My TOP pick: The BEST small truck on the road today!
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- čas přidán 16. 12. 2023
- Dependability is a HUGE factor when owning a vehicle. This 2002 is at the top of my list for small pickups on the road today! Let me tell you why. ➡️➡️➡️ Don't forget to check out @MrsWizardsWays she's making my favorite candies: • Candy Making Made Supe... ⬅️⬅️⬅️
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The 'small trucks' of the 90s to 00s, from the American Ranger to the Japanese Hilux, are some of the best vehicles ever made.
My little 95 ranger is a absolute amazing little truck! Simple to fix i mean i did a transmission in it myself granted i did have a car lift luckily but very straight forward simple little trucks!
@@slednecksificationtransmission after how many miles
@@Roberto-de8xv 170k but the previous owner beat the piss out of it i got it for dirt cheap had a parts truck and fixed it all up on my spare time great little truck now!
makes you wonder why they dont make them anymore. people want long lasting economical 4 cylinder pickups that cost $10,000 new and yet nobody makes them today. i dont need satellite radio or GPS or 20" folding flat screens for each passenger i just want a cheap work truck why wont they listen to customers?
@user-im6fy4qp6m Toyota still makes the 70 Series standard Landcruisers but they're like 80k. Emissions, safety, & fuel mileage standards makes it difficult to sell just a standard 4/6 cylinder without any options..it also would be a niche market. You & I would buy one but majority of consumers would not.
I had a little 98 Ranger for 20 years. Almost 400k miles with a 4 cylinder manual. 1 water pump and timing belt, 2 clutches, new brakes once are all it ever needed. I would still be driving it if some clown didn’t wreck it. Greatest truck I ever owned.
Hank Hill would approve
My 87 has 352k when it was t-boned. I am approaching 300k on my 97. Crossing my fingers that I can get 500k.
Are you calling yourself a clown:)
As opposed to a big 1998 Ranger?
Goddamn bro rebuild your suspension.
It's the truck we wanted back and failed to get.
I think in 20 years people might be talking about the Maverick in a similar way. It really is a great truck
Only options are a turbo or a hybrid. Doubt either version will be around after 20 years. P.S. love the profile picture and username. The sleeper has awakened! 😁 @@mentat1341
The Maverik is pretty damn close I think. It's small, cheap, useful, and simple.
@@JSAFIXITif only you could get a 2 seater / or extended cab maverick. The 4 door design steals bed space.
@volvo09 Even most full size trucks sold today have a short bed.
So glad you mentioned King of the Hill in a Ranger review. Hank Hill was a devoted Ranger enthusiast!
Hah I barely caught that reference
@@Shiznit304I'm not actually sure it was on purpose 😂
That's honestly one of the reasons I chose a Ranger
He did upgrade to a Super Duty in later seasons though.
"I'll tell you what..."...
My friend had one. 2.3 4 cyl. He worked 3rd shift. 100 mile round trip. Then when he got home his wife drove it to her job. 125 mile round trip. 5 days a week for years.
the 2.3 and 5 speed is the ultimate bulletproof build on those old rangers. several hundred thousand is what you expect. 250k is average from the ones i see in the wrecker yards, and most of those are actually from crashes, and the drivetrain looks like it's still fine. rugged simple little trucks
Brought mine new in 1994, still driving it.
That’s over 50k miles per year assuming 2 weeks vacation and 5 days per week. Imagine doing an oil change every month just based on miles…
I mean that's cool but it begs the question why weren't they driving a Civic or Corolla? That 2.3l ranger gets 21 mpg highway if it has the 5-sp auto. The older 4-sp gets 19. A similar aged Corolla/Civic will probably get 34 mpg and also available manual transmission. if you factor in some city driving we're probably talking a 15mpg split. We're talking ~1300 gallons save per year. Assume $3.00 gas and we get close to 4 grand in after-tax savings per year. They could afford to buy another car, including owning a Ranger + eco Japanese car.
@@Wedge_lord 780,000 on a 2012 Hyundai Elantra here. 400 miles 6 days a week
My grandfather had one arm since he was 11. He taught me how to drive a standard on an 88 ranger. He bought it a year old and had it until it was destroyed in the Joplin tornado. 288k miles
He steered and shifted having only one arm? The things a person can do when they are set on it and/or have no choice despite the obstacles always amazes me.
Good for him! Yeah, that tornado was a trip and a half. So powerful.
your gampa just may have been a badass! a buddy of mine lived by joplin when that rolled through, but he was one of the lucky ones. hopefully the pickup was the worst of their losses
That was before this gen redesign in 93
My father ran his '96 2.3 low on coolant and overheated it, warping the head and the head gasket failed between cyl 3 and 4. He drove it 500 miles home on the remaining 2 cylinders. I got the head machined down for $120, put a head gasket on it, and it still runs great today. Rangers are the epitome of "good enough"
Lol.. The GED of trucks
How are they good enough if they're a great reliable truck? Good enough is some shit box that just about makes it.
