Test drove a Ranger yesterday

[John Lyman]

Resale value is more about popularity IMHO - I’m coming from a Jeep which is not known for reliability but great resale value. I believe one of the reasons that Ram tricks have lower resale is they used to give such huge incentives on there trucks. I’ve only heard good things about the 2019 ram truck.

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[Floyd]

I had the opportunity to ride in both of the vehicles in this photo. One of them rolls intentionally.

We had a Chevrolet Corvair identical to the one in your picture except green. My BIL, rolled it into a creek (unintentionally).
It survived but it stunk like fish soaked in PineSol from then on. A thousand air fresheners didn't help much..
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[MannyS]

No, it has to do with the perception of dependability. That's why the resale value of Toyotas which have been less reliable is as good as that of Toyotas which have been more reliable. It takes literally years if not decades for perceptions to change.

I can agree. But there is a reason why perception of dependability is what it is. Toyotas have been known to be very reliable cars. And it takes years and decades for a perception to change because that's how long the car needs to be on the road to know if it truly is dependable. Any car/truck can be dependable in 5 years. The question is, is it still dependable after?

 

[VAMike]

I can agree. But there is a reason why perception of dependability is what it is. Toyotas have been known to be very reliable cars. And it takes years and decades for a perception to change because that's how long the car needs to be on the road to know if it truly is dependable. Any car/truck can be dependable in 5 years. The question is, is it still dependable after?

Toyota has had particular bad models, engines, tranny's, etc for decades. Their support if you have one of those is generally mediocre. In other words, they are basically the same as everyone else. (Maybe not FCA ) But, they have a reputation developed in the 80s when Detroit was putting out some real crap on wheels and have been milking that even though they haven't been objectively better overall for at least 20 years.

Context: we had a Toyota with a dodgy hydraulic lifter design back in the mid 80s. We were on the third engine (under warranty) before running away from it. Legendary Toyota quality? Do they make other cars without issues? Sure--but so does everyone else. It's disingenuous when people excuse Toyota issues because of their reputation, but don't excuse the same stuff from other manufacturers due to their reputation.

 

[shred5]

The Taco are dependable but the frames rust in areas like where I live that use lots of salt on the road. All frames rust around here but nothing like the Taco. It is one reason you do not see allot of older Tacos around here but still see allot of old Rangers and some Dakotas. The Ranger amazes me how good the old ones still look too. Never seen a truck hold up like the old Rangers.

I have allot of friends with trucks and some with Tacos. They have had no issues at all mechanically. The transmissions are a little sluggish and so is the engine but mechanically sound..

 

[MannyS]

Toyota has had particular bad models, engines, tranny's, etc for decades. Their support if you have one of those is generally mediocre. In other words, they are basically the same as everyone else. (Maybe not FCA ) But, they have a reputation developed in the 80s when Detroit was putting out some real crap on wheels and have been milking that even though they haven't been objectively better overall for at least 20 years.

Context: we had a Toyota with a dodgy hydraulic lifter design back in the mid 80s. We were on the third engine (under warranty) before running away from it. Legendary Toyota quality? Do they make other cars without issues? Sure--but so does everyone else. It's disingenuous when people excuse Toyota issues because of their reputation, but don't excuse the same stuff from other manufacturers due to their reputation.

I agree again to an extent. No one makes a perfect car/truck. But some companies have a lot more issues with vehicles than others. Cough.. Chrysler.. cough.. Likelyhood of having problems "with certain models" is a lot less with Toyota and Ford than any other.

 

[NickTheEnforcer]

Generally speaking I feel a lot of perceived 'good' or 'better' companies not just automakers are actually no better or worse when it comes to products BUT actually better or worse at MARKETING. GM has basically bought & paid for all their JD Power awards and its kind of a joke how much money they spend to convince the public that the are 'awarded'. Proof is in the longevity [or problems] we have in the long run, everyone has an opinion. It's kinda like if you are in a room with six guys and ask "what's the best brand of oil?" and you get eight different answers...

 

[MannyS]

Generally speaking I feel a lot of perceived 'good' or 'better' companies not just automakers are actually no better or worse when it comes to products BUT actually better or worse at MARKETING. GM has basically bought & paid for all their JD Power awards and its kind of a joke how much money they spend to convince the public that the are 'awarded'. Proof is in the longevity [or problems] we have in the long run, everyone has an opinion. It's kinda like if you are in a room with six guys and ask "what's the best brand of oil?" and you get eight different answers...

If you put six mechanics in a room you will not get six different answers.

 

[NickTheEnforcer]

If you put six mechanics in a room you will not get six different answers.

you missed the point my sarcasm... ask six guys a question get eight answers back.

 

[Mokume]

My Uncle owned both Corvair and Vega wagons, he tells me he enjoyed the Corvair until it got stolen in the Philippines, he was stationed there while in the AF. The Corvair was replaced by an early '60's Falcon wagon which followed him in his AF career. He claims it was uber reliable but as exciting to drive as a doorknob.

The venerable Falcon was replaced by a late '70's Vega wagon, he told me it made a wonderful race car...the drivetrain and body were in a race with each other as to who would self-destruct first.

The Vega was yellow, a fitting color for it...

 

[Mokume]

I agree again to an extent. No one makes a perfect car/truck. But some companies have a lot more issues with vehicles than others. Cough.. Chrysler.. cough.. Likelyhood of having problems "with certain models" is a lot less with Toyota and Ford than any other.

The Honolulu Police department allows subsidized vehicles for official police use, meaning the PO can buy and use an approved private vehicle for official police duties.

My nephew bought and used a brand new 2015 Dodge Charger for this purpose, he tells me it spent 80% of it's life at the dealership for every malfunction imaginable.

He got rid of the 'Dodge for the garage' and now uses a Toyota 4Runner, matter of fact 95% of the cops eligible for a subsidized vehicle use 'Runners here.

 

[Marpater]

Kinda in line with the topic, I have purchased in my life at least a dozen new vehicles VW, Pontiacs, Hondas and Fords and with all those purchases only once have I received a questionare on satisfaction, reliability, ease of operation etc.

I have to wonder, would you not think that after 40 years and more than a dozen vehicles I would have received more than a single request for review?

I have to ask myself, who do they (JD Powers, Consumer Reports) send their request for reviews out to? What demographic? Are their reviews slanted toward specific brands?

On the report of American content - They say that Honda has the most? OK, but if Honda only sells one vehicle per every 20 Ford sells who really has the most effect on American product?

I guess it all boils down to, the old statement, Figures lie and Liars figure.........

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