I hear you.
I drove Ranger4x4s for over a decade too, put a ton of miles on them.
Before that I was driving S-10s...my first Ranger moved me off Chebbies for life.
Then I went through four or five F-150 4-bys (I have to drive a lot & go through the vehicles) and they were all great. But they’re just a little bigger (and pricier) than I need, so this last time I went with a Tacoma.
You know, the Tacoma is fine. But the gas mileage sucks, the small design stuff is annoying, and—this one is really weird—the six speed shifter does that thing (there’s a word for it) that keeps the rpms running fairly high even as you let off the gas and push in the clutch.
You get that revving action and sound, you know, which is just incomprehensible from a company that has been making renowned pickups for years. I know a NAPA parts guy who bought a brand new six speed, took it back after six months and bought an automatic just because it drove him nuts.
Trouble is, I didn’t talk to him until I had already bought mine.
I wish to heck Ford would build a mid-size pickup, Dakota/Tacoma size, right?
Before this latest development, I was looking to replace my Ranger. (Fat chance, now)
I really like the size of my Ranger, but I wish I had a back seat to carry the kids (in a pinch). BUT I didn’t care for the Explorer SportTrac’s mini-bed.
I would’ve liked a crew cab pickup, with a 6’ bed. Nissan is the only one I know of right now that’s not a fullsize.