@@jamesfranko5098 I thinks he means it has no bells or whistles, but it will always get you from A to B. You know minus the nonsense like heated mud flaps and digital bumper temperature gauges.
2003 v6 exten ded cab rust bucket like all Fords. At 80,000 miles.
This generation of Ranger was actually built until 2011. If you're looking to pick one up, I always tell people to look at the leaf spring shackles. Those are the first pieces to break due to rust.
And even that's not hard to fix..
Thankfully I don't have that problem in my state.
2wd sucked in snow even with snow or ATs and 400 lbs of cement blocks in the bed.
Yes, the shackles rust away, at least in Minnesota...
Had a 2000 Ranger that lasted a bit over 423k miles. When I sold it the old girl had lost some of her pep but everything still worked. You are absolutely right about that generation of Rangers being one of the best small trucks out there.
When I was a teen my friend had a 98 (back in 02) he gave that thing a whoopin burning tires off and revving the snot out of it and chirping 2nd gear whenever he could.
He had that truck for years and it just kept going, even once we grew out of the abusive teen years.
You had 2.5 liter or the v6 ?
@@alexo1226 3.0l v6. Thing just kept going. I abused that truck way more than I really should have and it just never quit.
4.0L 4wd is a great truck
Just got one I’m in love
I got a 09 4l 5spd 4x4 with Ranchos and skid trays
Had93with factory high lift still going lots of desert rock climbing
I own a 1998 Ranger XLT 4x4 3.0, best damn little truck I've ever owned! I drove it to florida and back from Indiana @243,000 miles and it did not use a quart of oil! it's now going on 250,000 without any major problems.
I got 01 4.0 18 years just hit 260k runs like a champion
I had a '97 Ranger XLT with the 4.0 V-6. What an anvil! Sold it with 208K miles and it had at least that much life left in it. I have a friend with a 2004 with close to 500K on it, and the engine has not been apart! She is very consistent with maintenance, and I think that is the secret to these, as I was too.
Cant stress that enough about maintenance...
I had a Ford Aerostar with that 3.0 liter "Vulcan" V6 engine. They give no problems whatsoever and just run and run and run. They have a tendency toward oil leaks, but that's about it.
In the winter and salt prone areas I've seen where the oil leaks actually help prevent rusting haha. The parts that were all dry tended to rust really bad due to the salt, and the areas where the oil coated everything was spotless underneath. I guess the oil leaks aren't so bad if you watch the oil level lol.
I put a brand new 3.0L in my ranger an it still wanted to leak something lol the rear main is leaking on it talk about bad luck lol
I beg to differ. These all start to gush coolant from the timing cover around 180k and the rear main seals go at about 150k.
The ranger 3.0 is prone to valve seat collapse
I had a Mercury Sable with the 3 litre. It was a pretty sweet ride.
You're right on about the Rangers durability. I have a 2010 with 4X4, 4.0 engine and manual transmission. It now has 215, 000 miles and has been a good vehicle. As a retired auto mechanic I maintained it myself and it pays off. I wish they had continued this old style and updated it with the times.
The New style I think is ugly. I had a 2011 Ford Ranger and I drove it across state 6 times and never had any problems. I assure you, I regret ever selling it. I liked how there's kinda a clear distinction between 90's retro and modern cars trying to be too futuristic.
Have a 98 XLT 4x4 4L. 230K miles still runs. Tows a 3500lb boat just fine. Only repairs have been coil pack and idler pully.
I have my fathers 2009 with v6 he hardly drove it before he passed.
Extremely clean in and out with only 35k miles.
My father recently passed and mom is giving me a 2008 v6 4x4 . Gotta drive it from Seattle to the SF Bay Area so I’m learning what I can, never owned a ford truck just Tundra’s
Wow, what low mileage!
Had a 98 up to 333k miles. 4cyl 2wd 5spd 2.5 Lima engine.
Original clutch. Head never off.
Just got tired of small items giving out (A/C, cruise)
All the major stuff tough as nails though👍
I have a 97 with the 4 cylinder 2.3 Lima engine with 8 spark plugs. It's "only" at 220k miles. An old mechanic told me the 4 cyl with 4 plugs has more power and gets better mileage. BUT he also said the ones with 8 plugs will last waaaay longer. Apparently they are somewhat legendary.
I have that same 2.3 8 plug engine in a 94 Mazda B2300. I bought it 15 years ago for 1300 for dump runs. After I totaled my daily Mazda 3 last year, I drive the truck now as daily. Been eyeing something newer, but hard to justify 30-40K prices, especially as the old one still drives OK.@@sidviscous5959
I love my little 2001 Ranger. It's dependable, reasonably fuel efficient and super practical as a work truck. You can get a whole lot done with just a Ranger and a toolbox.
2011 Suzuki Equator 308,000 on the clock. Oil, filters, and batteries are the only thing you have to worry about. Swapped a steering rack in at 285,000 and swapped the rear suspension at 270,000.
