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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Ford ranger...good deal or no?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 87WhiteStang1
  • Start date Start date Feb 23, 2009
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87WhiteStang1

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Dec 19, 2007
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Feb 23, 2009
#1
  • Feb 23, 2009
  • #1
im looking at a ford ranger in my area. i want to get something as an everyday driver to give the stang some rest.. its a 95 ranger. 4 banger, 5spd, 2wd.. 97,700 miles. pretty clean truck. no rust, minor exterior dings and scratches. he will not go any lower than 2000.. let me know what you think
 

5.SL0W

Banned
Jan 20, 2009
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Feb 23, 2009
#2
  • Feb 23, 2009
  • #2
sounds like a good deal, they last forever and are really fast. ok just kidding about the fast part. but they are great little dd's. i have an 06 with the 4.0 and 5 speed for a dd and i like it alot
 

fiveohwblow

Official Member
15 Year Member
Jul 21, 2005
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Feb 23, 2009
#3
  • Feb 23, 2009
  • #3
5.SL0W said:
sounds like a good deal, they last forever and are really fast. ok just kidding about the fast part. but they are great little dd's. i have an 06 with the 4.0 and 5 speed for a dd and i like it alot
Click to expand...

+1

Just dont get very good gas mileage even with the 4 banger. My assumption is that it will be relatively similar to your fox, that is, unless you use the loud pedal all the time.
 

Beasty306GT

Active Member
Dec 19, 2002
671
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Oxford,Mass
Feb 23, 2009
#4
  • Feb 23, 2009
  • #4
I got an 02 4x4 4.0 fx4 and i love it ...only thing is it sux on gas..other than that no problems im at 71k
 

5.SL0W

Banned
Jan 20, 2009
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Feb 23, 2009
#5
  • Feb 23, 2009
  • #5
there are some 2.3 rangers around my town that have had the **** kicked out of them by at least 2 generations of high school kids and keep coming back for more. good trucks lol
 

QUICK91LX

Founding Member
Dec 7, 2001
968
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Feb 23, 2009
#6
  • Feb 23, 2009
  • #6
They are a never say die truck, and a 2wd will give you the least problems of all.

I have a 96 4.0 5-speed STX 4x4 and i LOVE it. It has had a few problems but nothing out of the ordinary. Got it December 04 with 71k on it and it has 105k on it now. Worst complaint is the 16.5-17mpg
 

87WhiteStang1

Member
Dec 19, 2007
182
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Feb 25, 2009
#7
  • Feb 25, 2009
  • #7
If it were up to me i would be over there buying the truck today.. The only thing holding me back is that my dad is saying he doesn't want another car parked out front!!! any tips on how to talk him into it??? lol
 

1990Coupe

Founding Member
Mar 11, 2002
1,462
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114
Toms River NJ
Feb 25, 2009
#8
  • Feb 25, 2009
  • #8
Anyone on here rocking 200k - 300k on there rangers????

Most people say "you can't kill them" yet they only have 70-100k on theres. I have a 92 cherokee with a 4.0 straight 6. THOSE thing's you can't kill! Countless Cherokees running around with 250k+ miles on them (anything with the 4.0). Rangers are nice, but my Cherokee (and the other's I and my father have had) last forever.
 
9

'99 T/A

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Mar 19, 2001
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Houston, Texas
Feb 25, 2009
#9
  • Feb 25, 2009
  • #9
114K on the wifey's.

1990Coupe said:
Anyone on here rocking 200k - 300k on there rangers????

Most people say "you can't kill them" yet they only have 70-100k on theres. I have a 92 cherokee with a 4.0 straight 6. THOSE thing's you can't kill! Countless Cherokees running around with 250k+ miles on them (anything with the 4.0). Rangers are nice, but my Cherokee (and the other's I and my father have had) last forever.
Click to expand...


'01 Edge 2X Extended cab w/ the 4.0 & the 5 speed auto.

Replaced 2 sets of front pads, minor little things like an EGR sensor and a rubber PCV hose.

