Which Ranger should I buy?

[wildbill23c]

If you ever have future plans to get more power. In all honesty the 4 cylinder has more upgrades available and cheaper than the 3.0. The 2.3 lima has a HUGE race following with parts. But you say you just want a DD that gets mileage and can still offroad. With the right gears (which it should already have) it's gonna be your best friend.

The 3.0 is a great reliable engine but it's not powerful and has an odd powerband for a truck. It does have more hp and torque than the 2.3 but it makes it at way higher rpm.

Don't the 4 cylinder models with 4WD have 4.10's stock? Thought I saw or read somewhere that was the case?

The 4 cylinder sounds like a great vehicle for a commuter, still giving the 4WD option if needed. Although a different vehicle my 89 Mazda B2600i 4x4 did great had plenty of power for a 2.6L 4 cylinder and 4WD, I'd get mid to high 20's on the highway for fuel economy with it, the slight drop in fuel economy I had no issue with given I had 4WD, and some all terrain tires on it, it did great in all weather conditions and had 339k on it when I sold it, I had the clutch & slave cylinder replaced at 279k.

 

[Ranger_XL]

Don't the 4 cylinder models with 4WD have 4.10's stock? Thought I saw or read somewhere that was the case?

The 4 cylinder sounds like a great vehicle for a commuter, still giving the 4WD option if needed. Although a different vehicle my 89 Mazda B2600i 4x4 did great had plenty of power for a 2.6L 4 cylinder and 4WD, I'd get mid to high 20's on the highway for fuel economy with it, the slight drop in fuel economy I had no issue with given I had 4WD, and some all terrain tires on it, it did great in all weather conditions and had 339k on it when I sold it, I had the clutch & slave cylinder replaced at 279k.

Yes, indeed, the 2.3 I4 4×4s have a 4.10 rear-gear ratio.

 

[sgtsandman]

Yes, indeed, the 2.3 I4 4×4s have a 4.10 rear-gear ratio.

As they should be!

 

[Snoranger]

Just buy both of them.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

Just buy both of them.

Whoa, what is it with you and me? Twice in one day, we're thinking along the same lines.....

 

[Snoranger]

Whoa, what is it with you and me? Twice in one day, we're thinking along the same lines.....

Great minds think alike...







And so do we.

Buying both is the only logical option. If he was comparing 3 different Rangers, the correct answer would be to buy all 3.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

Great minds think alike...







And so do we.

Buying both is the only logical option. If he was comparing 3 different Rangers, the correct answer would be to buy all 3.

It *does* make sense. Especially when they both sound like a good deal, and you can't decide which one to buy.

 

[Josh B]

That way you could hardly go wrong

 

[azrangerman85]

Im a fan of the 1998-2000 4wd XLT flareside, thats just me . At the junkyard I didnt care for years earlier than the 97 , and I didnt like the utility design look of anything above 2000 despite them being nice trucks I dont like their look

 

[Ranger_XL]

The owner of the 2.3 I4 4×4 was having second thoughts of whether to part with the truck, albeit yes, I did purchase two trucks after all: I purchased the abovementioned 3.0 V6 4×4 and another F-250 Super Duty XL with the 6.8 Triton V10 and ZF6, manual transmission.

 

[sgtsandman]

 

[1990RangerinSK]

The owner of the 2.3 I4 4×4 was having second thoughts of whether to part with the truck, albeit yes, I did purchase two trucks after all: I purchased the abovementioned 3.0 V6 4×4 and another F-250 Super Duty XL with the 6.8 Triton V10 and ZF6, manual transmission.

 

[Josh B]

The owner of the 2.3 I4 4×4 was having second thoughts of whether to part with the truck, albeit yes, I did purchase two trucks after all: I purchased the abovementioned 3.0 V6 4×4 and another F-250 Super Duty XL with the 6.8 Triton V10 and ZF6, manual transmission.

Cool! Don't forget where you found us

 

[stsalvage]

I've found out that the First Gen rangers with the 4.0 engines with 5 speeds are the best trucks to own so from 1991--1994. This can be 2 wheel drive or 4X4 modals.

1#
Here are a few reasons One is the 1989--94 late meaning it has to have the old Dash from 1989 Is the Heater core change out 20 mins for 1989--1994 heater core swap

The 1995 up Are piles of Scrap when it comes to being easy to do a heater core swap 1995--2099 it will take you 8-10 hours to change out and put back together. That is the one true reason why to turn these trucks into Baha trucks.

2#

In 1995 the 4.0 got the EGR put back on the rangers In 1990-1994 the 4.0 did not have the dreaded EGR valve. 1996 OBD2 came out How can I say this for all you people that hate check engine lights. 1996 ranger and up to 2014 You fart wrong in the seat the check engine light comes on. When you invite more government into your car or truck means more money out of your pocket. Plain and simple.

1990--1994 rangers with the 4.0 was the best bang for your dollar. One problem that all rangers had was that pile sh-t automatic transmission that Ford put in their rangers.

The Automatic was built for the 2.3 it was not meant to pull heavy loads and It was made for the small Mazda B2000 trucks the ford Mustang got the better trans as in the AOD That was a better towing and hauling transmission.

The 5 speed that came in all the years of Rangers where Gate the 4.0 Had the best 5-speed trans.

3#

1989--92 had the better body lines Plus they had drip rails above the door Easier to work on I own 5 of them 1990 ford Ranger extended cab XLT 4.0 auto 1991 ford ranger extended cab 4.0 5 speed 1991 ford explorer 2 wheel drive 4.0 5 speed 1994 4x4 4.0 5 speed 1996 2 wheel drive 2.3 5 speed extended cab.

The 1996 ranger has been the biggest pile I've ever bought spent well over 3500.00 to get it to pass smog An it won't New engine all new smog parts The 2 modules one for the EGR and the #2 downstream O2 sensor will not clear Put 5 of each on this truck finally bought a ford EGR valve for 325.00 It still Not cleared So I tell you all stay away from OBD 2 car's and trucks Buy new trade than in every 3-5 years stay in debt

 

[Dirtman]

So you don't advocate the purchase of any vehicle made in the past 25 years because you couldn't fix an EGR valve?