My first vehicle was a 1985 ford ranger regular cab 4x4, no power steering, lock out hubs, 5 speed manual and the 2.3 efi 4cyl. I loved that truck...but rust got it. Would regularly get 25mpg.
They wouldn't run if it was raining
!986 Toyoda CHEAPEST out the door 50K watt $7k.15 years 1 clutch $600 by Dealer 250K .SOLD No Air bag. Pure Love started at-25F and -100F wind chill in Parking Lot.😁😁😁😁😁
That 4.6 Ford engine you praised was also from this era. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Wizard.
That 4.6 Coyote is one of the best engines ever made.
@@EyePatchGuy88 Ford calls the 4.6L engine the modular family. The mod engine was even turned into the V10 engine in the Ford trucks. The Coyote is an offshoot of that family.
I have 400k miles on my 2005 F150 4.6. Great engines. Just bought a ZF5 4x4 F250 2V 6.8 V10. Very happy with it
My old 4 banger dutifully hauled home an overloaded face cord of firewood yesterday as well as it has the last 30 years. Looking forward to it continuing to do so as long as I can still load and unload it.
I totally agree with your assessment of the ranger. I own a 2008 with the 3.0 engine. Base hp for this year is 155, torque values aren't given but I suspect sub-200 pound feet. It's no powerhouse, but with the addition of cai and tuned exhaust the difference is noteworthy. It does all I ask of it, including towing way beyond what you'd think it could. At 155,000 miles I have every expectation of seeing 250k or more. Just keep on top of maintenance and fluids and they provide years of trouble free service
Yo id like to know more about this
The exhaust is from MBRP, a cat-back single that bolts right up and uses existing hanger brackets. All I had to do was cut the pipe to the proper length(different bed sizes and cab options mean different tube length). No welding or other cutting needed. Easiest exhaust work I've ever done. The intake is from AFE power and is just as easy to install. Power gains are claimed as 25 hp for exhaust and 15 for intake, IDK but the throttle response is excellent now, so there's something there. I went to larger tires to balance out the package.your neighbors might not appreciate the exhaust note, it is noticably louder, but very pleasing to the ear!
I just bought a 2008 Ford Ranger.
It has 112,000 miles on it and drives like a dream.
I own a 1998 Ranger 4.0 that I purchased new after owning a 1990 4.0. This rig has left me stranded only once, and that was in front of my house. A corroded crank position sensor was the culprit. Other than some oil consumption at 257K mi due to what I believe to be worn valve guides I have no complaint. I own some classics and yet this Ranger is the one that constantly gets notes on the windshield. "would you consider selling?....."...nope. I'm honestly considering a restoration if/when it dies. I'll have a dependable rig at the size I prefer and parts that won't break the bank
I have a 96 Explorer with the 4.0L OHV it is limited with every toy, digital climate, basically the same dash as a ranger. I put in a 7" Nav radio and I love it. 4.10 gears. Actually used the 4 low off road had a ton of fun with it. 200K miles. It is a second truck but always starts on the first crank. My neighbor bought a new Jeep a few years ago, it was a POS, he said he can't believe how reliable mine is. He thought it rode much better too. I picked him up from the dealer a few time :lol:. The Jeep is long gone. He has an older Ranger now.
do some research on oil and additives and maybe you can bring the oil consumption down or help the piston rings or valve guides. guys like you that take care of their vehicles are hard to find. great job! i have a 2011 silverado with 240k miles, and its all original except brakes and some suspension components.
These older Ranger's are great compact pickups from Ford.
Thats why I have three of them.......thank you for affirming my theory Mr Wizard!
Where are they? You've got a channel you could upload to.
Just a little info, the back seats in this sit sideways, too. They just fold up that way to clear the area for the rear doors. They lower down forward, but the backs then raise up towards the door when closed.
On my vehicles with failed coil packs, I also found plugs worn way out of spec or bad wires. If you jump on it at the first sign of misfire, you might avoid killing the coil pack.
One tip on these trucks: Take a hard look at the rear frame. They like to rust out on Northern trucks.
My dad had a couple rangers over the years. Good trucks. I find it hilarious that people just love to overload the things. They get the job done... somehow.
As a 25 year tech I agree 100%
Best thing to do with old trucks like this if you can't garage it nightly: (Per the Wizard) "Fix the big problems and get the miles out of it", get under it and soak the rust with rust killer every chance you get. The little Rangers are the one Ford I would gladly drive, as everyone I ever knew with one, never had issues.
What alot of ranger owners don't know is the 1993-1994 2WD standard cab splash model was fords sportstruck.
VERY stiff springs. Thicker front sway bar. And a rear sway bar. That let's it just zing around corners like a SVO mustang. Corner hard enough and It will pick the inside rear tire off the ground like a old VW golf GTI does. Suprizes the heck outta modern sports car owners. Match up the 4.0 v-6 and the stick shift and you have the fastest all-around ranger ever made.
