Comments: 1-15, 16-30
Paint peeled slightly on ends of front bumper. Mechanically perfect (I wasn't aware this existed!)
This truck is why the Japanese are so much better at building automobiles. They still offer a reliable, no-frills truck. I don't want a $40K SUV with tons of crap that will break in 10,000 miles of use. I want RELIABILITY first and foremost. Why oh why can't Chevy build something this good?! Oh well, barring a terrible car accident, I will be driving this little Toyota for 20 more years. What a solidly-engineering machine. Its not a race car. It doesn't have tons of cab space. However, It will haul a lot of stuff for its size. Be comfortable to drive, and when the time comes, be easy to work on.
In response to one other review, the person complains of lack of space, my question is: Why didn't you get an extended cab? He complains of poor handling in snow: Why didn't you get 4wd? It's a rear-wheel drive pick-up, what did you expect?! Conversely, my Tacoma does just fine in two New England winters with about 300lbs in the bed (as well as stock tires! perhaps his driving ability is the problem). I, too, have just a 2wd. HMM.
If my experience with Japanese vehicles is typical, NO WAY will you drive this truck for 20 years. If it's like the two we have had, it will be rusting in a junk yard in 6 or 7 years and you'll be wishing you had bought a Ranger.
I test drove the new Tacoma, as well as several other small trucks before deciding on the 2006 Ranger. The Tacoma's styling was too "cartoonish", the ride was poor, and the interior was really cheap-looking. I got a loaded V-6 Ranger for what Toyota was wanting for a bare-bones basic work truck. It is smooth, solid, rides way better than the Tacoma, and not one of my friends who drive Rangers (some of which have 300,000 miles on them) have ever had problems, while two who own Toyotas have had some very expensive problems. Paying 5 grand more for a brand name is not rational.
The original reviewer will be happily driving the Tacoma everywhere long after the Rangers are sitting in the back of a junkyard somewhere.
I know a person with a 88 Ranger with almost 300,000 and it is original engine and transmission.
A Ford?!!! A Ranger, no less??? 300,000 miles??!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! As a current Ford owner, I can assure you that I understand why "Quality is Job 1," it's because it's problem number one. Last American car I'll own until the big 3 actually deserve my hard earned money. Toyota, here I come...
I would pay my $5-7000 more and certainly step up from small Rangers, Colorados/Toyotas etc. to a nice new or late model full size domestic truck and never look back. Which I have done. I have seen Toyota pretty eat up by road salt in the northeast. Also enough of the Ranger conversation if you have 7 extra grand spend it on a larger F/Silverado both are full size models instead of little toy trucks. I have had small and large pickups and theres no way I would spend the same money and have a small ride. My opinion of course and hopeful a useful recommendation for others looking at trucks. The gas is more, but I would rather the load and towing capacity and I also use my cars a lot as well so that's not really an issue in itself anyway.
First off, you're not spending "extra" money when you buy a Toyota. You are paying a fair price for a rock solid vehicle. If you spend 7,000 LESS, then you get a piece of crap Silverado or Ranger. To be fair, they both will run well for a while, but when you get over 100,000 miles on them, that is where the Toyota shines, because it still drives like day one, and the domestics are starting to cause you headaches and become costly.
Yes, I know people with over 300000 miles on their Fords. My uncle has a 88 F-150 with over 300000 miles.
Makes sense to trade in from all I've read. Get the newest technology,safety features thats currently available rather than drive on countless worn parts. I have owned many vehicles, but would never consider a car or a truck to invest $7000. Maybe real estate, but not here. Having owned 2 Corvettes and a 69 Camaro SS even I still remember the investment as at best a break even. Parts,paint,insurance, something always breaking and lacking amenities such as air conditioning, comfort, afraid to take them out because of theft/vandalism. In the end I would not use the word investment. Buy what you love. Anyone that trashes the new Silverado SS with the Vortec Max is missing out. I like the looks of the full size Toyota, but it ends there.
I never keep a vehicle over 100,000 miles because I like for my cars and trucks to look new. As for problems, I only drive Rangers or GM trucks, so I never have any problems. No Ranger, Full-size Chevy or GMC is going to have any problems in 200,000 miles or more usually, but I like new vehicles. Two family members own companies that use the Ranger, as well as full-size Chevy and GMC vans, and the reason they use them is reliability and practically zero cost for maintenance. Japanese reliability is grossly over rated. They aren't any better than any other make.
I've seen American and Japanese trucks that are both just as reliable as the next, now American cars are another story... Yea Toyota trucks cost more, but have a hell of a lot better resale value... This is a straight fact that Toyota Tacoma holds 48% of value after five years... and Ford Ranger holds only 34% after five years... So if I buy my Tacoma for $24K and you buy your cheap Ranger for $20K which is a $4K dollar Differnce for about the same stuff... Come trade in time my Tacoma is worth $11520 and the Ranger is only worth $6800 dollars... a difference of $4720 bucks... So no loss on my part and I got a better truck, with a rust proof bed, that is newly designed compared to the Rangers 98' design... Time for something new Ford...
With the recalls on the Scion for bad airbags and the Highlander for a sticking accelerator, I'll take my chances with something that ISN'T made by Toyota!!
I have a home service business in which my vehicle is my most visible and most critical tool. Because of that, I don't keep a vehicle older than 10 years. Any well maintained vehicle of any make will easily last that long. Therefore, I buy trucks based on their capabilities for my work. I test drove every small pickup available, and decided on the Ford Ranger because of several reasons:
The Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier with their independent rear suspension may be great for off-roading, and empty driving, but they don't handle a heavy high-riding load well.
The Dodge Dakota is way too gas-guzzling for 150+ miles a day.
The Chevy Colorado wasn't comfortable enough for the long drives.
The Mazda was the same as the Ford, but higher priced.
Uh...I suppose Toyota's recalls of 30,000 Scions for defective airbags and the trouble-prone Highlander SUV for accelerators that stick on the floor is another example of how well built they are. With that kind of "superior build quality" I'd feel safer in a 20 year old Yugo.
But if you keep your Tacoma and never sell it what is the resale? I would rather have a truck that saves my fillings from being replaced at the dentist.