What to do...
choices...

2006 Toyota RAV4: Took it for a test drive this afternoon.
Lots of pep...but seemed to lag a bit between when pedal was floored
until OD kicked in. Also OD jumped out very quickly. Model with
moonroof way too confining...base model not bad.. a bit small and rear
seat room cramped.

2006 Toyota Sienna: For $800.00 less and a better interest rate on
financing/leasing, was quite reasonable. Much smoother in both power
and ride..... very roomy in front and back seats. But vehicle just
looks too big from the outside...and after all it's a mini-van.
After driving one for 11 years, do I want to jump into another?

2006 Ford Ranger: They are giving these things away on a 3 year lease.
$209.00 per month CDN for 6 cyl manual transmission model..no security
or downpayment, $1K in free accessories and a chance to play some stupid
'Open Suitcase' game to win money.
To add automatic and air conditioning you add another $50.00 per month.
The 6 cyl 3.0 liter engine isn't very powerful, but could fill in as a
2nd vehicle and boat hauler.

"Don White" wrote in message
...
What to do...
choices...

2006 Toyota RAV4: Took it for a test drive this afternoon.
Lots of pep...but seemed to lag a bit between when pedal was floored until
OD kicked in. Also OD jumped out very quickly. Model with moonroof way
too confining...base model not bad.. a bit small and rear seat room
cramped.

2006 Toyota Sienna: For $800.00 less and a better interest rate on
financing/leasing, was quite reasonable. Much smoother in both power and
ride..... very roomy in front and back seats. But vehicle just looks too
big from the outside...and after all it's a mini-van.
After driving one for 11 years, do I want to jump into another?

2006 Ford Ranger: They are giving these things away on a 3 year lease.
$209.00 per month CDN for 6 cyl manual transmission model..no security or
downpayment, $1K in free accessories and a chance to play some stupid
'Open Suitcase' game to win money.
To add automatic and air conditioning you add another $50.00 per month.
The 6 cyl 3.0 liter engine isn't very powerful, but could fill in as a 2nd
vehicle and boat hauler.





Sounds like a Ford Ranger with air and automatic is in your future Don. ;-)

http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/ranger/index.asp

Nice looking truck. What is the towing capacity with the 3 liter?

JimH wrote:
"Don White" wrote in message
...

What to do...
choices...

2006 Toyota RAV4: Took it for a test drive this afternoon.
Lots of pep...but seemed to lag a bit between when pedal was floored until
OD kicked in. Also OD jumped out very quickly. Model with moonroof way
too confining...base model not bad.. a bit small and rear seat room
cramped.

2006 Toyota Sienna: For $800.00 less and a better interest rate on
financing/leasing, was quite reasonable. Much smoother in both power and
ride..... very roomy in front and back seats. But vehicle just looks too
big from the outside...and after all it's a mini-van.
After driving one for 11 years, do I want to jump into another?

2006 Ford Ranger: They are giving these things away on a 3 year lease.
$209.00 per month CDN for 6 cyl manual transmission model..no security or
downpayment, $1K in free accessories and a chance to play some stupid
'Open Suitcase' game to win money.
To add automatic and air conditioning you add another $50.00 per month.
The 6 cyl 3.0 liter engine isn't very powerful, but could fill in as a 2nd
vehicle and boat hauler.






Sounds like a Ford Ranger with air and automatic is in your future Don. ;-)

http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/ranger/index.asp

Nice looking truck. What is the towing capacity with the 3 liter?



3500 lbs. Plenty of reserve for my 1800 lb load.
The 3.0 liter engine has the same hp as my Plymouth mini-van... 142.
One potential savings... I don't have to install a trailer hitch. The
big rear bumper an accomodate a tongue weight of 200 lbs.
The truck rode a bit rough & noisy in the test run & the engine seemed
to lag a bit when applying gas...but the salesman said it wasn't tumed
up yet and the tires were still overinflated from shipping.
Says that are left on the lot this way until prepd for sale to avoid
flat spots and save the dealers a few dollars on gas.
The truck is no prize when compared to a Tundra.... but how can you beat
the lease payments? I could upgrade to a slightly bigger V6 and 4WD for
35.00 more per month. Don't really need either for my tow load.
If it wasn't for the wife, I'd just get the manual truck.

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
. ..
Don White wrote:
JimH wrote:
"Don White" wrote in message
...

What to do...
choices...

2006 Toyota RAV4: Took it for a test drive this afternoon.
Lots of pep...but seemed to lag a bit between when pedal was floored
until OD kicked in. Also OD jumped out very quickly. Model with
moonroof way too confining...base model not bad.. a bit small and rear
seat room cramped.