Bought my 93 Ranger with the 2.3 in it in 2004 with 120k miles on it for $1000. It currently sits at 328k miles. Its been the best purchase I've ever made.
Almost the same story here: I bought my 94 Mazda (same truck) in 2002 with 120k miles. It’s got the 4.0 v6. Paid more ($5,500) but I’m still daily driving it with 335k on the clock. Like you, it was the best money I’ve ever spent. Was offered $3k for it last year.
@@user-bq4un2zx1sthat 4.0 Cologne motor is the holy grail for the Ranger/B series. You scored a major gem!!
The best truck is the one the maintenance was done correctly during yrs of use...in that case Toyota,Nissan... Ford ranger with Mazda motor..Ford 150..Chevy Express...all of them will last you for long time ..!
Just worked on my neighbors 2000 Mazda b3000. Easiest vehicle I've ever worked on, actually a pleasure to work on. Very good machine
I had a 1994 Ranger SPLASH edition regular cab with the 4.0L and a 5 speed. That little fart, my cousin and I took it back in the bush behind his mom’s place to get sand. We filled up the box RIGHT to the top. It squatted maybe half an inch if that. I wanna find another one.
I bought a 1999 Ford Ranger XLT extended cab 2 X WD automatic with a 4.0 ltr engine and 3.52 rear end. I bought it two years ago for $2000. I spent another $2000 on it mechanically doing everything to put it in 1st class shape. The body was perfect with no rust. It runs like a top, gets 18 to 22 mpg every day and even peals rubber. Today, it has 177K on it. The little thing runs so good, and it is so easy to park, drive and work with compared to my 2019 Ram 1500. I pick it every time I need to do a small job or just run around town. To reward it for being such a good little truck, I had it painted back its original Amazon Green with extra high gloss clear coat. Every where I go it gets comments. I have invested $5700 in it since I bought, and I could get that back in a minute, so I've been driving for two years for free.
On the other hand, my 2019 Ram 1500 has depreciated $20,000 in the last four years.
My 2004 Ram Hemi has 300,000+ on it.
I agree that this and their Mazda counterparts are great trucks. I still see them all the time even ones from the 90's.
Bought one for my kids to learn how to drive. They learned to drive a stick. Didn’t get any speeding tickets, couldn’t haul around a lot of people and if they had wrecked it, I figured they wouldn’t do too much damage and I would only be out about 4k for another one. They hated it at first but were sad when I sold it. Used it to teach two teenagers and sold it for more than I bought it for. Great little truck.
Couldn’t agree more. Get one with a manual trans. The Taco’s are priced so high they’re getting ridiculous.
I had a 94’ 4 banger power Range and I loved that thing. The OG owner kept a detail log of maintenance and fuel. I’ve hauled 2.5k lbs of bricks for a home project and that little 5 speed truck ran like a champ. The rust is what killed it since living in Iowa can really destroy vehicles within 5-10 yrs. I miss that little truck.
My 2006 2.3 has 390,000 miles! It's my daily driver/work truck.
My granddad had two of these when I was little. They were new back then, and his 04 was copper - absolutely beautiful lil truck.
He traded that one for an 05 xlt, and even in silver it looked like a great truck back then. When you’re 4, you can fit on the little bench seats behind the front, and fit a couple sodas from Captain Ds. Wish companies still wanted to make cars that people could keep.
Had a 2006; 2.3L, auto, regular cab, short bed. Manual locks, mirrors, seat. Body was so clean. It was a fun little summer toy. Bought it for 600$ last summer, enjoyed it, sold it for 3200$ to a guy that could use it for work.
I still have sitting in my driveway the 1996 Ranger XLT Supercab I bought brand new. 2.3l 5 speed. It has about 250,000 miles on it and after putting a little money in it back in the spring, is running great. I don't drive it daily, but I could. The only 2 major things I've e done to it is replace the ball joints a couple years ago, and new clutch at about 160,000 miles, and it didn't need it then, turned out to be a bad throw out bearing, clutch itself was in great shape but went ahead and replaced it anyway (with an upgraded clutch pack). Pretty much everything else has been basic maintenance. I checked the mileage on it when I got it out of the shop back in the spring, and was getting 30+ mpg. I still have people to this day asking if I would sell it. It's been a great little truck and I hope it outlasts me, and it just might.
I like em so much that I have two. One of them I've had for 13 years.
One thing I can say is that these are not perfect trucks. Early 2.3 Duratecs have air flapper issues. 3.0's have cam synchronizer issues, coolant leaks at the timing cover, and 04-06 have poor quality valve seats. 4.0's have leaky thermostat housings and early versions are plagued with timing chain cassette issues. The 4R and 5R transmissions generally won't go further than 175k before needing a rebuild. All of these can be rectified with a little work and upgraded parts, and you still end up with a very reliable truck.
