Tell me about this

Kinja'd!!! "zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot)
03/23/2015 at 16:15 • Filed to: Car shopping

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A '0xs Ford Ranger; 4cyl, rwd, manual. I've read that they can get great hwy mileage, up to 25/27. How true is that? Do they come with bench seats? Would it be a great DD? Can you fit a car seat in it and can you turn the passengers airbag off if you do? Tell my anything and everything about these trucks, good and bad.

Thinking of a great DD and something that could be helpful all around, I thought of the Ranger. It's a great looking truck, body of frame (rust on the body means nothing), and if it can get great mpg, I could have a new car obsession.


DISCUSSION (39)


Kinja'd!!! nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > zeontestpilot
03/23/2015 at 16:18

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my dad has an 02 with the v6 auto. I'll put it this way, when we go on a 500 mile trip to go hunting we take my mom's v8 equipped Grand Cherokee.


Kinja'd!!! bob and john > zeontestpilot
03/23/2015 at 16:18

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you and I have very different definitions of great fuel econ.

for me, anything under 35 is really bad.


Kinja'd!!! G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > zeontestpilot
03/23/2015 at 16:20

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They do get fantastic mileage, and you can get them with bench seats. Plus, if you ever need new parts, LMC Truck is there for you. I'm pretty sure you can cut off the passenger air bag, and some of them came with sideways-facing rear jumpseats. I hope this helps!


Kinja'd!!! zeontestpilot > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
03/23/2015 at 16:22

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It does, thanks!


Kinja'd!!! zeontestpilot > bob and john
03/23/2015 at 16:24

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Hahaha, I DD a '08 Pt cruiser, which is suppose to get 24 hwy mpg but only seems to get 21 mpg. I consider anything above that good, :).


Kinja'd!!! zeontestpilot > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
03/23/2015 at 16:26

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That bad, eh? What kind of trails can it not handle? I need to make mental comparisons, :).


Kinja'd!!! bob and john > zeontestpilot
03/23/2015 at 16:27

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yea...I dd a motorcycle that i've hit 70MPG with once or twice.

if I need a cr, borrow dads A3 TDI. 45mpg+

I genuinly dont remember the last time i got under 35


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > zeontestpilot
03/23/2015 at 16:29

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I have an '02, but in your case my experience helps very little. V6, RWD, manumatic(?), usually gets around 6 mpg, bucket seats, not a good daily.

Being a bit less silly, I also bought (and promptly gutted) a 98 V6 manual about eight years ago. Whether the front seats qualified as buckets or a 60/40 split bench is a matter for debate, and the rear jump seats were a bit terrifying, but it did have a good manual transmission, the front airbag could be turned off, and while I never tried I would surmise it could definitely take a car seat in the front.


Kinja'd!!! desertdog5051 > bob and john
03/23/2015 at 16:36

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What are you riding?


Kinja'd!!! Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > bob and john
03/23/2015 at 16:36

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I can't remember the last time I broke 25 mpg in something.


Kinja'd!!! bob and john > desertdog5051
03/23/2015 at 16:38

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08 SV650. The earlier SV's couldnt hit 70 MPG , but the 07+ fully faired (motors with 2 spark plugs and an O2 sensor) could fully faired also had slightly different gearing. but it took some hyper miling to do so. thats why i've only ever done it once. I normally see 55-60


Kinja'd!!! zeontestpilot > bob and john
03/23/2015 at 16:41

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Ugh, I'd love a bike, but my wife says they are death traps so no go. But they look so fun though!


Kinja'd!!! bob and john > zeontestpilot
03/23/2015 at 16:43

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thats all i really have to say


Kinja'd!!! zeontestpilot > Dusty Ventures
03/23/2015 at 16:48

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Yeah, ive seen a 4cyl Ranger quoted really high for mpg, which is strange imo. Because all other engines got like 18 hwy mpg.

Was there three sets of seat belts on the 60/40 bench?


Kinja'd!!! nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > zeontestpilot
03/23/2015 at 18:04

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The off road capabilities of the ranger is actually pretty stout. The GC conquers the wilderness however and gets significantly better gas mileage.


Kinja'd!!! Slant6 > zeontestpilot
03/23/2015 at 18:08

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My first gen tacoma is similar to the Rangers I've driven. Tacoma is a bit more comfortable but they're essentially the same. I have a 4x4 with the 2.7 4 cylinder I get 20 mpg average and around 24 on the highway. I think a ranger with the 2.3 (?) .4l smaller and 2wd should be capable of 30mpg.


Kinja'd!!! Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > zeontestpilot
03/23/2015 at 18:18

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I have an 01 6cyl with an Auto. The front seats are 60/40, but somewhat close to benchdom. The pass airbag can be turned off, there is a turnkey switch on the dash somewhere usually below the radio. If you treat a Ranger right (I don't) they can be fairly reliable (mine's not.) I get abysmal mileage with mine, but that's because it's got 4.10 gears and I can't keep my foot out of it. Cruises nicely at 60 mph though. Parts are fairly easy to find for any Ranger. This is mostly due to the part that once they were updated in '93 they rarely had any major changes. Parts can pretty much be swapped without much effort between any truck 93+. Since I can't remember your location, check the rockers and bed/tailgate for rust. Those are the common issues for these. I say good choice on the manual, not because OOLOLOLOL SAVE THE MANUALS BROWN DEESEL MIATA WAGON HOON but because the Autos are absolute garbage in these (4 transmissions in my truck since dad has owned it over the course of 100K)

If you have anything else just ask, I know my truck pretty much bolt by bolt so you could say I have a little experience with Rangers.


