What's the deal with mazda 4x4 pickups? starting around 1994 or so they were an identical truck to the ford ranger 4x4's
as an import they are not as popular as the toyota's as a result they are roughly half the price on the used market. How do they stand up? how well does the 4x4 work? what do you have to say about them??

 

Ever see a Mazda Navajo??, Ford Exploder 2 door style. Geez lets see, Ford owns Mazda along with Cummins. Seroiusly though, There the same truck, way back to the Ford courier back in the late 70ies ?? My dad had one, I loved it,he hated it. Rode like sheezit, sounded like a sewing machine. Still back then it was a cool concept. The early V6 rigs are plauged with head gasket failures and cracked heads. Im really not sure at this point who makes who`s. Ford making Mazda or Mazda making Fords. Look at all DC`s stuff, there largly Mitsuishi oriented/influenced. My gal bought a new 2000 Ranger 4x4 and after more time in the shop for dealer BS due to constantly reoccuring brake issues she traded it back in for a 2000 Toyota Prerunner. 100K later 0 problems. I cant decide which I despise more, Ford or Jap vehicles,( if I had to explain, you wouldent understand) but the Toyota makes the Ranger look like a POS.

 

Nope, I haven't... There are some vehicles we don't get up here... Until just recently there were no Mitsubishi dealerships in Canada. (last year??)

Hmmm... Cracked heads.... Anything else??

 

Keep an eye on DSM (diamond star motors (mitsu)), They have some sweet rally cars and are trying to get into NASCAR. Their suv line seems pretty solid and I personally like the body styles. As far as Mazda goes, its an import name on a ford truck.

 

All in all I hear there not bad, different years with the V6 were pretty peppy. We have a 98/2000? at work but its a 2wd. Its one of the few years the interior was real small they say?? man there not kidding, Im 6'3" ,the boss actually bought us a F150 cause I didnt fit in it. My head hit the roof. Seems to get about 18 mph with the V6, wish I knew what size it was. The bad ones were the 2.9s and the next one??3.4?? cant recall. 4x4 systems seem OK for light work. "The twin tractor beam" from axles seem to eat tires sometimes. I had mentioned The misses bought a Toyota. Personally I wish I could grow to like it, its a cool truck,20mph, hauls bootie,but IMO the ride is herrondous even with the Bilstiens. Like a mushy boat on bumpy roads,constantly bottoming out in front. I cant drive it, again my head is planted into the roof and when Im on the pass side my back is in agony in minutes. This is where I will take an American product any day, Nothin like a barka lounger to sit on kinda like my CTD

 

The small Fords and Mazdas are built with very weak, passenger car parts, as opposed to the heavier parts most "small truck" manufacturers use. Check the strength of Toyota axles, and they are bullet proof. Rangers/Mazdas use tiny rear axles, except for the Explorers that used an 8.8", but even those are prone to bearing problems, leaking outer axle seals, and brake issues. I have a '95 Ranger that I bought only because it was $200 and had 60,000 miles, and was in mint condition. In the next 40,000 miles, it has gone through a driveshaft pillow bearing, blown differential, entire steering linkage, and now I'm going to be junking it because the manual transmission is blown. Toyota has bulletproof transmissions...even GM used a decent manual trans in the newer S-series/downsized trucks. But Ford used the same transmission in the 4x2 Rangers as Mazda put in Miatas! And they don't even hold up well in a Miata, as I found out many people who hotrod Miatas look for a stronger transmission to swap in.

I've owned too many Ford products, and won't own another if I can help it.

Jim

 

But,but,but, there the best selling pickups on the road in America Oh well they all have their issues it seems. I still dream of warehouses full of untouched 67 to 72 3/4 or 1 tn 4x4s ,4spds, D60s and 205 tc`s, in Chevy and Dodge and Ford.