My white truck is pretty well worn-out and rotten, and being a 2wd just isn't worth putting money into, in this state.

My Escort needs some work, and it may be more than I'm interested in doing.

Leading me, of course, to contemplating buying a new 4x4 pickup a bit sooner than I'd planned. I haven't yet decided whether I'm comfortable with what it's gonna cost me, but I'm giving it serious thought. (Ernie mentioned looking at a new Focus, but I think I've decided that I'd rather dump some money into my Escort and wait until I can afford something with 4WD/AWD than buy another FWD car.

What I want is pretty hard to come by right now...4x4, 5-speed, extended cab Ranger XLT. (And for new-truck money, those are all absolute must-haves.) Leading, of course, to the next set of stuff, which is what I think I want, but might be willing to live without. Looking for some comments on whether it's stuff people think should be a high priority or not.

-rear sliding window. Love it in my non-A/C '97. New trucks haves A/C standard, and a lot of the ones on lots no longer have a rear-slider. Thinking I'd still miss it, though.

-3.73 vs. 4.10 gears- seems there was a time that all the trucks like I want sitting on lots had the 4.10s...not true anymore. I drove a 4.0 5-speed with 3.73s back in June or so...obviously it had plenty of power unloaded, but it didn't feel as powerful as I'd hoped for the 4.0...anybody owned both, and care to comment on how they compare with regards to power, and fuel mileage. (Also, if it was a 5-speed, how the gear ratios fit in with the engine's powerband at different cruising speeds- sometimes even they just don't line up right and it always feels like you're in the wrong gear.)



*I drove a GMC Canyon and a Tacoma, too...neither of which I want to buy (reviews later, if anyone is interested), and a Subaru Impreza, which is making me wonder how much I really need a truck, vs. just something that will get up my street in the winter.

I'm partial to Rangers and would love to have a manual, however they are hard to find around here. Only thing I'm really disappointed about is they no longer have the screaming yellow! You can't go wrong by buying a new Ranger. Hell, the other day we received a letter in the mail from our local dealer stating they wanted to buy my Ranger back due to high demand on used very nice Rangers! I say Go For It and make the dealer find one with the options you want. They can have them sent in from anywhere. Good luck!

For some reason, the combo you want is easy to find around here. 4x4 supercab rangers with standard shift and limited slip rear ends. My theory is because of slippery boat ramps.

My point is, you might be able to save money and find something a couple of years used, if you are willing to travel. Outside of the rustbelt, a couple years old is still new.

TazDevil07 said:

I'm partial to Rangers and would love to have a manual, however they are hard to find around here. Only thing I'm really disappointed about is they no longer have the screaming yellow! You can't go wrong by buying a new Ranger. Hell, the other day we received a letter in the mail from our local dealer stating they wanted to buy my Ranger back due to high demand on used very nice Rangers! I say Go For It and make the dealer find one with the options you want. They can have them sent in from anywhere. Good luck!

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If I buy a Ranger, it will be very near what I want...and if they can't get it, they won't get my business. (Which is, in fact where I might be with the closest Ford dealer.) Right now, there are two Rangers in VT with the right cab and powertrain, except they've got 3.73 gears. One's silver with the rear slider, so basically the only thing wrong with it is the rear end...and not having buckets, but I'm pretty sure they dropped that option for '10.

surewhynot said:

For some reason, the combo you want is easy to find around here. 4x4 supercab rangers with standard shift and limited slip rear ends. My theory is because of slippery boat ramps.

My point is, you might be able to save money and find something a couple of years used, if you are willing to travel. Outside of the rustbelt, a couple years old is still new.

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It's actually not just that exact combo...there aren't very many Rangers around at all right now in this area. Most of what's out there is fully loaded, though, with the automatic.

While in theory I'm okay with traveling for a used truck, I have 8 hours of vacation time between now and March (just started working, don't earn any yet), so it's really not practical to look very far away right now. If I end up waiting a year, a 3 year old Floridian Ranger would be a definite possibility, though.

The ranger is no longer available with a limited slip.

I referred to used rangers.

