old 90s or early 2000s ford ranger good first car?

[just that pc guy]

so i have been offered by my grandfather that if i agree on hauling stuff around for him on occasions he will fully pay for a older ford ranger, should i take it? or will it just be a money pit of work to maintain and keep running [im aiming for the 4.0 v6 supercab 4x4 incase you were wondering]

[RonnieOP]

I learned how to drive in a 92 ford ranger. we called it barney because the blue paint had turned purple. Engine had close to 350k on it last time i drove it. And thats original engine. We did go through a couple clutches. but thats to be expected when you have 3 kids age 13-15 learning how to drive for the first time with a straight drive.

 

I have a 96 ford ranger that i use for hauling shit to the landfill. When i bought it there was 110k and right now theres about 180k. Ive done nothing major to it. It rusty as hell, i had to run new brake lines to the back, and ive had to fix the exhaust. but thats it. At this rate the trucks body will fall apart before the mechanical parts of the truck die.

 

I love them personally.

[kelvinhall05]

If you wanna die in a car accident they're good trucks. They weren't called danger rangers for nothing.

[Zando_]

If the frame/body are in good enough condition that it's worth putting money into upkeep, hell yeah. They're great little trucks, and the 4.0L V6 is fun as fuck. Zippy little thing, I used to drive a pretty beat up green '00 Supercab 4x4 with the 4.0L V6. Thing just wasn't worth putting much more money into IMO, but it still runs. My dad has it, thing refuses to die even if it is a little rough sometimes. Drives and handles fine too, but has some frame rust and some holes rusted through the bed. 

[atxcyclist]

Rangers are great trucks, though you're looking at possibly the most complicated version. Automatic or manual is a big question, because the automatics I've been told tend to get troublesome at higher mileage, but I have no personal experience to back that up. If the mileage is reasonably low, and there are decent records showing previous transmission servicing, an automatic is OK. Otherwise, don't pay much. Also, if it's a 97-02 with the 4.0 SOHC motor, they can have timing chain issues.

[SenKa]

1st gen Rangers are by far the best of the breed, especially if you can track down one with a Diesel, but what you're aiming at are 2nd and 3rd gens which are fine as well.

 

If you're going V6 just avoid the 4.0 from 2001-2011, the SOHC motor.

 

EDIT: Also, learn stick shift. You'll thank yourself for it, and you open your market of vehicles up a lot.

[SenKa]

7 hours ago, kelvinhall05 said:

If you wanna die in a car accident they're good trucks. They weren't called danger rangers for nothing.

Never heard that in my life, lmfao.

[Jarsky]

We have a new Ford Ranger, but have also driven the older ones too and fantastic little truck for driving around. 

But as with most older vehicles it really depends on how well its been maintained, and if all the general maintenance stuff has been done given its age. 

 

Being around the 20 year mark means you have a lot of things to keep an eye out for that *should* have been done for general maintenance.

Things that should be checked when looking at trucks of that age are obviously overall frame & body condition (e.g rust), shocks & rear leaf condition, brake rotors and shoe condition, major fluid changes (transmission & diff) have been done about every 30k-50k miles, thermostat/waterpump/timing chain has been done every ~80k miles, wheel bearings/balljoint/bushings condition have at least been checked and typically at least balljoints & bushing should have been done on a vehicle this old. They're all major things that should have been done within 100,000 miles or the 20 years.