One thing I can say is that if you can find them and they're within your price range, buy the Motorcraft parts. I'd rather spend $70 for a part that lasts me 8 years, than pay $40 for a part that lasts me 6 months. It's easy to write that off, but I've bought the cheap parts and I've bought the Motorcaft parts and you can take it from me, it is really frustrating to have to keep replacing the same parts. Your time spent replacing the parts is worth something too, and often makes that $40 part cost the same as the Motorcraft part.
Coming from 7 years from driving a shitbox Corolla hand me down, when I got the 2011 Ranger it felt like what I imagined a rolls Royce felt like to drive and I still have it to this day
The Ford Ranger (aka Mazda B Series) is a blank canvas truck where simplicity shows its strength. Almost a quarter million miles on my 03 4.0 manual 4x4 and it keeps going.
I love these Rangers so much! They’re so small, dependable, and capable. Grandfather’s manual Ranger is well over 300k miles by now and is still chugging along 20 years later! Probably will for at least another 20 years at this point too, haha! 😂❤it eventually replaced the Aerostar and Escort they had. Good times with all of those cars.
Had a 94 best vehicle ever owned
I own a 2002 S10 2.2 automatic that i bought brand new ..it has 150,000 original trouble free miles..No leaks..No major problems other than maintenance parts..😍👍
In early 2012, my wife picked up one of the last 2011 Rangers left on the Ford lot: a 4cyl/5-speed manual, extended cab XL with ZERO options. Paid $18.5k out of door. She's put 102k miles on it since and besides replacing a broken sun visor and a tailgate handle (she did both herself!) the car has has only had basic maintenance done (fluids) and some consumables (one set of tires, one battery, one serpentine belt and a tune up) and that's it. It's still running the original clutch and brakes with no problem and is the most dead nuts reliable vehicle either one of us has ever owned.
Great truck! I have a ‘98 Ranger XLT 4x4, super cab w/3.0 v6 and automatic. It has 265K miles and it’s all original….engine, transmission, differentials, exhaust, etc….never have had a problem. It runs and drives like new….smooth and tight. AC blows ice cold. No leaksIt really is a dog with power but it gets me from a to b and use as an extra truck around the property. I love it. People will random routinely ask me if I want to sell it. It looks great.
We are on our 4th Ford Ranger. We bought it in 2019 with only 20K miles. It’s a 2011 year model.
It’s an XLT super cab 4WD with a 4.0L V6 and a 5spd automatic transmission with 3.55 limited slip rear differential.
Before adding a K&N intake and a 3” FlowMaster exhaust system we were getting 19mpg on the highway with the cruise set on 75mph. We now get 23mpg.
We hate Silver, Grey or Black. Ours is Silver so I had it 2 toned. It’s now Silver over Red metallic.
We had it reupholstered in Red with black trim and stitching.
We also added custom wheels, pinstripes, rear air shocks, LineX spray in bed liner, running boards, a dashboard topper and a tonneau cover and window vents.
We’ve only towed a trailer a couple of times so we’re glad that it has a tow pkg.
It currently has only 36K miles and at our age it’ll be the last pickup we’ll ever own.
I have the oil changed every 6 months (which is about 1,500 miles) with Valvoline full synthetic oil.
Like on all of our vehicles, I had the front and rear differential, transfer case, and transmission fluid changed at 30K miles.
It’s a honey of a pickup and we get a LOT of compliments on the custom paint and interior.
When the factory tires needed to be replaced, I chose Cooper Discoverer A/T tires.
The truck is mainly used for work around our property. We work our Ranger, but we don’t abuse it.
It still looks showroom new.
I have a 2011 XLT that I’ll never get rid of. Same thing with my FJ Cruiser. Bulletproof vehicles.
When I used to work at an independent automotive shop we had these in all the time. Mostly for basic stuff. They’re pretty tough trucks. These things refuse to die. Everything else on the truck was falling apart around the truck itself.
I just don’t understand why these domestic car companies decide to mess with these proven platforms. The GM 3800 V6, this ford 4 or 6 cylinder, the 7.3 diesel - all great drivetrains and they went away from them.
I'm on my third Ford Ranger. Had a 99 that I sold, an 02 that I gave to my grandson and now have an 04. 2 door, extended cab, brush guard, mag wheels and a color matched camper shell. I wouldn't take a new truck in trade for my Ranger. 175,000 miles and still running strong.
One thing I remember about my Ranger XLT 4 cylinder was the smooth ride. The extended cab and the longer wheelbase made for a pillowy ride. Loved the made in St. Paul sticker made a few miles down the river road. Henry Ford put the plant there because of the river and the white sand used to make glass. Like powder.
I bought a 99 Ranger, single cab, 2wd, 5 speed manual with factory 2/65 air. That thing was bulletproof. I’ve been looking for one lately to run errands in and toss stuff in, but here in central NY, they are all rotted out now because of the salt.
