I’m looking to trade in a 95 Jetta and get something else. There are just too many little things that need to be done with the Jetta to make it reliable to make long trips. I’m heading to Richmond twice this year, and I simply don’t trust the car to make it both ways.
My first round of looking around turned up a 1998 Ford Ranger XLT pickup, which pretty much looks like this. It’s pretty close to what I can afford, and with the trade in, it should easily fit into my budget for the next two years.
The reviews I’ve read, and first-hand experience from my brother and a couple of friends, say it’s a nice little truck. Rides smooth, not tough on gas, and very reliable. I’ve never been much for Fords, but at this point in my life, and financially, I just want something dependable that will last me more than a few years regardless of manufacturer.
The only real reservation I have is that it’s a 2 seater. I wouldn’t be able to take both my wife and son in the truck with me (at least not without a gunny sack and some duct tape…I KID! I KID!!). Although, balancing this out is that I’ve never really had a toy before.
I have the 1999 model. Great little truck with one exception. I had to have the transmission rebuilt six months after the warranty ended. When I bought out the lease they really gave me the hard sell on the extended warranty too. In hindsight I was doing :smack: :smack: :smack: for about a week after it happened. The tiny little jump seats in the extended cab are completely useless, you wouldn’t want anyone to ride back there for very long. For me the one passenger limit isn’t an issue.
Oh, when the door ajar light refuses to go off just hose down the door latches with silicone grease or WD-40. Seems to be a common Ford issue.
Good durable little trucks, and easy to service and work on. I have two of them, a '91 with 300,000 miles which I bought new, and a ‘88 with 200,000 miles which I’ve had for about a year. I haven’ t checked out the newer models, but I suspect they are still just as good.
Both of mine are supercab 4x4’s. While I doubt it makes much difference in fitting your entire family in the truck, the supercab is really handy. I’ve been in regular cab Rangers, and they feel a bit cramped in comparison.
My last two trucks have been Rangers. I drove one for 10 years, with no major repairs needed. I sold it, and three weeks later, it T-Boned a car that pulled out in front of it. Insurance wanted to total it, but the new owner had it repaired, and it’s still on the road. My current Ranger is doing great.
While my '97 Ranger was under warranty, the original battery failed and so did te oxygen sensor, both being replaced free of charge.
About a year ago, I replaced the starter.
That’s it for repairs in 7 1/2 years and 91,00 miles.
I get 21 to 25 mpg with the 4-cylinder engine and the 5-speed manual trans. I don’t leak or burn oil.
In ‘98, the Ranger got 4’’ extra length in both wheelbase and cab length, so your proposed truck will be roomier than mine–and I can’t complain about the room in mine.
BTW, the Ranger has 3 sets of seatbelts, though the middle of the split bench on floorshift models is out of the question for the non-legless. If you’re getting the automatic on the column, a small child can fit in that middle position, though.
Pros: very reliable. The only work I needed done was a few brake jobs and cleaning the fuel injector. I got the timing belt replaced at 100k miles and I was suckered into a $400 replacement for some wires and spark plugs at the same time but that was probably an unnecessary repair. But as for repairs that I actually needed done i’ve only had 4. Three brake jobs ($90 each to replace the pads) and once the fuel injector was clogged and that was $70 to fix and i’ve had it for 3.5 years. Its also a pretty inexpensive car that upholds its resale value. My 1999 goes for about $5500 on autotrader and I only paid $6000 for it in 2001.
Cons: electrical system has problems. The dome light may come on and stay on, the wipers may occasionally come on by their own. The gas mileage in the city is only about 16mpg (highway is about 25).
Can you find an extended cab, those are available too.
It has bucket seats, with a storage console in between. That problem was worked through however. If my wife’s car breaks down and she needs one, I’ll swap cars with my brother (a former 97 Ranger owner who also loved his) and bum a ride to work for a few days.
I am putting the cart before the horse, though. Nothing is set in stone as far as the purchase. A few things need to be worked out though (trade in value for the Jetta and a title question–it’s still in mom’s name, paying it off this week). I’d rather be in a position for my brother and I (with power of attorney paperwork in hand) to sign over the title than have to spend the money to transfer it into my name for an hour or two.
I am being a spaz about it, but I’m pretty excited about the possibility. The reviews I’m getting here, from my brother, seen on line, etc. have all been very positive. My wife just hangs her head and laughs the “boys will be boys” laugh.
I have a 1995 3.0L Ranger with 175,000 miles on it. The only maintenance I’ve had outside of normally wearing parts (spark plugs, brake pads, tires, etc…) are:
My clutch finally crapped out at about 110,000 miles, and that cost me $700.
Heater valve seized at 110,000 miles (replaced myself - cost $15 and 5 minutes)
Alternator crapped out at 120,000 miles (replaced myself - cost $30 and 20 mins)
O2 sensors got replaced at 140,000 miles (did it myself- cost about $80 and about an hour)
EGR sensor & valve got crudded up at about 150,000 (replaced myself- both about $25 and took about 10 mins each.)
Idle Air control valve failed at 165,000 (did it myself- cost $50 and took 5 minutes).
As you can tell, dinky things start going out over 100,000 miles, but with the exception of the clutch and O2 sensors (I replaced them for grins), nothing was expensive at all or difficult.
I still get about 23 mpg on the highway and about 20 in town!
I’ve got a 94 Ranger extended cab (before the clamshell doors, danggit).
Just bought a new larger vehicle this year but kept the truck and I get constant offers to buy it. It’s been largely maintenence free, seriously just oil changes, brakes and a single tune-up, it still looks great and runs great. I had one big incident with some kinda electrical system malfunction when it was 8 or 9 years old, cost around $700 if I remember right.
Not a single person trying to talk me out of it. Nice. Even my wife’s giving up. I’ve successfully been able to justify or rationalize every one of her “what if” situations, mostly using examples from this thread. The tales of little maintenance and reliability are just icing on the cake. My brother in law, as I mentioned in a previous thread, works on our cars for a bottle of Jack Daniels now and then. He’s a die-hard Ford Man, and proud owner of 3 '78 Broncos. He would LOVE to be able to get his hands dirty (well,dirtier) on this truck when the time comes.
I want this truck now! Why did the damn snow have to close the lot for a day?!
