Small pickups (Ford Ranger)

[fordy]

...........I'm not on here very often since I'm still trying to get a DSL line from AT@T . So , I traded in my 99 F250 for an '08 ford Ranger , supercab , 2.3 four banger with auto . Very basic truck , air , power , and no cruise or power windows . Only got about 600 miles so far so I'm not sure what to expect for miles per gallon . I really enjoy this little truck cause it's so much easier to drive than the old f250 diesel .
............Talked to quite a few ranger owners who seem to get over 150,000 miles out of their ranger(s) with regular oil changes and maintenance . Atleast it doesn't hold 15 qts. of oil ! , See you'll in a week or so ! , fordy

[ErinP]

I think 150K would be the absolute bottom end of what you should expect... Shoot, my 3cyl, disposable, Metro got that far.

Friend of mine has a '98 Ranger with nearly 300K on it. It's not pretty, but it's still running strong.

[countrysunshine]

My son had to retire "Ol' Girl" this past fall. she was a memeber of the family. She had around 270K miles on her and they were hard miles. She was '88 Ranger STX. She had it all "back in the day" - 4WD, Extended cab and a 5 speed. My son was heartbroken and my husband had missed her greatly when he gave her to son and got a new truck.

Now, she is relegated to haul stuff around on the farm. Needs water a lot. Great truck.

[Ken Scharabok]

My 84 Ranger is going on 200K. My 88 Ranger has over 100K on it. 88 is an extended cab and you can haul a lot of stuff behind the seats.

[Graystone]

We own a 97 Ranger, 4 cylinder, auto, PS, A/C. Bought it new and seen its share of hauling. We are approaching 160K. The engine is still strong, I think it is a Mazda engine, I don’t know if they still use Mazda. After 120K the transmission has at times been slow to shift but mostly shifts fine. I’d guess the MPG has been in the 20-22 range. The truck has served us well and I have no complaints.

[shellrow]

I use to have one. I called it my Barbie Doll Pickup! Had 180,000 miles on it when the transmission went out. I traded it for something else and the old guy rebuilt the transmission and resold it. Still see it on the road every once in a while! Those Rangers are tough trucks!

[Farmerwilly2]

I've an 89 4 cyl. 5 spd extended. I believe I was at about 320,000 when I replace the engine, probably 220,000 when I replaced the transmission. In the past year it's been front struts, rear springs and radiator. A carrier bearing about 2 months ago and looks like a universal joint this weekend. It's a 3 tone---red, white, and rust. I'm averaging about 420/tank works out to about 22 mi/gal. I'm looking to go the other way, keep this one running till I can get a bigger truck. It's great for hauling smaller loads, but it just don't have enough to pull a loaded trailer.

[fishhead]

My 95' Ranger has 250,000, doesn't burn oil, starts at -20 F without being plugged in and gets 25 mpg. I think it has a 2.9 liter and is surprisingly peppy. The gas gauge quit a long time ago and the dome light/door chime wouldn't shut off so I pulled the bulb and disconnected the harness in the door.

[MushCreek]

I had an '88 that I bought cheap and drove for 3 years. The little four banger is one of the toughest engines made.

[Goatguy]

I have a 2000 Ranger, regular cab, no power anything 2.5 4cyl 5 speed. During the summer, I can usually get 26-28 without too much work. In the winter I keep the top on with 350lbs of ballast (chicken feed) for traction, I let it warm up usually with 5-10 minutes of idling before driving, and I still manage around 23/24 mpg mixed highway and city driving.

I love my rager, I often with I had gotten the v6 so that I could tow a bit more... but I'm happy with my 2.5 Lima, its a good engine that has never given me a problem.

[The Paw]

My 1996 has 250,000 kilometers on it, and has had the hanger bearing replaced twice and the slave cylinder inside the manual transmission replaced. Otherwise, it has been very reliable and versatile. (although it is starting to look like hell).

