are the rangers a good truck

well it all depends on how the previous owner took care of it. the price is right, there's no doubt, but just make sure he took care of his truck before you buy because with parts that old, something could go worng very easily if it wasnt maintained

Depends on what you want the truck for. If you want to do serious hauling, I'd say no, because a 4 cylinder won't give you the power and trying to drive a weak stickshift with a heavy load is very challenging. However, if you're looking for a small truck to say on gas $ and haul occasional items when needed, I'd say it's a great deal. Make sure you test drive the truck first though and try to "feel" for any problems it may have.

he took very good care for it just been sitting for about 1 year in his shop

oh no i'm not gonna use it to haul anything but maybe a quad ever once in while mostly to get back and forth form work

hey yea rangers are good trucks, had a 99 4cyl 5 speed, it had 236000 miles on it and never had issues with it until the day i crashed it...

The Ford Ranger is one of the best and most reliable small trucks on the market, i have own one since they came out in 1983 and have two of them now. If you are interest in purchasing one, and would like a 1999. YOu can E-mail me at rekotsdr@hotmail.com and I will make you a great deal.

96,how many miles over 100,000-$200.00 for it sitting for a year,pass on it,you will be buying his problems.from 88 to 97 were the worst years for the rangers.

The '95 and '96 are the most reliable Rangers, including the newest models. Check it over for obvious problems, otherwise go for it!

Correction - '88 to '94 were the second-to-worst years, with '97 to '01 taking the cake.

Old thread, but I'd like to point out that the '97 Ranger I bought in 1999 (used with12k miles) is still going strong in 2014. The only problems I've had were the timing belt going out at 180k miles (I should have changed it years earlier), a water thermostat, a leaking radiator once, and a slave cylinder (which is inside of the transmission bell housing). KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS TRUCK IS 17 YEARS OLD AND HAS 229,000 MILES ON IT. It has only left me stranded with the leaking radiator (that was almost 10 years ago) and the timing belt a year and a half ago. (Again, I should have addressed the belt's replacement years ago. Thankfully the Ranger's 2.3L is a non-interference engine.) I am almost 40 years old and my '97 Ranger is easily the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned. There isn't even a close second.

Today is July 26, 2014. My 1996 Ford Ranger 3.0 litre V-6 has hit the 500,000 miles on the odometer. It is a daily driver both summer and harsh winters! I still have the original muffler and pipes on the vehicle. My drum brakes were replaced at 400,000 miles. The air conditioner and tape player still works. The only problem is the rear fenders due to rust!! I LOVE MY TRUCK...

I think they're a real work of art. It really takes a special eye to see the beauty of the ranger species.

All you have to lose is $200. If it runs then how can you go wrong?

i have an 1983 ford ranger deisel its been sitting 15 years no last winter it got really bad and no vehical would start so i decided id give the ranger a try put a bettery in it and it started without an problom after sitten 15 year straight and drove it threwout the winter still runs that was in 2015 if thats not reliable i dont know what is

my ranger only has 42545 origional miles on its spadomiter and the ranger was made in 1983 and it gets 35 to 42 miles to the gallon with its 4 speed manual and 2.2l 4 cylender deisel engine these deisel rangers are rare now but it is the most relyable truck ive ever had

Just finish restoring my 1984 2.0 73 horse power engine california model am getting 32 miles per gallon its a very plain red . 84000 origanlly miles only drive it in the summer . The people most interested are between the ages of 32 to 45 I get hemming motor news and never seen any articles about the small ranger ( 1983 to 1988 ) I hope things will change in the future, well see. Donald gapen Monticello , mn.

My ‘96 Ford Ranger has been my daily driver since 1999. Bought it used in ‘99 with 35K miles, it now has 354K miles on it. It has the original 4 cylinder engine and 5 speed manual transmission. Here’s the maintenance plan; 100% synthetic motor oil change every 25K miles; change transmission, rear differential fluid every 100K miles; change timing belt (new idler pulley, belt tensioner, thermostat, serpentine belt, water pump) every 100K miles. This has been a reliable ride for 20 years.

I have a base model 2010 with the 4 cyl. Crank door handles ( yeah!) and manual door lock buttons( yeah!) 236,000 now and the most reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned. Only maintenance and a few minor repairs but overall very reliable. I’ll run it till the wheels fall off and hopefully past 300,000. My only gripes are minor 1) wind leaks around the door and 2) a rough ride. It’s just the size I need..I don’t need or want a “midsize” or full size truck. I’m just sorry the new 2019 Ranger is bigger and more than I need.