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > zeontestpilot
03/23/2015 at 18:22

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Yes, there were three sets of belts. The center seat had one of those big center armrests that, when up, doubled as a seatback. As for fuel economy, here's what real-world L4 Ranger owners are reporting.

As for my '02, I was joking around because it's not exactly stock.


Kinja'd!!! zeontestpilot > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
03/23/2015 at 18:41

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Really? Bummer...

Was it rwd or 4wd?


Kinja'd!!! zeontestpilot > Slant6
03/23/2015 at 18:42

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I would love a Tacoma, but there are very few here in Michigan.


Kinja'd!!! zeontestpilot > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
03/23/2015 at 18:50

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Just a little knowledge about Rangers, right? What's the average hwy mpg you get with the 6 cylinder?


Kinja'd!!! zeontestpilot > Dusty Ventures
03/23/2015 at 18:59

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Dang, those numbers seem to be all over, :/


Kinja'd!!! nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > zeontestpilot
03/23/2015 at 19:03

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4wd. GC was awd with selective 4w low


Kinja'd!!! zeontestpilot > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
03/23/2015 at 19:12

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Huh. I do live on dirt roads, but I wasn't gonna do anything crazy. I figured I could probably get away with just 2wd.


Kinja'd!!! Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > zeontestpilot
03/23/2015 at 19:14

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With the 3.0l and 4.10's I get 15 at the most. Mine's also a 4x4 I forgot to mention. I would say if you looked at the V6's, either option can be good. I don't have much experience with the 4.0 but everyone says it's the one to get. I don't really agree too much with that. From what I've heard you get similar mileage with not all that much more power. My Vulcan has never needed any major work and has never left me stranded. It leaks a little bit of everything, but thats no big deal to me at 135k.


Kinja'd!!! Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Dusty Ventures
03/23/2015 at 19:20

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As for my '02, I was joking around because it's not exactly stock.

I think it's rather far from stock actually


Kinja'd!!! Dusty Ventures > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey
03/23/2015 at 19:43

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It can't be that far, the headlights still work. (Well, one of them)


Kinja'd!!! Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Dusty Ventures
03/23/2015 at 20:30

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Oh, ok then. You have a point.

It's when they become stickers that it's far from stock.


Kinja'd!!! handsoff > zeontestpilot
03/24/2015 at 00:08

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We've had a lot of little pickups in our family over the years, and the Rangers have been the best riding, though sloppy handling. They're incredibly reliable, and parts are CHEAP.

My brother is still driving the '94 2.3/manual/rwd/regcab/no option truck, gets about 27mpg.

My dad is driving a '00 with the 2.5/manual/rwd/barely any options, and gets about 26mpg.

I don't know if it would make it any easier to haul a kid or kids, but '98+ had the option of suicide doors on the extended cabs.


Kinja'd!!! zeontestpilot > handsoff
03/24/2015 at 06:25

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What kind of cab does the '00 have? Do you know if the various cabs, all weighting differently, affect the mpg?


Kinja'd!!! Old-Busted-Hotness > zeontestpilot
03/24/2015 at 06:50

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My '03 3.0, automatic with 3.73 gears will hit 25 mpg @65 mph on summer fuel. Goes down to 20 in the winter.

They started galvanizing body panels around 2000, which really helps keep the rust under control. Before you buy, carefully inspect the leaf spring perches. They are known to rust away.


Kinja'd!!! zeontestpilot > Old-Busted-Hotness
03/24/2015 at 07:57

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How do I figure out the gear ratios ?


Kinja'd!!! fhrblig > zeontestpilot
03/24/2015 at 08:20

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I had an '09 manual single cab Ranger, and I averaged about 28 mpg. It was a great truck, and it had plenty of power for my needs.


Kinja'd!!! Old-Busted-Hotness > zeontestpilot
03/24/2015 at 08:22

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You can either math it out from rpm @ 60 mph, or look on the door sticker for the axle code.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/a…


Kinja'd!!! MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > bob and john
03/24/2015 at 08:23

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I hear you...i love my bike, but the older I get the more I don't want to be on the receiving end of someone else's stupidity while on my bike


Kinja'd!!! cazzyodo > zeontestpilot
03/24/2015 at 08:56

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Do what I did when people objected: take a motorcycle safety course.

1 weekend

2 days

You do in-class stuff and a test then spend the rest of the time learning from the ground (manipulating the clutch) up to full out emergency stops. Then you have an on-road test and if you pass they will work with the RMV to get your endorsement sent to you. You also get a discount on insurance...though insurance is nothing when compared to auto.


Kinja'd!!! zeontestpilot > cazzyodo
03/24/2015 at 09:04

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I could, but she'd never let me buy one, which is the issue. If doesnt help that her dad used to ride, but considers them unsafe now.


Kinja'd!!! cazzyodo > zeontestpilot
03/24/2015 at 09:16

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That was my dad...heck, he still rides I think, but I've always wanted one. Then my parents got divorced and I used it as an excuse to stick it to him when he said he didn't want me to. I don't go far, really just to work once in a while but it's a great feeling.

If you really, REALLY want to just have a casual discussion about the safety course. On top of being useful, it was damn fun. After you have the endorsement, you don't even have to do anything...but it's there if the opportunity ever presents itself.

If the casual discussion ends quite suddenly, well...you're clearly aware about what to do: stop talking. :P


Kinja'd!!! handsoff > zeontestpilot
03/24/2015 at 12:02

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They're both regular cabs, base model trucks. Though the '00 has A/C that is never used. Don't know the weights. I wouldn't say it's enough to matter much, driving style seems to make a huge difference with both though. I'd say it will be hard to find the 4cyl with the suicide-door extended cab, but you never know