Ford Ranger Trucks?

Youngest son is getting his license soon. He wants a Ford Ranger pickup used of course. Any Ranger owners past or present have any feedback on them?

I had an 03. It was a good truck but fuel mileage wasn’t that good from what I remember. The 4.0 was solid.

I had a 2004 that I had bought new the thing was bullet proof and I beat the heck out of it for 3 years and over 100,000 miles. Only bad thing is my full size pick up got better gas mileage. Other than that I have no complaints.

A friend’s dad had a two wheel drive one that popped out of gear and or the parking brake didn’t hold on the boat ramp and rolled back into the lake. He wasn’t too happy with that one, but bought a 4wd one the next day to replace it.

Watch out for Cracked heads. I had a 2000 4wd. Both cracked at about 50,000 mi. This was a common problem with this truck.

I’ve had 2 Rangers with the 4.0, 150,000 on one and 248,000 on the other.
Super solid motor, both still ran like new and I never had to do anything to the motors!
The Tranny had to be rebuilt at 175,000 on the last one ( first one was a 92 and second was a 2002 ).
Super solid truck, expect 18 to 19 mpg on the 4.0.

That’s crazy, I wouldn’t have expected a Ford to go 248,000 miles let alone 150,000

Sounds like you convince him to get a full size F150 for better mileage and less maintenance.

In addition with a young man getting his license, he’s still you’re kid getting on the road with many knuckleheads. Put as much MASS around him as you can afford to protect his life.

In addition, his/your Insurance Premium may be lower with the bigger truck.

My dad had an early 90’s Ranger for 15 years, never had a problem. After a mild stroke he decided not to drive any more and gave it to his grandson, my Nephew. A year later it had an electrical fire and totaled the vehicle. Apparently there was a recall on many Fords of that vintage for the electrical system and he was unaware. Anyway, always good to check the recall records at a Ford dealership or shop where you have it serviced.

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Sounds like you convince him to get a full size F150 for better mileage and less maintenance.

In addition with a young man getting his license, he’s still you’re kid getting on the road with many knuckleheads. Put as much MASS around him as you can afford to protect his life.

In addition, his/your Insurance Premium may be lower with the bigger truck.

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Matching year to year the Ranger got about 2-3 mpg better than the 150 and maintence wise I don’t think you could do better.

I have had two, and loved them both. My mileage (stick shift) was usually 24-28. Not overly powerful, but it got the jobs done for me. My local car/truck man just told me that I should try the Toyota Tacoma. Similar style/size, yet more easily fixed & cheaper to maintain through routine problems.

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My local car/truck man just told me that I should try the Toyota Tacoma. Similar style/size, yet more easily fixed & cheaper to maintain through routine problems.

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X2 That would be a great first truck for your boy.

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Watch out for Cracked heads. I had a 2000 4wd. Both cracked at about 50,000 mi. This was a common problem with this truck.

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Ours did the same thing at 34,000 miles. That was our only really significant issue in 224,xxx miles of owning it.

FDR

Can I ask why a truck for the kid? Just to have one? I just had to have one at 16 and waisted more money in gas and it was empty. Everything I did with it I could have done with a subaru and a hitch. Awd and good mpg when empty 90% of the time.. My next car will be a subaru … I owned a 86 ranger with 2.3 once good rig no issues with that motor