Use it to tow your old dagenham dustbin to the scrap yard! (Ford Ranger)

Member Name: sax_man_al

Product:	Ford Ranger
Date:	11/08/09 (83 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Value, 4WD, wide range of models and specs

Disadvantages: Poser chrome options

Since the ford ranger was introduced it has become one of the most popular and highest regarded vehicle in it's class. Whilst not owning one I have used two different versions, a twincab and a doublecab while working for the RSPB.

Available in three main models, standard pickup, twincab which has a bench seat for rear passengers, and a double cab which has proper back seats. Obviously the twin cab has less space in the loadbed than the pickup, but there is still room to easily fit in large/long items like brushcutters, the doublecab has less room again meaning bruscutters have to squeeze in diagonally. Being only bench seats in the twincab they are only really suited to for use for short journeys. If you don't need to carry passengers often though it makes ideal space for sensitive luggage when the loadbed is full of other stuff.

The turbo diesel engines are great, plenty of power and not too bad on fuel, don't expect more than about 30-35mpg on the road, less if you are off road. Ours had 4 wheel drive and low ratio gearboxes, making it a capable off road vehicle. With mud terrain tyres we could pretty much go anywhere.

The front springs provide good handling on and off road, and the rear leaf springs are strong and reliable. When the back isn't loaded it is quite light at the rear, you can get the back end to scrabble and slide a bit in 2WD on loose surfaces if you push it. 2WD powers the back, 4WD provides equal power to the front and back axles (equates to 4wd with diff locked in a landie). You can change between the two on the move, but will need to stop to use low ratio.

There are plenty of versions of this vehicle from special editions to basic work vehicles, air con, leather, CD players...... it's comfortable to drive long distances, and the power makes overtaking and cruising easy.

The air con had broken on ours, but it had been used hard for several years and the air con probably just needed charging. Ford have dealers all over the country, but, after coming back ours didn't handle very well, turned out they pumped the tyres up way too much! Took some effort to track down what they should have been, but obviously the ford garage didn't know! If you have a truckman cab on the load bed don't leave the door up when moving as it is liable to fall off!

Summary: Versatile off road work vehicle

Processing/Quality:
Reliability:
Driving comfort: