Used Ford or Toyota pick up?

Question

We're toying with getting a small to mid sized pick up truck.   My husband will primarily use it to drive to work.  Probably the biggest job we'll have is to attach a trailer to bring furniture to and from college.

My question is, if we want to spend less than $20,000 does it make sense to buy a Toyota Tacoma that's older with more miles (i.e. 58,000 miles -2006)  or a Ford Ranger that's newer ( 18,000 miles - 2010).  The two pick-ups are priced the same.

Also -- we see a lot of Tacomas with close to 100,000 miles selling for a good bit of money.  Is there high risk in buying such a vehicle?  We don't want to have to sink much money into the truck.

Thanks so much for your advice.

? · Accepted Answer

get a toyota. its Japanese. its reliable and durable. they rarely break down. and its built from the ground up unlike the Ranger.

The Ford ranger is actually a mazda B series pick-up truck re-badged as ford. the thing is its transmission and differentials may be from mazda which is good coz its Japanese but the V6 engine of the ranger is from ford which is already a bit old in the market and seen its days.

the toyota tacoma's engine is more up to date and more fuel efficient, more reliable and more durable.

Brent · Answer

The Ford ranger is actually a mazda B series pick-up truck re-badged as ford. the thing is its transmission and differentials may be from mazda which is good coz its Japanese but the V6 engine of the ranger is from ford which is already a bit old in the market and seen its days.
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Nope.

That goes for "foreign" Rangers, which are Mazda products.  Stateside, B-trucks were Rangers with Mazda logos on them, with German engines (4.0L v6) and French transmissions...and good ol' US-made axles.

I wouldn't even bother with a Tacoma.  Flimsy, rust-prone steel underneath and v8-like MPGs from the v6 model double-cabs.  A friend of mine had one...my v6 F150 gets better MPGs and, well, is better.  Period.

If you don't tow too much at a time, I could see going for a four-cylinder SuperCab Ranger.  The MPGs will be nice and I believe they have all-wheel disc brakes starting with 2010 models.  Sure, underneath, it is no different than the 1994 Ranger I once had, but that might be an okay thing.

Since Rangers aren't being made anymore, you probably have some dealing room on one of those.  If you were buying new, I'd say support a worker in San Antonio, TX, with a Tacoma, but you're not, so it doesn't matter.

Good luck.

Anonymous · Answer

According to me, it will make sense to buy a Toyota Tacoma it will save your money as you are spending on Ford trucks.

Robert · Answer

The Ranger makes better sense. But the Tacoma is cooler.

Anonymous · Answer

Ford. i admire pricing out a gas pumps for Silverado's.. pump with sending unit, over $1000.00 CDN... little issues like that why GM is in lots situation. -Apprentice mechanic.

StellaStarfire · Answer

Get a Toyota.

My husband has an acronym for Ford....which is "Fix or Repair Daily"

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Used Ford or Toyota pick up?

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