I don't understand why people expect more from the Ranger than it promises to deliver.
You get a very reasonable truck at a very reasonable price. It does what is asked of it.
It will haul what you need to haul,
tow what you need to tow,
take you places where cars can't get (if you have a 4x4, and within reason)
And it will do all this with better than average reliability. Since the Ranger has remained basically unchanged since (1993?) all of the kinks have been worked out of it.
And you get this at a very good price, indeed. Try finding another brand new truck at the same price point as the Ranger. NOT going to happen.
If you want a comfortable small truck, go out and buy a Tacoma. But you'll pay almost twice as much for the Tacoma as you will for the Ranger.
Don't forget people, the Ranger is a TRUCK!!!!!! When did we become so obsessed with the need for comfort and luxury?
You know, I have a 2006 Ranger Sport 4x4. It has manual transmission, manual windows, manual door locks, manual seats, manual mirrors, manual everything. The only 'luxury' it has is cruise control. And I haven't noticed excessive wind noise at highway speeds, btw. I can hold a normal conversation just fine. What more do you want? If you want whisper quiet, get a Lexus!!!
Okay, so the ride isn't so good. The tail likes to waggle a lot on washboard roads/bumps. It handles like a pig. It sucks fuel. I don't care. I was well aware what I was getting into when I purchased it, and the reason I purchased it was because it was CHEAP.
The Ranger doesn't promise to be the most comfortable, fastest, or best truck on the market. It does, however, promise to work hard, and at the lowest cost possible.