It sounds like you're set on having a Ranger. Go for it, you probably wouldn't be happy with anything else...

Me, on the other hand, I took what I could get. That's why I ended up with a '87 Suburban... I wanted a Highboy... oh well.

SuperCab said:

Me, on the other hand, I took what I could get. That's why I ended up with a '87 Suburban... I wanted a Highboy... oh well.

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I've already got "what I can get". Even a whole new engine in the Escort (and I don't think it needs one- head-gasket, at worst) would probably be a less expensive option than looking for a good running vehicle that's not all rotted out around here. Question, really, is what's the best I can comfortably afford.


You sure about that LS being discontinued, Taylor? Could have sworn I saw it on the build-your-own Ford site just the other day. Not that it matters...the factory LS in Rangers is worthless, so I'd just as soon not have it, and then put a real selectable locker in there if I ever decide I need one.


What gears you got in your truck, Brenda?

john112deere said:

I've already got "what I can get". Even a whole new engine in the Escort (and I don't think it needs one- head-gasket, at worst) would probably be a less expensive option than looking for a good running vehicle that's not all rotted out around here. Question, really, is what's the best I can comfortably afford.


You sure about that LS being discontinued, Taylor? Could have sworn I saw it on the build-your-own Ford site just the other day. Not that it matters...the factory LS in Rangers is worthless, so I'd just as soon not have it, and then put a real selectable locker in there if I ever decide I need one.


What gears you got in your truck, Brenda?

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They all say non-limited slip for me.

1. LS is no longer available for 2010. You might find a 2009 with one. I'm not a fan of Ford's LS anyways. Nick doesn't have it on his, and it's no big deal one way or other. That truck's been to hell and back off-road, and never once was in a situation where he felt it needed it.

2. Nick has the 60/40 seat, and prefers it for the rare occasions that he carries a 3rd passenger. The rear jump seats are pretty uncomfortable for anything but children.

3. Forget about the 3.73 vs. 4.10 thing- really doesn't matter unless you put bigger tires on after the fact. Nick has 4.10's, but he switched to a 265/75-16 off-road instead of the stock 255/70-16 all-season. His "net" gearing is probably the same as the std.

4. Nick's truck didn't have skid plates. That, it turns out, really was the big deal. It has them now- easy aftermarket retrofit if not available from the factory.

Ian- remember when you buy out of stock some compromises will have to be made, or you'll just out-think yourself out of potentially a good deal. There's some strong rebates being offered right now (at least on the left-coast). You can factory order and get exactly what you want, but you risk losing thousands in rebates by doing that.

I hear many folks say "If I can't get what I want..." but it's counter-productive. Life's a constant compromise- buying a new vehicle isn't any different than anything else.

polarbear said:

I hear many folks say "If I can't get what I want..." but it's counter-productive. Life's a constant compromise- buying a new vehicle isn't any different than anything else.

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That's why I'm asking...there's compromises I know I'd regret (2wd, standard cab, or automatic transmission would all be deal-killers at virtually any price), stuff I know isn't worth much worry (color, what style of wheels are on the thing).

What I'd like to be able to do, is sit down with the salesman and say "This is the exact truck I want. These are things I'll compromise on if you can find a truck that's close, these are the things I will not compromise on."

Wasn't sure with the gears...but yeah, I probably wouldn't be running oversize tires (maybe 31s in a few years if it gets demoted from daily-driver), so 3.73s are probably OK. I'd really like to be able to drive them back to back, but I don't think that's going to happen. (Having driven 4-cylinder, 5-speed trucks with 4.10s and 3.73s back to back, I know that I'd never be happy with a Lima 4-banger with 3.73...but I'm not shopping for one anyway.)


One more question- I know I want a supercab, but what are people's thoughts on getting the 4-door (with deadman doors) vs. the 2-door? I've got a 2-door now, and while I curse it occasionally (including last night, trying to hang a dress shirt in the back), I'm not sure it'd really be worth the significant increase in price...and since I drive a fair bit on dirt roads, I'm also a bit worried about squeaks and rattles as the truck ages.