I have a 2000 Nissan Frontier with the KA24DE and 5spd. It has 214k miles and many original parts; clutch, rear brake shoes, water pump, radiator, engine transmission. Runs good as new. All I've done under the hood is an alternator and radiator hoses and thermostat. Kept the fluids replaced including transmission and differential oils. It's really helped that this has lived its entire life in California!
I have 1998 and 2004 Frontiers with same KA24DE (timing chain) and 5spd, the best combination. These trucks (at 274K and 116K miles) have great AC (Arizona), get 26 mpg, and fit in a garage. With 143 hp (compared to 82hp in my 1988 Mazda B2200 Cab Plus truck), much better driveability too. And 2004 and earlier Frontiers fit in my garage.
I had one years ago and I agree... I still see them everyday on the road.
The perfect first truck and even first vehicle. I bought one of these at an auction for $3k in 2013. Put 70k miles on it an sold it for $3,500 in 2019 around 190k miles. 3LV6 XL with extended cab. They are easy to work on, cheap parts, etc. You don't even need 4x4 for winter months. Get one with the Edge package and throw some sand bags in the back.Those have a limited slip differential. It was a daily driver for years then turned into the weekend truck for boats and hardware store trips.
One thing to consider: modern highway speeds of 70-75 mph can be a little daunting. Especially with nothing in the bed. Keep it loaded down and you'll be fine.
I have a 94 extended cab with the 4.0 V-6 and 5 speed . I have owned it since 99 and has only 325,000 miles on it ! Here in Arizona the paint is crap but other than the headliner the interior is still in good shape. The 4.0 has all the power you could want but around town with the AC on about 15 or so MPG. Has towing package so lower rear axle gear,65 MP on road 20-21 MPG. Used this old truck as a pilot car for OS loads for about 6 years so quite a few road miles.
He is absolutely right about these trucks. I bought a 2007 Ranger with the V6 for $4,000 7 years ago and inherited a 1996 ranger 4 cylinder. Both still running strong. If you have any mechanical ability, you can work on these things and it doesn't cost a fortune.
Up until earlier this year, I had a 2011 Ranger XLT with the 4.0L SOHC motor. Had it from new for 11 years, took good care of it. Finally it failed emissions this year and the shop I took it to quoted me $9300 to make it right. Both cats were bad and it needed upper and lower control arms. And the rear timing chain was starting to intermittently rattle. I said no and traded it back in April. No regrets, it treated me well for those 11 years. Did lots of hauling, daily drive, road trips and plenty of good memories. 2011 was the final year for this platform/body style.
They truly are great small trucks.
Thats just true. I have a 1998 that I bought new. 4x4, super cab, and the 4.0 (OHV). 347,562 miles on it as I type. I can fix anything that breaks on it. Parts are EVERYWHERE. So as long as Cleetus McFarland doesnt buy them all up for his Danger Ranger series, there will be lots of them at wrecking yards for parts. Best purchase I have ever made.
My neighbor bought one of these with 200k miles we thought he was crazy… it’s going on 425k miles😂
My 98' Ranger is approaching 190K miles. Super bullet-proof reliability! Today's vehicles have turned into 4-wheel PC boards with flaky reliability and repair bills even requiring hefty bank loans when not covered by the warranty.
Outrageous 😬. Thank you Car Wizard for an excellent car review.
My first ranger, 88 regular cab 2wd shorty. I sold it at 20 years, and everything still operated normally. 287k miles. I purchased an 08, exactly the same 2wd shorty. I installed an eaton tru-trac, "posi differential." I live in snow country. I still own it, and it still looks new. I would buy another, someday, except the price doubled when the new model came out.
I had an 02 Ranger with a 4 banger 5 speed. Great truck. I got it with 27,000 on the clock. When I traded it in a few years ago, it had 296,000.
I have an 03 Ranger XLT I bought brand new. I don’t drive it very much so it only has 25,000 actual miles on it. Good truck!
My 2002 Explorer Sport 4.0L with only 180,000 kms is still going strong and running well. I did have the tranny rebuilt a couple of years ago and valve cover gaskets last year. Other than that, it’s been normal scheduled maintenance. It’s the perfect vehicle for me here in 🇨🇦 and gets me around in the snow effortlessly.
I think it worth fixing the older rides. Cheaper tags, cheaper parts, cheaper insurance, easier to fix, less components that are intertwined with one another and even if it runs terrible you can still drive it with out the car telling you that you can't like newer cars. Put to $10K to $15K in a older ride and drive the snot out it for 20 years and you still save $50, $60, $70K...worth it. To me it is anyways.
I have a 2001 ranger that i daily drive. I live on a farm which is a 10 mile drive down a dirt road. It takes a beating, cold starts like a champ, and its cheap to get parts for and cheap to insure. If anything happened to it I would just replace it with another one. Great little trucks!
While people joke about Rangers I think they are very underrated. They truly work and get the job done.
I bought my XLT Ranger supercab brand new in 99. Now with over 200,000 Mi on it runs perfectly.
