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Test Drove a 2003 FX4 Level II Twin Stick Today

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  #1  
Old 08-12-2010
05RangerXLT's Avatar
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Test Drove a 2003 FX4 Level II Twin Stick Today

Well, I was about to pull the trigger on a twin stick today, and sell my 2005 FX4. The truck had 70,000 miles and was immaculate inside. However, outside it was a disaster. Let me list the negatives:

- broken driver side rear mud flap
- dented bed on inside against cab (pretty bad, almost touching the cab in the center)
- dented bed on inside driver side wheel well
- could tell it had been in the mud up under it
- front crossmember was bent out at the passenger side tow hook, like it was stuck and needed pulling out, but pulled too hard
- bent crossmember caused front bumper to be out of whack a bit
- had two different types of tires, BFG AT on the front and Maxxis Bighorn on the rear
- top of bed sides had holes down it, about every foot (I still can't figure that one out)
- top of bed sides had holes where a tool box used to be
- there was never a bedliner so it was horribly scratched
- the interior grab handles were missing two of the screw hole covers
- center console arm rest felt weird when you leaned on it, like the center padding was gone
- front Alcoa's were scratched up pretty bad

Take a look at the ad and tell me what you would pay for it if you had to buy it. Either way, I walked away. Now on to find another one. Any help is appreciated finding a decent mileage twin stick near NC.

Cars for Sale: 2003 Ford Ranger 4x4 SuperCab in Kinston, NC 28504: Truck Details - 281767632 - AutoTrader.com
 
  #2  
Old 08-12-2010
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Ah yeah it looked pretty bad from the pics earlier. Oh well, on to the next one!
 
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Old 08-12-2010
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I'm sure you'll find one that'll be worth the wait! I wouldn't pay any more and 8-9K if it's that rough.
 
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Old 08-12-2010
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He wanted $11,475 OTD and wouldn't budge. He said they paid $10,700 for it.
 
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Old 08-12-2010
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He's also a Lier
 
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Old 08-12-2010
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Originally Posted by rolsmojave3
He's also a Lier
HUGE lier lol.
 
  #7  
Old 08-12-2010
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alright this is probably a dumb question, but im kinda new at this, so here goes: what is twin stick?
 
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Old 08-12-2010
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manual transfer case shifter and manual transmission
 
  #9  
Old 08-12-2010
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Originally Posted by Conroman
alright this is probably a dumb question, but im kinda new at this, so here goes: what is twin stick?
Go ask a friend who happens to be a girl... after you get her answer thats what its like to us here Twin sticks = I need new pants and maybe find a way to become a man again
 
  #10  
Old 08-12-2010
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thats what i thought, but what is so special about a manual t-case?
 
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Old 08-12-2010
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I don't really get all the hype, more reliable though. I'll take my electronic transfer case any day though
 
  #12  
Old 08-12-2010
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its like comparing an auto to a manual.... with a manual you have a direct line to the transmission it does what you want it to do while the auto is like meh Ill think about it and while Im going up this steep hill Ill just upshift into 5th gear randomly....

Also I believe the manual t-case is more reliable and just overall more desirable


DANGIT TRENTSER! I need to work on my typing
 
  #13  
Old 08-12-2010
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i see what you're saying, but personally i have no preference, but i do love being in control of my tranny
 
  #14  
Old 08-12-2010
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Really other than a cool second shifter, on a ranger the only up side I see to a manual T-case is the ability to put the T-case in neutral.

~HJ
 
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Old 08-13-2010
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Originally Posted by 04blackedge
I don't really get all the hype, more reliable though. I'll take my electronic transfer case any day though
X2 Trent
 
  #16  
Old 08-13-2010
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Originally Posted by HAZZARDJOHN
Really other than a cool second shifter, on a ranger the only up side I see to a manual T-case is the ability to put the T-case in neutral.

~HJ
Originally Posted by Conroman
i see what you're saying, but personally i have no preference, but i do love being in control of my tranny
only a cool shift huh? tell me how cool it would have been to have when your out in the middle of nowhere wheeling all day and when its time to head home and you got to flip it back into 4wd and it wont go (shift motor went bad, solenoid went bad, electrical circuit failure)... ya, at that point you would have a preference of what you like better! and then it would have been a REALLY cool second shifter!!
 
  #17  
Old 08-13-2010
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I guess if that ever happened to me, but every 4x4 RBV I had was an Electronic shift except for my 1991 explorer, and none have failed to shift. My complaint with the level II manual T-case shifter is, it rides in my shin most of the time going down the road. I know I am not the only one, cause I remember a thread years back where someone modified the shifter to get it out of their shin.

Also, IIRC, there is some problem with the linkage in the shifter, and that was the reason it was dropped in 04.

~HJ
 
  #18  
Old 08-13-2010
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Originally Posted by wellcom2knoxvile
only a cool shift huh? tell me how cool it would have been to have when your out in the middle of nowhere wheeling all day and when its time to head home and you got to flip it back into 4wd and it wont go (shift motor went bad, solenoid went bad, electrical circuit failure)... ya, at that point you would have a preference of what you like better! and then it would have been a REALLY cool second shifter!!
X2. I was pulling a trailer full of canoes and had to turn around, with little space I had to use the ditch to turn.

Rear wheel left the ground, turned the switch to 4x4. Nothing. OMFG. Shift module

After that, I realized I needed a manual transfer case to avoid that BS again
 
  #19  
Old 08-13-2010
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I don't mind mine...grab the shifter, I know it's in 4wd, It's like a dog..electric motor...you tell it to sit..you want it to sit but it might take a minute....manual shifter you tell it to sit, it's sitting.
 
  #20  
Old 08-13-2010
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You have to come to a stop to shift into 4wd with a manual shifter correct?
 
  #21  
Old 08-13-2010
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Id like a manual tcase but ill take my auto over the 5speed, it has never done me wrong off road, even my old a4ld with 250k never did. Its nice not having to shift all the time and i never ever have to disconnect my engine from my drivetrain on a hill or in the mud, id love to see a 5 speed full throttle shift, it comes in handy.from what i have read and seen a couple times, the mazda 5 speed isnt something to brag about. On the electric tcase can you take off the motor on the case and manually put it in or out if you had to?
 
  #22  
Old 08-13-2010
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Originally Posted by 04blackedge
You have to come to a stop to shift into 4wd with a manual shifter correct?
Incorrect, just low if you dont' like being hard on stuff. Although I have actually twin sticked it...using low range...going 1st through 5th...t case shifted back to 2wd, then 3 gear. No grinds, no jaring shifts.
 
  #23  
Old 08-13-2010
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Oh ok so you can go to 4Hi anytime? I've never actually used one so i have no idea.
 
  #24  
Old 08-13-2010
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me either, that was my assumption. I like the ability of bieng able to hit 4x4 at 55 mph. i didnt know you could to it on a manual tcase
 
  #25  
Old 08-13-2010
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Yup, I like it because I can switch in and out of 4wd quickly. If there is a big drift I might need 4wd the go through I just put it in 4wd then back to the 2wd slip and slide.
 


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