Mazda,Ranger or Nissan Truck?

[jimk]

I am in the market for a used Extended cab truck for my wife. The truck needs to be an automatic with a four cylinder. I need some input on which gets the best mileage,power and the longest lasting, least problems,ect.

Also do any one know if the Mazda and the Nissan dealers all charge list price on there parts as the on in Wichita Falls,TX does and would like to find anouther dealer that does not?

Thanks JIM

 

[LSMITH]

There is one word in small trucks IMO, and it is Toyota. I have been around quite a few of the junior trucks and the Toyota is a lot tougher, more reliable, and generally better quality. If Toyota built a full size truck with a decent diesel for economy and longevity I would be gone in a heartbeat. Nissan is next best, and Mazda/Ford last IMO.



The Mazda is probably going to have the most power, it is a realtively big 4 in them, the Toyota has a new 4 as of a couple of years ago that if I remember right is a 2. 7L. A co-worker went from a Toyota with the 3. 0 V6 to a new 4 cyl and could tell very little difference in power. He was getting 25-28 MPG highway with the 4 popper Toyota and a 5 speed. The Nissan has the least power and gets the worst mileage too, they are pretty underpowered.



Longevity is Toyota hands down, they last forever with even suspect maintenance. Take care of one and it will go a lot longer than you would ever want to keep it.



MHO, hope it helps.

 

[Bad340fish]

I gotta agree with the above post %100. I had a 91 Toy 4x4 that I bought with 152K on it. I sold it at 178K with no probs at all. I had to change the timing chain and clutch but thats just maintenence stuff. I was amazed at how overbuilt the truck was. 12" rear drums, 4 piston front Calipers on big rotors. The frame was boxed from front to back also, just lots of tough parts. That beast was HEAVY though. I never wieghed it but when I sold it I trailered it out of state. It made the tires rub the fenders at time on my trailer. My race car that wieghs 3500lbs doesn't even do that.



I don't know anything about Nissan at all. But I do know the Mazda trucks and the Rangers are the same thing under the skin. A friend of mine put alot of ABUSED miles on a 97 ranger with no trouble at all before it got smashed.



Just my . 02

Clark

 

[Alaskaskiff]

I would willingly push my wife's ranger over a cliff. It is a pos. Runs OK, but leaks oil from everywhere, rusting badly underneath, difficult to work on and has a mystery water leak into the cab that no one has been able to find. Stay far, far away from the 89-92 version.

 

[Pit Bull]

Don't buy anything but a Toyota in a small truck. Their 4 cyl is bullet proof and they are tough and dependable. I had a 1984 4x4 that I bought new and put over 150K miles on it with no problems at all. The only reason I sold it was to buy a new 300ZX in 1990. The first guy that looked at my Toyota bought it and I was asking a premium. It still looked like it was almost new.

 

[stevek]

There is no doubt on Toyota's being the best compact in my mind. I traded my 97 Tacoma 4x4 in on my CTD and loved it to the last day. The 2. 7 4 was impossible to kill and would tow anything you needed. The only downside was that with a reg cab and 5 speed I would only get 18mpg