1993 Ford Ranger XLT - The Oppositelock Review

"Denver Is Stuck In The 90s" (denver80222) 09/07/2015 at 16:06 • Filed to: oppo review

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( Full Disclosure: Ford wanted me to buy this 1993 Ranger XLT so badly they arranged to build and sell it to a Police Officer back in the 90s who would use it lightly until he was ready pass it off to his daughter, who got pregnant and was forced to sell it in order to buy a CUV.)

Exterior - 9/10

Some people would say it’s just a truck, but every time I lock the doors and walk away I can’t help but turn back and stare. The Truck still wears its original paintjob and with the exception of a few scratches it still looks pretty darn good.

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Interior - 6/10

For a 22 year old pickup its pretty well optioned, but that being said I wouldn’t call it luxury.

The 60/40 bench seat is insanely comfortable. I have installed a Grant Mopar Tuff steering wheel and replaced the OEM shift knob with an aftermarket 8 ball. The gauges are incredibly easy to read and the radio and HVAC controls are very intuitive as well. The interior is an overall nice place to be, that being said; it’s a 90s Ford so I wouldn’t say its very well designed.

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Acceleration - 8/10

There are plenty of things that will beat it in a race, but for a 22 year old pickup; its way faster than it has any right to be. My personal tests put 0-60 anywhere between 7.9 and 8.3 seconds depending on the terrain and altitude. I consistently clock it at 8.1 seconds. It feels far faster though... Its got a 3.55 LSD on a Ford 8.8 axle in the rear. The power delivery of that 3.55 rear end is unmatched, just ask any P71 owner.

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Braking - 3/10

The brakes exist, lets put it that way. It has ABS, but only in the rear. Discs up front and drums in the rear. Brake fatigue is definitely a thing, I find myself constantly engine braking alongside actual braking. Also the front rotors are warped, I’ve gotta fix that soon.

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Ride & Handling - 7/10

Since I upgraded the factory shocks with KYBs (yes, I had 22 year old, 110k mile shocks on my truck) it actually handles pretty nicely. Its very stable around corners and over bumps. That being said it’s still a truck so it definitely has quite a bit of suspension travel and I wouldn’t exactly call the ride “sporty”

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Gearbox - 4/10

My truck has an M50D transmission. It has a synchronized reverse gear, which is incredibly stupid because it makes me have to shift into 1st then reverse, that or wait an incredibly long amount of time for it to idle down. Also the synchros are kinda eh, I cant shift very quickly. If I try to shift quickly I bypass the synchros and *crunch*.

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Toys - 6/10

Dolby Digital Head unit, A/C, aftermarket Pioneer speakers in the front and all the interior lights are dimmable; the dash lights, radio lights, Hvac control lights, but not the dome light. It has a bed light that is controlled by the dome light controls, its very handy when grabbing stuff in the bed at night. It also has a sliding rear window, that is probably the most useful thing on the truck.

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Audio - 8/10

I welded up a glasspack 12” from the cats. It sounds far better than stock, but when I can afford it I think I’m gonna chop that off and install a flowmaster 40. But it doesn’t drone, so there’s that.

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Value - 7/10

I bought it with 104,200 well documented miles. The previous owner was OCD about record keeping, I even have the salesman that originally sold it’s business card. When I bought it it had alot of recent work done to it. In the year leading up to me buying it it had all this done to it:

Clutch replaced

Front Brakes done

Rear Brakes done

Diff seal done

Axle Seals done

Thermostat replaced

New Battery

All fluids flushed and changed.

I’d say for my purchase price I got a pretty good deal on it.

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Serviceability - 10/10

Its a front engined, Rear wheel drive pickup. It has a big engine bay and everything is at easy access. It is very easy to work on, and I would recommend buying a Ranger to anyone who considers themselves a budding shadetree mechanic. The only professional garage my truck has seen was the transmission shop when my pressure plate prematurely gave out. I am able to do all the work it needs myself with little to no prior knowledge. And I am a better person for it.

