New Ranger?

[brwntom]

I came across a 2003 Ranger XLT just shy of 130k on it. it looks to be in pretty clean condition. They are asking $3800. It has a 3.0 with an auto. 2x4. Cruise, pw. pl. What do you guys think?

Tom

 

[adsm08]

I think that going from a 2.5L to a 3.0 auto you will be disappointed by both power and fuel economy.

 

[brwntom]

I kinda figured the fuel economy would get worse. Is the power not as much as one would expect from a 6cyl? My current truck has its fair share of smaller issues that needs to be fixed for emissions testing next year. Is price pretty fair on this truck?

 

[adsm08]

The 3.0 auto get the low end fuel economy of a 4.0 and the low end power of the 2.3.

It is an old car engine dropped into the truck to give it a small V6 option.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The price might be a tad high but the truck is really clean, they probably have built a little bargaining room in there.

As far as the 3.0 goes it is between the 2.5 and 4.0 for both power and fuel economy. If it got worse milage than most 4.0's (which was already mediocre for what it is) and less power than most 2.3's (neither of them are very exciting) they would not have sold nearly as well as they did... for as long as they did.

2.5:
119 hp and 149 lb·ft

3.0:
145 hp and 170 lb·ft

4.0: (OHV)
160 hp and 225 lb·ft

The best thing would be to test drive and find out for yourself if it had enough power for you.

 

[EMB1230]

That is a very clean truck, and it's nicely equipped, I used to have a black '03 3.0L Auto, LWB. but mine was an XL, Solid back window, Manual mirrors, locks, windows, no tilt or cruise control, vinyl flooring and grey grille/bumpers, and the steel rims.



Here's what ppl forget or don't realize, it's not so much that the 3.0 has only so-so economy and so-so power, IMO, it is what you'd expect for power from a small V6 of it's time to be, the issue with them is they make what little HP and torque that they do make WAAAAY too high in the RPM's, if you do decide to get a 3.0, get one with MANUAL so that you can get up into that power area that it needs to be at.


BTW 85_Ranger4x4, an 2003 3.0L's power and torque was 154hp and 180 ft lbs.

 

[86 slo-vo]

IMHO, pass up a 3.0

If you want power get a 4.0, if you want fuel economy get a 2.3.

The middle road sucks because it isnt good at either.

 

[phatspeed7x]

Looks like a nice truck at a fair price.

 

[doorgunner]

Consider the shape that the "new" truck is in and what it will cost you to repair whatever might be wrong with it...

Now consider what it will cost you to get your present truck "up to snuff" and in the same roadworthy/Inspection-passing shape that the "new" truck is in....

If you have to invest a lump of money in your present truck....maybe selling it and buying that "new" truck is the way to go...

You should also consider one other important thing...............................


Do You Have "New Truck" Fever.....LOL!!!!

 

[trader007]

yeah unless you know the owners replaced anything that was worn as soon as they noticed it, i dont know if thats a great buy... its not a ripoff, but i agree with the others i would get a 4.0. you can still get 20mpg if you do everything right, and keep the motor is top shape.

i got a pushrod 4.0 too, so im naturally bias to those

 

[hoosier1104]

Do You Have "New Truck" Fever.....LOL!!!!

Nope because guess what? Chicken butt. Sorry about that. MINE IS PAID OFF!

 

[doorgunner]

Nope because guess what? Chicken butt. Sorry about that. MINE IS PAID OFF!

BRAGGER! So.....should he buy it??