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Have a 03 frontier I bought cheap as a DD. It aint no speed deman, it aint easy to get in and out of, it aint good looking, but it'll get you from a to b bulletproof if properly maintained and is surprisingly handy for hauling stuff around.
I really have a hard time understanding how anyone can recommend a S10. It is a terrible vehicle. Maybe it didn't leave you stranded on the road, but is crude, badly built, uncomfortable, and slow.
Maybe you got a bad one then?
I've owned 4 of them, one of them was plagued with some gremlins that once were sorted out, actually was a pretty decent truck.
Badly built? None of mine were. I've even dogged the hell out of mine; one of them I don't know why it never died as bad as I beat on it but it held up.
Uncomfortable...that is user opinion.
Slow? Well gee it's a truck, not a race car. But that's also why I pointed out if you wanted/needed pep to opt for the 4.3 V6. Heck if you need more than that they're relatively easy to drop in a V8 and then (provided you have it set up right) you can keep up with Corvettes and such. However I don't believe the OP cared about that.
With the 2.8 motor, the S-10 is indeed slow. Friend of mine had one and although it was slow, it had 4WD and was otherwise a decent truck.
There is a GM kit available, or was, to put a 4.3 in, which apparently is not too tough to do.
True...the 2.8 liter was slow when used in the S-10 as were the 2.2 liter and 2.5 liter engines, but the 4.3 liter models were peppy, especially W code models.
I've never heard of a "kit" to put a 4.3 into one. I've heard of a kit to do a V8 conversion.
Nobody really buys a Ford Ranger new as you can find them VERY cheap after a couple years. For the price of a Ranger, most of the time you can get into a Ford F-150 XL and for a few thousand more, an F-150 SuperCab XLT. Not only do you get a better, more updated truck but you also get a half-ton, more comfort features, and a much better ride. Not sure why anyone would purchase a Ranger when an F-150 is the exact same price.
This is troof.
When I had to retire my 94 Ranger (it's in Mexico now, that I know...), I thought of a newer Ranger, but the auto trans is a pure POS in them, plus the v6s drink gas. The DOHC 4 cylinder is pretty peppy and more fuel efficient than the 01-earlier version, but the sticker for a SuperCab got upwards of $20k and those trucks are not exactly loaded, either.
Anyway, my 2003 F150 XL Sport SuperCab has the 4.2L v6 in it and it gets dang near 20 MPGs doing 80 on the highway...at a very unworkmanlike 2100 RPMs. Way more capable than a v6 Ranger and only the 4 cylinder Rangers get better MPGs to notice.
That good part...as if I wasn't thrilled by now? It's ULEV (Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle) and about as good for the environment as anything else out there. Short of the Excursion, which also has it's share of ULEV rated engines and was also 15% or so made of biodegradable materials, that is...
Not sure why anyone would purchase a Ranger when an F-150 is the exact same price.
Where is this dealership lol.....
Maybe top of the line Ranger new and bottom of the line F-150 are about the same price, but as far as what I have seen at dealerships, your looking at 20,000 for a F-150, my Ranger new was 12,000.
I've had two Nissan frontiers one a 1991 and a 2000 both went way over 250,000 miles with the original Tranny and engine they were both 4 bangers. They are so reliable not comfortable for long drives but for a dd you can't beat them.
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But that's also why I pointed out if you wanted/needed pep to opt for the 4.3 V6. Heck if you need more than that they're relatively easy to drop in a V8 and then (provided you have it set up right) you can keep up with Corvettes and such. However I don't believe the OP cared about that.
Short of the Excursion, which also has it's share of ULEV rated engines and was also 15% or so made of biodegradable materials, that is...
