Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Ford Ranger vs. Toyota Tacoma

I've been comparing the two for a bit and it seems Ford has really done a great job going after the small 4x4 market. That little turbo'd inline 4 banger has a great track record and a bunch more oomph than the Tacoma. Kinda funny the Tacoma still has drums in the rear. Discs all around for the Ranger. Aftermarket support goes to the Tacoma, but the Ranger is fairly well supported. Rear lockers in both is a wash but the Ranger has a cruise control that can be set at 1/2 mph increments up to 20 mph. Would be awesome for my business. Ranger is way more comfortable too.

Resale on the Ford isn't near as good which is a big downer, but one I can live with.

Am I missing anything?

uhh, a chevy Colorado?

This is the most I've read about the Ford Ranger, but it sounds like it could be a winner.

Sorry.

I don't have much to add... but if I was shopping for a small truck right now I would be where you are at.... I would have it down to the Ranger and the Tacoma... same as you...

I would lean toward the Ranger, on account that the Taco is made in Mexico now, and may have unforeseen quality issues.

With that said.... keep an eye on the new Nissan... it may bump the Taco to the curb if the pricing is right.

The Ford seems to be prity expensive... but like you said... it is comfortable, and that turbo 4 cyl and fuel economy are big selling points.

Fuelly.com has the Ranger at 20+ mpg and the Tacoma at 17.5 to 18mpg

A quick search of 4X4 2020 Ford Rangers on Auto Trader.com shows 154 still on the lots within a 300 mile radius of my house... there has to be a bargin to be had in there somewhere.

Send picks when you decide.... I'm interested on what direction you go...

Sounds like you are sold on the Ford.

I just ordered a Toyota Tacoma TRD off-road.

I looked at the Ranger and Nissan,

For me, the Toyota has a 50+ year reputation of performance and reliability, both on and off road.
I know and trust Toyota 4X4s, I have owned one since 1981

Yeah, I was rather unimpressed driving the Tacoma honestly. Power drivers seat let you get your ass up off the floor but no dice on passenger side. WTF?

The engine is a real snoozer.

The Tacoma has great build quality and resale for sure. The engine/trans combo does leave many wanting more. Isn’t there a newly redesigned Ranger coming soon? Bronco platform?

Just another thought.... I did see where some Tacoma owners are powering up the drive train by stepping up the drive axel gears to a 4:30... which would really fix the lack of power to the wheels... so the lack of engine power could be overcome.

at the cost of even chittier gas mileage....

Ranger is rated to tow 7,500 lbs

Tacoma is at 6,400.

I won’t be towing much w this rig, but it sure would be nice to have the option of moving my 7,000# trailer around a little.

Without re gearing too! 😎

Sort of thinking of buying one off lease in a another year or two. So they lower resale can also be an advantage too.

One issue I see is that the Rangers are really hard to find. I have been wanting to show one to the wife and both the local dealers don't have stock.

If I was comparing both in an automatic transmission, then I would get the Ranger over the Tacoma. The Tacoma engine combined the gearing setup with automatic tranny is pretty lame.

I once owned a 2001 Ranger for 13 years and at 77,000 miles the engine took a dump. It ruined the top end and it had a German engine, Mazda maybe? I took great care of this truck and it almost looked showroom new. No more Fords for me with their check engine lights a couple of times a year at $400 a pop from the local Ford dealership service department crooks. I went to Toyotas and will never go back to Fords. But...this is my story only and I do respect everyone's opinion. If anyone wants a new Ranger then please go for it. That is your business and not mine.

They don't put German made Mazda engines in them anymore.....

German engine stopped 1989.

Tacoma’s sell on sheer fan base and reputation. Other than that, they are gutless in the power dept, get horrible fuel mileage and the ride is far from good considering they cost $35k and up.

Fellas and fallers, there's nauseating, boring Tacomas, then there's interesting Toyotas. One size fits all mini van engines aren't real truck engines. No low end torque. C clip axles aren't real truck axles.