I drive an 02 Explorer that shares the same platform as the Ranger Trucks. Like the Ranger, my Explorer is a beast that cannot be killed. I run the 4.6L V8, probably the best engine Ford ever made. It's got almost 200K miles, runs like new and because it rarely gets driven in winter conditions, the body is rust free, the trans, 4x4 and exhaust are original and everything works. People often mistake it for a newer model.
I change oil, trans fluid and rear end fluid on regular schedules and fix anything that wears out or breaks, which are not many. I have made many trips from Michigan to Florida and it drives great and it is very comfortable on the highway.
I bought. 1994 mazda b2300 or ford ranger with 2.3 liter . Bought it brand new had it 12 yrs as main vehicle for family of 4. Great truck no problems . Put new timings belt clutch and ujoints at 200,000 not because i had to just because it was time. She was a little tired but still ran great when i sold it in 2006.
The main problems with these trucks are the plastic interior and exterior trim just decomposes from the sun. Otherwise they are fine. So cheap that if it does do its final fall apart you just dump it and find another. Otherwise they just keep running as long as you don’t abuse it.
I have a 96 Explorer limited, same dash as ranger, if I detail it up it can look showroom new. I put in new cruise control switches for $20. Quality is excellent, maybe better than new stuff.
I've had a 1999 Mazda B2500 5MT since 2004. In 19+ years I've only had the check engine light twice. Once for a bad egr pressure feedback sensor, and once for a bad injector. The original coil packs lasted 23 years. The truck is still a daily driver with a bit over 243000 miles. No major repairs. I've had multiple people asking if I'm interested in selling it, not anytime soon.
I have a 2001 gmc sonoma and get asked every so often if I want to sell. They just dont make small trucks like they used to.
I’ve had two Rangers - both purchased new. My first was a ‘97 4x2 short box regular cab with the 2.3 four banger. At 235k (about 10 years ago) I gave it to my niece to use as her high school vehicle. She eventually sold it to one of her neighbors and it is still in use today - I even get to see it sometimes when I head up to Dallas for a visit!
My second and current Ranger is a ‘09 4x2 two-door extended cab Sport with the 4.0 SOHC. It is pristine inside and out with just a shade over 30k on the odometer and is part of my stable of collector vehicles. I am actually surprised by how much attention that vehicle gets whenever I take it out for a drive - I think it’s mainly because people just aren’t used to seeing a Ranger from this era that still looks like it just rolled out of the factory…….😂
I bought a 1999 Mazda B2500 for $1500 just a few months ago. It has 274,000 miles on it and it runs and drive fine. It has the 2.5 litre 4 cylinder engine.
I've got an '03 Mazda B2300 with a manual, exact same model as the Ranger 4cyl with the 2.3l engine. I have had it parked as a standby vehicle for my household just in case something else were to break down on me. Could have sold it during the inflated pandemic used market but I knew it would have been a pain to find a replacement vehicle. If gas prices go crazy again, I'll park my E150 and drive the B2300 again. It easily kept the mpg in the 30-40 range.
I have a 2007 ford ranger 4X4 off road p/u with 119000 miles on it. Runs great but the ride is stiff. It gets 20 mpg. I also have a EXT 2007 escalade p/u and it gets 17 mpg. It is the most comfortable truck I've every owned.
These are great trucks, but they're hard to find where I live, because no one sells them! This is a fine example of one of these. If anyone's interested, Sarah n Tuned did a full resto of one of these puppies, and it turned out fantastically! Thanks, Mr. and Mrs Wizard!
My brother had a '96 Ranger with the 2.3 and a manual. Great little truck that served him well for 17 years. He sold it and it's still driving to this day.
Ford switched the grills to the honeycomb style in 2003 as well as some updated interior pieces. Source: I owned one in 2003 with that sweet 4.0, 5 speed and 4wd
Just retired my exploder 4.0L 5spd auto. Motor still ran great as did everything else even air conditioning. Tranny needed servicing and steering pump blew. My wife wanted a new car. Made me take hers because it was 5 years old.
If someone put $1500 into my old Exploder, +$500 I got. Hell of a truck for $2k.
It would tow 4000 pounds no problem had the Eddie Bauer so the seats were great. Sad to see it go. But it’s cheaper than a divorce
Actually the honeycomb was introduced in 2001 on the 4x4 and Edge (torsion bar 2wd) Rangers pared with the "domed" (powerdome) hood. This style grill ran from 2001-2003 on the 2wd coil spring Rangers and was pared with the "flat" hood. Source: Ranger enthusiast (and TRS member) since getting my first around 2000, my dad owns a 2001 4.0L 4x4, and I intend to swap my 99 4.0L 4x4 to the later 01-03 nose along with a drivetrain swap from an Explorer.