EDIT: On the seats...as I said, I think it's a non-issue because I'm pretty sure they dropped the buckets for '10. I will say, though, especially with the stick, a third passenger in my current truck is a lot more likely to end up in a jump seat than in the middle, unless the back seat is filled with toolboxes or something.

And I have no plans for off-roading the thing enough to require skidplates...the way I was brought up to treat equipment has led to a mindset where I'm not willing to risk breakage to have fun with a vehicle- especially one I need to get to work every day. 4x4 will get pretty regular use, but only on things resembling roads that are just too snowy or muddy for a RWD truck to get through.

Ian, I e-built a Ranger last night with buckets..... Can't remember how I got to that option, I think maybe it was the "Sport".

Hmmm...have to check that out. Thanks, Brad.

I love the split-bench in my '97- I can drive that truck all day and not hurt at all, and it will let me carry three across if I need to. The newer split-benches are just not as comfortable, for me. I think the buckets are a little more comfortable, though I've never spent enough time in them to be certain.

EDIT: Yep- the buckets are standard on the Sport model. Not sure what else comes with that package, but it was pretty close to the price of an XLT so it's probably not too much. Have to look into that closer when I get a little more time.

On another note, the 4X4 2-Dr S/C configuration is gone as well. Given rebates, though, it'd be cost effective to hunt down a '09. Same thing though- not many on the ground, and they aren't getting any more plentiful.

*I have a copy of the 2010 order guide- let me know if you want it emailed.

** Also now know why LS was dropped- Roll Stability control and Advance Trac std for 2010 (traction control).

polarbear said:

On another note, the 4X4 2-Dr S/C configuration is gone as well.

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"S/C" meaning standard cab or super cab?

polarbear said:

Given rebates, though, it'd be cost effective to hunt down a '09. Same thing though- not many on the ground, and they aren't getting any more plentiful.

** Also now know why LS was dropped- Roll Stability control and Advance Trac std for 2010 (traction control).

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There's two reasons to hunt for an '09...

*PM inbound, Ernie.

I know your a ranger fan Ian but what about a similar combo in an f150?

If it were me I would sacrifice the manual transmission.

There was a point in my life where it had to be manual or nothing and now you would be hard pressed to get me to own a manual. Sports car maybe but not my DD. Too much effort in traffic. Maybe you don't have that issue where you live but here in Cali we do. Anyways my .02

CaFordDude said:

I it were me I would sacrifice the manual transmission.

There was a point in my life where it had to be manual or nothing and now you would be hard pressed to get me to own a manual. Sports car maybe but not my DD. Too much effort in traffic. Maybe you don't have that issue where you live but here in Cali we do. Anyways my .02

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I own an automatic now...and I hate it at least as much as I thought I would, maybe more.

Maybe if I had to drive in Southern Cali traffic I'd think harder about the auto...but I don't. (And if I did, I'd be thinking real hard about moving- I'm not a city-living kind of guy.)

*As to the F-150....it's more truck than I need, and I don't want to pay for it. Even if the selling price was about the same (as it would be on a GMC or Chevy, not sure about the Fords), they burn more gas, need bigger tires and more oil in the engine...it all adds up to more money for a truck that's bigger than I need.

My Dad used to buy his new trucks with no options at all, until he tried to sell a manual with no A/C in July! Everyone who called didn't want it because of lacking A/C or their wife needs an auto, so now he buys nicer trucks so he can sell them easier later. If you keep the new Ranger for a long time, which I'm guessing you intend to, then get it how you want it. You live once... enjoy it

How much oil do the new F150's hold? My Lima took just as much oil as my 302 does.

CaFordDude said:

If it were me I would sacrifice the manual transmission.

There was a point in my life where it had to be manual or nothing and now you would be hard pressed to get me to own a manual. Sports car maybe but not my DD. Too much effort in traffic. Maybe you don't have that issue where you live but here in Cali we do. Anyways my .02

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In some ways I'd have to agree with Aaron. The F150 gets about 2 mpg less mileage, offers more cab room and utility, and really costs about the same if you can stay away from the 150's (incredibly long) option list.