I've owned, Tacoma's, 4 runners, sienna, t-100, dozen diff landcruisers and using a tundra right now, that can barely talk 133 gallons of diesel and 400 lbs of dog food in the bed. Feels like a wallowing marshmellow!

Best toyata motors for real work, are the inline six motors on the landcruisers. full floating rear axles.

Best I've ever run, was an fj-45 pick up, hj-61 with 5 speed and 12 HT, and an hdj-81 with 1hd-t. **All these had full floating rear axles**

Tacomas and Tundras are the Subaru of the mans world. Embarrassing. You can keep the resale value....

Wow, the Tacoma bashing runs deep in many of you.
I just ordered a new Tacoma TRD, so I guess I will see.
The Tacoma has a 50+ year very good reputation, the new Ranger is new.
Lots of talk, none of it has had a chance to stand the test of time.

I run a 2019 ranger in the gas patch in Pennsylvania. We also have tacoma's. To be honest, there isn't any comparison between the two. The ranger is the one. We drive on barely passable roads all day every day.

Any issues popping up with the Rangers thumbcocker?

Issues: the rich, patriotic history will make a Toyota fanboy, smoking that Toyota crack, to get upset to the point he'll have to go install another T.R.D. sticker on the fkn thing.


"BY THE END OF THE WAR, FORD HAD BUILT 86,865 COMPLETE AIRCRAFT, 57,851 AIRPLANE ENGINES AND 4,291 MILITARY GLIDERS.
In addition to aircraft, Ford plants built 277,896 vehicles (tanks, armored cars and jeeps)."

https://www.ford.com/proud-to-honor/history#:~:text=DURING%20WORLD%20WAR%20II%2C%20FORD,needs%20during%20World%20War%20II.

Another thing to, DO NOT watch the movie Ford vs Ferrari with a Toyota fanboy, or hell cry that there wasn't a supra in the movie.

I was thinking about downsizing from my 2008 Tundra with 115,000 miles, and I drove a Ranger last week. I was impressed by it. Then I looked at the Consumer Reports auto issue and another Consumer Reports best and worst cars book. All I see is a sea of red dots for Fords generally and green dots for Toyotas generally. The 2019 Ranger had bad numbers. The 2020 was better. The prediction for the 2021 was below average.

I got into a Tacoma recently and hit my head getting into it. I am only 5'10". They are outrageously expensive for the size. The gas mileage looks pretty bad for a little truck.

In the end I decided that I have more faith in my Tundra for 2-3 years than the Ranger. The Tundra has been great except for routine maintenance, brakes, and a water pump at 85,000.

LOne alternator. However I had to drive through a creek and really deep mud. This truck is used in pennsylania every day in the gas patch. It gets no mercy.

How long has the new Ranger been out? Do you trust they've got it all worked-out?

If you've got a good relationship with the dealer, I guess it won't matter as much.

FC

They've been selling the Ranger in Australia for quite a few years with a small diesel that competes directly with the Hilux. It's outsold the Hilux for several years now.

The 2.3 Ecoboost has a rather great reputation.

Wow, i didn't realize there was so much hatred for the Tacoma.
I guess when your number one, people will talk.

With a few days away from the fire, I investigated the Ranger.
Looks like a decent truck, a good 2nd choice.
I'll stick with the Tacoma I ordered.

Am I a fan boy ?
Over the last 40 years, I've put over 500,000 trouble free miles on Toyota 4X4 pick ups.
Maybe so, with good reason.

Since 2019

You're surprised guys have a strong opinion about trucks on the internet? Sheeeeit, I thought everyone was being rather cordial.

Has anyone thought about starting a poll ? How much fun would that be ?

I myself... I would get the Ranger.

Don't hate on the Tacoma!

Can you go into a little more detail on this please?

1995 1/2 to current is not 50 years!