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Total - 66/100

Engine: 4.0L V6 “Cologne”

Power: 160 horsepower/225 LB-FT torque

Transmission: 5 Speed Manual

0-60 Time: 7.9-8.3 seconds

Top Speed: 115mph

Drivetrain: RWD

Curb weight: 3,025 lbs

Seating: 5 people

MPG: 16mpg city/18mpg highway.

Price: $3,000 before taxes.

jkm7680 > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 09/07/2015 at 16:19

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Not bad 0-60 for a truck!

Is the Veronica badge on the dash from that Toyota giveaway thingy?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > jkm7680 09/07/2015 at 16:23

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Ya, Jake Huitt got me that badge.

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 09/07/2015 at 16:37

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You should print up some business cards for VERONICA STERLING, THE WORLD’S LARGEST WHORE.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! 09/07/2015 at 16:40

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lol

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 09/07/2015 at 16:42

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827 SUPER LONG DICKS AT ONCE.

Context: Went to the U-Pull-It with Denver, pried badges off a Sterling 827SL, renamed truck.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 09/07/2015 at 16:45

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I don’t mean to dissent, this is well written and whatnot, but it feels a little spec oriented rather than driver oriented. I like it when people mention stories of how it made it to the gas station with a leaking radiator. Or how we took it camping where I interlocked genitals with my future spouse. Stuff like that!

Anyway, my favorite pickup I ever drover was a 92 Ranger, 5-speed. Were it not for my love of Toyota, I would own one today without thinking.

Mr. Malaise > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 09/07/2015 at 16:46

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I would love to see more used/older/mundane car reviews on here. Bravo.

SLK > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 09/07/2015 at 16:52

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Any idea as to what kind of fun things can be done for power in these things? Swaps or F/I?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > SLK 09/07/2015 at 17:04

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The stock resonator was definitely a bit restrictive, installing the glasspack added maybe 2 Hp. But I have heard of people installing high flow cats, beefier headers, CAIs, etc... There used to be an aftermarket supercharger for the 4.0, but they stopped making em pre-internet so who knows where they all went.

My personal plan is to drive the thing till it explodes then swap in a 5.0 out of an explorer and a T-5.

Tohru > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 09/07/2015 at 17:05

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I read it as “Danger Denver drives the Stranger Danger Ranger”. I am sad this is not accurate.

Tohru > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 09/07/2015 at 17:09

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I abused that and have lettering for TOHRU ROKUNOS RUSTY SHITBOX.

SLK > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 09/07/2015 at 17:11

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Haha I love the idea of a small light truck that hauls ass. All the burn outs for ever.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > SLK 09/07/2015 at 17:16

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Well it already does good burnouts

But ya, better ones would be nice

SLK > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 09/07/2015 at 17:37

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Haha the hard hitting stuff that wasnt in the review! What kind of mpg do you get with that 3.55 out back?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > SLK 09/07/2015 at 17:44

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Depending on how I drive, usually around 17

JGrabowMSt > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 09/07/2015 at 18:29

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Its the Stranger Danger Ranger, reporting for duty.

twochevrons > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 09/07/2015 at 21:34

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Great writeup. I wouldn’t consider myself much of a “truck guy,” but the smaller pickups like the Ranger definitely appeal to me.

Regarding having a synchronised reverse gear; either of those things are exactly what you should be doing with a gearbox with a conventional non-synchro reverse gear. Sure, you can just jam it in there while the shafts are still in motion, but it’s not good for the gearbox. It’s much better practice to give it a couple of seconds with the clutch in.

Of course, it’s even more fun in my MG, which has a straight-cut non-synchro first gear as well. Better have some mad double-declutching skills if you want to shift down to first while on the move (I certainly don’t!).

Fisher.dodd > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 12/13/2015 at 22:25

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Curious about your steering wheel, do you have a link you could send me for the wheel, and how did you get that ford logo on there?? Looks sick! I have a 93 too and was looking to do the same thing with that wheel. Email me if you could! fisher.dodd@aol.com thanks!!