Am I gonna hate it?



It's a 1993 Ford Ranger Splash 4-cylinder, 5-speed, 4x2 with 103,000 miles.

I need something that gets good mileage but has some utility to it more so than a cheap civic. My commute is 120 miles round-trip and putting that kind of mileage on a car I actually really enjoy kills me. Mainly because the 60 miles on the way home is a 2-hour traffic jam.

The color is cheesy but the guy is only asking $2,000. If I offer $1,700 I'm sure he'll bite.

I figure it will be good to throw the dog in, hauling friend's (and my) furniture around when needed. Just a typical cheap, i don't give a shit what happens to it, kind of truck.

Anyone have experience? I had a '93 Explorer in high school that I really liked. The 4-cylinder in the Ranger has only 96 horsepower though. He says it still gets 25+ mpg.

 

For that kind of money, I think you'll do just fine with it.

 

looks like a good buy...my only gripe about the rangers was the smalish cabs...i liked the size of the s-series more...but it's a mini truck so it's not gonna be hella spacious.

 

My only concerns would be the mileage on the truck. And how fast you will be adding more miles on with that long of a commute.

 

This is true. But a 14 year old truck with ~100k miles is only ~7,400/year

 

The common problem on them are rear spring shackles rotting through, and door ajar switches not functioning properly. Other wise they are fairly reliable trucks, though it is worth mentioning that is the infamous 4 cylinder/8 cylinder, while it is only a 4 cylinder, it has 8 spark plugs and 8 ignition wires, so maintenance issues like a T/U cost roughly twice what a regular 4 cylinder does.

 

my friend still has his "Ranger Danger". He's had it for,....'bout 12 - 13 years now. It still runs! He uses it to haul his jet skis and whatever else. He never puts any care into it and it still runs! He has a Land Rover now, but he still keeps the Ranger Danger.

For 1700, you have nothing to loose. If you want it to run perfect you may have to put some money into it, but hey... I say go for it.

 

yea...do it.

 

Just talked to him. He's replacing the starter in it this week.

Looks like $1,400 cash would take it. I told him run it through state inspection and I'll be up to test drive it this week.

 

Also, at that price there's no reason for me to carry full insurance on it right? A full coverage policy at my current limits ($100k/$300k) would be $1,000/year. A collision only policy would be ~$750 a year.

Think it's worth the extra $250 a year for comprehensive?

 

no car over 10 years (in general) is worth comprehensive.

I carry full coverage, collision only on my pathfinder.

 

i got a 94 explorer 2 door which i use to haul shit around

 

For fourteen hundred dollars, it seems like a decent buy. Seems to be a great little truck. The 2.3 litre is a little course, but relatively stout and parts are plentiful and cheap. A friend has a '94 that he purchased new and still drives from time to time. Over 300 000 kilometres with the original engine and clutch.

Terry

 

Be wary on ride comfort. Your going to put a ton of mileage on this & be in it long periods of time.

Is the AC & heat up to it?
Will you have overheating problems sitting in traffic?
Will you get cramps from the seats?
Can you stand the ride & road manners?
Can you stand how slow it's going to be?

 

I was told the A/C and heat work like new.

Not sure on how the seats will be comfort wise.

As far as ride and road manners and how slow it's gonna be not much of an issue. I'm buying this so that I can have a daily driver with good gas mileage/utility so I can justify the purchase of a S2000. I don't want to put that kind of mileage on an S2K.

 

Check to make sure you're comfy while in driving position for that commute. Certain cars have seat cushions that collapse after some wear; IDK if the Ranger is one of them.
If you are uncomfortable at any point during the test drive, the car isn't worth whatever amount you pay.

 

Liability...Thats it. You dent it, big woop, you wreck it, big woop...

 

very true...but for the price of the truck, you can get the truck and get some new(er) seats for next to nothing. ranger's have a pretty strong aftermarket.

 

Oh and the wheels are OEM Ford Cobra R's. Not replicas. They should be worth about $500 one their own. They are just missing center caps.

 

Have you found a Internet Forum for these yet? Might be helpful in making the final decision.

 

For $1400, I think it's a good deal. But I think I'd just keep it as Liability only. I did that with my Maxima. It wasn't worth paying exta for comprehensive.

 

^ We have used those as delivery trucks and they're fairly loud; radio is crappy; seats are so-so (relative to a sedan). Don't know if that helps you

But what I really want to say is -- be careful with those in the winter. I don't know how much snow you get in Maryland (re: Noreaster) but I would recommend sandbags / kitty litter and a shovel ... something somewhat heavy in the back for traction. Those things have been used by our drivers fairly often (I guess they drive it like they stole it on deliveries ...)

 

After you mentioned this I remembered that explorerforum.com has a nice Ranger section. I used to post there years ago when I had an Explorer.

I just put up a thread. Thanks for the idea.

 

only if you put a 5.0 in it

 

That would sorta defeat the purpose wouldn't it?

 

Plus for going fast I've got something planned for the S2K that hasn't been done before.

 

The price isn't bad at all, but it's mt. How are you going to survive in traffic?

 

It's easy... as long as you don't have a vagina

I've driven my CL 6spd for 5 years thru Providence, RI stop and go traffic and after a while you don't even notice it...

I had severe ligament damage back in 2004 in my clutch ankle, and while I was on crutches for 4 weeks, I was back in the car and driving thru the same stop and go traffic a week later (just drove a little less aggressively, left alot of room in front of me to coast more than shift, etc)...

It's really not that hard (or tiring) to drive a standard in trafffic...

Plus this is a 4 banger truck, so having a MT is pretty much a nesscessity if you want the thing to get out of it's own way

 

For the money, you can't go wrong... It's a decent beater, and even if it only lasted a year or 2, you''ll have gotten your moneys worth out of it...

 

I've driven the CL-6speed through DC at least 3 days a week for the past 30 months.

I think I'll manage.

 

LS1 swap?

 

my friend has been driving a 4cyl 5spd ranger for years. its a turd in the power section, but its still a really fun little truck and it hauls light stuff pretty well. you get a from me for using it as a daily/beater.

 

sorry, boss. I guess I need to grow some balls.

 

buy the car already.

 

Nothing that extreme.

But a hot-side mounted 2.3L Whipple on the F22C would make acceleration a little more enjoyable.

 

you'll never be happier. if you haven't gotten it already, get it! I bought a '90 Chevy S-10 Blazer with 173K on it. I rarely drive the CL anymore.

 

Is that because you can't afford the NOS?

What's up, Mantis? It's been a long time...

Cheers, Inferno

 

it will be okay as long as #1. you don't mind riding the clutch in traffic.
#2. your not gonna tow or pull a lot. a 4 cylinder ranger won't tow that much.

sidenote:
if your gonna make it a strip truck eventally i'd buy a wrecked Previous generation Mustang Cobra(with the 4.6 S/C) drop that beast in there. your talking almost 400 hp before any bolt ons