Had Ford change the plugs at 100 or so K - around 300 bux. The PS is as tight as my SS to get to !

Also had Ford change the fuel filter - 40 smackers, parts & labor. Well worth it !

Still barks second when the mood is right - low humidity, no A/C on, and stomp on it around 40MPH.

Dayum that 90 mph limiter, though.

She loves it still ( bought it new ) and I'd buy one in a heartbeat - w/ the 4.0, of course.

Betcha that thing would be wicked w/ some F.I. ...

Britt
 

25thmustang

Mustang Master
Sep 5, 2003
2,021
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99
Montgomery, NY
Feb 25, 2009
#10
  • Feb 25, 2009
  • #10
My brother had one, 1994 Ranger reg cab, short bed 4.0 5-speed manual 4x4. Truck was great in the snow, fast for a truck, and did what it needed to do. Had low mileage (70K or so) and it was junk. Tranny killed itself (going down the highway in 5th gear it locked up solid) bottom of the truck was rotted out, brakes, you name it, it probably went bad in the couple years he had it. I liked the truck for what it was and how cheap he got it, but it was NOT unbreakable, quite the opposite, and it was NEVER driven hard when we had it! Never towed, never even had a hitch, never plowed, never abused, never hauled a load of anything...
 

1990Coupe

Founding Member
Mar 11, 2002
1,462
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Toms River NJ
Feb 25, 2009
#11
  • Feb 25, 2009
  • #11
25thmustang said:
My brother had one, 1994 Ranger reg cab, short bed 4.0 5-speed manual 4x4. Truck was great in the snow, fast for a truck, and did what it needed to do. Had low mileage (70K or so) and it was junk. Tranny killed itself (going down the highway in 5th gear it locked up solid) bottom of the truck was rotted out, brakes, you name it, it probably went bad in the couple years he had it. I liked the truck for what it was and how cheap he got it, but it was NOT unbreakable, quite the opposite, and it was NEVER driven hard when we had it! Never towed, never even had a hitch, never plowed, never abused, never hauled a load of anything...
Click to expand...

That is the type of thing i'm talking about. I have no experience with Rangers. I did have a 2001 explorer sport with the SOHC 4.0 and 5 speed auto. I had 108k on that truck before i totaled it and absolutely loved it. It ran beautiful.

'99TA - the things you listed seem to be regular maintenance items and not what i call, Big ticket items. My Jeep has not yielded me a big ticket item yet, nor has my fathers. Some guys wheel the snot out of their XJ, and TJ's and they simply do not die. My dad is a little over 250k with his XJ cherokee and last summer he pulled a 3200lb camper to Virgina from NJ. Going to do the same this year too. I keep telling myself i need a new DD, but this Jeep just runs too good to let go.
 
9

'99 T/A

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Feb 25, 2009
#12
  • Feb 25, 2009
  • #12
Sorry if I was not clear !

1990Coupe said:
'99TA - the things you listed seem to be regular maintenance items and not what i call, Big ticket items.
Click to expand...

That was EXACTLY my point - so far it's all been pretty much routine maintainence items.

Heck - the factory battery lasted 5 years or so !

It's been a good truck , which is one of the reasons she bought it when the lease was up.

The other was that if she was only allowed 12K miles a year, she would have paid a *****pot in overage fees if she had turned it back in.

It's all good !

Britt
 

Beasty306GT

Active Member
Dec 19, 2002
671
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28
Oxford,Mass
Feb 25, 2009
#13
  • Feb 25, 2009
  • #13
just buy it its worth it
 
B

bentley429

Banned
Nov 25, 2004
528
3
0
Connecticut
Feb 25, 2009
#14
  • Feb 25, 2009
  • #14
Guy I went to high school with and work with now had one when we were in school. Got handed down to his younger brother. A few years later down to his youngest. Its over 200k has been in countless wrecks and abused. Its still kicking.
 

QUICK91LX

Founding Member
Dec 7, 2001
968
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39
New Jersey
Feb 25, 2009
#15
  • Feb 25, 2009
  • #15
I can't lie, I have had to put some $ into mine. I still love it though.

