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why not to buy a ranger truck - READ ONLY

22 messages,  Last post on Oct 02, 2003 at 9:41 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Ranger, Truck

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#1 of 22 why not to buy a ranger truck by 2ebra

Aug 19, 2003 (7:02 am)

I have owned a two wheel drive 2002 Ford Ranger for about a year and a half, and I wouldn't advise it for anyone. The ride is so stiff that hitting a bump of any size while driving over 35 causes the vehicle to shift 6" or more to either side and possible loss of control. The truck sits up too high for a two wheel drive truck that makes it more likely to roll over. It is no wonder that small trucks are considered the most dangerous of all vehicles. The ergonomics are so bad that I can't see the speedometer, gages or warning lights without craning my neck. And I am the standard size male (5'10")that vehicles are usually made for. The passager compartment fan only operates if outside air is selected, so if u are following a truck belching exhaust u must put up without heat or fans until u pass. Both of these problems are probably not a problem if u have air conditioning and tilt stearing wheel, but I didn't have to have these options in my last vehicle, a Geo Prism (toyota corrola), to have the same conveniences. When u turn on the compartment light, it shines right in your eyes from the reflectance of the mirror, and the 4 cylinder engine is so weak u must down shift to get up a small incline on the interstate.
  
   The tires that came with the vehicle were Firestones, a company that has killed hundreds with their Firestone 500 of 20years ago, and then the more recent mass killing by Firestone.
   
   As far a dealer support, the gas cap was defective when it was new, but the dealership would not give me a replacement without me leaving the vehicle for a day. And when i bought the vehicle, i was told that i would get the college graduate $500 rebate and 7year 70,000 mile warrantee,but was cheated out of both of those. The dealership prices for a locking gas cap and other items were a obvious price gouge.
  
   The only big advantages are the low price and the reliability that is better than average, but no way close to Nissan or Toyota.

#2 of 22 And you're not responsible ? by kg11

Aug 19, 2003 (7:27 pm)

You didn't know how it drives? You didn't know you couldn't see the instrament pannel? You didn't know how much power it didn't have or how the fan works or what tires are on it? YOU DIDN"T KNOW what rebates or warrenty you were getting when YOU signed the contract?
 
Did YOU choose the vehicle and sign the contract or were you forced to buy it at gunpoint?

#3 of 22 here we go by stevek

Aug 20, 2003 (6:47 am)

When you purchase a vehicle you must be aware of its limitations. I own a Ranger pickup and 4wd sport sedan and a 350+ HP muscle car and expect different thing from each. Ranger is a small rear wheel drive pickup, therefore it will not handle as a front wheel drive car. I personally got the Ranger because the Nissan and Toyota was more like a car. Pick up truck is for hauling thing and the Ranger does it well for a reasonable price (by the way I am not a Ford fan). As for the engine, it has good torque and hauls a load very well. As for sitting high, very nice this way I can take my load on my property where I want it. As for not seeing the gauges: I guess you did not test drive.
Sounds like you did not do your homework before buying the vehicle, and for letting the dealer get way with what you say (if it is true) that is a shame. I would pursue the problem through the regional Ford rep.

#4 of 22 oh ok, i am an 'igjet' by 2ebra

Aug 25, 2003 (5:51 am)

Well I guess the moral of the story is not to buy a vehicle after working all night. That is my only self defense anyway.
 Oh, I thought some other things about the ford that i don't like. The turn signal will not stay on unless the wheels are exactly straight, just like a ford that my family owned about 40 years ago, and a problem that i haven't encountered in a car or truck since. And when u use the autowash feature for the windshield, the water doesn't come out until the windshield wiper and gone across once and possible damaged the windshield. Oh, and i tried to trade it in, last year, and they offered me $3000!!! So much for retaining value.
  But i think the ranger would be best for a farm or other work person that needs the high ground clearance, average reliability, and a very low price. The prices that they are offering them for right now is ridiculously low, I just wish that I could have bought one for the lower price. If one was going to get a Ranger, U might as well get a 4 wheel drive model, beings how u all ready have the disadvantages and advantages of the high ground clearance and unstablility.
When i bought the vehicle, i was planning on getting a used MR2 Toyota for most of my driving, and only using the Ranger for Camping with Flip-pack topper. But I keep worring about layoff, so haven't completed the second part of the plan.
  Now that I own a house, I can't seem to get along without the truck, and with such low resale value, will probably keep it for 10 or 20 years till it dies.

#5 of 22 Get the MR2 by kg11

Aug 25, 2003 (4:43 pm)

so you don't wear out the truck commuting and have to drive whatever you replace it with to Home Depot or the campground.
 
I have a GMC2500HD ($36k POS) that I use only for towing and handyman stuff,and a Corolla that I commute with 35 mpg. If the Toyota would pull the 7700lb boat I wouldn't need the truck. If the truck got better than 8 mpg (city) I might not have bought the Toy.
 
BTW; My wife's '98 Mustang's turn signals work fine but the windshield washer does the same thing as your Ranger.So does the GMC and Toyota

#6 of 22 2ebra............. by dustyk

Aug 26, 2003 (4:03 pm)

...here's the way it is. Every model automobile, van or truck will have a certain percentage of units manufacturered that will develop one defect. Still another percentage will experience two defects, and still another percentage will have three...so on and so on.
 
Some models will have higher or lower percentages of problems than others. There is no such thing as a perfect make or model.
 
While I understand that problems with new cars or trucks bring various levels of unsatisfaction to the buying and owning experience, your unhappiness as led you to become overreactionary. You now think that every Ranger is built just like yours, and you are now on a campaign to persuade others that theirs, too, is a POS. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think you would like everybody to hate the Ford Ranger because of your experience.
 
Based on what you have written, your issue is not really with the Ford Ranger, but with the service support you did (or didn't) receive. That, too, is most unfortunate, because I know people that have had Ford Rangers and have had very good service from them. I am not being an apologist for the Ranger or Ford. They have their design, assembly, and component quality issues, but a lot of Ranger owners are more than satisfied with them.
 
Sounds like your dealer isn't standing behind you and/or you are not making yourself annoying enough with the dealer or the Ford Motor Company. Try to work with the dealer to resolve the issues and if that doesn't bring satisfaction, there's arbitration or the Better Business Bureau.
 
Regards,
Dusty

#7 of 22 Sorry to hear your story, by midnight_stang

Aug 26, 2003 (5:40 pm)

I guess you will take your time on your next purchase, right?

#9 of 22 Looking to buy a used 2000 Ranger, any advice? by unclejim

Aug 27, 2003 (7:47 am)

Looking at buying a used 2000 Ranger XLT 2 dr standard cab LB from dealer. 2 wheel drive, 3 L engine. 23,000 miles. NADA Retail $9,900 and trade in value $7,900. Negotiating somewhere between. Very clean almost like new. I'm taking it to my repair shop for full review before sealing deal. I checked with carfax and it came back with a clean report. Anything I should really pay attention to before I buy this truck.
 
Thanks
 
Uncle Jim

#10 of 22 Advice by junk1nyotrunk

Aug 27, 2003 (8:10 am)

Check the TSB reports on Edmunds site under ownership/maintenance/tsb reports. They'll list most of the Ford acknowledged problems with the specific model you're about to buy. Try to find out if the major problems on the TSB were already taken care of so you're not stuck with a problem later that should have been fixed a long time ago. Also do a quick background check on the dealership through BBB's website, Better Business Bureau. You'll want to know that if you have a problem, they'll be there to help you fixed it once they've sold you the truck. Good Luck.

Messages Page 1 of 3

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