Toying with the idea of getting a Ford ranger

I mean, it wouldn't be as bad if you were in the market for a Frontier. But a Ranger? Come on!! Get real!!!!!! You'll wish you stayed with a Tacoma as soon as you drove off that Ford Dealership with that Ranger. Just get a new tacoma the manual isn't that good in these trucks... Just trade it in and get a Auto... The resale value of Rangers will be even worse than it already is after being discontinued. It's your money and truck good luck with whatever you do... But I'm trying to save a brotha from a dark future in that of owning a Ranger.

 

Love all the anti ford talk, but this is a Tacoma forum so that's to be expected...my dad has been a Ford/GM guys his whole life and bought a 2011 ranger last year. Having only driven it once, mostly offroad and in 4 low(we were going out shooting) I have to say that it is not a bad little pickup. I liked how small it still is for a mid size, the five speed worked great, and it did really well offroad with the v6. The price was great as well, v6, 4x4, limited slip rear, 5 speed, access cab with metal bed, no carpet and manual windows and locks for around 19k out the door!

I was amazed when he said he liked my Tacoma after I bought it, cause he's a domestic car kinda guy. The taco is way smoother, more reliable, resale kicks ass, better mpg. But it was also about 10k more!!

begins now....

 

Ford makes good full size trucks.

 

you should get one of these instead

 

x2. the new F-150's are pretty nice. I'd have a tough time choosing between the F-150 and the Silverado if I needed a full size

 

I would never consider a ranger b/c I think Ford's are not yet trustworthy. I do like the looks of the new specs and look of the ford F150. The ranger looks like it hasn't changed since 1990. I can speak on Nissan Forntiers, I had a brand new 2001 King cab frontier 4cyl 2wd and it looked cool but it was the slowest piece a crap of a vehicle I've ever driven not to mention the worst gas hog I ever owned. I got like 12 mpg on a good day and I used to floor it to go up the hills and mtns in Colorado and it would literally crawl up the incline. Within a couple of months we traded it in for a 98 pathfinder v6 4x4 and I loved that truck. The reason I bought the 4cyl frontier is b/c I had previously owned a 90 king cab 4cyl 2wd and that was the best lil truck ever, at least in FL where it is mostly has flat roads. I would never waste my money again on a frontier and will ONLY get a tacoma, lesson learned. One positive note about the frontier is that I think the side rumble seats in the king cab are much better than the pos seats in the tacoma access cab.

I still have a pic of that 01 frontier, taken at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs back in early 2002.

 

I like the Rangers and what they represent but I feel like they are not justifiable unless they were much cheaper...spartan interior, poor refinement and smaller size shouldn't put the price as close to the Tacomas and Frontiers as it does. I do like them though, they have a certain uncivilized charm...

 

'89 and 2005 Ranger owner here. I loved both trucks, never had an issue with either one...I prefer the size of the Ranger, which is one reason I went with the RC Tacoma. But yeah, the Ranger just went bye-bye.

 

I had a Ranger....hated it!! Glad I got rid of it in less than a year and bought my taco.Had no power going uphill, very sluggish.

 

sounds like the 01 frontier king cab 4cyl I owned.

 

Did I mention my ranger was 6cyl....ugh it was a POS! Hated going uphill on the 10 east right before fairplex.

 

3.0 or 4.0?

 

4.0

 

I don't think you can get a bench seat when your order the sport package. I would also be impressed if you could actually find that vehicle. I shopped around for 2 months before buying the Taco, I found 2 Rangers with that package in 50 miles and neither dealer was will to cut a break. The Ranger certainly wins if size matters, but you are going to pay for it in initial cost, ride, comfort and resale. Loved my Explorer, beat the hell out of my Mustang, and thank goodness every day I opted for the Taco.

 

I had the 3.0 in my last Ranger and it's a great little motor. Decent power, good fuel economy and pretty resilient. The 4.0L seems to be more of a pig. It makes a lot of noise, burns a lot of gas but doesn't have the ass to back it up.

 

I like ford trucks...but hate working on them; almost everything I've ever done on them(at least the models since 1995 fwd) has been a PITA in one way or another. From changing oil/antifreeze to sparkplugs...nothing seems easily accessible. That's all I really got for this one.

EDIT: that's why I won't buy another...

 

dang!

 

few comments:
1. there's a reason they are discontinuing it.
2. right now I see some really cheap prices advertised. It might be a piece of crap but its a cheap piece of crap with some good incentives.

 

My buddy had a 2004 3.0L ext cab edge 5 speed with a 3" lift. In 8 months we dropped that tranny bout 8 times to replace the clutch then main rear seal and a shit load of slave cylinders....