What's the deal with Mazda extended cabs??

[lindsay_elaine]

My fiance and I saw a 94-97 x-cab B series without the weird window trim treatment that the Mazdas got (in other words, it looked very ranger-like) Later on we saw a newer Mazda with the same "no window trim" deal going on. We also saw x-cabs of both body styles WITH the Mazda window trim. Both trimless trucks were spotted in Canada, just wondering if anybody knows what the deal is

We might have assumed that the first older truck we saw was a Ranger with a Mazda front end and bed added on, but the Mazda paint color matched the cab and we ended up seeing more than one without the trim... I don't get it

 

[Nater]

Mine is like the one in the bottom pic..

 

[Airmaster]

Um, weird, maybe in canada they simplified the Mazda treatment into just a grill swap. As I recall almost all the mazda's have the slight flareside treatment in the bed...

 

[lindsay_elaine]

Right, that's the '97 up style, but I've seen that style with the weird window trim both in Canada and the US

The 94-97's have different bowed out fenders and bed sides, and more squareish wheel arches (we have my '03 Ranger and a '94 B2300, they are totally different except for the cabs... well, the '94 is 3" shorter, but the doors are the same!)

 

[Original_Ranger84]

You know both Nater and Airmaster have 2doors I am assuming? and the one without the trim was also 2door. i think it may better distinguish the difference between 2 door and 4 door mazdas.

the 4 door ones I think have the trim.

 

[Andres629]

But the very first picture posted would be essentially a 3rd gen Ranger, and it has the window trim. And third gen Rangers didn't have four doors.

I bet it has something to do with what would be considered the Mazda "XLT" version of the truck. Note the chrome bumpers/mirrors/grille insert. I had two Explorers, one XL and one XLT. The XL had color matching "D" pillars on the hatch, whereas the XLT had black "D" pillars. That's where I derive my whole logic behind the Mazda window trim.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Yeah i didn't even look at the axle...

That was going to be my second guess..

 

[rockwerks]

The LE's in the states have the window trim...........like mine

 

[Andres629]

What does LE mean? With reference to the Ford labeling... is that like Custom, XL, or XLT? Or Sport?

 

[rockwerks]

Se is like XL and LE is like XLT i guess LOL

 

[MountainMike]

I saw a square body B-series 4x4 with IFS the other day I'm not sure what the heck is going on with those things.

 

[yodaman1151]

toyota did the same thing with trim options, they have a base, deluxe and the sr5 model... the base came with a black grill, no a/c... the deluxe had a chrome grill, a/c and cruise... and the sr5 had a tach and other premium options. i had an 89 base extra cab and my buddy had an 89 deluxe extra cab and the ONLY difference was i had a tilt wheel and intermittant wipers, he had a/c and cruise control and the chrome grill... mine was flat black

 

[lindsay_elaine]

I guess I'll have to start paying closer attention to trim badging on these things... I always notice stuff like this and here I've gone since 1993 thinking that all Mazdas had fugly window trim (okay, I was only 7 in 1993 but I've thought this for at least 10 years!)

btw, where is the trim level badge located on a Mazda?? Tailgate? Our 94 is just a regular cab and all it says is B2300 on the fenders and Mazda on the gate. It has a 5 speed, vinyl bench, no headliner, rubber floor, crank windows, and no power steering (from the factory, it's not broken)

 

[B3000SE]

Funny,Never thought of looking into it,I have a B3000 SE Cab Plus that looks just like rockwerks only stock,I saw a Mazda This morning that looked like a Ranger Around the windows without the funky window trim,Its gotta be certain years and or trim levels,Mine is an SE but has Manual Everything inside,cloth Buckets and The window Trim.... I will do some research......

 

[7.5L_STX]

they definately look better without the wierd window trim though, just my opinion..