Ranger or S10...Tough Decision

[lancerplayer]

Hey guys,

I've got a few days to make a decision regarding a truck purchase. It's between a Ford Ranger and a Chevy S10. I have heard good things about both, which is why I can't make up my mind. This will be my daily driver and used to haul my bike around. I take real good care of my things and am on top of maintenance. I just want something that will last me a long time. What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Info on both trucks...

2000 Ford Ranger XLT 2WD
- 2.5L 4 cylinder
- 100,000 miles
- 5 speed manual
- air conditioning
- brand new tires
- recently new brakes
- fiberglass hard cover
- drop in bed liner
- price: $4,800

1999 Chevy S10 LS 2WD
- 2.2L 4 cylinder
- 60,000 miles
- 5 speed manual
- air conditioning
- 60% tires
- brakes "good" (seller says)
- soft tonneau cover
- no bed liner
- price: $4,700

Both trucks are extremely clean. No rust on body. Under body has minimal rust even being through Ohio winters. Look very good for their age and mileage. Which is the right way to go? Is it a no brainer to go with the S10 because of the lower mileage? I know both motors are reliable, but unsure of the manual transmissions. Perhaps someone will experience and knowledge of these trucks could give their input? I would really appreciate it.

Thanks guys.

 

[duaneb9729]

i went through this last spring and ended up with the s-10

the S-10 was more money than the fords i could find but had half the miles.

i have driven it about 20,000 miles since last May and its an ok little truck.

personally i dont think you can go wrong with either pick.

 

[rg200amp]

with 40,000 miles less, id go with the s10.

If your into aftermarket accessories, the s10 has a WAY bigger market.

 

[The Critic]

Based on my experience with GM stuff from that era, I would go with the Ranger.

 

[01rangerxl]

I'd go for the Ranger without a second thought.

I had a 2001 2.5L with the M5OD manual. I had it from 48K miles to 93K miles and the only problem I ever had was a broken tailgate handle (replaced with a metal one for $5). One of my friends worked at a dealer and ran the VIN# through some database...it didn't have a single warranty claim or recall either. When I sold it, it still had the factory alignment on it, which was well within spec. I couldn't have asked for a more solid truck. Aside from being on top of maintenance, I didn't baby the truck at all. The only reason I got rid of it was because I wanted a larger cab, and my 4WD Explorer was more fun. At 100K, the one you are looking at is just getting broken in.

Now I've got a 2002 3.0 V6, and I've got no regrets about it either. The cam synchronizer, belt tensioner (warranty), and tailgate handle had to be replaced, but other than that it has been a great truck. It only has 68K on it, but it has been driven hard since new.

Some things to keep in mind about Rangers in general, since you may look at others...
- In 1998 the regular cabs were extended by 3".
- In 1998 the front suspension was changed to a SLA independent setup. Before, Ford used a very strong Twin-I-Beam setup. Though the Twin-I-Beam is strong, it can be difficult to align properly. The SLA suspension is durable itself, easier to align, and it handles good for a small truck.
- The Lima 2.3 and 2.5 engines are tough as nails, but there is one downside: they use 8 spark plugs. The four on the exhaust side are easy to replace, the four on the intake side, not so much.
- The only two things that will kill the M5OD manual transmission are gear oil and leaking shift rail plugs. The M5OD takes ATF only. As for the shift rail plugs, they are rubber inserts behind the shifter. They can be replaced without removing any other parts. Just pry them out and push the new ones in. If they leak badly and nothing is done about it, the transmission can lose enough fluid to be damaged.
- Make sure the cruise control switch recall has been done.
- 2001+ plastic tailgate handles tend to break after a few years. Metal ones from 1993-2000 bolt right up and are cheap.

If it's rust free, the Ranger you are looking at probably has many years left in it.

S-10s are not bad trucks either, I just prefer Rangers.

 

[scoobie]

both vehicles are babies. i would go for the ranger; my driving impression is very pleasant, and if it has new brakes that's a bonus, liner is bonus, new tires are bonus, plus it's a mazda, as long as the driver knows how not to abuse a truck, and it's been maintained, the ranger should still go another 200,000 miles. do take it in for an oil spray annually to avoid it rusting out on you.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Based on my experience with GM stuff from that era, I would go with the Ranger.



Funny, I was going to say exactly the opposite!

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: scoobie
plus it's a mazda

No it's not. The Ranger is Ford's own design. The M5OD manual is Mazda sourced, and the 2.3 Duratec I4 in 2001.5+ trucks is based on a Mazda engine, but the truck itself is all Ford.