2006 Toyota Sienna: For $800.00 less and a better interest rate on
financing/leasing, was quite reasonable. Much smoother in both power
and ride..... very roomy in front and back seats. But vehicle just
looks too big from the outside...and after all it's a mini-van.
After driving one for 11 years, do I want to jump into another?

2006 Ford Ranger: They are giving these things away on a 3 year lease.
$209.00 per month CDN for 6 cyl manual transmission model..no security
or downpayment, $1K in free accessories and a chance to play some
stupid 'Open Suitcase' game to win money.
To add automatic and air conditioning you add another $50.00 per month.
The 6 cyl 3.0 liter engine isn't very powerful, but could fill in as a
2nd vehicle and boat hauler.





Sounds like a Ford Ranger with air and automatic is in your future Don.
;-)

http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/ranger/index.asp

Nice looking truck. What is the towing capacity with the 3 liter?



3500 lbs. Plenty of reserve for my 1800 lb load.
The 3.0 liter engine has the same hp as my Plymouth mini-van... 142.
One potential savings... I don't have to install a trailer hitch. The big
rear bumper an accomodate a tongue weight of 200 lbs.
The truck rode a bit rough & noisy in the test run & the engine seemed to
lag a bit when applying gas...but the salesman said it wasn't tumed up
yet and the tires were still overinflated from shipping.
Says that are left on the lot this way until prepd for sale to avoid flat
spots and save the dealers a few dollars on gas.
The truck is no prize when compared to a Tundra.... but how can you beat
the lease payments? I could upgrade to a slightly bigger V6 and 4WD for
35.00 more per month. Don't really need either for my tow load.
If it wasn't for the wife, I'd just get the manual truck.


I'd go for the Sienna if it will tow your boat.


But it is a minivan! :-O

Harry Krause wrote:
Don White wrote:

JimH wrote:

"Don White" wrote in message
...

What to do...
choices...

2006 Toyota RAV4: Took it for a test drive this afternoon.
Lots of pep...but seemed to lag a bit between when pedal was floored
until OD kicked in. Also OD jumped out very quickly. Model with
moonroof way too confining...base model not bad.. a bit small and
rear seat room cramped.

2006 Toyota Sienna: For $800.00 less and a better interest rate on
financing/leasing, was quite reasonable. Much smoother in both
power and ride..... very roomy in front and back seats. But vehicle
just looks too big from the outside...and after all it's a mini-van.
After driving one for 11 years, do I want to jump into another?

2006 Ford Ranger: They are giving these things away on a 3 year lease.
$209.00 per month CDN for 6 cyl manual transmission model..no
security or downpayment, $1K in free accessories and a chance to
play some stupid 'Open Suitcase' game to win money.
To add automatic and air conditioning you add another $50.00 per month.
The 6 cyl 3.0 liter engine isn't very powerful, but could fill in as
a 2nd vehicle and boat hauler.





Sounds like a Ford Ranger with air and automatic is in your future
Don. ;-)

http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/ranger/index.asp

Nice looking truck. What is the towing capacity with the 3 liter?



3500 lbs. Plenty of reserve for my 1800 lb load.
The 3.0 liter engine has the same hp as my Plymouth mini-van... 142.
One potential savings... I don't have to install a trailer hitch. The
big rear bumper an accomodate a tongue weight of 200 lbs.
The truck rode a bit rough & noisy in the test run & the engine seemed
to lag a bit when applying gas...but the salesman said it wasn't tumed
up yet and the tires were still overinflated from shipping.
Says that are left on the lot this way until prepd for sale to avoid
flat spots and save the dealers a few dollars on gas.
The truck is no prize when compared to a Tundra.... but how can you
beat the lease payments? I could upgrade to a slightly bigger V6 and
4WD for 35.00 more per month. Don't really need either for my tow
load.
If it wasn't for the wife, I'd just get the manual truck.



I'd go for the Sienna if it will tow your boat.

The Sienna has the same 3500 capacity as the Ranger. Always thought I'd
get the Sienna next...but it just seems so big for two semi-retired
people and occasionally my mom. Speaking about mom, it would be a bit
crowded in the cab of the pickup. It has the little sideways jump seats
but I don't know anybody who would fit in them. We'll have to draw
straws to see who sits in the bed.

I had the 4x4 Ranger SC with the 4.0 V6 4spd, I used it to tow my 13'
Whaler with no problems but all in all it was a total POS. I ended up in
lemon (arbitration) law court with only 9000 miles on it. The judgement
went in my favor, so I took the money and bought a Chebby Silverado.

FWIW. I'd be leery of any salesman that said a brand new vehicle needed
a tuneup. UD

"Don White" wrote in message
...
What to do...
choices...

2006 Toyota RAV4: Took it for a test drive this afternoon.
Lots of pep...but seemed to lag a bit between when pedal was floored until
OD kicked in. Also OD jumped out very quickly. Model with moonroof way
too confining...base model not bad.. a bit small and rear seat room
cramped.

