So I need to buy a 4-banger...
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More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 658
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So I need to buy a 4-banger...
I'm going off to college soon and its becoming apparent that I'm going to have to leave the 460 on ice until I get out and buy a 'lil 4-cyl that saves big time on gas. I would like to stay in the ford family though, although ford isn't exactly legendary for fuel economy.
From my research, it looks like a 95-ish ranger with a 2.3L is the best I can do with 25-mpg? I'm strapped for cash, so I cant buy anything too extravagant (1-2K), just need a small pickup. Any suggestions?
From my research, it looks like a 95-ish ranger with a 2.3L is the best I can do with 25-mpg? I'm strapped for cash, so I cant buy anything too extravagant (1-2K), just need a small pickup. Any suggestions?
Carpenter Local 745
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,794
Likes: 11
From: on da beach
My Mazda 88 B2200 has good MPGs. I have not calculated it, and there is no need to.
Most Rangers in the 1000-2000 dollar range are well worn, and you will have to find a balance between MPG and reliability.
My Mazda is a real work horse for what it is, and I seem to see more of them on the road today. The engine on this truck is well built and keeps running with no hassles.
Most Rangers in the 1000-2000 dollar range are well worn, and you will have to find a balance between MPG and reliability.
My Mazda is a real work horse for what it is, and I seem to see more of them on the road today. The engine on this truck is well built and keeps running with no hassles.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 174
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mazda
i got a 88 mazda b2200 that gets 23mpg city with 130,000 miles on it. my other truck is a 07 fx4 off road ranger which gets 17 city 20 highway. those little mazdas run pretty good. mine smokes a bit at startup but most do with high miles. but it runs great. its my beater. 5speed with A\C. looking to buy a 1990 mazda b2200 from original owner with only 49,000 miles. if he will ever sell it.
Carpenter Local 745
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,794
Likes: 11
From: on da beach
These trucks come with locking gas tank doors, a must these days, don't you think? The picture I posted shows the lock.
My truck as 143,000 plus miles. It gets about 23 Mpg, pretty good and it is pretty much bearable to drive 23 miles one way to work each day.
My truck as 143,000 plus miles. It gets about 23 Mpg, pretty good and it is pretty much bearable to drive 23 miles one way to work each day.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
I want that Mazda's rims-
I have an 81 Courier with the 2.3l "big" Ford engine, it gets nearly 30mpg. Beat, a bit short on power especially since I went from a 70 Galaxie with a 300hp 351w to this, but overall not a bad truck, and beats the S10 I used to have hands down.
I used to have an 84 Mazda B2000, and that was also a fairly stout little truck.
My father had a 91 B2600i 4x4 extended cab for years. It wasn't a bad truck, not as tough as the old ones though, and it sagged in the rear pretty bad.
I have an 81 Courier with the 2.3l "big" Ford engine, it gets nearly 30mpg. Beat, a bit short on power especially since I went from a 70 Galaxie with a 300hp 351w to this, but overall not a bad truck, and beats the S10 I used to have hands down.
I used to have an 84 Mazda B2000, and that was also a fairly stout little truck.
My father had a 91 B2600i 4x4 extended cab for years. It wasn't a bad truck, not as tough as the old ones though, and it sagged in the rear pretty bad.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 1
From: The Star-Club, Hamburg
The '94 Ranger XLT 4x2 I bought a month ago with 128K on the odometer managed 23-24 mpg for the first tankful I ran through it. It has the 2.3 4 cyl and 5 speed manual trans. I use it mainly for a commuter to my job in town, about 100 miles per week. It does'nt have the power that the 300 Six/5 spd F150 I traded in on it had, but in my estimation, the gain in mpg was well worth it.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
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It's a shame you don't have a little more coin, the 01 and up duratec 4 cylinder rangers get 25/30 mpg. My son has an 04 duratec ranger with an automatic and thats what he gets, 25 city, 30 highway. He may have done a little better if he would of gotten a manaul tranny and didn't run the pee out of it all the time, but "kid's", what are you going to do ha ha.
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Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2008
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It's a shame you don't have a little more coin, the 01 and up duratec 4 cylinder rangers get 25/30 mpg. My son has an 04 duratec ranger with an automatic and thats what he gets, 25 city, 30 highway. He may have done a little better if he would of gotten a manaul tranny and didn't run the pee out of it all the time, but "kid's", what are you going to do ha ha.
And I used to "run the pee" out of my f250 (460) when I got it. For about a week. After I filled it up the first time I stopped all that quite fast. 6 mpg can be a real eye-opener.
Carpenter Local 745
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,794
Likes: 11
From: on da beach
Buy a Transit Connect - I may look into one, but I think it needs the European diesel or a bio fuel/hybrid engine.
It may not get awards for looks or speed records, I bet it will get me to work and back.
It may not get awards for looks or speed records, I bet it will get me to work and back.
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
If it were me, I would stick with the Ranger. The 2.3L ranger can top 28 mpg, which the B2200 can't touch. I would also want to avoid anything with a carb, go fuel injected. The B2200 has a history is carb issues, while FI vehicles do not. Less maintenance, better fuel economy, more reliable. My dad drives a '96 2.3L Ranger and it is approaching 300,000 miles. It has required little maintenance other than changing fluids and timing belts.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 167
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From: Audubon, PA.
Ford Ranger
I have a 2004 E350 SD diesel van. The price between diesel and gas made me buy this 1996 Ford Ranger with 133k miles on it. It had all new tires, brakes, rotors, calipers, catylic converter, u joints, plus some other little items. Picked it up off ebay for $1900. It was only 15 miles away from me. Great buy. 2.3 with 5 speed. I have run 2 tanks of gas through it and I get barely over 20 mpg. Damn thing has 8 spark plugs!!! Is there anything I can do to improve the mileage?
It runs like a top. Like a little sports car. I love this little critter.
Bruce
It runs like a top. Like a little sports car. I love this little critter.
Bruce
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
I have a 2004 E350 SD diesel van. The price between diesel and gas made me buy this 1996 Ford Ranger with 133k miles on it. It had all new tires, brakes, rotors, calipers, catylic converter, u joints, plus some other little items. Picked it up off ebay for $1900. It was only 15 miles away from me. Great buy. 2.3 with 5 speed. I have run 2 tanks of gas through it and I get barely over 20 mpg. Damn thing has 8 spark plugs!!! Is there anything I can do to improve the mileage?
It runs like a top. Like a little sports car. I love this little critter.
Bruce
It runs like a top. Like a little sports car. I love this little critter.
Bruce
