New vehicle confusion...
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
Mar 30
2006
|
| EEEWWWWWWWWW - it's red!!! |
Shortwave
Mar 31
|
| If it is red it is fast..that is why fire engines are red. ;-) |
Mar 31
|
| What did you expect after all that 'red truck' talk pumped at us by RCE?
Not much choice left. Today was last day of promotion...I had the silver
selected but the wife nixed that.
Choices were... black, white, silver, ugly orange red or the red the
wife chose. |
Don
Mar 31
|
| Should have gone with a spray-in liner. The only way to go. I've had
Line-X sprayed in my last two trucks and really like it. The stuff is
indestructible, and unlike a hard plastic drop-in liner won't promote rust
by removing paint in the box and trapping moisture under the liner. Also
will add traction to things placed in the bed, whereas the hard plastic
drop-in actually makes things worse than no liner in that department. And,
it act as a noise reducer rather than a noise producer. Not sure how a
spray-in liner would be looked at from the leasing company's perspective,
but I wouldn't think it would be a problem as the spray-in liners increase
trade-in values when appraising used vehicles at Kelley Blue Book or
Edmunds. Any chance you can reverse that choice at this early date?
Seriously, there's no comparison to the utility and functionality of a
spray-in liner versus a drop-in. I'd easily walk away from a free drop-in
liner and pay for a Line-X or equivalent spray-in. On a compact truck, the
cost of the spray-in shouldn't be that bad, especially when you amortize it
over the lease term. |
RG
Mar 31
|
| How much did it cost you to spray your bed? |
Don
Apr 1
|
| $389 USD plus tax. Ford F250 short bed. Done December 2004 on current
truck $289 USD plus tax. Same model truck. Done October 1999 on previous truck. Both done by the same Line-X dealer. I was a bit taken aback by the
percentage increase for the second job, but I was so pleased with the five
years spent with the first job that I never considered not doing it. Both
were done in the first week of ownership of each truck. Maybe others will
chime in here with their experiences, but I am way serious about how good a
product this stuff is. There are other brands beside Line-X, but that's the
one I have experience with, and I'm sold on it. At least check into it,
Don. You owe it to yourself and your new truck. |
RG
Mar 31
|
| Here's a link to Line-X Canada: http://www.line-x.ca/linex/loc1.htm?now=76850 Something to think about: You may end up liking your new Ranger so much
that you end up buying it at the end of the lease. Under this scenario,
getting the spray-in liner and getting it done early makes even more sense. |
RG
Mar 31
|
| I understand the application process includes sanding of the paint in the
bed so the spray will stick.
Was that your experience? If so, I figure I'll use my truck and when the
bed gets really scratched and dinged up in a few years, then I'll have the
Line-X or similar put on. RCE |
RCE
Apr 1
|
| Here's a link that describes the process: http://www.line-x.ca/linex/process.html Yes, it does look like the paint is scuffed to aid in adhesion. Your
approach is certainly a valid one. On the other hand, there are advantages
to doing it right away. Aesthetically, you don't have to live with the bed
of your truck looking ever more worse for wear as time goes by until you get
the job done. My first truck's bed looked like it did the day it was
sprayed on when I traded it five years later. The spray-in liner is a
natural sealant against rust. Spray it early and you can seal the bed
before any rust forms. I would think that would be a fairly big deal in
your part of the country. Also, the liner gives some traction to things in
the bed, so they are less likely to slide around. This stuff is pretty
tough and thick, and while I don't think it is an absolute shield against
dents in the bed, I do believe it adds a very significant resistance to
dents forming. Food for thought. These guys do a very thorough and meticulous job. Notice in the picture
below how they remove fastening hardware before spraying and then replace it
afterward, as opposed to just spraying over it. Just the way you would want
it done http://www2.line-x.com/ns/PhotoGallery.html?now=8499 Russ |
RG
Apr 1
|
| Aw crap, that didn't work the way it was supposed to. Click the link above,
and then select 04 Toyota Tundra D-Cab Rear View from the drop-down box,
then click View Image. That will get you to the photo I intended. Russ |
RG
Apr 1
|
| Jim,
I can not think of one reason why you would lie about the life of your
tires or how many miles before you change your air filter, but it is
amazing and you can understand why some of us were skeptical. You need
to submit them to the Ripley's Believe it or Not, and the tire manu. and
filter manu. |
Reggie
Apr 1
|
| Rhinoliner Rules! Almost ten years on mine, and I love it! Cost about $400. Worth much more
than that. When I took the plastic dura-liner thing out, there was very
little paint left on the bed. In several spots the wear was clear thru the
primer with bare metal showing.
