Is a ranger worth it?

[mywhip]

I am going to be attending college 30 minutes away, commuting there 2 times a week. I am in the process of getting a 2000 ford ranger, 185k miles for 1k (my stepdad is getting a new truck, so he wants to sell his for cheap, to me). He just had the balljoints done, and it is in pretty good condition. There are some rust spots, and some areas that need attention..but overall, its a good little truck(so far). So i need some fellow ranger owners opinions.

I have owned a ford in the past (contour), and it had nothing but problems. I put way more money into it than it was worth, and ended up selling it for 500$. The point being, i don't want to do this again. So, in an honest opinion, are rangers a waste to have?

Its a 4.0, RWD, manual, 185k miles, white, extended cab.

 

[Andres629]

if you're gonna be a broke college student, maybe the 4.0 isn't the best for commuting, however, they are great, reliable little trucks. Heck, I've taken my lifted 92 with 38x,xxx KM on several road trips over 8 hours, and it's the most reliable truck I've ever owned. Throw a little money at them here and there for regular maintenance, and they'll be good to go.

P.S.- Welcome to TRS!

 

[mywhip]

Well i won't be a broke college student, need to say. But i don't want to get that way from a ton of car maintenance . I use to own a 91 ranger that i rebuilt completely, but never had the chance to drive it..so this is more of a "i finally get to drive it" thing. Is there anything i should know about rangers before i buy it?

Thanks! I hope to learn a lot about them!

 

[Andres629]

Go aaaaaallllllll through the "tech library" link at the top of the page, in there you'll find all sorts of great information pertaining to Rangers and pretty much any question you may have will probably be answered in there. Happy hunting!

 

[mywhip]

Will do!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

They are often a very reliable truck, but like everything there are some problem trucks... your stepdad should be able to tell you how good of a truck it has been.

All things even, it should blow a Contour away for reliablity.

 

[mywhip]

Oh yeah, i don't expect it to not have any problems, and i do expect to put some money into it.

I hope it blows the contour away..i put way to much money into that thing!

 

[Hopman]

Oh yeah, i don't expect it to not have any problems, and i do expect to put some money into it.

I hope it blows the contour away..i put way to much money into that thing!

The good news is that Rangers are pretty cheap to run & maintain. Besides, think of all the beer & pretty girls you can haul in the back!

 

[adsm08]

if you're gonna be a broke college student, maybe the 4.0 isn't the best for commuting

Yeah, but getting something that new for only 1000 is gonna take him a lot of time to rack up more in gas than in purchase price on a more efficient vehicle.

 

[02RangerXLT]

You are in the same situation I am, as far as college, when I go, it will be two days a week, I think I'll just drive my pickup, but I may use one of my parents cars, because 4.0's are real dogs in town... mine just gets horrible mileage in town. Highway mileage is pretty good, 18 has been my average for a while, I got 21 average on two tanks coming back from Colorado going 80...

 

[mywhip]

Well paying for gas isn't that big of a deal for me, namely being because im only going to college twice a week..not everyday. Granted i would love a car with better mpg, but i won't lose sleep over it. Heck, as long as it doesn't break down every week (the latest trend with my nissan, which this is replacing), i will be fine.

 

[gwaii]

Is a ranger worth it...a 2000 ford ranger, 185k miles for 1k...Its a 4.0, RWD, manual, 185k miles, white, extended cab.

yes

 

[mywhip]

Which one of the sub sections is ranger specific? I see mazda, rare, and bronco.. :S

 

[Andres629]

They are all Ranger specific, those are just ones specific for Mazda, rare, and BII/Explorer.

 

[robertc1024]

I would say it's reliability is directly proportional to how it was maintained. I'd buy it in a heartbeat for that if it was maintained even reasonably well.