My dad did the same thing on his last two F150's over the past 20 years.

I'd go any other brand before Toyota; the Toyota dealers around these parts are such asses that they are just not worth dealing with...new or used regardless of what they are selling. I'd rather push a Yugo pick-up truck to NAPA everyday for more parts than deal with those jerks...just saying.

My knowledge of Tacoma trucks....having three

2nd Gen----2005-2015 are generally more desired

Even the smaller 1st Gen have a bigger following than the 3rd Gen 2016+

Recently sold my '14 DC SB SR5 ......manual......94K miles

drove it 3 yrs & sold $1K more than I paid for then.....

Went looking for a new small truck last week, or make that "mid-size" since small trucks seem to be extinct. Not hating on Toyota since it does have a fan following that is fairly well deserved - AFAIK my ex is still driving the Camry we bought in 1996 and I loved my 2003 Tundra for the short time I owned it, but I think Toyota (and definitely their dealerships) kind of live on their rep. They pretty much lost me with this latest iteration, the last Tacoma body style that interested me was in 2014.

Toyota's popularity actually works against it in some ways. The Ford and Nissan dealers had a dozen or more examples of their small trucks on the lot, the Toyota salesman was a snotty ass hole and pretty much laughed in my face that I would expect to see a new Tacoma actually physically on the lot - they are all pre-sold months in advance. Doubt I will darken that dealership's door in the future.

The Ranger has a lot going for it at least by the specs, and Ford knows how to make a good truck even if they don't always do so. Would love to have my 1990 F-150 back again, that was a great truck for my needs. My girlfriend back in the early 90's had a 1991 Ranger and by and large it was a good truck. If'n I do pull the trigger and get a new one it'll probalby be a Ranger or the Nissan Frontier, and likely the Ranger.

Unfortunately no one still makes what I really want, a single cab, small utility pickup. But an access cab with a 6' bed will still work just fine.

The engine has been around forever without a turbo, the transmission is same one used in F-150's.

Every Toyota I've ever ridden in feels like you are setting in a lawn chair...all frame no cushion..

And the paint will be gone in 10 years.

Ranger for me

TFL Trucks on Youtube has reveiwed nd compared them fairly extensively

The transmission is used in all the Ford trucks including f450’s, 550’s and f-600’s.

We maintain and produce natural gas wells. These wells and the compressors are in very rugged out of the way places in the woods and hollows. Because of the nature of the gas industry, nothing in the way of roads are maintained. Ruts, ditches off camber you name it. Snow, ice mud. There is no way around it , you have to get in to the sites. Lot's of times with chains on. When I said in an earlier post about an alternator going out because of going through a creek, it wasn't just the one time. Many times.

What’s it got on the Tacoma?

Power ground clearance, and compared to the tacomas at work, reliability. Also more cab room.

Thanks man.

Don't own either but test drove both, I can get in a Ranger,I hit my head in the Taco. Just test drive one guys ,the road noise is horrible in the taco.Taco has better ground clearance

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not anti toyota. I just think the ranger is the better of the two.

I’m not either and I agree.

So the paint will last about 9 years longer than a Ford's?

I can't believe we have so many Ford haters on here.

C'mon, brother, we got lots 'o people who hate just about anything. Like White Claw....

My two main brands are Toyota and Ford, so I don't know which one to bash.....

I will say that Toyota often falls short on features/comforts, as well as engine power/performance, but has a great understanding of build quality. Ford understands features and tech, and has improved on build quality greatly in the last 20 years. It boils down to what you want to spend your money on, considering your expectations.

A Tacoma with something like Ford's 2.7L V-6 Ecoboost (the bigger engine option for the new Bronco) would be an amazing machine. I recently bought a new Ford truck, as Toyota just doesn't offer me what I'm looking for at the moment. The Tundra sucks down too much fuel with its 5.7L and 6spd auto, while the newest Tacoma seems to be underpowered in order to offer a decent mpg rating that is in line with its competitors. I can't see having marginal power in order to gain 2mpg over a package that would offer adequate/sufficient power. Surely Toyota will get caught up soon with regards to engine/tranny packages, as they are lagging.