--
'Til next time, John H ***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
|
JohnH
Apr 1
|
| It is my belief that you should spray it *before* any rust has a chance to
get started. Rhinoliner Rules!
--
'Til next time, John H ***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
|
JohnH
Apr 1
|
| 1st and 2nd set of tires was Dunlop and 3rd set was Michelin which still had
a lot of tread left when we got rid of the car. I don't skimp on tire
quality. I don't see anything odd about getting that tire mileage. I admit that air filter replacement interval doesn't fit the norm. Crankcase
breathers and belt chafe are probably the prime contributors to filter
clogging unless you live in a dust bowl like Kansas. PCVs got rid of the
breather problem and serpentine belts got rid of a lot of the belt chafe.
Lawn and garden equipment excluded, don't most air filters last longer than
they used to? |
JIMinFL
Apr 1
|
| If you are going to cover your bed with a soft or hard tonneau or other
shell of some kind I strongly reccomend the BedRug. I've had one in my truck
for about 4 years now and it is great at protecting the bed and protecting
the contents in the bed. |
Bert
Apr 1
|
| I had a hard liner in my '92 Ranger and the bed was really scuffed up from
the hard liner rubbing up against every surface it could rub. My next truck
an '01 F-150 SuperCrew has a hard tonneau and a Bed Rug. If you are going to
cover the bed then get a Bed Rug. Bed Rugs are about the same cost as a
spray in liner but, they are cleanable and removable. |
Bert
Apr 1
|
| Well congrats! Yesterday was new car day for SWMBO around here. (Next time hybrids
come up for discussion I'll have some first hand experiences to
report), I concur with the remarks, down thread, that this is the proper time to
apply any bedliners, undercoats, etc. If you apply these coatings over
a surface where rust has started up, there's a chance the rust might
just continue its dirty work under the plastic or tar. Interesting that you opted for a lease. We were prepared to write a
check for the wife's new ride, but opted for a "single payment" lease
instead. We wrote a check for 20% of the price of the car, turned in
the Subaru, and our lease payment each month for the next three years
is $0.00. The cost of money on this deal was less than 2%, even when
factoring in that when leasing one does not get the tax credit normally
offered to buyers of hybrids. Seemed like a no-brainer, as if we simply
leave the money in savings it will earn more in interest than it is
costing to (in effect) "finance" the balloon payment (residual). The
other reason I thought a lease made sense was the "new technology"
aspect of the vehicle. Those of us who remember the "new technology" of
the GM diesels from the early 80's know what can happen to resale if
public sentiment turns against a new system or something else
unforeseen (like a revolutionary improvement) occurs. I can remember
driving around trying to wholesale 2 and 3 year old Oldsmobile and
Cadillac diesel trade-ins and getting offers like "$500. I've got a
back row full of them already!" It was tough to make a deal when the
buyers, even in those days, still owed $10,000 on a $500 car. Consumer Reports just stated that the vehicle we purhcased was among
the 2 or 3 "most reliable" vehicles introduced in 2005 as 2006 models,
but if that doesn't turn out to be the case and resale value drops to
some ridiculously low figure, we can always turn it in and our
depreciation will be limited to the difference between what we paid and
the (in effect) "guaranteed resale value" provided by the residual. |
chuckgould.chu...
Apr 1
|
| Checked their website for dealers. Looks like they have none in the
Maritimes. Website says they are looking for franchises.
