Owner's Feedback, and a Proper Introduction

[flatpackpotato]

Hi all!

My name is Laura, and I miss having a truck.

I daily drove a lowered 2007 F150 for about 10 years. It was as base model as could be, but I had some great memories in that thing, and I just miss the practicality of having a truck.

Currently, I drive a 2016 Subaru Crosstrek, and while it does most things incredibly well, it's not a truck (and if I get a truck, I can lower it without feeling any guilt )

My boy Clifford, and yours truly haha

But to why I'm here...

I’ve been looking at the Colorado, Tacoma and the Ranger. I wouldn’t get rid of the Subarus. But it would be nice to have a truck for hauling stuff and maybe a trailer for festivals (my family does art shows).

What is the Ranger like to live with? I've test driven all three, but there is only so much you can absorb on a 15 minute drive with a salesperson in the car with you.





https://www.instagram.com/p/ByzPFSXgyfo/?igshid=f9zd7sndw43e

https://www.instagram.com/p/Byt_0MZAd1a/?igshid=3s1kdrov539z

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhAbuqEnBPY/?igshid=a9x6pr4x8z0h

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhLFttDnQc9/

Also: I've test driven the Colorado, Ranger, and Tacoma. At the moment its:

1.) Ranger
2.) Tacoma
3.) Colorado

My thoughts are, I like the EcoBoost. I think that (from my understanding) using a shared engine from the Mustang and the Focus RS, there will be a plethora of aftermarket options. I also think that aesthetically, the Ranger is the most pleasing of the three.

That being said I like the diesel option in the Colorado (even though the interior isn't great) and the Tacoma has a better shifter/center console/4WD area than the Ranger.

Agree, Disagree? Why? (as you're here and I'm guessing you have the Ranger, what made you go that way?)

Oh, I forgot to mention what I'll be using it for. I want a weekend vehicle that I can go camping, overlanding, and RallyCrossing in. I want a truck so I can haul stuff and (small) trailers. My Subaru will still be my daily driver as it gets better MPG and has a full-size back seat (I'm looking at the SuperCab with the 6' bed).

Thanks everyone!

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[MSG W]

Hi all!

My name is Laura, and I miss having a truck.

I daily drove a lowered 2007 F150 for about 10 years. It was as base model as could be, but I had some great memories in that thing, and I just miss the practicality of having a truck.

Currently, I drive a 2016 Subaru Crosstrek, and while it does most things incredibly well, it's not a truck (and if I get a truck, I can lower it without feeling any guilt )

My boy Clifford, and yours truly haha

But to why I'm here...

I’ve been looking at the Colorado, Tacoma and the Ranger. I wouldn’t get rid of the Subarus. But it would be nice to have a truck for hauling stuff and maybe a trailer for festivals (my family does art shows).

What is the Ranger like to live with? I've test driven all three, but there is only so much you can absorb on a 15 minute drive with a salesperson in the car with you.





https://www.instagram.com/p/ByzPFSXgyfo/?igshid=f9zd7sndw43e

https://www.instagram.com/p/Byt_0MZAd1a/?igshid=3s1kdrov539z

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhAbuqEnBPY/?igshid=a9x6pr4x8z0h

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhLFttDnQc9/

Also: I've test driven the Colorado, Ranger, and Tacoma. At the moment its:

1.) Ranger
2.) Tacoma
3.) Colorado

My thoughts are, I like the EcoBoost. I think that (from my understanding) using a shared engine from the Mustang and the Focus RS, there will be a plethora of aftermarket options. I also think that aesthetically, the Ranger is the most pleasing of the three.

That being said I like the diesel option in the Colorado (even though the interior isn't great) and the Tacoma has a better shifter/center console/4WD area than the Ranger.

Agree, Disagree? Why? (as you're here and I'm guessing you have the Ranger, what made you go that way?)

Oh, I forgot to mention what I'll be using it for. I want a weekend vehicle that I can go camping, overlanding, and RallyCrossing in. I want a truck so I can haul stuff and (small) trailers. My Subaru will still be my daily driver as it gets better MPG and has a full-size back seat (I'm looking at the SuperCab with the 6' bed).

Thanks everyone!

I would not get a diesel fuel cost more, and since you do not do heavy towing the extra 200 or so pounds of towing would not matter. I love apple car play...

 

[flatpackpotato]

I would not get a diesel fuel cost more, and since you do not do heavy towing the extra 200 or so pounds of towing would not matter. I love apple car play...

That's a good point. Thank you. I was thinking the Diesel could tow more than that. Definitely, something to consider.

 

[MSG W]

Not sure what kind of MPG you are getting now I think most of us are in the 21 to 24 MPG range.

 

[flatpackpotato]

Not sure what kind of MPG you are getting now I think most of us are in the 21 to 24 MPG range.

I get about 30 in the Subie, so that's why it's staying my Daily. Plus if/when I get a truck, I'll probably move the basket over the truck, and I was getting 32-33 before I put the basket and spare on the roof.

My F-150 was in the mid-teens, so 21-24 is a big improvement over that.

 

[samsd]

First, I would find a dealer that would let you take one for an extended drive, mine let me have overnight, he actually said as long as I wanted, drove 3 F150's over the course of 2 weeks before driving the Ranger.The Ranger is fast, gets decent gas mileage, does what you want a truck to do and looks good doing it. Am a little biased, my first car at 16 was a 67 Mustang, been buying Ford's for the last 46 years.

