First review of my 2019

[dhdaniel]

Good morning, I thought I'd mention my initial findings on my new Ranger, Don't take these as complaints. Just my realizations

Understand that I am comparing this to my 2019 Ford Explorer Limited, with the same 2.3 Ecoboost

Negatives :
Engine is loud on startup. Obviously this is due to the Mechanical Fan and Clutch, versus Electric fans
No Engine cover, Engine bay is full of components, Ford chose to loose the plastic cover. Purely cosmetic, but really cleans it all up
No grab handle on the Driver side pillar. This would be very convenient,
Mirrors do not Auto fold on shutdown. There is a button on dash to retract the mirrors manually.
Back Sliding window manually opened only. Useless.

Positives:
Hood Support cylinders are a big plus, no Prop Rod to fidget with
Steering is good, has a really nice feel.
Brakes feel different, but in a good positive way.
Engine power is good, Sport mode is Very good. ( I had this on my 2.7 Ecoboost F150)
10 speed trans seems Great. I dont feel any clunkiness
Sync 3 is great. Sound system is just fine. I always use Sirius Xm. The Explorer and my F150 had the same setup, I really like Sync 3
Navigation is really cool. Not that I need it, This is my work truck, Same job and location for 30 years.
I like it because you can pull up live updates on Traffic congestion, and detours

Over all I am liking the truck just fine. I wish Ford had a factory available Tailgate damper.
Only a couple upgrades planned. I only need a bed mat, maybe a folding Tonneau, and Husky Exact Contour front mats

appreciate any comments

Dave

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Thanks for the review.
Since it's your work truck, what do you do?
I totally agree with you on the grab handle.
I don't like the sliding window because I don't think it would handle the weight of a few 10 foot 2x4s resting in it.
Glad you like the engine and transmission. Those are the important parts.
Looking forward to the updates.

 

[HenryMac]

Thanks for posting this. I'm looking to replace my '02 Tacoma with either a Ranger or a Colorado.

As far as the rear window goes... if you're hauling some light weight 8 foot long stuff (like pvc pipe or a couple 2x4's)... opening that window and running them through that window into the cab will prove your "useless" comment premature. Wrap those pieces with a shop rag, secured with some blue painters tape to prevent any damage to the truck. I bet I've done that a couple hundred times on my Tacoma.

 

[wildbill23c]

Engine is loud on startup, yep, its an engine they make more noise when they're cold as they idle higher until they start to warm up then the idle speed slowly goes down, and with a mechanical fan you get a little fan noise, you should here my 88 Bronco 2's mechanical fan with the HD fan clutch, sounds like a jet engine all the time and yes it does disengage just not very often, I want it to cool the engine not just sit there and freespin as most mechanical fans seem to do 99% of the time.

The manual rear sliding window LOL, yep you'll thank yourself later for not having a power window those things fail and they suck to try and repair and not cheap to have repaired. I think I've rolled the back window down in my 2005 Toyota Tundra twice since I've owned it, not exactly sure why its a power up and down window and its not just the slider type, the whole back glass in the cab rolls up and down, useless when your camper shell doesn't have the boot between the shell and cab so all it does is suck in dust when you have it down while driving.

Hood support cylinders? That's nothing new at all LOL, cars have had those for decades...you'll love them when they fail and drops the hood on your head though LOL.

Don't feel any clunkiness from the 10 speed transmission...duh its always slipping so you don't feel it hunting for gears all day long.

Steering is good? I'd sure as hell hope so in a brand new truck, wait 10 years and report back when the electric power steering unit has failed LOL.

When you pull up traffic updates and such, does it give you alternate routes before you are already stuck in the traffic jam/wreck? Seen many similar systems that were way too late about the alerts and by that time the driver was already stuck in the middle of the mess. What about weather alerts do they have that yet to tell like roads that are closed chains required and that type of stuff?

I wish they would have done a plain old regular cab with a 7 foot bed a pure base model without it being full of touch screen stuff just like the old work trucks with manual door locks manual windows, plain ole stereo, etc. I don't use all that stuff so its a huge waste of my money having to buy a vehicle full of crap I'll never use.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Most of your negatives sound like positives to me.

But what do i know i drive an 87.

 

[Curious Hound]

Sorry. All I read was "Mr. Moneybags", here has a brand-spankin new Ranger AND Explorer Limited.

Seriously, though, I hope you enjoy the truck. All the points you brought up, both positive and negative are pretty minor. So it sounds like a good vehicle.

 

[Ralphy]

The only thing that I started to grow into not liking about my '19 FX4 was the front struts feel like they are too soft. Almost felt like you were driving an old Buick sometimes. A 2" leveling kit fixed that for me. The suspension feels much more balanced now.... more "truck" like.

 

[sgtsandman]

A few of us hold that same sentiment. The suspension floats too much. My guess is to make the least amount of people unhappy as they can.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

A few of us hold that same sentiment. The suspension floats too much. My guess is to make the least amount of people unhappy as they can.

Jim mentioned it when he test drove one in California too.

 

[gw33gp]

I felt the same way about my 02 FX4 with the Ford valved Bilstein shocks. At around 100K miles I replaced them with standard Bilstein shocks and that made a big difference. Apparently Ford doesn't want complaints about being too stiff.

 

[sgtsandman]

“Real truck guys” aren’t supposed to be buying mini or mid sized trucks. Apparently, none of us Ranger owners got the memo.