Well im 18 and a college kid, I am thinking of buying about a 2004 ranger 4x4 extended cab with the 4.0 . My question is how would it compare to my dads 2000 s10 extended cab 4x4 with the 4.3 vortec? Will I have more ***** then him and faster? I know he will keep telling me he could tow me backwords faster then I would run foreward would that be true? Hes a chevy guy and strictly chevy. So I was wondering if a ranger would out do his s10? I use to have a 95 ranger 4.0 and a 5 speed it was regular cab I miss that thing it had some mods. When I buy a new ranger I dont plan on modding it since ill be in college and ill need gas money more then mods! If I had my old v8 dakota that I rolled I would not have to worry about this stuff , but I have my heart set on a ranger and I plan on buying one within this month for sure. So any help? By the way you guys have SUCH NICE TRUCKS!!!!

 

If your dad has no mods, I would think you'd be more than a match for him. The 2004 is overhead cam and has a lot more than your '95 ever did. You'll love it.

Get a tuner or chip and a few mods and it'll blow your dad away, lol.

I'll envy you when you get it since I'm running the little 3.0, lol. It serves me well for what I do though.

 

itll be close with you both being stock, but once you get some engine mods youll take him almost everytime

 

the 4.3, i think, is a stronger motor, and if your dads is a ZR2 then he has a posi and will have more traction off road, and the ranger only comes with a limited slip, but don't get me wrong i love my ranger and would rather have it than a s-10 i'm more of a ford man. but for off road purposes, chevy offers a better factory option

 

actualy only some rangers come with a limited slip not all.

my truck has the limited slip and it locks right away on bare pavement i never have a 1 wheel peel and my friends s10 SS has his stock rearend with the so called posi and his s10 loves to do the 1 wheeler from a stop and go.

so it all depends, i love my truck and i test drove the s10's and i took the ranger cause the ride was better, it was higher, mine sits higher then the ZR2 and looks better IMO, but i dont like Chebys hehe.

the 4.0 sohc is a lot faster then the ohv like ur 95 had u will love it!

good luck sry for the hateing on the s10 lol

 

is the ranger auto or manual? how about your dad's? i love my ranger and i think you'll like an 04 ranger and in my opinion they do pretty well and i dont think hes gunna pull you backwards faster than you can go forward, your dad might need a 383 stroker in that S-10. my moms husband has a old S-10 with a 383 stroker with a 5speed behind it or he claims its a 383

 

Ranger kills the 4.3 chevy any day of the week. my buddy had a 95ish 4.3 s10 and i put that thing to shame in every way i possibly could. now he has a 00 blazer with the 4.3 and my truck on 35's with 4.10 gears is faster, more powerful, everything... i honestly cant think of one positive thing about those trucks, i think they are complete pieces of crap. they look terrible, looks like they come stock with 4 donut spare tires, perform like ***, blah i cant stand them. You wont be disapointed with a ranger, ESPECIALLY if your getting a newer 4.0 4x4 extended cab, does not get any better than that. amazing truck.

EDIT : some of the ZR2's are alright, but still dont compare.

 

my buddy has a zr-2 with the 4.3 and my truck stock would go further offroad than his stock... also another buddy had one that he lifted 3 inches and put 32 or 33 wrangler mtr's on it and mine still did better with just bfg all terrains and some shocks on it.... i'd pick a ranger any day of the week

 

His is automatic its just a plain jane s10 ls. I dont really like it because it sits so low, and the frame to! I drove it and it seems to have ***** im not going to lie its pretty quick but I think the horse power of that is like 190 , and the 4.0 ranger is 202 hp ? Im not 100% sure but its about that. I really want to get an fx4 ranger but im not to sure I will find one. Theres one about 50 miles from here but I need something close for warrenty reasons. Well thanks guys you a big help. How much is the power diff. between a 3.0 and 4.0???

 

get the 4.0. i used to have a '94 3.0, now i have an '01 4.0.... it's like day vs. night. no comparison

 

DO NOT GET THE 3.0. You will get busted on so bad from your dad you will have to sell the truck.

 

Well I couldnt wait anymore! I went and bought a 2001 ranger the super cab 4x4 it has the 4.0 in it and its step side . Maybe you guys can answer some of my questions. It says 4x4 off road on the back , an it sits REAL high but what makes it the off road? Since the truck is a 2001 what 4.0 motor is that since you guys told me theres 2 different 4.0s ? Anyone know the horse powerr of it? thanks :-) .. Ill start posting pics soon as I get the truck!

 

2001 is 4.0 SOHC 207 hp and like 238 torque i think the offroad package should give it 4:10 gear ratio.

 

most s10s are JUNK.

I have heard of the old 4.0 OHV's with a few mods, smoking the newer 4.3 zr2 S10s.

All your dad is gonna see is your tire smoke/tailgate if you race him...

 

Well thats pretty cool, I cant WAIT till pick it up on monday. I know its a big step from my v8 dakota!

 

Way to go, Don! I'd rather push a Ranger than drive and S10.

 

congrats on buying a far nicer truck then your dads pos...

 

i dont think it is even a comparison. the 4.3 does not match up on any levels to the ranger.

my cousin has had 2 different 4.3L one reg cab and the other extended, both are slow and noisy. i could kill him with mine. and mine is not even that fast.

 

NICE!!! congrats bro... post pics when you get it.

 

I never said that all rangers come with limited slip. my g/f's don't my best friends don't. i never was loving on the s-10 either. i just think my neighbors ZR2 has more low end than my ranger. but his is also a 5 speed. i would choose my ranger over any light truck any day.

 

Doesn't really matter anymore. I sold my '94 S-10 2WD, 4.3, 5 speed standard, extended cab with tow package (don't know what gears were in it). I bought an '06 Ranger XLT 4x4, 4.0, 5 speed standard, extended cab with tow package and 4.10 gears.
I have smoked why too many vehicles with that S-10. Remember it's not just the truck but has to do with the driver too. I can't remember the last time someone beat me off the light.
When I first got the Ranger I felt the S-10 would smoke her and may still. I put a K&N in the Ranger and she is running much better. At 126,000 miles on the S-10 I loaded my '03 Victory motorcycle in the bike lift in the back of the truck and towed a full to the roof Class 2 dual axle trailer to FL in 19 hours on th bumper ball hitch. I have no idea if the Ranger will do that.

I think both trucks are great trucks. What I can't figure is saying buying a 4x4 truck and saving gas money?

Good luck with your truck.

 

the ranger would pull that fine. mine does great pulling.