I just noticed that dealerships are offering new 2008 Rangers for $14,000 Cdn, and I have to say I am tempted...

[DAVID In Wisconsin]

I drove Rangers for years! They last forever. You can't kill 'em and I've tried. I rarley changed the oil, constantly overloaded them and never had them worked on. I got 165K+ on the last two and were still running good when I sold them. The 4 cylinder got me a bit over 20 MPG combined. With the last 6 cylinder I got about 15 MPG. When I no longer need a E-350, I'll get another Ranger!

[huntress4203]

I don't have a ranger but I do have a 94 Toyota 4x4 that I love dearly. It has close to 300,000 and still looks good. I've had it for 4 years now and just put new tires and brakes on. We change the oil fairly regulary. It burns a little, but not too bad. I can count on about 400 miles to the tank - mixed town and highway miles. When it goes, I'll get another Toyota. Love my little truck.

Glo

[Cornhusker]

My son had a 97 Ranger and he loved it but I'm long legged and it's a bit cramped for me.
He would probably still be driving it if he hadn't got in that loose sand and rolled it.

[Ken Scharabok]

I have a friend in IN who drives an early 80s VW pickup. He says on straight diesel it gets 40+ mpg.

Rather wish someone would come out again with a compact pickup with a diesel engine.

Ken Scharabok

[jross]

Originally Posted by Graystone

We own a 97 Ranger, 4 cylinder, auto, PS, A/C. Bought it new and seen its share of hauling. We are approaching 160K. The engine is still strong, I think it is a Mazda engine, I don’t know if they still use Mazda. After 120K the transmission has at times been slow to shift but mostly shifts fine. I’d guess the MPG has been in the 20-22 range. The truck has served us well and I have no complaints.

Actually Mazda uses Ford. My 2004 B4000 4x4 was built by Ford for Mazda. The only thing I added was a Roadmaster Active suspension kit on the rear springs which improved handling unbelievably, empty or loaded. No axle wrap on acceleration and my rear wheels have not left the ground since they were hanging in the shop during installation of the kit..

[Lauri]

My 95 has lasted longer than the 1st husband. 180,000 miles and still going strong. DH #2 has been buggin me for a couple of years to get rid of it, says "some day it's gonna leave you by the side of the road" I assure him I will keep the cell phone bill paid.


And by golly he was right!!!

I needed the phone last thursday as I sat along side the express way when HIS truck died.:banana02:

[fordy]

..............thanks guys , I'm going to change the oil and xmission oil and filter at 3k or so and go back with synthetic . I'll be looking for a very used dually to purchase after I get this truck paid off to pull my 5'ver with . Probably after 3 or 4 years . , fordy

[fantasymaker]

Originally Posted by Ken Scharabok

I have a friend in IN who drives an early 80s VW pickup. He says on straight diesel it gets 40+ mpg.

Rather wish someone would come out again with a compact pickup with a diesel engine.

Ken Scharabok

Yep my chevy LUV Diesel wich was a lot bigger got 35 MPG It was the non turbo the ones with the turbo musta been awsume!
Ive heard rummors of a diesel in the Ford half tons soon...........Im still waiting.

[woodenfires]

I also have an 84 ranger that I run daily, 204,000 miles, 4 speed, 2 litre engine some call it a 2.3 but it says 2 on it. The body rusted so I rebuilt it, the carb was bad and I looked here for one but it was going to cost 400 to 500 dollars, got on-line and found a place in florida that rebuilds them and they had a core and the whole thing shipping and all cost only 200 dollars, works perfect. The valve seals need to be replaced and a while ago it took to really tapping loudly so I'd have to pull over and see if it was going to blow up, it didn't, smoked really bad also, found the problem, the plugs were so carbonned up it would fall off and the valves would stick, cleaned them and still going only now its working like a new one. I haul enormous amounts of wood on it, I just go slow and have had no problems, extremely trouble free truck, wouldn't win a beauty contest but then neither would I. jim