Just how bad is it to daily drive a 4x4 4 cylinder?

[ghost1986]

Preface: I daily drove an 80 horsepower Geo Tracker for 7 years and was fine with it that whole time

Anyway, i was looking into a Ranger/B Series to replace my mint supercharged Buick Regal GS (i need a better beater type of vehicle). Found this and was wondering how it looked to you fine people here, you know these better than me: http://scranton.craigslist.org/ctd/3439622478.html

This brings up the question: How is it to daily drive a 4x4 2.3 model? I always read these were rare since the drivetrain lose sucked the power out of whats already a gutless truck. Most went V6 obviously. This looks pretty darn clean and i like almost everything about it (would prefer an extended cab, i need to see how the room is in this).

Any insight? Hopefully heading up Tuesday to check it out, been in contact with the dealer already.

 

[Mark_88]

Well, I went from a 95 Suzuki Sidekick to my Ranger and aside from the auto transmission I don't miss the zuke too much...the Ranger is definitely warmer since the zuke had a terrible heater that could barely keep the frost off the windows...and the Ranger actually gets the same or better fuel use...

I'd snag that one if you get the chance...although I'd prefer the extended cab too...that truck does look really clean and with a 5 speed you will probably not feel too much out of place on the highway...

And...you can always boost the 4 banger to grab another bunch of ponies if you really want them...

 

[EMB1230]

Omg!!! Buy that truck!!!!

 

[ghost1986]

Haha, im trying not to get overly excited. Im in PA so the undercarriage may very well be rotted to nothing, never know. Stupid road salt. ALSO, he didnt say the mileage which is always a scary thing.

Ive never seen one with the manual t case before. All of the ones Ive looked at and driven have been electric ones. I love the fact it looks very basic. Like all the really optioned for was the 4x4. Loving the rubber floor mat.

 

[EMB1230]

Haha, im trying not to get overly excited. Im in PA so the undercarriage may very well be rotted to nothing, never know. Stupid road salt. ALSO, he didnt say the mileage which is always a scary thing.

Ive never seen one with the manual t case before. All of the ones Ive looked at and driven have been electric ones. I love the fact it looks very basic. Like all the really optioned for was the 4x4. Loving the rubber floor mat.

Yeah, I live in Wi so I know all about rotting undercarriages. Lima's are tanks, even if they are beaten on they still can go for 300K miles. Manual transfer case 4x4 were basically limited to the Limas, although I believe it was a no-cost option for the V6's. The Vinyl flooring is quite common on base models trucks, I love mine, so much easier to clean.

 

[wildbill23c]

I had a 1989 Mazda B2600i 4x4 pickup that I drove 60 miles round trip daily for about 5 months, my stupid self decided that 317,000 miles was just asking for a breakdown someday so I traded it in on a 2006 Chevy Cobalt, that turned out to be the worst mistake I've made. After just a month with a brand new car I wanted my old truck back. The only issues I had with the mazda was a slave cylinder for the clutch failed and was replaced, and the idler pulley for the A/C compressor siezed and destroyed a belt, never bothered having it replaced and kept driving it.

The mazda had a 2.6L 4 cylinder fuel injected engine, 5 speed manual transmission, and I was surprised where it would go, and how much power it had for being a 4cylinder. I did haul about 3/4 of a pallet of 8" x 8" x 16" cinder building blocks with it, the suspension didn't like my idea but the truck hauled it like it wasn't even back there.

The 2.3L engine won't have as much power as the engine in mine did, but you would be surprised what those little 4 cylinder engines can really do. If you are driving it as a daily driver you really don't need the power of a V6, or V8, its going to do just fine with the 4 cylinder, you'll really like it when you can miss a gas station or 2 along the way. I can't remember what kind of mileage I got with the b2600 but I think it was around 22mpg on the highway and that was with some pretty aggressive mud tires.

 

[Andy D]

I had a 1989 Mazda B2600i 4x4 pickup that I drove 60 miles round trip daily for about 5 months, my stupid self decided that 317,000 miles was just asking for a breakdown someday so I traded it in on a 2006 Chevy Cobalt, that turned out to be the worst mistake I've made. After just a month with a brand new car I wanted my old truck back. The only issues I had with the mazda was a slave cylinder for the clutch failed and was replaced, and the idler pulley for the A/C compressor siezed and destroyed a belt, never bothered having it replaced and kept driving it.

The mazda had a 2.6L 4 cylinder fuel injected engine, 5 speed manual transmission, and I was surprised where it would go, and how much power it had for being a 4cylinder. I did haul about 3/4 of a pallet of 8" x 8" x 16" cinder building blocks with it, the suspension didn't like my idea but the truck hauled it like it wasn't even back there.

The 2.3L engine won't have as much power as the engine in mine did, but you would be surprised what those little 4 cylinder engines can really do. If you are driving it as a daily driver you really don't need the power of a V6, or V8, its going to do just fine with the 4 cylinder, you'll really like it when you can miss a gas station or 2 along the way. I can't remember what kind of mileage I got with the b2600 but I think it was around 22mpg on the highway and that was with some pretty aggressive mud tires.

Unless it is giving visible signs of impending doom.anything
with 317 k on it is gonna keep on going. It never would have made it that far, if it hadn't been maintained

 

[wildbill23c]

Unless it is giving visible signs of impending doom.anything
with 317 k on it is gonna keep on going. It never would have made it that far, if it hadn't been maintained

I totally agree, just wish there was a time machine so I could go get that truck back. All it truly needed was a couple of rust spots that needed serious repair so I could put things in the truck bed without them falling out the hole.

People do really dumb things and not think things through...I'm one of those people.

The 4 cylinder engines have been around for many years and are for the most part pretty bulletproof, you really can't go wrong with a 4 cylinder vehicle from what I've ran across. Its usually the mess connected to the engine that causes the trouble.

 

[ghost1986]

In addition to the possible higher miles/underbody rust we have the space issue. Ive only sat in a regular cab model (a 93 or 94 model Ranger) once and i did not fit in it. Maybe with the bench itll be an easier fit for me.

We'll have to see. I would also have a space issue with all my tools. A bed toolbox would be on it beofre i even got it home. Haha. THats the primary reason i want the extended cab. Make a box behind the driver seat for my main tools.

Edit: JUst got an email back from the dealer. He said it has 140k miles. Perfectly fine by me, i have no issue with that.

 

[wildbill23c]

I had an 84 ford ranger as my first vehicle, it was just a standard cab, it seemed to have more room in it and the 89 mazda b2600i, than my grandfather's 93 ranger, just seemed the newer ranger regular cabs got really small or something, there's not near the room as the older trucks. I know in my b2600i there was actually quite a bit of room behind the seat even with it being a regular cab, so you might get lucky there for the tool space.

 

[Andy D]

OK, my one and only Ranger is the Rat, which is the big cab on 125" wheelbase. It has great leg room. I am 6' even and 230 pounds. I have the seat about 4 inches forward of the stop. But I dont think you can get a 4cyl 4x4 in the long cab. There goes the MPG I started out looking for exactly what you're looking for. The Rat crossed my path and I went for it. My BIL thinks I paid too much considering what it was and what it needs. He's a GM guy

 

[wildbill23c]

Andy, go sit in the cab of a newer model regular cab Chevy S-10 those things are like driving a go kart with doors. LOL. I know the ranger's have roomier regular cabs it seems like than the S-10's did.

 

[ghost1986]

OK! Just got back from test driving it!

It was fairly clean but did have its share of scratched in the paint and little dents. Obviously was a work truck, wasnt mint by any means. It ran and drove quite nice other than a hell of a vague steering wheel. Lots of movement back and forth, not tight steering at all but i think thats fairly standard for these right? The interior wasnt bad except i did not realize that tilt steering wasnt standard =[ Wheel was a bit high, i like it lower to my lap, a lot lower. THe seat wasnt bad but the lack of a reclining feature it in sucked. I know some of the benches in these can recline so that would be a swap scenario right there. Underneath it had a good deal of surface rust on the frame and everything. No rot but lots of surface rust.

Overall I liked it but the non tilt steering, uncomfortable seat and slighty rusty underside kind of make me want to pass. I didnt mind the 4 cylinder at all but i think it would just prove easier to suit my criteria if i search a bit more for a V6 extended cab model.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Overall I liked it but the non tilt steering, uncomfortable seat and slighty rusty underside kind of make me want to pass.

That's odd that it didn't have tilt steering. That dashboard is the same up to 97 for that cab style in a Ranger, if you felt like addressing the steering issues, I'm sure one would fit from another truck.

This is the tilt lever, at the top (taken from a picture in the tech library)

Honestly it's still a nice truck though. If you don't grab it I'd bet another one of out PA members here would. Aside from the steering and the auto hubs it's pretty much the cream of the crop.

Still think it should be closer to $1800 though.

 

[ghost1986]

Yep, no tilt steering. I hit up Harrys Junkyard right afterwards and saw a few more without tilt. Id say it was a 75/25 split for tilt/no tilt on the junk ones there. Also saw another manual 4x4 shifter on a '95+ B3000.

If it was closer to $1800 i probably would be driving it right now Also if the frame was a bit cleaner i would definitely be driving it but it looked like it would need some immediate attention to the frame with a grinder and some undercoat to stall any rot.