I'm not bashing Toyota's only stating my personal observations.

While I'm at the last Taco I looked in the floor of the bed was 2-3 weird shaped metal pieces caulked and bolted (maybe welded too) together. I didn't love that either.

Mike

It's a known fact that they are not making them like they used to. Less payload and not as "heavy duty". The 3.5 is not as good as the 4.0. Last good Taco's were the '15 models, according to 2 different Toyota managers I've talked to. One reason I'm going to keep my rust free 2004 double cab and first gen Tundra. As for the Ranger, you guys can keep those. Fords have too many issues, most times requiring the dealership to service. A simple flashing of the computer will run upwards of $200.00. They got you by the balls. An example: If the EPAS goes bad on your ranger, you will need the dealership to replace it. You can do the work, but the computer will need to be flashed by a Ford dealership. As it was explained to me when I actually had to replace one in an Escape, the dealership can flash it for $200.00, but if it has any issues, its on you. They will not cover or guarantee it will work. You are out the $800.00 in parts and $200.00 for diagnostic and flashing. You'll end up putting $1,200-$1,500.00 into it, if Ford does the work for you, but you get a 1 year warranty. Some of these new vehicles are a fu cking joke. Glad you boys have the money to throw at them. The older Toyota's have been nothing but dependable and reliable for myself and most of my buddies. I have one buddy that has owned the same Taco since new in '98. He has 170,000 on it and just recently had the original brakes changed. He's changed the Timing belt and has kept it maintained well. It really hasn't cost him much to own over the last 20 years. The same can be said for my '04 Tacoma and 00 Tundra. Damn reliable vehicles, one of the reasons they hold their value so well..

Like anything else, if you point out the downside, failures, or cons to any product here on the campfire you are suddenly a hater or a basher, that’s so [bleep] stupid. Toyota for many years had a reputation for making chit that last when other manufacturers didn’t, all the vehicles being made in the last 20 years are miles ahead of what was made back in the day. Yes they are more technologically advanced hence where certain designs will have problems. I’ve owned several Tacoma’s (mostly when I was younger) and my son currently has one, but they are not that great of a truck. They are great to give a kid who can abuse it and not have many breakdowns but as far as comfort and capability, they just aren’t there. There’s lots of room for the big 3 to make a better compact/midsized truck especially in the power, ride quality and performance dept with better fuel mileage to boot.

I’ve really wanted to like Ford trucks over four decades. They won’t let me. I’ve only had 3, and tried two F-150s about ten years back. They were both a freaking POS. My latest attempt was cut short by my buddy’s brand new 2020, F150, which Ford had to buy back from him at under 10k miles, due to lemon laws and having no fix for the apparent drivetrain design flaws. Then there’s the light aluminum vs heavy steel vs impact. Killed some in my family.

I’ve had stellar Chevrolets, but their socialist nature has ruled out new ones.

I’ve owned a LOT of different Toyota trucks and Landcruisers. The only major let down ever was a first year Tundra that puked the tranny at 73k....which Toyota replaced with the upgraded tranny, for FREE.

I can live without some latte features and tire burning ability, if it comes to long term reliability and peace of mind.

I don’t buy much ‘newer’ stuff from anyone, just because of quality degradation in everything these days.....had a 2017 Tundra, and went back to a first gen....my 2004 Tundra and ‘95 LC are still rolling.

I have run two Tacomas for the last 20+ years .1st one was 4 banger and I sold for $4k with 275K miles on it and still running good. 2nd one is a 2004 , 6 banger 175K miles on it an still going strong.Std 100K serpentine belt with water pump kit, plugs, struts and tires.