So far I have replaced the EGR valve and tubes, changed to manual hubs when the automatic ones went bad, brake lines front to back, both rear leaf spring brackets, and now a power steering line is leaking. The EGR, P/S lines and brake lines went bad due to the ridiculous amount of salt on the roads here and the truck is driven year-round. The splash protection around the front wheels sucks and a lot splashes into the engine bay, causing rust on the untreated EGR and tubes as well as the P/S lines. I put tires on it about 20k ago. I just replaced the original plugs and wires about 3 weeks ago after 13 years and 105k miles, and I have never touched anything else on the engine, clutch, trans or diffs. I will have to do front brakes on it soon but I haven't done them since I have had the truck so that is OK too. Overall really not too bad considering the age and there are some inherent design flaws, but I have gone everywhere in this truck and it has never let me down, and it still looks pretty dern good, IMO. It is still registered in my dads name and he is trying to convince me to let him sell it so he can get a new truck for himself but I have put up a fight like no other.

Here is the truck:

When I first got it...and got it a little dirty:


Somewhere along the line i snapped this pic:


And one from last summer, after I detailed it:
View attachment 269196
 

5.SL0W

Banned
Jan 20, 2009
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Feb 25, 2009
#16
  • Feb 25, 2009
  • #16
heres mine, ohhhhhh yeah

 

TheRican

Emo Extraordinaire
15 Year Member
May 6, 2002
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Feb 26, 2009
#17
  • Feb 26, 2009
  • #17
1990Coupe said:
Anyone on here rocking 200k - 300k on there rangers????

Most people say "you can't kill them" yet they only have 70-100k on theres. I have a 92 cherokee with a 4.0 straight 6. THOSE thing's you can't kill! Countless Cherokees running around with 250k+ miles on them (anything with the 4.0). Rangers are nice, but my Cherokee (and the other's I and my father have had) last forever.
Click to expand...

Friend has an old Cherokee and the damn thing keeps crapping out on him. We have had the tubing bust on the coolant system, main seal leaks, master cylinder is gone, brake booster is dead.

But the bearings are shot and it keeps running. Not too shabby the the straight 6 is so time consuming to work on.
 

Beasty306GT

Active Member
Dec 19, 2002
671
4
28
Oxford,Mass
Feb 26, 2009
#18
  • Feb 26, 2009
  • #18
Heres mine 02 4.0 4x4
View attachment 269106
 

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.
15 Year Member
Jul 6, 2006
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Feb 26, 2009
#19
  • Feb 26, 2009
  • #19
sorry guys, when it comes to trucks you cant beat a chevy. I have had a ford, dodge, and a chevy and the s-10 was hands down the best. had more power, got better mileage, and parts were more plentiful. I'd buy a 2.8 s-10 over a four banger ranger. the 2.8 is underpowered, but it has lots more torque than the 2.3 and when I retired my s10 it had over 250k miles on it and still ran like a champ
 

QUICK91LX

Founding Member
Dec 7, 2001
968
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39
New Jersey
Feb 28, 2009
#20
  • Feb 28, 2009
  • #20
stykthyn said:
sorry guys, when it comes to trucks you cant beat a chevy. I have had a ford, dodge, and a chevy and the s-10 was hands down the best. had more power, got better mileage, and parts were more plentiful. I'd buy a 2.8 s-10 over a four banger ranger. the 2.8 is underpowered, but it has lots more torque than the 2.3 and when I retired my s10 it had over 250k miles on it and still ran like a champ
Click to expand...

and I would buy a 2.9, 3.0 or 4.0 Ranger over a 2.8 S10 all day.

a 4.3 S10 is far different...though I'd still never buy one...

I saw a 97 2WD Ranger regular cab short bed for sale today. Fairly clean body, total strip-o zero options 210k sign said MUST SELL and the asking price was $2000. The OP of this thread could get a 95 which is the same exact truck, under 100k for that same $2000. Not a bad deal.
 
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