@@gcanada3005 "cheaper than a divorce"
IMO that's questionable. Wife wanting a new car, that's fine. Taking wife's car because you want to, that's fine. Wife MAKING me take her car, not happening. Choosing to drive wife's old car and keep your old one as a a toy/project/backup, that's fine. Wife MAKING me get rid of my vehicle, not happening. Of course, this is coming from someone perpetually single with a car and 4 trucks. 4 vehicles registered, insured, and drivable. Three of the trucks could be considered projects, though the parked one is paitently waiting for its turn.
If a woman comes into my life and says something's got to go, it's going to be her. So, maybe there's a reason I'm perpetually single.
@@turk71385 Wow no wonder you are single. That truck was 20 years old and a winter beater. It needed work and got 14 MGP. My “new” car needs nothing and gets 52MPG since new, still under PHEV warranty and paid for. I drive a 2014 Mustang Roush stage 3 in summer. Last of the old style. So I’m good big shot. No need for multiple junker trucks, to “feel” cool. No need to call my right hand “honey”. I’m sure you’ll die happily alone.
For sure. I had a 1998 Ranger XLT with the 2.5L with a 5speed. I had that truck for 13 years. I got it with 43,000 miles on it and put over 150,000 miles on it. The thing that killed it was a burnt valve. I did not have the money to rebuild or replace the engine so I had to get rid of it. I wish I could have fixed it. I miss that truck. Also the clutch on it lasted the whole 190,000+ miles surprisingly.
Clutch can last the life of the car depending on how you drive it. Highway driving and rev matching and low rpm take-offs maximise its life. My civic has 226,000km original clutch I've never changed it.
I just picked up a beat up barn find 02 ranger 2.3/5mt for my mom last week. $800
the (last replaced in 2016) "electronic" thermostat was cracked and the fingers that held the stat against the body were broken off. these are $120+ but I swapped it with the 04+ model for $30
I drove the 98 four wheel drive ranger till it had over 200,000 miles. It needed several things when I sold it. I still see it in the area.
I am on my third Ranger. My current one is a 2011 (the last year of this body style) and I love it. Yes, they do last forever. Best of all they have a longer bed than most newer midsize trucks, albeit at the expense of four doors, although it does have those little access doors that give me ability to get to my tools I keep behind the seats. Overall I have put well over 250,000 miles on my Rangers.
Yeah, the new generation body is too big--might as well get an F150
Nothing last forever except God's Word.
We’re on our 4th Ranger. It too is a 2011 4WD with the 4.0L , but ours has only 36K miles
In 2019, I bought a 2003 Ranger XLT extended cab stepside. Has the 4.0 V6 , automatic, and 4x4. Payed $500 for the truck running and driving. However, with frame damage, it wouldn't pass NYS inspection. So I put $1500 into it over the course of 2 years as a project. After another 2 years, It's still my daily driver. They're awesome little trucks and will keep going as long as they're maintained.
How dare you submit a Ranger to New York
Wiz! As a 25yr mechanic who also owned his own shop, I 100% agree. Ranger/Mazda B' series are amazing. The 3.0 will run forever but, it's a little lethargic; not as bad as the 2.3/2.5 4cyl though. That 4.0 though with proper maintenance runs like a scalded pig for 300k+ miles. The 4.0 will need head gaskets though. But the 4.0 4x4 with the manual (watch out for the slave cyl) is a total unicorn. It's a wheeling beast.
Regardless of the motor, there is so much aftermarket support on those little Rangers. If I had to say, the 4cyl from 94-97 is probably your best bet. The stroked out 2.5 4cyl for 98 & 99 had some balance shaft issues (around the 150-200k mark) but, in no way was unreliable. When that 2.5 got fully sorted out, it's a reasonably torquey engine still only 120hp though LOL. After that would be the updated 2001-05 Edge w/ the Trailhead package as it was lifted 2.5". Don't waste your money on a tremor package from 02+ it was basically just a radio upgrade to the Mach audio. Last get the 06-11 any Ranger/Mazda B. They had upgraded seats and the center armrest was made a little more stout to keep it from breaking the welds on the drivers' seat frame.
Miss my 96 with a 4 cylinder and manual. Had manual locking hubs as well. Only issue I had was a blown power steering line and brakes. Worst decision I made to sell it to my neighbor.
God I wish they would bring out new trucks like this.
I Have a 04 b2300 no options manual. rear seal leaks oil but still runs and shifts great. luckly, the orignal owner never drove it in the winter so just surface rust no rot. my dad had an 01 xlt brings me back to my childhood
Cruise control is a $20 part. I just changed it on my 96 Explorer.
Picked my 2001 xlt up a month ago- 3.0 v6 for $3,200 and 87,500 miles on the clock..... very appreciative to add it to the fleet for a putt-putt home depot truck!
My son scored a 2002 Mazda B4000 for $2000. 115K and ZERO leaks from the motor or trans. My mouth literally dropped open when we went to look it over. What 21 year old vehicle has no leaks at all. Crazy to me.
I had a 4.0L V6 5 speed regular cab Ranger. Never had any major issues. It had nearly 300k miles on it and was nearly 25 years old when a tree fell on it. I miss that truck. 😢