As for dealers, I have yet found one of any make of vehicle that are worth a damn. Big trucks I have owned two Dodges, one was a Cummins, one Ford 3/4T ,460 engine .Diesel went south at 150K. Ford went south at 85K, This Chevy Duramax now is wait and see with only 15K on it.

The Tacomas were never meant to be a heavy work truck .Yep,I like then. If you go looking for one and find one you might like you had best buy it right then because it will be gone tomorrow..They are reliable and have decent resale value.

If I were looking for another light weight truck,I would not look at anything else.

Just to throw another factor into the mix, how do folks feel about the Nissan Frontier?

I can bash Ford too, My wife bought a 2011 Ford Focus Titanium new off the lot.

Worst car ever, CVT transmission slipped like a fat lady on ice!

Should have never been released it was so bad...

Mike

Thought Ford used a Dual Clutch auto in those, not a CVT.

I don't know if this applies to the Tacoma, but with my wife's 2018 Highlander and 3.5L it was really sluggish. I mean a dog. Slow engine response and would not downshift aggressively. Never bothered her, and the fuel mileage was decent.

Last year, I started driving the Highlander more. The engine response and shifting is much more aggressive now, as the ECU/TCU have adapted to my driving style. However, it literally took months of me driving it before it changed. And fuel mileage went down 3 MPG in mixed driving, but its a lot more fun to drive now.

My Tundra was similar in that it would hold higher gears and not downshift going downhills. I started manually shifting, and after a few weeks the TCU was downshifting perfectly.

Would not be surprised if the Tacoma is programmed for similar characteristics, to help fuel economy. And there might be a way to trick the controllers, or get them flashed to avoid the wait.

Tacoma and Highlander weigh about the same, with similar engine output. The Highlander doesn't pull like a Tundra, but is fairly peppy now.

I don't like how low the seats are on the Tacoma, and have never been interested in owning them but my buddies like them. Don't care for the crossover pipe either. Or the tender bits hanging down below the bottom of the frame rails.

I like the Frontier, and am really interested in seeing how the new model does. The previous generation had everything tucked up and protected by the frame rails. I like that for a mini-truck, as I'd be using one for more serious wheeling than a fullsize. Probably not a big deal for most people though.

I've owned Toyotas for well over 35yrs.

All the bitching about Tacomas is overblown. With a few mods the 3rd Gen Tacoma leaves the Ranger sucking dust.

Tacoma power? Just have someone tune the ECU for $250 with OV tune, plenty of folks doing it. The Atkinson 3.5l V6 is a proven engine with Lexus technology.

The Tacoma auto transmission shift issue has been updated/resolved.

Ground clearance, it's decent stock. Plenty of aftermarket options.

Seats, mine is fine. However a $5 cushion works wonders.

The Rangers Eco Boost runs hot, has a poor record. Turbos suck on a 4 wheeler. Heat and dust eats longevity.

Tacomas may not be perfect as is but can certainly be a great ride with a few mods.

Someone mentioned bad paint, I see far more Ford paint jobs peeling than Toyotas. It has more to due with EPA friendly paints being required on all makes.

May have been was in under warranty several times, would be OK for a week or so then back to slipping,

not me i hate all little trucks equally, just buy a full size pickup . nothing worse on a busy hi-way when someone is pulling a boat with a little truck and can`t keep up with traffic. me being 6 ft.2 in. these little trucks suck to get in and out too.

"With a garlic aroma, that could level Tacoma"- Frank Zappa, from the song "Jewish Princess".

Kind of my thoughts. My dad has had 3 S-10s since 1984.

I never saw 1 single advantage to them over a full sized pickup.

That’s because it was an S-10.

Hardly. Each went 250k+ before being replaced.

Like I say, to myself I see no advantages to small trucks.

Maybe 1, getting in and out of parking stalls.

Trying to inject some Chevy hate into this thread man!

