I'm glad they did too, but when I went to spec out my ideal Ranger, Ford forces you to a 3.0L (which I think they should do away with) if you select almost any appearance upgrade. I would like to hear their explination as to why I get stuck with base level wheels just because I want to order the 4 cylinder engine. Most dealerships would be more than willing to swap wheels to make a sale, but still Ford's reasoning is just a tad puzzling. If the dealers don't want to order them that way because they don't think people will want a jazzed up 4 cylinder truck, then they don't have to order them that way. But to restrict what a customer wants to custom order just seems a bit odd to me.

 

Do they have 2.3l engines? Auto or manual transmissions?

What kind of MPG do you get?

 

You really think that's a good idea? A 4.0, especially a DOHC version, is potent in a truck as light as a Ranger. As light as the rear end is, I doubt very many drivers could handle a V-8 Ranger.

 

look at it this way. You get the style and convienece of a truck, but with the drive train out of the mustang. The ranger and mustang weigh the same, why cant they have the same amount of power??. With a v8 and a 6-speed manual the rangers gas milege would get better. It would get at least 25 mpg on the highway like the mustang does. They already make all the parts for the mustang, they just have to make the brackets for it to fit in the ranger.

 

Given that the Explorer already uses the 4.6, installing it in a Ranger shouldn't be that big of a deal. However it would probably only be available with an automatic as floorpan modifications would have to be made to install the 3550 5 speed found in a Mustang. You can forget Ford using the T56 in a Ranger, its simply too expensive.

If Ford can build a reasonably good performing V6 I don't see a V8 really being necessary in a Ranger.

 

if ford does anything to the ranger they should offer a crew cab. they it could be in class with chevy canyon and dodge dakota, and nisson etc. and if they offered a v8 it could out do the dakota 5.7 maybe. but with epa and fuel regulations it hard to say. though a v6 may offer more hp. a v8 "usually" offers way more torque. and torque in a truck is where it counts. my own opinion.

p.s. bring manuel hubs back.

 

I went riding last year with a guy in a V8 Tundra. We met at a gas station and he followed me out the riding area. When we got there he asked what the motor I had in my Ranger, he couldnt keep up with me. I wasnt driving that fast...

A V6 is perfect for the Ranger, a DOHC version would be better. A manual trans would be nice, but the current 5 speed auto I think works awesome.

 

how about an SVT ranger with the supercharged 5.4l in the upcoming GT500? 450-500 hp ranger, that would be insane. put a T56 behind it, toss a 9" in the back with a four link coilover suspension(yea i know, im dreaming). she would be able to take the corners as well as be a nice platform for the off-road enthusiast. call it the ford thunder ranger. cold day in hell for this to happen though.

 

Again, my opinion is that it's tough enough to keep the back end in place in a 4.0 4X2 Ranger. Ford would be opening themselves to a huge lawsuit by putting that engine in that truck. It wouldn't be safe for a LOT of drivers. About the only thing you'd get is a lot of bald rear tires.

 

The Ranger is a good truck. But lets fix a few of the inherent problem areas. Blend doors breaking and the fact you get to disasemble the dash to change it or the heater core. There are some engineering nightmares on the ranger that wouldn't take a lot to cure. Lets not start over lets just upgrade and fix these nusiances.

 

ok, so you could only get it in 4 wheel drive. it still may be a deathtrap, but if the person who buys it cant handle it when they press on the pedal hard its their own fault and they should know better to not press that hard on it.

 

When I went looking for a small truck, I noticed all the service companies (gas company, etc..) around here use 4-cylinder automatic Rangers. All the really cheap contractors use dented, rusted, painted, overloaded Rangers. Every day. All day. Inexpensive and indestructable- that's what sold me on the Rangers. Not many older S-10's around (I t-boned an S10 in my old F150. F150 drove around a bit afterwards. S-10 didn't). Nissan doesn't make a respectable truck anymore. Yotas are expensive. Mazdas are Rangers (now). I don't think you can get a 4-cylinder Dakota anymore- the 3.9L Dakota I sat in at a dealership a few years ago was a stripped piece of tin. I rode in a 2001 Toyota extended cab- the choppiest highway ride ever, bucking back and forth over the highway seams. My buddies skateboard '72 Stingray rides better.

To answer your question:
The new Duratec 2.3L is a great engine. All aluminum, 200lbs, dual overhead cam, shared with the Focus/Miata/Mazda3/Mazda6. It makes power best above 3000RPM, and I usually have to downshift to 4th when going up hills on the highway. Electronically limited to 90mph. You'll need a cat-back exhaust to see those speeds, though. With the stock muffler, I couldn't wheeze past 80. Glasspacks fixed that.

I get 25mpg combined city/highway in my short bed, regular cab, toolbox, 5-speed Mazda. The Duratec 2.3L responds well to 89/91 octane gas, too. Probably something to do with the high compression and pulling timing.

Take one for a test drive! I know many people who drove the older 2.3L extended cabs and swore by them.

 

I would love them to take the Mustang driveline and put it in the Ranger, though the day they don't offer a manual in the Ranger would be the day they lose my business.

I high-power V6 with a stick would be awesome and definetly a possibility, though I agree the V8, while definetly desirable, is too much for our little Rangers.

 

What year is your truck? I have an '04 2.3L with auto, completely stock, and it pulls strong all the way up to the fuel cutoff at about 93-94mph.

 

I have a 2003 B2300- it came with about 30Kmi on it. You'd think that a muffler wouldn't be plugged at 30K (especially with the low-emissions Duratec), but it made a noticeable difference. I know in F-series world, the factory muffler is the first thing to suspect when you have lousy performance- they plug up all the time. This truck would barely do 80 downhill, and maybe 70 uphill on the interstate. I remember being shocked at finding myself doing 75 uphill in overdrive when I changed the muffler.

My speedo might be off a little; but right at 90 the engine starts bucking.

Now, the previous owner of my truck did construction; maybe he abused it or did stupid things to it that precipitated the premature death of the muffler. I swapped the factory muffler for glasspacks, and it runs real well. Makes me wish it had a sport suspension. :-)