Why a Ranger?

[srteach]

My first ranger was cheap. I hit a deer with it and destroyed the radiator. It still ran great after I reset the fuel cutoff.

Reliability, efficiency, and power.

 

[lifeissomething]

They're cheap and reliable. They're still built like a truck.

Also, what power are you guys talking about? All the 2.3s I've driven were gutless, all the 3.0s were mediocre at best. The 4.0s are great, but, yeah. My chipped 2.3 is still gutless.

 

[kunar]

heh, ive rolled my 2.9 twice. with 212K miles it still runs great

 

[exbass94]

They're cheap and reliable. They're still built like a truck.

Also, what power are you guys talking about? All the 2.3s I've driven were gutless, all the 3.0s were mediocre at best. The 4.0s are great, but, yeah. My chipped 2.3 is still gutless.

The 2.3 is not gutless compared to other 4 cyl trucks. Have you ever driven a 4 cyl S10? I drive a 2.3 Duratech and a number of 4 cyl S10s at work, and the Ranger will hand the S10s their asses any day. Even the S10 with the 5-speed manual is gutless compared to the automatic Ranger.

 

[mhughes165]

They're cheap and reliable. They're still built like a truck.

Also, what power are you guys talking about? All the 2.3s I've driven were gutless, all the 3.0s were mediocre at best. The 4.0s are great, but, yeah. My chipped 2.3 is still gutless.

what are u comparing it to, that is the question, the 2.3 is gutless compared to what....a 4.0 ranger....

 

[Danger-Ranger96]

i wanted a unique little pickup and have been a ford fan my whole life. Don't get me wrong, i was looking to buy an 80s toyota pickup but they were still worth 10k for immaculate ones. Besides, im the only one in my city (of 75,000+) that owns a 3rd gen lifted ranger. I always get looks when i drive down the road, and i love it.

 

[ZMan]

I always wanted a pickup truck. I sort of had gas mileage in mind so when I saw my x-cab sitting at a gas station for sale I just couldn't pass it up. Now I like them mostly because I just know how to work on them.

 

[metalmacguyver]

I wanted a truck. Could only afford a small truck. I liked Fords. A ranger it was. My first was a 2.3 5spd 2wd and that truck did some amazing things while I had it. I then went with another ranger when the 2wd started needing lots of little stuff because the TTB is a better stock wheeling rig.


MAKG, How did you get paid to take a vehicle?

 

[rxinhed]

The reasons that I'm considering a Ranger:

1. There are no longer any other small trucks of consequence. The only other alternative is the Colorado/Canyon...I just don't like the angular styling.

2. The Ranger FX4 Level II seems to me to present a good starting platform for my next work truck. I drive a Dodge Raider (aka Mitsubishi Montero) 2-door that is sometimes too small. In some instances, the 1987 Chevy K-30 dually would be too big. The Ranger seems a good balance between the short wheel base SUV and the BIG service truck.

3. Because there are aftermarket parts available, such as lockers, gears, bumpers, slider bars, and service beds, I could outfit a Level II with said parts, have something that I can work from, carrying all my gear, and not worry about getting stuck in front of that scraper bearing down on me.

4. I'll have air conditioning and the power to drive uphill. The Ranger 4L is rated at twice the HP as my little Raider.

R-

 

[CTswampyankee]

My truck was 50 bucks!!!!

 

[High Desert Ranger]

I wanted a truck. Could only afford a small truck. I liked Fords. A ranger it was. My first was a 2.3 5spd 2wd and that truck did some amazing things while I had it. I then went with another ranger when the 2wd started needing lots of little stuff because the TTB is a better stock wheeling rig.


MAKG, How did you get paid to take a vehicle?

I got paid to put the lift and tires on my truck.

A guy comes by my work and saws that he just got his 2nd DUI accident and his parents won't let him keep the crashed stuff in their yard anymore. Sells, me a 85 B2 with a 4" Rough Country Lift and 31" tires and Rims for $200. I Sell the motor for $100, Front right fender for $50, Seats for $100, Interior Trim Pieces for $50, Rear Hatch for $100, Engine for $100 and Rear Axle for $100. That's $700 worth of parts sold and I still had a trans, transfer case and front axle.

Put the lift and tires on my truck.

 

[RobbieD]

In my case, the Ranger and B2 have been the most practicle, and by far the most cost-effective TRANSPORTATION that could ever be asked for. Reliable, inexpensive and easy to operate / maintain / repair / insure, and a joy to drive. I've had eight in all, and it's the only kind of vehicle we've driven and depended on for 23 years now. Every one of 'em's been a jewel. So I'm biased; so what? Ranger's have always done me right.

 

[lifeissomething]

The 2.3 is not gutless compared to other 4 cyl trucks. Have you ever driven a 4 cyl S10? I drive a 2.3 Duratech and a number of 4 cyl S10s at work, and the Ranger will hand the S10s their asses any day. Even the S10 with the 5-speed manual is gutless compared to the automatic Ranger.

I don't even consider an S10. Why would anyone put any thought into the concept of S10? I mean, I know some people are retarded, but we're talking about actual human beings here.

A 2.3 ranger is gutless compared to... A current 4-cyl sedan? When I step on the pedal I don't feel any significant amount of power? My 210 hp mitsu starion? It's simply gutless. I love the truck. It's classically/functionally beautiful, but it really only has enough power to be functional as a "small truck." Light hauling and the occasional freeway entrance ramp.

It consistently surprises me how easily I can throw the rear end out in first gear though. ! Goodbye goodyears.

 

[Simple_serf]

I come from a ford family, and I started off with an Isuzu P'up , which was a great truck until the frame went. I then got a mazda B2200...That thing was a complete POS, and is the reason why I won't buy anything with a mazda designed engine in it.

I have worked on Chevys and I didn't want one of those for obvious reasons.... I didn't like the kind of milage that a Dakota got.

I looked at my ranger, and I kind of wanted one with a 3.0, which I am rather familiar with. I did some research and found the motor was a stroked 2.3, which I see on gensets sometimes. I said what the hell and have been spending $$ on it ever since.

 

[4x4junkie]

I bought my Ranger simply because of what I saw underneath the thing. Compared to what everyone else was offering, the Ranger still had some semblance of a real axle under the front (the biggest parts that jumped out at me was it's real axle u-joints, and tierods & knuckles with some substance). The 8.8" rear I knew was the same axle used in F-150s (although I didn't know about it being 28 spline until some years later when it came time to installing a locker).

At the time, the 4.0L was also one of the highest-rated V6 engines for power (only the S-10 4.3 was rated 5 more HP, although it sure didn't feel like it when I drove one ).

No regrets whatsoever on the purchase.


A buddy on the other hand, bought an almost-new Toyota right about the same time I bought my Ranger).
Left & right the thing had problems:
Broke the IFS frontend on many occasions (it would never stay aligned either), a corroded plug on the ignition module which left him stranded several times (engine would die intermittently, dealer could never find problem), engine (3.0L) kept blowing head gaskets, spun rod bearing at 80,000, blower fan quit, wiring int he steering column failed where it flexed because of the tilt steering... All this was within the 1st 6 years of him owning it, too. Yet people still try to tell me those things are so reliable (My dad's Camry he bought new hasn't been so great either ).