It's obvious you've never had to 4 wheel it in brushy country or turn around on a narrow 2 track. Come hunt the west, small or mid size very popular out here.

Raise ya a Taco........'Jack's Truck'

I haven't had a chance to drive a new Ford Ranger, I've owned 4-5 older ones though.

Owned a '18 (bought new in '19) Chevy ZR2 2.8 Diesel. Loved the look of the truck and it rode nice. Lacked a lot of features I think a truck of that price should have included. Regardless, had 3 different squeaks/rattles and one un-diagnosed bearing noise. Three poor quality DEF messages, one leaky (very expensive) shock. That was all within 10,000 miles. Was planning to delete it, but now it's about impossible to get a good tune in the US.

Traded that off for a different SUV., also picked up a 2nd gen Tacoma extended cab 4.0 six speed manual with a 2" lift. LOVE that truck.


For those of you who comment "I hate little trucks". I used to feel the same way, but I'd much rather drive a mid-size in the woods and around the concrete jungle. I have a 3/4 Diesel for when I need that as well, but hate driving it in town and it's not very nimble in the woods.

LOL

There might be far more of that, and why they’re likely even more popular in the southeast.

Years ago.....

Had two pair of Golden Eagles that would follow my '98 Taco

They knew the sound.....they saw the portable table in the bed....

They knew free p/dog dinners were soon available.........

Amazing but lazy birds.....

Man, I like Toyotas but your picture shows one thing that irks me about Tacos. The tender bits hanging down below the frame rails. And my buddy's 2015 has that goofball crossover exhaust pipe that is just asking to be crushed as well.

The previous gen Frontiers keep that stuff tucked up above the bottom of the frame rails in true 3rd world style. Add skids plates, and the underside is slick. Not everyone needs that, but to me a mini-truck can be a wheeling machine with a bit of cargo capacity. I hope the new Frontier keeps this trait.

For a 1/2-ton, I am a lot less concerned about the underside being slick. My Tundra was no better than the Taco.

Hard to beat a small, slick bottomed, fully locked 4x4 with the capacity to carry 1,000 lbs of payload when it comes to spraying weeds in the areas I find myself in.



The only items I could dream up to make this a more productive/versatile machine would be;

a) If it didn't have to ride on a trailer

b) More water capacity

c) Slow speed cruise control

The small trucks make a ton of sense.

Now if we could just get the manufacturers to start offering "trays" (flatbeds) like they do in Australia and get rid of the stupid truck bed entirely....

That's a good looking machine, Higg.

I'm totally on board with that Higgi. For work, I generally found myself towing a dual axle trailer, and not using the bed. For fun, I'd prefer the organization and convenience of an Aussie-type tray/canopy. Not sure how popular that would be here though.

The standard truck bed really isn't the most efficient use of space for my needs. Unless hauling chicken manure, lumber, or misc. other crap on the weekend. Especially stuff that is easily unloaded from the rear of the truck. When it comes to hauling gear, then it makes a lot of sense to access it from the the sides as needed.

Aussie trays, service bodies, and stake bodies seem to make more sense if they meet the user's needs.

Based on all the fine opinions regarding the Ranger, I decided to go look at one.
It is a nice truck, and a viable option to the Tacoma, for some people.
Not me, I will stick with the Tacoma.

Thanks man.

Truck beds are rather awkward to build a skid for that's for certain.

I've kinda settled on ARE commercial shells for my trucks as they hide the sprayer and containers from the snowflakes.

I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 240k on my 08 tundra.

Put a new transmission in it last fall. That's been about it. I drive the piss out of it. Just got back from a 4 day ~2500 mile work trip to Washington, Oregon and then back home.

Your Tundra has years if not a decade of life left in it the way it appears you drive. I would stick with it.

No offense to anyone on here, but I am amazed at people who are looking at purchasing brand new vehicles at what they cost these days, to concern themselves with fuel economy or whine about gas mileage.

