Overview & Reviews
They say that in the event of Armageddon, the only thing to survive will be cockroaches. Well, there's a good chance you'd see some old Ford Rangers cruising around, too. This compact pickup truck soldiered on with relatively few revisions for nearly three decades. Of course, there were styling and interior overhauls over the decades, but the platform and most mechanicals underneath it all were practically Jurassic. Even those styling and interior updates dated back to the 1990s.
Older Rangers aren't quite as out of date compared to competitors of similar age. And given its wide choice of trim styles and lower pricing than comparable Japanese rivals, a well-maintained late-model Ford Ranger could be a good choice for a used pickup, provided you don't need a lot of passenger capacity or horsepower. But if you're looking for a relatively new used compact or midsize pickup, the Ford Ranger pales in comparison to other trucks with their more powerful engines, roomier crew-cab body styles and greater overall refinement.
Used Ford Ranger Models
The most recent generation of the Ford Ranger was produced from 2001 through 2011 and typically came in four different flavors: XL, XLT, Sport, and the off-road-oriented FX4. Depending on the year, there were also the monochromatic Edge, sporty STX and sound system-centered Tremor. Only standard and extended cab body styles were offered, as there was still no crew cab version.
Engine selection consisted of a 2.3-liter four-cylinder, a 3.0-liter V6 (until 2009) and a 4.0-liter V6. Output of the smaller engines varied slightly depending on year, with the 2.3 making 135-143 horsepower and the 3.0 making 148-154 hp. The 4.0 made 207 hp. Transmission choices included a five-speed manual and a five-speed automatic for all engines, though initially the 4.0-liter V6 came only with the automatic.
Although nimble on- and off-road due to its true compact size, even this latest version of the Ranger was seriously dated in terms of features and available body styles. While its midsize rivals offered roomy crew-cab (four-door) models, more modern features and much more powerful V6 engines, the Ranger made do with standard and extended-cab configurations only, and relatively low-tech power plants.
The second generation of the Ranger ran from 1993 through 2000. Styling was less blocky than the first-gen truck and the cabin was likewise updated with less angular forms. Standard and extended cab body styles were offered, but they were joined by a stylish, flareside bed version dubbed the Splash. Under the hood was the expected choice of a four- or six-cylinder engine. Notable changes throughout this generation are the availability of four-wheel antilock brakes in 1995, a five-speed automatic transmission (versus four-speed) for V6 models in '97 and freshened styling for '98.
Introduced for 1983, the Ford Ranger started life as a standard-cab, four-cylinder compact pickup truck with a choice of two bed lengths. The mid-'80s saw the introduction of the extended-cab body style known as the "SuperCab," which offered jump seats that were best left to kids. The Ranger continued through the early '90s with minor upgrades to the powertrains and small cosmetic changes.
User Reviews:
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Great Truck - 1998 Ford Ranger
By DAC - July 3 - 2:00 amMy second truck - far surpasses the dodge I had before. 20 MPG all year round. 4x4 excellent. Great ride and looks good. You can not ask for anything more for the price.
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Recommend for Budget Shoppers - 1995 Ford Ranger
By bigblair - July 1 - 2:00 amIf you dont have a lot of cash, this truck is for you. Get a Hayes manual for repairing it yourself, cause it is easy to do maintenance on and Ford Dealerships will charge you 150 bucks for a 40 dollar repair.
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I LOVE my truck! - 1996 Ford Ranger
By Metis Floyd - June 29 - 2:00 amI have driven my little truck hard. It just keeps on ticking. I really dont mean to run it hard but it just runs so great, that it is hard not to. I compare it to a 86 Toyota 3/4 ton that I had, they both just keep performing no matter how hard they are driven. Way to go Ford!
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Great and Horrible - 1997 Ford Ranger
By Lee Diane - June 29 - 2:00 amGood ride. starts every time. steering good. interior nice. handles well. now for the bad stuff. Have had nothing but problems with 4 wheel drive. tough to get it to shift out of 4 wheel -since it was new! 5 trips to dealership were fruitless. tranny hangs up sometimes between gears. learned to live with it at 60,000. electrical problem solved at 30,000.
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112k 98 Ranger xlt extended cab 2x4 - 1998 Ford Ranger
By wap - June 29 - 2:00 amAfter purchase dealer service fair to poor. 112,700 miles. 4 cyl., 5 spd. LOF every 3k to 3.5k. Brakes at 55k and 102k. Timing belt at 88k. major tune up at 95k. Turnsignal switch at 112k. 23 to 25 mpg. Always minor electl malfunctions since day 1. Esp. interior & instrument lights.
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awsome truck - 1994 Ford Ranger
By bosox - June 25 - 2:00 ami am 16 years old and this is my first vehicle, i researched all the compact trucks and this one was the best. i got a great deal on it and it runs mint, looks mint and drives mint. seats are comfortable for long trips, idles like new and lays a nasty patch
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gutless wonder - 2006 Ford Ranger
By steve sawyer - June 22 - 9:29 pmThe motor I have (3.0) is way underpowered, when any load is present. Also the fuel milage when going up any hills or with any weight is terrible. I should have bought a full size pickup. The one thing that is great is the reliability is great. The truck is bullet proof. The air blows ice cold and Ive never had an overheating problem, and I live in No. Arizona and spend a lot of time in 110-117 degree. this truck is a great little truck for running to the hardware store and doing arrens
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Proven Built Ford Tough - 1993 Ford Ranger
By Bryang - June 21 - 2:00 amMy Ford Ranger only had 63,000 miles on it when I had it. It is a manual 5 Speed 4x4 STX. This Ranger has to be the toughest V6 ever on the road. I work on a farm and it easily towed a 30 ft bean header which it was not meant to pull by any means and the tranny and engine is still stout as can be and I just had the clutch replace last month. The paint and interior also looks like new. I believe it was Built Ford Tough.
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Great Truck - 1997 Ford Ranger
By evill - June 19 - 2:00 amThis has been an outstanding vehicle. We have put over 80,000 miles on it with absolutely no problems. The V6 engine is quite adequate for fast acceleration and for hauling large loads/trailers. The best selling small pick-up for a good reason.
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Love My Truck - 1992 Ford Ranger
By Roger D. - June 14 - 2:00 amI purchased my Ranger in fall of 1991. 10 years later and 78,000 miles I still have two of the original Firestone tires. The only repairs were brakes replaced @ 72,000 and an AC repair @ 55,000. Paint still looks like brand new and it runs and drives like the day I bought it. Very happy and would buy another.
