4x4 small truck connundrum, Tacoma reg cab or Ranger ext cab?

I like to shop for cars (what GRM'r doesn't?), so I've been toying with the idea of replacing my Mustang with a small truck. Since no one makes an affordable small truck anymore, I'm looking at used.

No, I don't want a full size. The chances of me needing to tow anything over 5000 pounds in the next 5 years is slim to none. I can't afford 15mpg or worse city mileage. I don't feel like driving a boat every day.

I'm a salesman for a alcohol wholesaler. I have to do deliveries, including kegs (1/2bbls go on the front passenger seat, 1/6bbls in the truck, btw you can fit 8 of them in a Mustang's trunk). I have a dirt bike, the misses and I are going to have an ATV or two in the next year, and we're moving to a house where we have to haul our own trash, will have a garden in summer, and will be using the pellet stoves in the new house to offset the cost of oil heat and will probably be buying them in bulk. In short, I could really use a truck...

There are two locally I'm interested in are both 2010 models. Both trucks are 4x4. Both are advertised at $18,500.

First is a Tacoma Regular Cab SR5, 2.7L 5spd. Just like my old 2007 2wd that I got rid of when I started riding because I never drove it. Got great mileage in that old truck, hoping the 4wd doesn't negate it. CPO truck, 31,000 miles.

Second is a Ford Ranger XLT Extended Cab, 4.0L V6 auto.41,000 miles. I sold my last Taco at least in part because I had no dry storage in the cab, but I can actually afford a tool box this time around. Easier/cheaper to add a remote start, a nice feature when its -40 outside half the year. Should have overall higher performance... but I have a feeling it's going to be more expensive to maintain.

I'm expecting to keep the truck for the next 3-5 years as my daily, and preferably transition it to a work truck/toy hauler as the family grows.

Which would you go with? Or just keep the mustang, put a hitch on it, and grab a 4x8 HF trailer?

If I was picking between those 2, I'd go Tacoma all the way. The Ranger is an ancient dinasour. I don't even know how far back the current generation dates, but it's quite a way. Almost seems like Ford has neglected it. Tacoma will get better mpg, be more reliable and probably more refined (haven't driven one, so not totally sure).

One thing to consider - You can probably drive that Tacoma for 5 years and still get $15,000 out if it when you're done. My parents have a 2013 regular cab 4x4 (auto) and love the thing. They are averaging somewhere in the low 20s for MPGs.

Ford guy here. Had a Ranger that I beat to death on every way imaginable. Never had to do anything but routine maintainence that I barely did. Owned it for 5 years.

Jumped it, crashed it fooling around in snow, made it to places it should never have made it into let alone out of. Long drives, short drives you name it!

I've had three Rangers. I'm on my my second 2.3L. It has 350k and the head is cracked. $350 for a new engine. Hows that sound?

Ranger parts are dirt cheap in the US but I'll recommend the Tacoma for better MPG. 2.7 manual vs. 4.0 auto? Hardly a fair fight.

Oh, yea. The 2.3 and 4x4 don't usually go together. I had a 2.9 that got pretty berkeleyed up in a pile up. It kept going after the hoses were tightened. I did blow the drive shaft off once... I seem to have a problem with that.

I dont hate rangers, especially the late late models, but there is no world where one of them is worth $18,500. You're more or less paying brand new prices for a truck that wasn't impressive when it was last updated over 10 years ago. The rarest, most museum-quality Ranger left in existence might be worth 18.5k to a Ford Ranger museum. There is no Ranger worth 18k as a driver.

i lover rangers. that ranger will get fuel economy consistent with some full sized pickups. i love rangers. the toyota will retain more value. i lover rangers.

buy the taco.

Get a used ford 4x4 sport trac. Thats what I have, perfect truck.

Extended cab. All the way.

But a 10k 2005 full sized truck getting even 15mpg will have to drive a lot of miles to not be cheaper than either of those options.....

Neither. Find a Nissan Frontier instead.

My FIL has a 2009 Tacoma and it's been not good at all.

I just sold a 2.3 5spd regular cab Ranger and got a used 04 Tacoma double cab 4x4 because I have a youngin' on the way I will have the duty of hauling to the in-laws everyday. I loved the Ranger for what it was and the Tacoma for what it is. The Ford 4.0 has some timing chain guide issues on some years that required the removal of the engine. The Tacoma frames rust in half. Mine came from Texas and I plan to use Fluid Film underneath. So be careful with that if you get salt. For the same price, I'd take the Tacoma hands down and I really like Rangers.

Get a used ford 4x4 sport trac. Thats what I have, perfect truck.

Speaking of which, i actually think the 2008-2010 Sport Trac Adrenalin is pretty dang cool. Here's one shown with hood up because Ford. The lowest mileage ive ever seen a CEL on a Sport Trac was 00,830 miles when i worked on a repo make-ready lot. I still think the Adrenalin is neato.

Javelin wrote: Neither. Find a Nissan Frontier instead. My FIL has a 2009 Tacoma and it's been not good at all.

I refuse to do business with the Nissan dealer because I don't want to patronize a dealer that adds a $3-5k markup to every vehicle. Nice trucks though, I actually like the frontier king cabs a lot but they're hard to find here.

oldopelguy wrote: Extended cab. All the way. But a 10k 2005 full sized truck getting even 15mpg will have to drive a lot of miles to not be cheaper than either of those options.....

True, but those trucks are closer to $15k+ and over 100k miles here. It's a sellers market in interior Alaska. And I drove 17000 miles last year.

Ahh, in your case location is definitely a factor, then.

I usually enjoy the opposite effect.. I live in a large city that is surrounded by tiny towns an hour away. Usually when people in those towns list a car on CL, im the first person in weeks from the big city willing to drive out and look at the thing so they push the sale pretty hard.

I've an extra cab, and love it. Never expected that. Non the less, I'm hooked.

I've tried tool boxes in the bed,several times and variants. They all sucked. Hard to access, leak water, ruin using the bed, easily popped open or stolen entirely.

Extra cab almost always means a short bed. I'd rather have 8', but can accept shorter for the cab. However, ranger tended to have the longest beds, b a foot or two. That would be nice. Very nice.

4wd eats gas btw. Figure about a 5mpg hit for simply having it there. Be it weight or friction. Highly addictive though!

Why are you shopping used trucks at a new car dealer?

would it be worth a trip to WA or OR to get a better selection, lower price, and sure to be rust free?

Having driven both of those I'd go Tacoma, but even Bette would be neither of those but get a taco extra or double cab.

geez....

Save 18k,hitch the Mustang and get a trailer. Then you can put that into a truck that can tow.

This is coming from someone who has owned a 99 Ranger Ext Cab XLT with the 4.0 & 5spd. I would love to say get the Ranger, but not for the money. I used the truck for everything. I hauled a 2000# trailer with a 3000# car behind it. It had the power to pull at 90+, but could only stop on the highway once in a 10 minute period no trailer brakes.

I would look for a bigger truck, an older 94+ F150 4x4 with a 4.9 in it.

For that money, I'd go with the Taco.

With that budget, taco. As a former ranger owner, never again. The only time they don't leak trans fluid is when the trans is empty. My S10 is way more comfortable and doesn't leak. The third door rocks. An extended cab is a great feature, but having a door open instead of reaching over the seat back makes it more useful.