Reality is, when you are spending $30k on a little truck or $80k on a full-sized truck, pissing and moaning about fuel economy is nonsense.

Thanks for the insight. This is the longest I have kept a vehicle. I am fortunate that my recreation area is not too far from home and that I do not drive it for work.

I'd rather buy an Tacoma with a 100K on it than a brand new Ford or Chevy.

Before my tundra, I had a Nissan Titan. Both these vehicles I personally put about 150-170k miles on. I buy pickups used for mid-teens $. And drive them until they are pretty much done. My Nissan I literally drove it until the wheel came off. Bad axle broke, luckily just as I got home from a 3K mile roadtrip.

Most any vehicle with mileage in the low 100's should be good for another 100k if it has been reasonably well cared for to this point.

Best of luck to you.

I totally agree with your point. And to add to that sentiment, most trucks in a particular class weigh about the same, the engines have similar efficiency, and they have similar drivetrains (and efficiency). Guess what? There isn't really much difference from one make/model, in terms of real world MPG assuming that they are using the same type of design (i.e. can't compare hybrid to a non-hybrid) or technology (vintage is important here). Under the same use conditions.

Anyway, the similarities show with the owner submitted data on Fuelly. Of course, assuming that it is honest data which I really don't have a reason to doubt on the whole.

I disagree. With gas prices above $4.00 here, it makes a ton of sense to want to keep costs down and that fuel bill just keeps coming at you. Every little bit helps when you're biting off a $1,000+ month payment and registration fees to boot.

Definitely depends on the individual.

That said, in my mind, if a couple MPG is a deal breaker then buying a $30-40K+ vehicle would probably not be in my best interest financially. Checking Fuelly, it looks the Ranger model gets roughly 20 MPG for mixed driving. The Tacoma model roughly18 MPG. Let's just assume that they are for similar configurations, or just accept the data for what it is which is a representation of what is purchased and voluntarily reported on.

That 2 MPG difference, for 15k miles in one year, means that the Tacoma needs 83 more gallons of gas than the Ranger. At $4/gallon, that is $333 extra to drive a Tacoma. That is over one year, or $28 per month. If I spend $30K+ on a truck, and $28 breaks the bank for one month, it tells me that I shouldn't be buying a new truck.

The trap is to get caught up in highway MPG, or some anecdotal reports on high fuel efficiency. I like the user reported data from Fuelly but we still need to realize the limitations. That said, there are hundreds of thousands and sometime millions of miles being reporting. I think the BS gets filtered, unlike a friend/relative/co-worker who claims some ridiculous fuel mileage that can simply be an outlier in the distribution of data.

I am also somewhat biased, as I paid cash for my most recent vehicles but can sympathize with payments. For me, I no longer own motorcycles, and don't have a boat, travel trailer, vacation home, etc. So a little extra gasoline for one rig is no sweat. Even if it were double or triple the $28 per month.

Check my math though, as I could be completely wrong.

Can I borrow $333?

Buy a used truck and save thousands!

Have you looked at the price of used Tacoma 4X4s ?

You could probably save a bundle on a used Ranger.
There is a reason for that.

I just purchased a new Tacoma.
I am very happy with it so far (4 days, 110 miles)
I cannot wait to pull this thing in to hunting camp this fall.
I camp and hunt with several guys I have known since high school almost 50 years.
Everybody will come over to check it out.


If I pulled in to hunting camp in a Ford Ranger, they would start laughing, and ask me if it was a rental ?

No offense to Ford owners.
Out west, elk, mule deer and blacktail country, it’s not uncommon to need a vehicle to take you rock hopping over miles of boulder fields and up steep mountains covered in decomposed granite.
Many of the trails (I use that term loosely) are too narrow for a full size truck.
You see all kinds of 4X4s on the easier trails but once you get into the rough stuff, the only thing you see are Toyotas and C J/Wrangler Jeeps.