Ford Ranger Forum - Forums for Ford Ranger enthusiasts!

Go Back   Ford Ranger Forum - Forums for Ford Ranger enthusiasts! > >
Forgot Password? Join Us!

Welcome to Ford Ranger Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread

  #1  
Old 02-24-2018, 06:54 AM
hat_man hat_man is offline
Buy a Ford
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 194
Default Buying another Ranger.....need some advice

Hello all.

My old Ranger is on its last leg. The last few months have been problem after problem and its looking like now I may have a bad head gasket. After nearly 300,000 miles maybe its time for her to go out to pasture.

I have two great options for a new one. The first is exactly the same as my current truck. Same year (97) same engine and trans (2.3 Lima/5 speed w/OD) and just shy of 100,000 miles. It's a steal for the price. I know what they are capable of. I've had mine for nearly 10 years and 200,000 miles of my own driving. (mine had 97,000 on it when I bought it) This one is a standard cab just like mine and a step side. When I got mine it was good for 28-30 MPG for years.

The second is a 2010 Extended Cab. 2.3 Duratech and automatic trans. 130,000 miles. It's about $2500 more than the first, but a better engine (IMO) but an automatic (I do prefer a stick but It may not be a deal breaker) The price is reasonable for the age and mileage. The door sticker says it has a 4:10 rear, but they are claiming 27 MPG. Is that even close? I would think maybe with a 3:73, but a 4:10? I drive about 120 miles a day for work. MPG is kind of important to me.

Neither is anywhere close to being out of my price range. I just don't buy "new" trucks. Driving 25k-30k miles a year takes the value down to quickly.

What do you think? I don't know much of anything about the newer Rangers having owned mine for so long. The First one is a know quantity to me, but maybe the second one would be a better choice. Any advice you all have would be greatly appreciated.
__________________
Little Black Ranger: R.I.P Born-1997 Died-2018. 297k miles of good times. You will be missed.

Oh Deer: 2003 XL 2.3L 5-speed stick w/OD. Current mods: Body work after hitting a deer 12 hours after I bought it. Averaging 32 MPG on the highway.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-25-2018, 05:08 PM
dvrich dvrich is offline
Ford Ranger Driver
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,181
Default Re: Buying another Ranger.....need some advice

2010 Extended cab 2.3/auto.
If you drive the whole tank at a steady speed of 45 mph you might get 24 mpg.
The EPA rating on the sticker says 21 mpg overall and that is what you will get. I had a 2007 Ranger built the same way and 21 mpg overall is exactly what I got. I don't know where you got the 27 from because the 2010 is rated at 19 city and 24 highway....21 overall.
IMO regular cabs are worthless for most people so I would get the 2010 because of extra storage space and the engine is a gem in reliability.
Don't believe all the BS fuel mileage claims on this forum.
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-26-2018, 12:56 PM
jeff18 jeff18 is offline
Ford Ranger Owner
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 70
Default Re: Buying another Ranger.....need some advice

In December I picked up my first truck since the mid 80's. It is an 09 standard cab with manual tranny and the 2.3L engine. I intentionally avoided the automatic because of the trouble I have had in the past with Ford and GM auto tranny shift solenoids. The vehicles I have had with auto trannies from these two companies have always had solenoids go out by 150k. My choice would be the the one with manual transmission provided the clutch, slave and master cylinder are strong and healthy.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-28-2018, 08:02 PM
rangergambler rangergambler is offline
Ford Ranger Driver
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 933
Default

My 2010 2.3 stick reg can has 237 thousand miles. Im the original owner. About 7 tranny drains and fills tranny has given me zero problems. AND ALL CLUTCH COMPONENTS ARE ORIGINAL OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE. only thing ive done is a few slave cyclinder bleeds.

Engine wise... At 207k miles white smoke out of tail pipe required a tow to a shop and a remanufactured head fixed it after several 100s of dollars later. Engine now has 237k miles and still runs good !!!

