Topic: Ford Ranger Purchase

[06Honda]

I am looking to buy a Ford Ranger for general around the house duties, no heavy towing.Are there any specific years to stay away from due to known issues. I would like a 4 cyclinder, 6 at the most, automatic but can drive a manual if its a better option, 4 x 2 don't really need or will use the 4 x4, ac thats about it. Most other makes of trucks around this size have not so good reviews as far as used goes. Any comments or suggestions are welcome, I am a honda car owner but want to give this one to the wife as hers died recently. 

Paul
Kingston Ontario

[safristi]

Ranger "for around the house duties"!!!! wdf...................a vacuum OR a riding mower would be a better use of FUNDS...............

[initial_D]

I am not sure if a 4x2 with a manual stick small truck is the best option for a female driver in the winter months ...

Don't think there were a lot of changes in the Ranger lineup since the 50s 60s 70s ... when they were introduced.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I am not sure if a 4x2 with a manual stick small truck is the best option for a female driver in the winter months ...

Wut? Gender doesn't enter into it. We've only had manual transmissions for our cars, including a 2wd Toyota pickup. Lady O has had no problems.

Consumer Reports rates the Ranger rather low in testing (it is an old design), but average reliability for the V6 4x4. I'd think the four cylinder 2wd would have higher reliability. It's up to you about whether you think it drives ok or not.

Addendum: I checked again and the 2wd is rated better than average in reliability.

[initial_D]

Why does have to be driver's ability? ... how about just plain old preference / likes / dislikes ?

[Weexy]

I took the op post to mean the wife is getting the Honda and he's going to take the Ranger...

I had a '94 Ranger 4x4 many years ago... there's nothing fancy about it, but it gets the job done and is generally reliable.
The 4.0L though is not efficent, it drinks as much gas as full size trucks, but is durable.  A buddy had a Mazda B4000 (Ranger twin) that ran past 350,000 km's.

The Ranger hasn't be re-designed since at least 1993 ?? Probably even before that...

[initial_D]

Right!  ... this one to her.

[PJungnitsch]

My parents have a 4X2 ranger with the smaller 3L V6, AFAIK it has been fairly reliable. The 4 cyl ones, especially the newer versions w/stick, are rated as getting very good mileage.

The 4X2 trucks will get stuck easily in the winter, in the summer they are fine. Good winter tires help, I drive a small Mazda pickup with studs and still can get annoyingly stuck around town when things get icy, these are very handy:



As mentioned the 4X4's come with a 4L V6 that is very thirsty, as much as a full size truck, which really hurts the sale of new Rangers.

There has been a certain amount of development throughout the years:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranger

 

[06Honda]

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

[davidy]

I have both a 1996 Mazda 3.0 litre 4x2 extended cab pickup and a 2010 Ford Ranger 4.0 litre 4x4. The 4 litre is very thirsty. Both are V6 and auto. The 4 litre is noticeably more powerful than the 3 litre. There is a smaller 4 cylinder that is not very powerful, but is more fuel efficient than either of the V6's.

As others have said, the 4x2 is easily stuck in wintery conditions....need good studded winter tires and some weight in the bed (200+ pounds) and some cable chains.

The Ford Ranger/Mazda B-series haven't changed much since 1998. The new 2010 have traction/stability control and side air bags....first for this model. I prefer the extended cab model for the additional room. Cannot go back to the regular cab model.

Dave

[maritime_storm]

Depends really on how the truck is geared. If one buys a 4.0L/Auto then expect to get no more than 18IMPG in 2wd. The sport models with a 5spd come with 3.55:1 in the rear, mine averages 27IMPG in the summer and 20-23 IMPG this past winter. The 3.0L gets the same mileage with less power to offer, the 2.3L/5spd will net in the 30IMPG range. The auto transmissions offered are badly inefficient not to mention you lose a considerable amount of usable power with an auto.

[Careener]

With the sport 4x4 with AC selling for under $17K new the fuel consumption wouldn't bother me that much in the TCO.
These trucks can last 15yrs+ if taken care of. 

[maritime_storm]

Exactly. My 09 Ranger Sport was $13.8K++.

[06Honda]

Well it looks like there are no used Rangers in my town that are manual. I located one see that is in my price range, I may offer $10 K total.

2003 Ranger Super Cab
132,000 KM
3.0L 6cyl FI
4x2
Dealer asking $9,995.00
Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
Power Locks
Power Windows
Tilt Wheel
Tow Package
AM/FM Stereo
CD Player
ABS Brakes
Dual Air Bags
Alloy Wheels
Tachometer


Any coments on this one, can't post a link yet due to being so new at the forum.

[blur911]

http://kingston.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-SUVs-trucks-vans-pickup-trucks-2005-Ford-Ranger-EDGE-W0QQAdIdZ184043649

2005 Ford Ranger EDGE, V6 3.0L. 5SPD transmission. A/C, 63500 Kilometer, $9500

[PJungnitsch]

Exactly. My 09 Ranger Sport was $13.8K++.

How in the world did you get it that cheap? Here the last few 2009 specials were going for $22,000 in the winter, marked down from 28,500. That's extended cab Sports with 4X4 and auto.

Or did you get a single cab 2WD manual?

[maritime_storm]

Nope, 2009 Ranger Sport Supercab, 4.0L/5spd 2wd. The advertised price was $15,299 -$1000 trade -$1000 in Ford Credit+$500 in accessories. Two weeks after I bought they offered a $1000 off to Costco members, made me wish I waited another 2 weeks. The current advertised price on a Reg. Cab 4cyl/5spd is $12,499, my father's tossing around the idea of selling his '02 and buying a new this year.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Well it looks like there are no used Rangers in my town that are manual. I located one see that is in my price range, I may offer $10 K total.

2003 Ranger Super Cab
132,000 KM
3.0L 6cyl FI
4x2
Dealer asking $9,995.00
Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
Power Locks
Power Windows
Tilt Wheel
Tow Package
AM/FM Stereo
CD Player
ABS Brakes
Dual Air Bags
Alloy Wheels
Tachometer


Any coments on this one, can't post a link yet due to being so new at the forum.

I'm posting kinda late on this, so I hope you haven't bought already.

$10 000 is TOO much for that truck.

http://www.ford.ca/app/fo/en/trucks/ranger.do

That is a link to Ford Canada's website

A brand new base model Ranger with the 2.3L 4 cyl, 5spd tranny, with full warranty.  It's selling for $13 800 plus taxes.

And for the record, the new 2.3L 4 cyl makes as much HP/torque as the old 3.0 Vulcan while being MUCH more fuel efficient.



for the record I paid around $13 000 for my 2006 4x4 sport with 4.0L engine and 50 000 miles, and that was from a dealer.

[jamie1]

I just put 600km on a 2009 Ranger 4x4. What an AWFUL truck. I could not get comfortable at all. My knee hitting where the power window switch jutting out from the door panel was driving me nucking futs. The road noise was deafening at highway speeds. The rattles from the extended cab doors. Brutal. I can see why it was traded in at our dealership with less then 9000KM on it.

[overtakeyouintheleftlane]

jamie1 - Just curious, you didn't notice these things during your test drive? How long did you test drive it for? I usually do one for about 30-45 minutes and cover the streets and highway to see how the car is and how comfortable I feel.