MAZDA BT50 OR FORD RANGER

[JNR]

Gday guys ,now i know they are basically the same beast but what made you choose which way to go.looking between the years of 2008 and 2010.sorry not brand new..cheers in advance.Trev

[Blue Bravo]

Price. I chose the BT50. I brought it in August 10 and it was 09 plated. It was a base vehicle (which I had been looking for) with rubber flooring, wind up windows etc. Saved mega bucks. It seems that tradies didn't fancy it because it was silver.

[BigJules]

Based on the current model, I'd choose the Ranger, it just looks better to me.

Drive.com.au also chose the Rnager anhead of the rest of the current crop of dual cabs in their test published this week.

[gibbo301]

The Ranger looks heaps better and there huge 

[graylyn]

I heard a rumour they are now 3.2  5 cylinder cars.  If they are, they would be powerful.  But I wonder what their prices are.

[Aussie Blue]

The story I got from the Ford dealer is that the new Ranger was designed with input from major companies that buy heaps of them.
So, you can fit a laptop into the glovebox, under seat storage and a host of others. I have a drive booked for one when I get back.
This is for the new 2011 model which looks heaps better than the old model.

I haven't had a look at the new BT-50..

[Redback]

I heard a rumour they are now 3.2  5 cylinder cars.  If they are, they would be powerful.  But I wonder what their prices are.

$48.000 and yes 5 cylinder 3.2l, they are both indentical apart from minor style differences of the body, both made in the Ford factory in Thailand, both have 147Kw.

There were rumours the Ford Ranger was having electrical drams in regards to fitting accessories and them interfering with the main ECU, whether they have resolved this I don't know, the Mazda has no such dramas.

Although they are much larger than the previous BT50 and Ranger, they are still smaller internally compared to the Amarok.

Baz.

[BradandPeta]

We bought the last of the 2011  rangers before the new model mainly because of the extras ford gave us for the same price as a Mazda and I like ford
To me Mazda have dropped the ball in the cosmetics section even though it's the same ute  it just looks silly and to put half your tail lights built into the tail gate is just dumb so if u get a bingle ur up for two lights as well as the tailgate !
If I had to compare two now it would be the new ranger and hilux both similar money size and style  but ..... Unless they both come standard with 3 blonde female Swedish backpackers in the back seat there not 20k better than my ranger 

[Jason B]

A good mate of mine is pondering this same question. From the discussions I have had with him he is leaning toward the BT50 because it is better value. They both look very capable. I would look at the ranger or BT50 myself if they came in a wagon.


Regards


Jas

[Dreama]

I have a 2009 Ranger and pulls the CT very easily.
My mate has a 25ft boat (fibreglass) on tandem axle trailer and the Ranger also pulls this quite well, he owns a Colarado and it fairly struggles, hence why the ranger is used, (quite often head up to Geraldton and head to the Abrohlus islands) Go the blue oval 
One thing that does annoy me with the Ranger is the fuel tank size, too small, currently looking at getting another tank on it, I presume the Mazda is the same. I think the new models have a bigger tank.
Also agree with Bradandpeta comment about the tail lights on the Mazda, they look silly.

[mrdenn1s]

BT has a much nicer interior finish.....much nicer. Best buy if mainly a town tug

If a work machine, get the Ford

[whitey]

Hello Trev,
I have the late 2009 supercab ranga ( 2nd hand 30,000 klms saved $8k )I test drove various vehicles before i chose the ford over the others ... comfort and hauling power it one hands down... the only gripe i did have was the suspension where the springs were a tad soft with a big load on the tray, I  simply put gel shocks and air bags on it to steady it and haven't changed the springs ( just like the suspension blokes said i shouldn't have to).

I have 2 mates that have the year later Ranger models than mine ..(not the 2012 model which one 2nd place behind the VW Amorok 4wd of the Year) and another 3 who have the BT 50's they all work at the same place as me and use them to there potential in the bush and as work vehicles, i haven't heard one complaint except for the sedan sized fuel tank they have (although i get 9.7 ltr / 100klms).. which i will be changing in a few weeks time, i am a Holden man but will pick Ford (4WD only) over them easily. Cheers

[escape]

Trev, I have the 2011 PK Supa cab .I put a 125 lt tank in it and comfortably do 1000k's using only 95/98 litres.Towing the camper it is just under 10Lts/100k's.The manaul model is good and I have no problems in the 8 months and 15000k's.Very happy with it.
Trevor

[Isuzumu]

In the basic models Ford XL/ Mazda XT in auto (6 speed) they are exactly the same, option-wise,  there is a $5000 difference, Ford being dearer. So basically if you do not like the look of the Mazda spend an extra $5K and get the Ford.

[graham]

G,day i had a drive of Outback Jacks little bt50 thru the high country last weekend, and i would have no hesitation in taking it anywhere. even Jack was surprised how well it went. a very nice/capable vehicle, will be reading this thread with intrest as to its towing abilities,as i thought the engine was quite a torquey little bugger. i would like to see,or hear of the loads that it should be able to carry ,and tow. seeing that i have a kk,and three to five bikes that i can take away to a property in Vic,it always ends up as a four way trip(two to take everything down,an two to bring them all home to clean up) so a nice little dualcab tray might just suit me right down to the ground, i have even thought of cutting the back off the patrol, and adding a tray. but for that price i could buy a landy dualcab tray ,for about the same price. sorry to detract from the original post,but i would seriously consider one of these as a replacement vehicle to cart around all my toys/crap      cheers Graham

[Cam and Deb]

My brother law has a 2wd ranger 3lt turbo diesel and he tows a 2.5 tonne barcrusher from Brisbane to Lucinda no problems it just purrs along at 100-110 ks.

That's why I brought a xlt ranger


 


Cam