----------

Also every oil change suck out old power steering fluid and add fresh mercon V to power steering reservoir. Cheap easy maintenance.
__________________
2010 2.3 Stick Reg Cab XL - Maxtrac 2 inch coils - Bilstein 5100 front shocks - Bilstein yellow rear shocks
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-11-2018, 04:56 PM
atikovi atikovi is offline
Ford Truck Driver
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 84
Default Re: Buying another Ranger.....need some advice

Quote:
Originally Posted by hat_man View Post
The first is exactly the same as my current truck. Same year (97) same engine and trans (2.3 Lima/5 speed w/OD)

The second is a 2010 Extended Cab. 2.3 Duratech and automatic trans. .
In 1998 they came out with the 3rd gen Ranger which is a little better overall than the previous years, having a bigger 2.5L engine and more interior space on regular cabs. Probably not much difference in price on 20 year old trucks but the 98+ will be more pleasant day to day. Duratech is OK but not nearly as rugged as a Lima, and it's a hell of a lot cheaper to replace a clutch than rebuild an automatic. Conveniently, I just happen to have a 98 listed here for sale. 1998 Ford Ranger XLT Texas Edition Flairside 4-cyl 5-spd
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-18-2018, 10:09 AM
hat_man hat_man is offline
Buy a Ford
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 194
Default Re: Buying another Ranger.....need some advice

Well I found a nice 2003 XL with only 75k miles on it. 2.3 5-speed/OD stick. Plain Jane. Only paid $5000 total for it. Too bad I hit a deer 12 hours later. Definitely repairable. To the tune of $2500 though. It's only money right?
__________________
Little Black Ranger: R.I.P Born-1997 Died-2018. 297k miles of good times. You will be missed.

Oh Deer: 2003 XL 2.3L 5-speed stick w/OD. Current mods: Body work after hitting a deer 12 hours after I bought it. Averaging 32 MPG on the highway.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-24-2018, 09:07 AM
Old3.0guy Old3.0guy is offline
Learning to use the forums
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 14
Default Re: Buying another Ranger.....need some advice

When did they go to the Lima engine?
__________________
Too soon old...too late smart
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-26-2018, 03:14 PM
hat_man hat_man is offline
Buy a Ford
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 194
Default Re: Buying another Ranger.....need some advice

The Lima's ended in 2001 I believe. The 2.3l until '97 and then stroked to the 2.5l. Mine is a 2.3l Duratech. Totally different design.
__________________
Little Black Ranger: R.I.P Born-1997 Died-2018. 297k miles of good times. You will be missed.

Oh Deer: 2003 XL 2.3L 5-speed stick w/OD. Current mods: Body work after hitting a deer 12 hours after I bought it. Averaging 32 MPG on the highway.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-26-2018, 03:44 PM
hat_man hat_man is offline
Buy a Ford
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 194
Default Re: Buying another Ranger.....need some advice

@dvrich.... Not trying to "poke the bear" but I never put much stock in the EPA MPG stickers anyhow. My '97 was listed at 22 city/26 highway for a combined 24mpg. If I was getting 26 I knew there was a problem. I was getting a consistent 30 mpg up until the end, when it tapered off to 28. When it could barely get 26 and I was always down on coolant (and not seeing any visible leakage on the block or the ground) I was pretty sure I had a head gasket blown between cylinders.

I have driven the same road to work and back for nearly 25 years. 125 miles a day round trip. You can always beat the sticker mileage if you tighten up the nut behind the wheel. Doing simple things like getting rid of that dang "air muffler" after the air filter so it can breathe better helps. A freer flowing exhaust like from a Lightning (out the side) or just routed (after the muffler) over the rear axle and out the back gets rid of a ton of back pressure. Get rid of the "steelies" and find alloy (Deer Hoof) rims and the tallest narrowest tires that fit in the wheel well that allow for body roll and shock travel are big helps. Don'e ever settle for the sticker mileage.
__________________
Little Black Ranger: R.I.P Born-1997 Died-2018. 297k miles of good times. You will be missed.

Oh Deer: 2003 XL 2.3L 5-speed stick w/OD. Current mods: Body work after hitting a deer 12 hours after I bought it. Averaging 32 MPG on the highway.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
New Guy, Looking At Buying My First Ranger! Need Some Advice! MurrayPro92 General Ford Ranger Discussion 25 10-31-2016 05:13 AM
Buying advice for a used Ranger Dave12345 General Tech 7 04-28-2015 05:40 AM
Advice on Buying a Ranger... Ocelot Introduce Yourself 9 03-30-2014 01:54 PM
Looking at buying my first ranger, need advice matti General Ford Ranger Discussion 34 04-21-2013 05:32 PM
Used Ranger Buying Advice bojotta Introduce Yourself 12 07-09-2009 07:56 AM