. The question is....what truck do YOU want? Do you want a Toyota or a Found On Road Dead?

 

For long term I probably wouldn’t want a turbo 4 cylinder

 

The Ranger is just the wrong truck package. Bed rail height and interior, amongst other things.

The ACLB has served me well and would do so again in a heartbeat.

 

I had a major problem with my 2020 Tacoma and went through a shit storm to get it all sorted out and I am still replacing it with a 2021 Tacoma after strongly considering all other options (especially a ZR2 Bison). The fact that I had a major issue with a vehicle and still replace it with the same, I believe speaks volumes. The Chevy and the Ford are just not trustworthy vehicles at all. Sure it sounds hypocritical, being that my truck had major trouble but the difference is bad parts slipping through production vs overall shit design and shit quality. Don't buy the Ford if you intend to keep for a while.

 

I looked at this similar argument with myself. However it came down to the fact that I didn't like the Ranger. It is ugly and Ford half-assed bringing it back to the US market considering it's 95% the same truck as has been around internationally for 10 years but Ford billed it as "all new." A new generation is right around the corner though.

 

I would buy my 2017 Tacoma TRD Sport DCSB 6MT in BBP again. The question doesn't work for me because I wanted DC and MT when I bought. Also preferred a Toyota. Toyota at the time was the only available DC with MT so that's what I bought.

 

Ford has been building turbo engines since 2011. They've had 11 years to work the bugs out. They did have some minor issues with 2011 and 2012 trucks but longevity isn't a problem. Lots of those trucks on the road with 300,000 miles on them. The Ford Explorer uses the same engine and transmission as the Ranger and is currently the most commonly bought vehicle for LE use. They have put a butt load of hard use miles on those vehicles with no issues. In fact they use the same transmission in F150's so it is overbuilt for the Ranger.

I have a 2020 Explorer and the acceleration is off the charts. I can go from 40-80 mph when merging onto interstates in just a couple of seconds. Fuel mileage is in the mid 20's. Rangers's tow rating is 7500 lbs vs 6500 for Tacoma. But more importantly Ford's real world payload is 1500-1600 lbs vs 1000-1200 lbs for Tacoma.

My brother was facing the same decision in February and bought a 4X4 crew cab Ranger for about $10,000 less than Tacoma. I'd have done the same. The only other option I'd have considered is the F150 with the 2.7L turbo engine. They are about the same price as Tacoma, but get better fuel mileage and are rated to tow 9000+ lbs if properly equipped.

My Tacoma has been good to me. But at the moment are way overpriced for the performance you get. Toyota is selling new trucks based on past reputation. And I'm not sure the new ones are as good as the old ones.

 

Of the two choices posed by OP, hands down the Tacoma. I would never buy a midsized truck from one of the American Big 3. Toyota all the way.

Now if I hit the Lotto and have unlimited funds, I am going to buy another full sized Dodge Cummins and modify the shit out of it (and mod my Tacoma, too)

 

I would buy the new frontier over ford or Chevy

 

Ford has been building Turbo engines since as far back 1979 as far as I can remember. 2.3l turbo found in the 1979 Mustang Cobra. They have decades of turbo engine experience to fall back on.

I would still buy the Tacoma...

 

Get the Ford, so that we can laugh at you..... (hypothetically, of course)

 

I'D have no problem buying another v6 auto access cab sr5....long as its built here, not in another country.

 

One of my friends bought an FX4 Ranger about the same time that I bought my Taco. On paper our two trucks are very similar however the cabin in my Taco is nicer, I like the infotainment system in my Taco better; little things I know but they also tend to be the things which start to bother me over time.

As far as the engines go, the Turbo engine in the Ranger is impressive, however from what I’m hearing from our fleet mechanic at work, they’re seeing a lot of turbo and engine problems in Police vehicles.

I looked at all the competitors to the Ranger when I was shopping for my Taco and am happy I bought mine. The fact that in the past 1.5 years it hasn’t been back to the Dealer tells me I likely made the right choice.

 

a major reason that the Tacoma's hold resale value like no other, RELIABILITY....

 

Yours was built here?! That's awesome. I thought only the Pro's were built here since 2020.

 

If you're owning the truck for <7 years, I'd go with the Ranger. A better motor, taller bed, better interior, and a better rear end. The biggest pro for the ranger is the motor. They feel a lot torquier while the Tacoma motor feels gutless/hunts for gears. The ecoboost motors have been around for a while and are in a lot of vehicles, so I wouldn't be worried about its reliability. However, yes, more moving parts = more points of failure.

If you're owning the truck for >7 years, I'd go with the Tacoma. The biggest pro the tacomas have over the ranger is the past reputation for perceived reliability, so resale value is there. It blows my mind the money people pay for these rigs used. However, I don't think any new truck built today regardless of brand is as good as the 20-year-old vehicles I've owned.

 

I like my Danger Ranger

 

That would be incorrect.

 

I see that. What models are still assembled in the states?