My dad wants a new truck

[280Z Turbo]

As I've mentioned before, my dad's Dakota is like a semi truck stuck in a compact truck's body. The engine has all the refinement and power of a wood furnace, the brakes and suspension are mush, the gas mileage is horrible, and it just drives big. Add on to that the fact that it has been giving us more trouble than what the '86 Ranger ever did and you can see why we want to get rid of it.

My dad wants 2WD, 5 speed, power nothing, no cruise control, cloth, regular cab, etc. He doesn't do much heavy hauling, but we do fill up the bed every once in a while.

I think he should get another Ranger. Domestics are cheaper, obviously, and the 2002+ models feature the 2.3L DOHC Duratec which returns fuel mileage in the mid twenties (instead of middle teens ). It also sounds like they are a lot more nimble and drive like a small truck should (i.e. not squishy and fat-like).

He doesn't have much money to spend ($5K-6K, I think) so it may be hard to find a 2002 model with the 2.3.

What do you guys think of used Rangers? Here's a review I found of the 2002 like what my dad would get: http://www.trucktrend.com/roadtests/pickup/163_0206_2002_ford_ranger_xlt

What about the S-10? Tacoma? Frontier? The Japanese trucks are more expensive, but are they worth it?

[The Pirate]

I'm partial to 4WD Tacomas, but for basic, functional transportation, Rangers seem to be good trucks.  I liked mine.  It'd certainly be cheaper than an import, and for his use, I don't know if he'd need any purported advantages of the Japanese trucks.

[ifcar]

Rangers excel at basic, inexpensive transportation, but don't expect it to be much better than the Dakota in too many other ways.

[280Z Turbo]

Well, even my '86 Ranger had way better brakes and acceleration than the Dakota. I'd say it even handled better, despite the lack of any swaybars, worn dampers, twin I beam suspension, and recirculating ball steering.

My roomate's 2001 Ranger Edge seems nicer than the Dakota by far.

Do you realize what a piece of crap the V6 Dakota really is? The all hard plastic interior, brakes, handling, engine, trans, is all just rubbish.

Of course my dad is more concerned with build quality/reliabilty and fuel mileage.

[the Teuton]

The 2WD Ranger is hard to beat for reliability, so sayeth Consumer Reports.  My best friend use to have have one.  I think it's the best choice, to be honest.

[SaltyDog]

Rangers are fun trucks and cost little, the Nissan and Yota cost too much but are good, and the S-10 is a slow piece of crap.

Imo.

[S204STi]

Stay away from earlier Frontiers--floppy chassis, worthless engines, and rust-prone.

[280Z Turbo]

worthless engines

The Frontiers either had the VG33E or KA24DE. The VG motor has been proven to withstand up to 500, 600, even 800 hp! Hell, the stock VG30 bottom end will support 500 hp in turbocharged applications before the stock cast pistons give out.

The KA is aparently very similar in design to the L motor, which is the motor that is in my car.

Believe me, those are both good motors.

[S204STi]

The Frontiers either had the VG33E or KA24DE. The VG motor has been proven to withstand up to 500, 600, even 800 hp! Hell, the stock VG30 bottom end will support 500 hp in turbocharged applications before the stock cast pistons give out.

The KA is aparently very similar in design to the L motor, which is the motor that is in my car.

Believe me, those are both good motors.

They may be good in terms of construction but in terms of real world performance they are lackluster, and it was a real relief when they came out with the VQ40 and QR25 (although I admit the QR25 isn't nearly as reliable as the KA24).  I am a former Nissan tech.

[The Pirate]

My dad had a Nissan Pathfinder with the VG33E/5 speed, and it was balls reliable, just slow as hell.  Good torque though.

[S204STi]

My dad had a Nissan Pathfinder with the VG33E/5 speed, and it was balls reliable, just slow as hell.? Good torque though.

That is my main problem with the engine.

[280Z Turbo]

That is my main problem with the engine.

All they need is some forced induction! 

[Rupert]

The 4.3L Vortec in the S-10 is a great engine. I'm not sure on the mileage, but the one my parents have is quick enough. Of course, anything not essential for going, stopping, turning, and not falling apart is pretty much made of plastic.

[Payman]

I'd also recommend the Mazda B2300. It's basically a Ranger, but you can usually find them cheaper and in more basic form than the Ranger.

[ro51092]

Honda Accord? Just slap an old bed to that, and you've got a Ridgeline!

Seriously, though, I know nothing about pickups, but I think I would go with an older Tacoma

[Submariner]

I'd also recommend the Mazda B2300. It's basically a Ranger, but you can usually find them cheaper and in more basic form than the Ranger.

Plus it has an  import badge on it, so it makes it 20% better!

[Payman]

Plus it has an? import badge on it, so it makes it 20% better!

Obviously. 

[thewizard16]

For him, I'd probably recommend the Ranger. He seems to want a no-frills truck for cheap, and they fit that bill. I don't know how much better it will be than a Dakota, but it'd fit the price range, which a Toyota or Nissan probably won't. The 90s Toyota trucks were pretty nice trucks, but I don't know how new of one you can get for $5-6k.

[TheIntrepid]

Dodge Ram Laramie 3500 Dually. It's your best option.

[thewizard16]

Dodge Ram Laramie 3500 Dually. It's your best option.

If you could find one of those in the price range he mentioned, it'd probably be dented, have filed off VINs, and be soaked in blood.

[280Z Turbo]

The 4.3L Vortec in the S-10 is a great engine. I'm not sure on the mileage, but the one my parents have is quick enough. Of course, anything not essential for going, stopping, turning, and not falling apart is pretty much made of plastic.

I know some people with Blazers/Jimmys/S-10s/Sonomas and they've had a lot of problems with them.

For what it's worth, the GM trucks were rated worse than the Dakota in reliabilty surveys.

[Payman]

[ro51092]

I would put slap a VR6 in that, and I've got a sleeper.

[280Z Turbo]

Anybody have an opinions on the 2.5L SOHC four cylinder or 3.0L SOHC V6 used in the Rangers? I like the 2.3L the best, but they are hard to find.

Just to be clear, my dad doesn't want a work truck with a vinyl bench, dog dish hub caps, gray front fascia, etc. Most of the trucks with the 2.3L and a 5 speed seem to be in that category.

[the Teuton]

My best friend used to have a 1996 Ranger 4 cyl. automatic longbed regular cab 2WD.  Personally, I thought it was a very good truck and he never seemed to have any mechanical problems with it.  It wasn't the fastest thing on earth, but it wasn't particularly wheezy either.

[TBR]

I've heard that the 4l gets similar mileage to the 3l but with a lot more power.

[TheIntrepid]

Did Rabbits come in pickups or is this just a rice job?

[the Teuton]

They came that way.

[SaltyDog]

I would drive that in a second^

[ro51092]

Did Rabbits come in pickups or is this just a rice job?

Came that way