2006 Toyota Sienna: For $800.00 less and a better interest rate on
financing/leasing, was quite reasonable. Much smoother in both power and
ride..... very roomy in front and back seats. But vehicle just looks too
big from the outside...and after all it's a mini-van.
After driving one for 11 years, do I want to jump into another?

2006 Ford Ranger: They are giving these things away on a 3 year lease.
$209.00 per month CDN for 6 cyl manual transmission model..no security or
downpayment, $1K in free accessories and a chance to play some stupid
'Open Suitcase' game to win money.
To add automatic and air conditioning you add another $50.00 per month.
The 6 cyl 3.0 liter engine isn't very powerful, but could fill in as a 2nd
vehicle and boat hauler.



Never had a Toyota anything, so I can't comment, but I have had a couple of
Rangers and I think they are one of the greatest values around. Actually a
re-badged Mazda, just about everyone I know that's had one, including me,
loved the little truck. I also had a Chevy S-10 for a while. The Ranger
was much better, IMO. It acts like a little truck.

RCE

""UglyDan®©T"" wrote in message
...
I had the 4x4 Ranger SC with the 4.0 V6 4spd, I used it to tow my 13'
Whaler with no problems but all in all it was a total POS. I ended up in
lemon (arbitration) law court with only 9000 miles on it. The judgement
went in my favor, so I took the money and bought a Chebby Silverado.

FWIW. I'd be leery of any salesman that said a brand new vehicle needed
a tuneup. UD



My last post.

Everyone I know except Ugly Dan who had/has a Ranger loves it. :-)

RCE

On Thu, 30 Mar 2006 19:51:54 -0500, "RCE" wrote:

Never had a Toyota anything, so I can't comment, but I have had a couple of
Rangers and I think they are one of the greatest values around. Actually a
re-badged Mazda, just about everyone I know that's had one, including me,
loved the little truck. I also had a Chevy S-10 for a while. The Ranger
was much better, IMO. It acts like a little truck.

I have a Toyota Tundra which acts like a big truck.

All kidding aside I think it's a great vehicle. Whether it is a great
"value" or not is an interesting debate. There is no question that
there are cheaper trucks out there with comparable capabilities, but
my past experiences with Ford and Chevy quality/reliability leaves a
lot to be desired. Honestly, your recent experiences with a Ford
truck have done nothing to change my mind.

My Tundra will be 5 years old in the fall and has never required any
unscheduled maintenance. That is consistent with what we have have
become accustomed to with Toyotas and Hondas, and is worth a lot to
me. My youngest son is still driving our old '92 Camry every day in
NYC traffic. Almost 200,000 miles and it has never required any
unscheduled maintenance either, although it did need a radiator
replacement at one point.

If only they made boats... :-)

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 30 Mar 2006 19:51:54 -0500, "RCE" wrote:

Never had a Toyota anything, so I can't comment, but I have had a couple
of
Rangers and I think they are one of the greatest values around. Actually
a
re-badged Mazda, just about everyone I know that's had one, including me,
loved the little truck. I also had a Chevy S-10 for a while. The Ranger
was much better, IMO. It acts like a little truck.

I have a Toyota Tundra which acts like a big truck.

All kidding aside I think it's a great vehicle. Whether it is a great
"value" or not is an interesting debate. There is no question that
there are cheaper trucks out there with comparable capabilities, but
my past experiences with Ford and Chevy quality/reliability leaves a
lot to be desired. Honestly, your recent experiences with a Ford
truck have done nothing to change my mind.


Since I moaned and groaned before about my Ford Powerstroke, I guess I
should also report some of the more recent up side.

About 2 months ago, which was about 1 month after my second stranding by the
truck, I got a notice from Ford requesting that I bring the truck in to the
dealership for a software update on the engine. At the time the truck was
running, I was busy and I forgot about the letter.

Before I started this trip to Denver, I brought the truck to the dealership
for regular service and remembered the letter. The short of it is, they
reprogrammed the engine control computer or whatever it is called with
revised software. The effect was immediate. The engine is quieter,
particularly when cold, is smoother running and has gobs more power. This
trip to Denver really underscored the difference. Going out with an empty
trailer, I noticed more power and smoother throttle response, but expected
to notice some difference coming back hauling the old truck on the trailer.
Nothing. This thing hauls up and down hills at 70-75 miles an hour, never
downshifts out of overdrive (it used to all the time, even pulling a 20'
boat) and gets about 2-3 miles per gallon better fuel mileage to boot.

I weighed everything (loaded truck and trailer with '55 truck) at a CAT
scale on the way back. 14,400 lbs.

I think the original engine software had a glitch in it.

If it keeps running like this, I'll never get rid of it.

RCE