 

[EcoRanger]

I love my Ranger XLT 301a package it has just the right amount of tech sync3 is great. I generally get 23.5 mpg living here in mountainous WV driving a SuperCrew I think that's pretty good gas mileage. As far as the diesel goes for getting only 200 more pounds of towing it's not worth all the extra expense. Diesels take a lot more oil at oil change time plus you have to regularly change the fuel filters( high dollar} and you have to buy DEF all the time diesels will not run with out DEF. So in the end what little you gain in mileage and towing you loose in maintenance. My Ranger is the third ecoboost Ford I've owned I have a 15 Mustang convertible and I traded in a 2013 Escape with the 2.0 ecoboost. I have had nothing but the best service and the ecoboost engines have power galore. And with the fabulous 10spd auto the Ranger is a dream I have never had any gear searching or any other of problems you generally hear about these types of transmissions, Ford got this one right. For me this is the best truck I've bought so far and at 60 years old I've bought a few trucks over the years.

 

[flatpackpotato]

First, I would find a dealer that would let you take one for an extended drive, mine let me have overnight, he actually said as long as I wanted, drove 3 F150's over the course of 2 weeks before driving the Ranger.The Ranger is fast, gets decent gas mileage, does what you want a truck to do and looks good doing it. Am a little biased, my first car at 16 was a 67 Mustang, been buying Ford's for the last 46 years.

That's a good idea. I should look into that, or even renting one. That's a really good idea!

I love my Ranger XLT 301a package it has just the right amount of tech sync3 is great. I generally get 23.5 mpg living here in mountainous WV driving a SuperCrew I think that's pretty good gas mileage. As far as the diesel goes for getting only 200 more pounds of towing it's not worth all the extra expense. Diesels take a lot more oil at oil change time plus you have to regularly change the fuel filters( high dollar} and you have to buy DEF all the time diesels will not run with out DEF. So in the end what little you gain in mileage and towing you loose in maintenance. My Ranger is the third ecoboost Ford I've owned I have a 15 Mustang convertible and I traded in a 2013 Escape with the 2.0 ecoboost. I have had nothing but the best service and the ecoboost engines have power galore. And with the fabulous 10spd auto the Ranger is a dream I have never had any gear searching or any other of problems you generally hear about these types of transmissions, Ford got this one right. For me this is the best truck I've bought so far and at 60 years old I've bought a few trucks over the years.

That's really fantastic to hear. And good info in the diesel. I'm glad though that you're enjoying your Ranger. This is very helpful. Thank you all.

 

[RedlandRanger]

I have had my 2019 Ranger for a little over two months now and coming up on 3000 miles on it. I still love it and have absolutely no regrets at all. No issues to date and after living with it for two months, I really can't think of anything I wish I had done differently. The engine and transmission in this truck are amazing. I test drove the Tacoma and the engine and transmission in it completely turned me off to it. You have to floor it to get any kind of power at all, and the transmission was always hunting for gears. My experience with the Ranger is just the opposite. It has power when you need/want it (just step on the pedal) - but it doesn't have to redline to get the power you need and the transmission doesn't hunt for gears and the shifts are very smooth. Many times you can't even tell it has shifted gears.

As others have said, the diesel doesn't really seem to give you much and will cost quite a bit more.

I'm very glad I bought this truck - highly recommended.

 

[7600]

Get the ranger

 

[SandBaja]

When I tested the Colorado with diesel the sticker said 22MPG's, not 30 as I have seen advertised. I was really surprised. I found the Colorado in both the gas and diesel to have enough power but the diesel was lethargic compared to the gas version. The suspension was stiffer and interior dated and tech outdated.

I drove the gladiator and found it similar to my 12 Rubicon but with the longer wheelbase perhaps a bit smoother in the ass end. I was concerned with the wind and being pushed around driving through the mountains and did not see anything that would convince me the Gladiator would be any better. Also the cost was higher for the upper trims. Loved my Jeep...done for now.

Toyota...I cannot buy foreign. I cannot bring myself to do it. I go through purchase options looking for the "Made in America" stamp. I understand parts are sourced overseas but I still look for American companies and made in America and those get first choice.

 

[SubVet]

We will all say "get the Ranger" Because that is exactly what we did. There are quite a few of us former Tacoma owners here who won't pay Toyota anymore for mediocre trucks. IF I had to buy a Tacoma now it would be the second gen. 3rd Gen is too weak on many metrics

I think your next question should be "which Ranger should I get?"

 

[Hambone437]

I traded my Tacoma for the Ranger. I had a Tacoma for a year and I didn’t enjoy driving it. The engine and transmission combo made the Tacoma feel absolutely gutless. The seating position was to low, making you feel like you were sitting on the floor. There was no power seat option in the 2018 Tacoma when I bought it so there was no way to raise the seat. However, I think Toyota is adding the power seat option for the 2020 model year. I don’t regret trading the Tacoma and I don’t miss it at all. The new ranger is more refined, more comfortable, more powerful, and seems more up to date then the Tacoma. I would only choose the Tacoma if you are planning on doing any serious off roading. The 4x4 capabilities is the only thing the Tacoma has over the 4x4 Ranger. But I just need 4x4 to drive in the snow and light off roading so the Tacoma was an overkill for me in that category. Have fun shopping, but choose the Ranger!!

 

[7600]

The ranger will do anything off road a Tacoma will do. I work with two other guys that have tacoma's..

 

[Hambone437]

The ranger will do anything off road a Tacoma will do. I work with two other guys that have tacoma's..

Possibly. I cant speak from personal experience because I don’t do any serious off roading or rock crawling, nor do I plan to. But doing even a limited search online for reviews comparing off-road capabilities between the ranger and the Tacoma, the Tacoma comes out on top. Not by much, but still comes out the winner. Much like comparing a Jeep to a Tacoma.. They are both capable (as is the ranger), but the Jeep generally wins. Just my two cents based on my findings and the articles and videos I’ve seen. Doesn’t really matter to me anyways, the Ranger is plenty capable for my needs. I don’t need or want a Jeep or a Tacoma.

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