Ranger reliability
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Ranger reliability
You will have to bear with me, I am a Jeep owner and new to rangers...I am looking into getting an '01 up Ford Ranger 2wd with a 5speed for a commuter vehicle...How good are these things in terms of reliability? Anything in particular to look for? Also how durable is the manual tranny in these trucks?
Thanks
Thanks
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: sunny fla sometimes windy
Excellent I wouldn't turn down one with an auto either. Both are reliable. My preference is for the 3.0 v6 Vulcan. cast iron block, cast iron head, plus look at the specs for the mains. Just keep a Motorcraft oil filter on it!! or it will bottom end knock on start up! Keep the Maf sensor clean and a bottle of lucas fuel injector cleaner every oil change! I worked at a company that had 4 rangers one with the 8 plug 4 cylinder, manual and 3 with the 3.0, auto and one S-10 with the 4.3, auto The one S-10 took more money in parts, service, time in the shop(2 dealers and one independent shop just to fix a trans issue!!) And most importantly FUEL!! All the trucks were loaded down with tools parts ladder racks and toppers, add a leafs or coil over rear shocks (we were at almost full capacity GVWR) When I finally showed the owner of the company on paper what the s-10 was costing us, We sold it!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Rhode Island
Originally Posted by tufmar
You will have to bear with me, I am a Jeep owner and new to rangers...I am looking into getting an '01 up Ford Ranger 2wd with a 5speed for a commuter vehicle...How good are these things in terms of reliability? Anything in particular to look for? Also how durable is the manual tranny in these trucks?
Thanks
Thanks
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Broken Arrow,Ok
I too was a previous Jeep owner. I love my Rangers (4) although mine are all older models 91,92, and 2 94's. I will have to disagree with Blue Beast. First I will say that the 3.0 is a great motor and will last forever, my 92 is a 3.0. But the newer models only have 5 more horsepower than the 4cyl. If you want gas mileage get the 4cyl. If you want power get the 4.0 my older 94 gets better gas mileage than my 3.0 and runs alot stronger. I don't want to offend any one with the 3.0's after all I own one but, except for reliability I don't know why it is the motor Ford tries to push off on Ranger buyers. The 2.3 and the 4.0 are also very reliable motors. A friend from work had over 300,000 miles on his 2.3 bought new in 94 and never changed the oil, just the filter and topped it off. And he drove the heck out of it, until he was rear ended and it was totaled. All in all, I wouldn't pass up a deal on any Ranger. "They all good"
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2004
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From: Higginsville, MO
If you are looking for mileage, the 2.3 Duratec with a 5 spd should run about 26-29 mpg and is very durable. I have the same 2.3 duratec in my Focus and I have 67K on it in about 3 years and have had no trouble with it at all. Many people on here with the Duratec 2.3 on here will surely chime in. Stay away from the 3.0 for mileage, they have 5 more hp and about 10 more lb.-ft. of torque but have more bottom end torque than the 2.3 but mileage is barely better than the 4.0 SOHC. My 4.0 manual trans 04 gets about 18 mpg up to almost 23 mpg if I baby it.
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From: sunny fla sometimes windy
I get 21 mpg at 75 to 85 mph on the highway(fl to sc) in the 3.0! Plus 3 people and gear!
That is not babying it at all! Could most likely get a lot(mpg)better by dropping the speed but I like to get there and get there now!
That is not babying it at all! Could most likely get a lot(mpg)better by dropping the speed but I like to get there and get there now!
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Joined: Nov 2005
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I too am a jeep owner, 95 YJ and I also have an 03 ranger edge, ext cab, 3.0 auto and I dig it. I thas been great for the past 3 years that I have owend it. I have only put about 30k on it in these 3 years it has been super reliable, easy to maintian and an overall great vehicle. My dad has an 02 just like mine and his has been great also.
I say go for it, then you have the best of both worlds :-)
I say go for it, then you have the best of both worlds :-)
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Posting Guru
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Look at the number of Rangers you see on the road these days, and that in itself speaks of the reliability, credibility, and durability of the one and only true small truck that can do it all and more.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
In my few years in a ford dealer, I very rarely had a ranger come in for anything more than regular maintainence items like oil changes, brakes, tires, etc. Very reliable trucks, no matter what engine, trans, or driveline they have.
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