Starting over for sons Vehicle due to wreck - Rangers vs Frontiers

[JustABritCrazy]

On my second frontier. Both crew cab SV long beds. First was 2010 had 180k when I upgraded. Bought a 2024 last summer has 18k. No issues. Averaging 20mpg. As stated earlier thing has the turning radius of a pregnant whale. Not into lots of electronic add ons, I like knots on my dash board.

 

[112Savage]

You know its getting deep when we are bitching about the noise made when the door closes

When the OP’s son just got T-boned on the driver’s side, doors matter

 

[tony]

First my buddy is not a mechanic at a ford garage
Second, I don't know anybody with a Nissan

I do own a 2021 Ford Ranger with the 2.3 ecoboost tremor package. Little over 80,000 miles on it.
Troubles I have had:
Broken wire in the steering column. Complete one off with this one. It did completely shut the truck down finally to where it had to be towed in. Mechanic at the ford garage said it was the last thing he thought of as he had never seen it before. Fixed and zero issues since then.

Some sort of part that is part of the emissions likes to go bad pretty much as soon as you buy this particular model year(s). Truck runs like shit at road speed, get up to highway and it runs like normal. Meaning you can drive it. But through town say, it kicks, bucks, surges, etc. The part is $60-70.00 and is a quick fix. Ford did mine under warranty.

Theres a little gizmo in the glove box that controls the blend door for heat, defrost, etc. Best way I was told is "it loses its way." Basically, goes off track. Needs pulled out and cleaned or replaced. I need to do this.

Thats it for me. I follow fords recommended service plan. Just put new tires on a few months ago. Ran the originals to 70 some thousand, original brakes as well.

There are well known issues with this particular transmission, and the heating blend door warping, leading to pulling the dash out to replace.
I recommend going to ranger 5g .com and looking it over.

My opinion, these are great mid-size trucks with plenty of power to handle most anyone's needs. Mine is stock and scoots right down the road. I average 23-25 MPG.

You're going to get all kinds of answers on vehicles. "My buddy's nephews dad knew a guy down the street and his ranger was a complete POS"
Just buy a Tacoma!! I had more recalls on the 2009 I had than any other vehicle I've owned. I'd still consider one though.

 

[270quest]

We went the used the route and got him a bigger truck. Something that still gets some decent mileage but gives us some peice of mind.

Found a one owner 2017 F150 2.7 6 speed CC 4x4. Has 62k miles. Meticulous service records, new Michelin tires, Bedliner, running boards. Super Clean. Should hopefully serve him well for many years to come.

 

[4090Sharps]

I’m on my third Frontier. One from each generation. I’m at 41k miles on my 3rd gen 2022, and haven’t had any issues.

The only issue I’ve ever had with my Frontiers is a rear main oil seal leak on my 1st gen at around 200k miles.

The Frontier lacks some of the aftermarket support that Tacomas enjoy, but there are some good communities and companies that support them. There are also a lot of parts that can be swapped around between Frontiers and other Nissans as well for cheaper upgrades. For example, V8 Pathfinder rotors and calipers for a front brake upgrade (depending on your rim size), Titan suspension components for increased travel, and Titan differentials for beefier drive train.

 

[4090Sharps]

I’m on my third Frontier. One from each generation. I’m at 41k miles on my 3rd gen 2022, and haven’t had any issues.

The only issue I’ve ever had with my Frontiers is a rear main oil seal leak on my 1st gen at around 200k miles.

The Frontier lacks some of the aftermarket support that Tacomas enjoy, but there are some good communities and companies that support them. There are also a lot of parts that can be swapped around between Frontiers and other Nissans as well for cheaper upgrades. For example, V8 Pathfinder rotors and calipers for a front brake upgrade (depending on your rim size), Titan suspension components for increased travel, and Titan differentials for beefier drive train.

My only complaint is that when I bought my truck the Pro4x crew cab model didn’t have a 6ft bed option.

 

[tam4511]

So the Bronco Sport we bought my son was short lived as he was Tboned coming out of school and totaled the bronco. He was ok - no injuries thank goodness - but the little SUV not so much. He was hit by a prius going 30-35 mph - so too totally cave in and destroy the car, left me an uneasy feeling and has me wanting to find him something bigger and more stout.

Based on how it will all play out with insurance and the budget I think we will have for a new vehicle - 25-30k, I have started to look at 3-6 year old, sub 40k miles, Ford Rangers with the 2.3 eco boost and Nissan Frontiers with either the 4.0 or the newer 3.8. Just don't think I'll have the budget for a low milage tacoma as comparable are at least 5-9k more than the other two.

Anyone have any feedback on the rangers or the frontiers? My son wont be towing anything, but will use it for both back and forth to school and occasional offroad when he goes hunting, fishing, camping. Right now he drives about 10k miles a year.