Could be a good little venture for a bored young retiree. |
Don
Apr 1
|
| There would be no question if I had leased a beautiful Tundra.
(would have, except payments were more than I wanted to pay for truck
and even regular cab truck too long for my narrow street) |
Don
Apr 1
|
| Now we're talking!
I see the 2006 Tundras have a lowering rear cab window. Forget if it's
rollup or power. |
Don
Apr 1
|
| Now we do have a Rhinoliner dealership here...just across the harbour.
I called for a price quote, but had to leave a message. Must be closed
on Saturdays. |
Don
Apr 1
|
| I could have had that option free...as part of my $1k worth of
accessories promotion......but the sales guy convinced me it wasn't
worthwhile. Probably depends what you are loading into truck. |
Don
Apr 1
|
| Power. Pusha da button and she's a go down. |
RG
Apr 1
|
| I prefer the look of Line-X, but I'd opt for a Rhino over a drop-in eight
days a week. |
RG
Apr 1
|
| Road Trip! |
RG
Apr 1
|
| It would cost me as much for gasoline as the liner.
Looks like Quebec has the closest dealer for that particular brand. |
Don
Apr 1
|
| I pulled out the bedliner that came with my truck as soon as I got home,
Its a great compost bin. UD |
capuglydan
Apr 1
|
| Ford's new transmission for these trucks came out in either 2004 or 2005.
It has a tow/haul mode, which I use, but it does not lock out overdrive like
the older ones. I like it a lot - it behaves similarly to an Allison auto
transmission, downshifting based on speed and brake pressure, plus holding
in gear longer while accelerating. RCE |
RCE
Mar 31
|
| I second that. My youngest boy has a Ranger and he beat the hell out
of it commuting to RI and back when in school, taking it all over hell
and gone and now it's in SC. 175,000 on it at this point - 3.0 liter
V6 and the only thing that has gone south is a rear brake drum that
warped for some reason. He's literally beat on it by using it, but
regular oil changes and maintenance keeps it still running strong. |
Shortwave
Mar 31
|
| I saw a huge difference in my 7.3 when I added the diesel performance
modifier. I can add hp in increments from 25 to 100, shift points,
yada, yada, yada. I can set it up, not towing, so I get 22 mpg on average on the
highway, about 16/17 around town. On the other hand, I can maintain a
solid 17 mpg towing by simply changing parameters. It's a great little deal. |
Shortwave
Mar 31
|
| On the 7.3, they recommend taking the tranny out of OD. With the engine modifier, not a problem. |
Shortwave
Mar 31
|
| --
Reggie "That's my story and I am sticking to it." |
Reggie
Mar 31
|
| As to changing spark plugs and other sundry items? Yes. As to changing oil, every 7k or thereabouts. |
Shortwave
Mar 31
|
| 200,000 miles on CamryXLE: No unscheduled maintenance or repairs. Routine
oil changes, timing belts at 75K intervals, 2 sets of tires, 1 set brake
pads, 1 air filter, windshield washer fluid as needed, 2 sets of wiper
blades, 1 transmission fluid exchange. Spark plugs never changed.
If you plan to keep the vehicle for many miles, Toyota wouldn't be a bad
choice.
Jim |
JIMinFL
Mar 31
|
| Well...I picked up the Ranger extended cab 'Sport' this morning, c/w 3.0
liter V6 and 5 speed OD automatic.
I took the snap on tonneau cover and the step up rails as my free
accessory choice. I had them install a box liner....
Salesman indicated I might be responsible for refinishing box at turn in
time if it got too banged/scratched up.
Got a bit lucky playing.. 'Make a deal'. I won $500.00 by picking the
right briefcase and not taking a chance on trying to increase by chosing
another.
Can't wait till I hitch the sailboat to the truck and head for the water. |
Don
Mar 31
|
| Congratulations Don. Post a picture when you get a chance. |
Mar 31
|
| One air filter change over those 200,000 miles? |
Mar 31
|
| That is correct. And it Wasn't even that dirty.
Jim |
JIMinFL
Mar 31
|