 

[dishdude]

I have experience with both. I installed satellite dishes for 9 years, and the company I worked for ran 1999-2003 S-10s with the 2.2 4 cyl. They all held up great, with minimal problems. The only issue I remember was the tailgate cables rusting. These trucks were abused by the installers, the company did practically no maintenance to them and all 4 of the trucks they had were running with well over 150k miles with no issues when I finally left.

I have a 2000 Ranger with the 2.5l 4cyl/5 speed combo. at 141k miles I have only replaced the alternator, sway bar links and a speed sensor. It's been a great truck also. I went in for our PA state inspection and was talking to the tech, and he did say that the body mounts have a tendency to rust on them (I am in PA), but they are pretty easy and cheap to replace. Also he said to watch for tie rod ends and ball joints, but I haven't had any issues with either.

Tough decision! Personally I would go for the one that was cleaner and that you liked driving more. I don't think you can lose with either choice. Personally I liked the ride and handling of the S-10 more, but I like how the Ranger sits a little higher.

Oh one more thing, the Ranger has a timing belt where the S-10 has a chain, but it is not an interference engine.

 

[ffracer]

The Ranger has a lot better for reliability if you check the data.

The S-10s around here are all rusted out. The older Rangers are too, but if you spray it and put grease in the inner wheel wheels and tailgate bottom edge, you'll get a long life.

Replace the tires with Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s (cheep!) and Gabriel double valve shock and put helper springs on the rear and it will corner like a sports car and still haul stuff.

you will need to do a timing belt if it hasn't been done on the Ranger and a clutch in the next 50000 mi.

The engine will run forever if taken care of. I use Mobil 1 0w30 & MC FL1A @ 5000 mi and it gets driven like a sports car (I'm a racer), plus did its share of hauling and trailering. Runs like new - 170k. You replace a sensors or two and and an EGR valve, but that's about it.

Use ATF in the gear box and 75W-90 syn gear oil in the rear end and it will last forever.

Bleed the clutch fluid out every three years and it will last for years. Really a long lasting truck.

 

[aquariuscsm]

S10 hands down if it were me.

 

[PandaBear]

Buy the one brand / model you have more personal experience in, those skill comes in handy when you work on them later.

If all else being equal, get the lower mileage one (S10).

 

[Anduril]

If the S10 has the same 2.2 that GM used in the Cavaliers (I think I recall reading that it does), I can vouch that they'll run pretty much forever with minimal maintenance. Not the fastest things ever, but they've got decent torque for a 4.

 

[meep]

A friend of mine was a transmission tech at the local chevy dealer. He said that the 4cly s-10s were good little trucks in themselves BUT... said the bottom end was the weak link in the chain if the truck was driven hard. The 2.2 is a small motor if the truck is driven hard and would suffer main bearing problems with hard drivers.

A friend of mine had a ranger... 00-01? Used to take it to the quary and load 1200lbs or rocks in it. It'd sit on the axle but handled the load surprisingly well. 4cyl 5spd. Nice truck.

I've been a chevy guy, but I prefer the styling of the ranger and in this case, if all else is equal I'd take the ford and be ready for the typical aging ford idiosyncrasies (dome light switches, little sensors, etc. that I've seen konk out with other mid-life fords).

Good luck!

 

[D189379]

I'd get the Ranger if it had lower mileage. I'd stay away from the S10. So to answer your question, neither.

 

[addyguy]

I'm a GM fan, but to be truthful, I'd go for the Ranger. The S10 has only 60k miles in 10 years, so probably lots of short trips, which aren't that good for it.

The back bottom of the cab will eventually rust really, really badly on the S10 - even if undercoated, this area was a bad one for all GM trucks - every older S10 I see has rust there.

Brakes on GM vehicles always seem to be a problem - they are noisy, and the back ones get touchy and 'lock up' a lot...engine is fairly solid, BUT, the late-1990's 2.2 OHV's sometimes had problems with blown headgaskets. Don't know if it affected the trucks, but it was a problem with 1997 - 199-ish Cavalier/Sunfires...

Rangers just seem to be more durable trucks that owners are always very, very happy with.

 

[dishdude]

This is like asking which is better - Valvoline or Pennzoil!

 

[Camu Mahubah]

I'd be on that Ranger like a rat on a Cheetoh! Of course I am a Ford guy so I am biased whether I admit it or not. Except I know when to be biased with American products. The Ranger has a better engine IMO.

Which one appears to have been better cared for? Unless the Ranger looks like it was beat on I'd go with the blue oval.

 

[Johnny]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
This is like asking which is better - Valvoline or Pennzoil!


Well that's an easy one for me to answer.

I would also go with the Ranger. Must be an oval thing.

 

[Warlord]

Yeah the ranger is just a little better. It is a very durable truck and it should last you a long time no matter how you treat it.