MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,036
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
What year Impala?
Ford Ranger is Officially Back
- Thread starter Travelover
- Start date
- Views: 8087
goeduck
Super Member
2009. Okay car, but the electronic throttle has failed 3 times. Leaves me stranded when the engine stalls, car went dead on the freeway twice. Hate to leave American brands but I do love my F250 and Taurus.
Sigarms
Super Member
I believe there is a difference between actual quality vs perceived quality. I also believe to some extent, Toyota has really lived off it's past reputation, added the fact that to some extent cars may be like human bodies in that the bigger they are, the average life expectancy decreases.
Don't get me wrong, if I could find a 30 year old Toyota with under 200k miles at a good price, I'd probably buy it in a heartbeat (biggest issue though was interior size, as I had a older regular cab and my one buddy had like a 90 extended cab, and those were still small as well inside even with an "extended cab"). That said, I do think that most newer larger Toyota's are susceptible to the same issues as other American made trucks. I could be wrong.
I've had a couple of kyaking buddies who used their personal work trucks for "boat vehicles", they all had high mileage and seemed to hold up pretty good as well and they were American made.
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,036
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
We had a 2000 that we bought used in 2003 with 42K on it. Ran it for 11 years up to 189K. Got rid of it due to rust and "ghost electronics" (wipers would come on by themselves, dash lights would flicker), and ABS system issues. It had the 3800 series II engine. Only repairs were a water pump and the intake manifold.
We now have a 2013. I like it a lot, but a couple months ago, at 90,000 miles, I used the remote start one morning and it didn't start. So I opened the kitchen door and tried it again. It would crank for 10 seconds, then nothing. I tried it with the key and it would crank for 10 seconds and nothing. Took it to my trusted mechanic/neighbor. The timing was off and it had no compression. He suspected a cam phaser (it has dual overhead cams with variable valve timing, 4-cam phasers- one on each cam). The garage he is co-owner of even bought a special tool to align the cams to check phasing, and it still had no compression in any of the cylinders. Having about 8 hours of labor into it, neither mechanic knowing exactly where to look next, and suspecting internal issues like broken cam(s), crank, etc... the owner said by the time they figure it out, I'll have more in labor than a used engine from a wreck. So we got a different engine in it with about 50K miles. New engine seems stronger. One more thing, its GDI. Which means it has carbon issues on the back of the valves. My mechanic said he'd never seen so much carbon on the back of valves in his career. They thought that may be contributing to the compression issues, so they cleaned them all for several days, and that didnt' do it either.
All-in-all, while I like that engine, its power, its efficiency, etc... its an overly-complicated beast that the average person can't do anything to troubleshoot or repair.
MacLawn
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2007
- Messages
- 1,394
- Tractor
- JD 2210
John White, you any kin to Bob? Hehehheee... I have 1993 Dakota 3.9 V6. That is a tough truck, and perfect size for mid sized. But, thing doesn't get any better mpg than my full size 2015 F150 3.5 Ecoboost. That is why mid size trucks didn't make it. I see the Rangers all over Thailand, love them. But price, mpg, don't know, that puts me back to full size.
That Transit you memtioned, hmmmm, I'd like to know more about those!!
That Transit you memtioned, hmmmm, I'd like to know more about those!!
John White
Gold Member
No kin to Bob: I heard that one reason they quit making the Ranger was that Ford advertised the F150 as America's #1 best selling truck and the Ranger was cutting into its sales. If I had the choice between a F150 and a Ranger and both the same price. In my use I would still take the ranger. Because I have a F450. I cant get a F150 in my garage at home. ( Like I said the little Ford Transit Connect has become my #1 go vehicle. Throw shovels in it, put my portable gen in it, chain saw, surveying transit, a few tools, a couple bails of straw if needed. Every thing is secure and don't have to worry about it getting wet or if I go to Lowes, or into a restaurant to eat, I don' have to worry about some one reaching over the bed and taking my chain saw.
The ranger was not a popular truck in its last years. Ford was selling about 4k per month, while the Taco was selling over 10k. Many of its numbers came from stripped down versions for fleet sales too. It lacked most of the standard safety items for that time and rated poor in crash tests. It seems like everyone just remembers a few of the highly optioned earlier years when they were a fun little truck. I had 2 of them over the years, and then progressed to a SportTrac which was built on the Ranger frame. After moving to a F150, I don't know if I could ever go back to a smaller truck. I understand how a new Ranger would be on many guys shopping list though, since it could haul what they need, and would be easier to get into a garage and parking space.
I do like the look of the truck better than some of the others. It has a tougher truck look. I think having a front bumper helps, rather than that plastic front shroud most are using. That plastic front on other trucks screams "suv".
