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Test Drive Impression(s)




85_Ranger4x4

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Over inflated and/or the dollar is losing vlaue.
That was the reason before the world turned upside down.

Around me nobody is trading in, the local Ford dealer is 2/3 empty. My inlaws work at a huge dealer in Nebraska and as of last weekend they had one (1) Super Duty on the lot and it was used.

The only tractor on the lot at the local JD dealer is a old International 1086.

It is a weird time.
 

Crosscut_Drifter

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Ford Ranger
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2.3 (4 Cylinder)
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Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
That was the reason before the world turned upside down.

Around me nobody is trading in, the local Ford dealer is 2/3 empty. My inlaws work at a huge dealer in Nebraska and as of last weekend they had one (1) Super Duty on the lot and it was used.

The only tractor on the lot at the local JD dealer is a old International 1086.

It is a weird time.
I noticed that on a lot of GM lots. All dealer ads are about "Wanting Your Trade In"......I think I'll hang onto my Ranger a bit longer.
 

bobbywalter

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Location
woodhaven mi
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
L
Used is overinflated because they cant get parts to build new ones.

The plant that is building Rangers and Broncos is actually shutting down for two weeks because they can't get parts, Bronco scheduling is totally whacked out because of parts shortages. I haven't heard anything specific to the Ranger side of things, we have a Bronco on order so I have kinda followed them.

Some poor sod at the F-150 plant is driving the trucks to parking lots and ripping modules out of them so they can be installed in more trucks to be driven to storage. They are running out of nooks and crannys to store them so they are going to be idling that plant for awhile too.


And then when computer chips become available somebody is going to get a ton of practice installing modules in trucks so they can actually be sold.

So if you want a new one order it but plan on waiting for awhile. The used market is going to be jacked up for a long time because of this.

My son in law is in the 150 plant....hell of a write down as repair...super tax break.
 

bobbywalter

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Location
woodhaven mi
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
Artificial scarcity and it's implications in the supply whip are going to be epic.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
L



My son in law is in the 150 plant....hell of a write down as repair...super tax break.
How mind numbing it would be to be the guy doing it though...
 

bobbywalter

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Location
woodhaven mi
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
They take turns
 

bobbywalter

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Location
woodhaven mi
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
Like 4 months now
 

Crosscut_Drifter

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2011
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Artificial scarcity and it's implications in the supply whip are going to be epic.
Like the east coast gas shortage because of that hack on the pipeline?

After Biden canceled Keystone pipeline, Energy Sec. says 'pipe is the best way' to transport fuel.
 
Last edited:

JohnnyO

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Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Vehicle Year
2020
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
1.5"
Tire Size
265/70-17
My credo
"220, 221, whatever it takes."
There are ONLY 4x4 Rangers in Canada.
I'm a bit south of the Great White North but even here a 2wd truck is about useless 3 or 4 months a year.
I was forced to go shopping a year early because the engine expired on my Sport Trac and I figured if a 4x4 was too pricey I could get by with a 2wd and a locker if I got snow tires. No dealer within 100 miles had a 2wd in stock.
 

Crosscut_Drifter

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2011
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
I'm fine with mine. 2WD with snow tires is what I use, and with weight in the back. Limited slip in the rear helps to get the rear tires to bite. I don't go off road (beyond 2WD capability) and won't drive in freezing rain conditions (nobody should).
 

HenryMac

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Location
Central Colorado
Vehicle Year
2019, '31, '27
Make / Model
Ranger, A & T
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
2.3 Turbo, 350, 5.0 HO
Transmission
Automatic
Total Drop
Stock, about a foot, about a foot
Tire Size
LT 265/65 R17, P285/70R15 & P195/65R15, 820-15 & 500-15
Supercab should have a rear seat delete like in my 2011. I just use for storage.
There is a SuperCab rear sear delete option. We considered it, but to be honest, it's cheap hard plastic and looks gnarly compared to the upholstered rear seats.

We just took out the seat bottoms and I covered the storage trays with some tool box drawer liners. The seat belts work great as "adjustable tie downs" and if you go to sell the truck, just put the seat bottoms back in and the dealer won't ding you for not having rear seating.

We bought an XL.. notice the rubber floor.. works great.
 

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Crosscut_Drifter

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Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
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Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
In mine its just a flat bottom. No evidence of any seating.
 

sgtsandman

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Location
Aliquippa, PA
Vehicle Year
2011/2019
Make / Model
Ranger XLT/FX4
Engine Size
4.0 SOHC/2.3 Ecoboost
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Pre-2008 lift/Stock
Tire Size
31X10.5R15/265/65R17
My preferred choice. I'm even leery on the 10 speed automatic.
The transmission has been run through it's paces in other vehicles in the Ford Fleet and is a joint venture with GM. They get to use the transmission in their vehicles and Ford gets to use one of the GM transmissions in theirs. I think it's a 6-speed.

As far as the over all vehicle goes, most everything in it has been used in something else or in the World Ranger since 2011 or whenever it came out. The 2.3 Ecoboost and whatever design flaws it originally had were worked out in the Focus, Mustang, and Explorer. I know the Focus has some head gasket issues for a while. I don't remember reading anything with the Mustang or the Explorer having issues. The only things really unique to the U.S. Ranger is the body panels and the frame. The axles might be unique as well but it is the same axles used in Jeeps and other vehicles. As per Ford tradition, most everything has been pulled off the shelf from other models and modified for the Ranger.

That being said, if you are old enough to remember the 1980's and the turbo craze then, you are old enough to remember the failures they had then too. So, being hesitant is understandable. Today's turbo charged engines are not the '80's turbo charged engines. They learned some things and actually designed the engines to handle them now.

As far as pricing, well not much can be done there new or used. Both are certainly expensive. I don't know about Canada but the U.S. is printing money like mad. I'm sure the dollar has been extremely devalued at this point as a result.
 

sgtsandman

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Location
Aliquippa, PA
Vehicle Year
2011/2019
Make / Model
Ranger XLT/FX4
Engine Size
4.0 SOHC/2.3 Ecoboost
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
Pre-2008 lift/Stock
Tire Size
31X10.5R15/265/65R17
There is a SuperCab rear sear delete option. We considered it, but to be honest, it's cheap hard plastic and looks gnarly compared to the upholstered rear seats.

We just took out the seat bottoms and I covered the storage trays with some tool box drawer liners. The seat belts work great as "adjustable tie downs" and if you go to sell the truck, just put the seat bottoms back in and the dealer won't ding you for not having rear seating.

We bought an XL.. notice the rubber floor.. works great.
They couldn't ditch the seat backs while they were at it?
 

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