[volcomstone03]

im trying to go back to school next year and if i do im going to have to get rid of most of my debt, which means selling my taco and getting a less expensive pickup. right now im looking at maybe a ranger, 98ish 2wd 4cyl 5spd, no more than 100k miles. somethign cheap that will get me around. i would like to stay with a pickup for moving and things like that. I want to keep it around $4,000 so the ranger seems like the best reliability/cost tradeoff to me. other options would include S10/sonoma, nissan, etc. i can manage to do without 4x4 until i finish school.

what do you guys think? what would you do? anyone had experiences with rangers around 100k?

 

[Jamier2]

My brother's had two rangers, and my cousin also had one. IMO they seemed to seriously deteriorate around that mileage. I would avoid them, and the 4 cyl for sure if possible.

If I was looking for a beater truck I'd look for an old Mazda pickup like very early 90s or so. They're hard to find but you just can't kill those little trucks, and they're very cheap. The Nissan Hardbody is also a truck I've been impressed with as far as drivetrain goes. You could always look for an older Toyota 2x4 truck or an older 4x4 - they can be bought for around what you're looking to spend and they have the reliability that you already know about.

 

[John Luttrell]

I suggest an older nissan pickup, say 90 model on up. I had a 91 model 2wd and drove it for 10 years with no problems what so ever. There are a lot of em still on the road and can be had for what your looking at spending. Good on gas and dependable.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

I agree with the Nissan hardbody with the z24 engine. better than the KA24 and dependable. I would still have an 87 hardbody if I hadn't totaled it. I paid 2400 cash for it in 98. At 150K it used no oil, no leaks and ran like a chanp.. I should have replace those dry rotted tires though..

 

[rojodiablo]

Why not try to find another taco?? Sell yours, and get a slightly older one, or a prerunner taco. Still a toyota, and still really reliable....

 

[Kyota]

Yeah like that guy said. But man, the 94-95 toyota pickups were good lookin trucks. You can get a 4x single for around 4000 is pretty good shape easy I would imagine.

But dude, if ya want a ranger they are good too. I like em anyhow. It would probably have been my next option to the taco.

 

[volcomstone03]

I would avoid them, and the 4 cyl for sure if possible.

QUOTE]

i would think the 4 cyl would be more reliable than the 3.0 or 4.0, because it has less shit to go wrong with it. i've heard mixed opinions so far on the rangers, i'm thinking about just refinancing my taco loan for 6 more years (damn that would suck). however the ranger im looking at has 95k miles on it, asking 4500. this would be extremely affordable, but i can't afford to be fixing it when shit breaks. i hate being poor

 

[ByrdDog20]

I was looking on NADA just recently and it seems like 95-96 4 cyl, 2wd Tacos were valued less than $4000. Like others said, much more reliable and you already know about them. Something like that has very little to go wrong on them and get great MPG. I had a 1984 short cab that got me through college with very little breakdowns.

They say poverty builds character.

 

[rojodiablo]

I would avoid them, and the 4 cyl for sure if possible.

QUOTE]

i would think the 4 cyl would be more reliable than the 3.0 or 4.0, because it has less shit to go wrong with it. i've heard mixed opinions so far on the rangers, i'm thinking about just refinancing my taco loan for 6 more years (damn that would suck). however the ranger im looking at has 95k miles on it, asking 4500. this would be extremely affordable, but i can't afford to be fixing it when shit breaks. i hate being poor

The 4cyl. ranger, and I had 2 of them, were decent trucks, but they are notorious for killing intake valve lifters in the center 2 cyl. The lifters are directly over the exhaust port, and they get HOT, and fail with some regularity. Other than that, they were not too bad a truck at all. Just electric junk like switches and stuff not lasting long enough.

 

[WindsorTaco]

i agree an early 90's nissan hardbody is pratically bullet proof. my 93 pathfinder took quite a beating while i was away for school. excellent build but terrible mileage.

 

[volcomstone03]

The 4cyl. ranger, and I had 2 of them, were decent trucks, but they are notorious for killing intake valve lifters in the center 2 cyl. The lifters are directly over the exhaust port, and they get HOT, and fail with some regularity. Other than that, they were not too bad a truck at all. Just electric junk like switches and stuff not lasting long enough.

how much to replace intake valve lifters?

 

[kamaaina1]

Keep it!

Do what ever you have to do to keep your Tacoma. I think in the long run, you'll be better off! Remember, Tacoma's (if you take care) will last you at least 10+ years.
Good luck!

 

[rojodiablo]

how much to replace intake valve lifters?

The lifters were like $12-15 each. It became a royal pain in the neck.. You have the timing belt to remove, the valve cover gasket, etc. One motor had a rubber gasket on the cover, it was reusable. The other did not. I never found out why.... The hard part is when the lifter implodes, or crushes. The base gets locked into the head, and is glued down by burnt oil. I made a puller for it, I did it so many times on my race truck. I liked the motor well enough, but man, did I hate those lifters...

 

[volley]

I'm a fan of the Ranger (have had 2) but I don't know if I would want one with 100,000 miles on it. By that point they ususally need some TLC...

 

[U.P.TRD]

If you can't keep your taco I would most likely look for an older Toyota or Nissan.

 

[GodwinAustin]

im trying to go back to school next year and if i do im going to have to get rid of most of my debt, which means selling my taco and getting a less expensive pickup. right now im looking at maybe a ranger, 98ish 2wd 4cyl 5spd, no more than 100k miles. somethign cheap that will get me around. i would like to stay with a pickup for moving and things like that. I want to keep it around $4,000 so the ranger seems like the best reliability/cost tradeoff to me. other options would include S10/sonoma, nissan, etc. i can manage to do without 4x4 until i finish school.

what do you guys think? what would you do? anyone had experiences with rangers around 100k?

heres your truck man - this looks to be exactly what youre looking for - heck I'd buy it if I had the money:

http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.php?p=548077#post548077

 

[TOYOTA]

The s-10= your asking for trouble.
Ford= not much better
If you look around you can find a Tacoma for $4000,I found a few 95-98 ((4x4)) Tacomas in New England within the past year for $3500-$5000.........look in your local free-ad papers.

 

[volcomstone03]

heres your truck man - this looks to be exactly what youre looking for - heck I'd buy it if I had the money:

http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.php?p=548077#post548077

damn, i'd buy that. too bad i'm in CA.

 

[tntaco]

cant beat a toyota man.....look for an older one for about the right amout of $$...i would buy a toyota with 200k over a ford ranger that has 100k..maybe thats just me though