Seems like I have read a lot of good stuff about the 2.3 ecoboost - many saying its fords most reliable engine. Also have read that the Nissan 3.8 is a great engine, but there new 9 speed transmission is a toss up? Whatever vehicle we get - assuming its used, we will be looking at extended service plans.

Thoughts?

the Tacoma tax is real, but people often overlook the Tundra. You can find a mint first gen for half of your price range. It is about the same size as modern mini trucks, and has the best v8 ever made. If you can find one with under 100k miles it should be hassle free, just prepare to have the timing belt package done if it hasn't (due every 100k mile or 7 years, whichever first)

 

[profj]

the Tacoma tax is real, but people often overlook the Tundra. You can find a mint first gen for half of your price range. It is about the same size as modern mini trucks, and has the best v8 ever made. If you can find one with under 100k miles it should be hassle free, just prepare to have the timing belt package done if it hasn't (due every 100k mile or 7 years, whichever first)

Did I write this post? Exactly my thoughts. I bought an '06 Tundra on that basis, and I love that truck. Mileage is not bad (seems to be 19mpg no matter how I drive) and the size is perfect. Apart from the timing belt, do the lower ball joints. Nothing else to worry about.

 

[jayhawk]

College students need to drive beater cars and spend the remainder of daddy’s money on their education instead of taking out massive loans

 

[180ls1]

College students need to drive beater cars and spend the remainder of daddy’s money on their education instead of taking out massive loans

Meh, that side curtain airbag may have very well saved the kid a lifetime of head and neck injuries or even worse...

Like most things, find a nice balance.

 

[270quest]

College students need to drive beater cars and spend the remainder of daddy’s money on their education instead of taking out massive loans

My son has a full ride baseball scholarship to a large D1 university and will actually get money back into his pocket thru his NIL money and additional academic money. He's on a path to graduate with thousands in his pocket.

Also considering school is going to 1700 miles from home - i dont want to worry about car problems and breakdowns.

 

[KHNC]

I hope nobody has posted this yet. Ranger is the obvious choice.

 

[McCrapper]

Its laughable how many people take issue on how other people spend their money.

 

[SnapT]

2023 ranger tremor bought new . I love it . Zero problems(knock on wood) . Much more responsive than a 2023 tacoma (test drove one and it was sluggish) . I only wish it had a sun roof and it would be perfect but I'm coming from a jeep so...

 

[K9kodi]

Tacoma , ranger, frontier

 

[Machingeaneer]

2.7 6-speed is one of the better drivetrain choices available in newer trucks, great choice

 

[StuckInTheEast]

2.7 6-speed is one of the better drivetrain choices available in newer trucks, great choice

I think 2017/2018 is as new as your gonna find that combo. I dont believe the 6r80 was offered in any f series other than the base v6 model after that. So your newest option would still be an 8-9 year old truck.

 

[Stache Attack]

Frontier. Or older 5.0 f150(way better than little eco or big eco), 90s Silverado, 70s ford f250,60s power wagon?

Yeah I’d go frontier.

There are a few people around me with mavericks on some bigger A/T tires that drive more gravel than 90% of America and two of them love them. Maybe the ford would be good but the frontier market is affordable and are nice to ride in.

 

[Machingeaneer]

I think 2017/2018 is as new as your gonna find that combo. I dont believe the 6r80 was offered in any f series other than the base v6 model after that. So your newest option would still be an 8-9 year old truck.

This is true, hard to wrap my mind around those trucks being that old already. I think the 6-speed is probably the safest option but my personal experience with the F150 10 speed is that they're also quite good.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

This is true, hard to wrap my mind around those trucks being that old already. I think the 6-speed is probably the safest option but my personal experience with the F150 10 speed is that they're also quite good.

10spds are pretty iffy from my experience thus far up until '22 or '23 when they integrated the updated CDF drums into production to cure the bushing slip issue. Time will tell there. I wont own one yet.
Im not a fan of the 10 speeds in anything honestly. Having driven them all i just dont care for the drive characteristics. Always shifting, never uses 4 of the 10 gears in most driving conditions. 6 gears in a light duty truck of 1ton or under rating is more than sufficient and had proven reliable for all but GM with the disaster the 6L80 was.
As for the recommendations for Nissan products...Im not a fan there either. Nissan's market share and quality has been slipping for years and their long range product support is not great. The frontier has been pretty solid overall but the thing with Nissan is they are good till they arent and finding parts anywhere but Nissan can be challenging and expensive. They also arent high on my list of vehicles id consider easy to work on for the diy crowd. The Tacoma is still hard to beat for a compact pickup at least up till the redesign, I dont have enough info or experience with the newest rendition to have an opinion on those yet.
This is all beating a dead horse at this point though as OP already solved their problem with a pretty solid purchase from the look of it.