I found another Ranger

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
01/09/2015 at 13:10 • Filed to: None

This time an !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with the 4.0L SOHC V6.

It's also a better color combination.

Still 4-wheel drive with about 145k on the clock.

It's about $400 more than the '99, and looks to be about in the same condition.

But, while the '99 was at $5990, it could've probably been talked down to $5000. This one would probably be hard to get down past $6k. I dunno if the extra horsepower and better color combo would be worth the extra $1,000.

DISCUSSION (20)

HammerheadFistpunch > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/09/2015 at 13:14

4.0L > 3.0L in many ways. I haven't owned one, but thats the gist I get from those who have.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > HammerheadFistpunch
01/09/2015 at 13:15

It certainly is the better motor, but I'm wondering if the 3.0L would suffice for what I need it to do.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/09/2015 at 13:16

You will want the 4.0, and the better colour is a bonus.

Rock Bottom > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/09/2015 at 13:17

That's the best looking Ranger, in my opinion, but I'm not a huge fan of the OHC 4.0. A couple people I know have had timing chain failures on those, which is an odd problem for a modern engine to have. I don't know if it was more or less common than the head gasket leaks on the pushrod 4.0, but it's worth keeping in mind.

Oh, and it has 3 timing chains... which is just unnatural!

HammerheadFistpunch > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/09/2015 at 13:18

I could be wrong, but I understand the 4.0 is a more reliable motor, could factor in.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Rock Bottom
01/09/2015 at 13:18

Goddamn, the 3.0 sounds like the more reliable motor, but the 4.0 is more powerful. I guess it depends on what I want.

CalzoneGolem > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/09/2015 at 13:19

3.0! 3.0! 3.0! 3.0! 3.0! 3.0! 3.0! 3.0!

Wait ... what were we talkin' 'bout?

As Du Volant > HammerheadFistpunch
01/09/2015 at 13:19

Both more reliable and easier to find parts for when it does break.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > CalzoneGolem
01/09/2015 at 13:21

The 3.0L Vulcan works well in my girlfriend's Taurus, but I'm not sure about a truck...

CalzoneGolem > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/09/2015 at 13:24

Well depending on the configuration the Ranger can be lighter than the Taurus

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > CalzoneGolem
01/09/2015 at 13:27

I don't think an extended cab, 4-wheel drive model is.

Rock Bottom > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/09/2015 at 13:28

Once, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I owned a 1991 Explorer with the pushrod 4.0. It was a very nice truck and the engine was great. I traded it in at about 150,000 and it never gave me the slightest issue. My sister had a similar vintage Explorer (mechanically identical) and she always had this slight head gasket weep. It would just barely drip a little coolant down the back of the passenger head. Never got any worse. I've heard of other people blowing the head gaskets out of these things like every 100,000, but I don't know.

You're right, the 3.0 is pretty trouble-free but it's probably going to be the slowest thing you've ever driven. I've driven a couple and they are just scary slow. Like, early 80s diesel Mercedes slow (I have one of those, and it's pretty bad).

I guess if I were in the market for a truck, I would be shopping for the exact truck you have above, but with the pushrod 4.0 instead of the OHC engine. I have no idea when they quit building that engine, but other than the potential for a head gasket problem, they're solid as granite.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Rock Bottom
01/09/2015 at 13:30

I dunno about slowest thing I've ever driven, my Safari I'm driving right now takes almost 14 seconds to get to 60. If the Ranger takes 14 seconds or less, I'll prefer the '99.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/09/2015 at 13:45

Ranger 3.0 4WD is around 10-11 to 60.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
01/09/2015 at 13:47

Well shit, that answers that question. Mossy greenish 3.0 it is.

Rock Bottom > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/09/2015 at 13:50

It's performance is probably comparable to your rape-van. You should go drive one! They're everywhere!

And for sure, don't just take my crazy advice about the OHC engine as gospel. Go spend a little time in the Ranger or Explorer forums. For all I know, there's a cheap and easy work-around for any "common" problems with that engine. There are a lot of them out there, and whenever you give millions of trucks to car guys on limited budgets, you will learn new and interesting ways to fix shit cheap!

EDIT: Sorry I called it a "rape-van". It's an automated reaction. I don't really mean it... unless I do...

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Rock Bottom
01/09/2015 at 13:54

If the 3.0 about on par with my van, I don't need the 4.0. It's a truck, I don't need it to get up and move any faster. I was more worried about it being dangerously underpowered on the highway, but if it's comparable to my Safari, well then it's not an issue.

Rock Bottom > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/09/2015 at 13:58

Yeah, you really just need to drive it to know for sure.

Oh, and I seem to recall that the 3.0 didn't get any better fuel burn than the 4.0, so keep that in mind.

Also, consider if you will ever want to tow with it. I bet the 3.0 would be pissed to tow something heavy. Same goes for if you're like me and you can't help put put bigger tires on every truck you come near. The 4.0 would be a lot happier with big-tire-mall-crawling... which I have been known to do...

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Rock Bottom
01/09/2015 at 14:00

We've already got one chunky-tire'd V8 pickup at the house to tow things, mine would stay stock and mostly haul firewood and the occasional Home Depot run.

Jonee > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
01/09/2015 at 14:42

Seems pricy to me. I don't think you gain all that much with the 4.0 over the 3.0 unless you're using it for towing something fairly substantial (for a small truck), or you really need the 4X4. I have a 2.3 Ranger (Mazda version) and it does everything. I've towed cars, hauled more shit in the bed than the book told me I should, etc. They take a licking for sure. Although, the color and slightly less age might be worth a grand to you.