OT 97 ford ranger pickup?

i am looking for a PU for my 17yr old son.
There is a low milage Ranger 4 banger auto tranny for sale. I know its built by Mitsubishu.
Any one have one of these and how do you like it?
Tks
Pete

Pete,

I have a 1997 Ford Ranger that I bought new. It's a four cylinder with a 5 speed manual transmission. I have 285,000 miles on it. I've replaced a couple of alternators, a blower motor in the heater, and a clutch. It looks rough because I've used it roughly, but I still use it daily.

It's the best return-on-investment that I've ever had in a vehicle.

Tom in TN

NOT built by Mitsubishi. Built by Ford, most likely in the Twin Cities. Ford and Mazda, not Mitsu, compacts were the same, but were Ford products. Don't know much about the autos, but myt brother has a '95 with the 2.3 and 5-speed. Right around 350,000 on it now - engine has never been opened farther than repalceing a couple of timing belts. 2.3's are tough and reliable, if they get half-way reasonable maintainence. My brother would buy another, if he could find a 2.3/5-speed that isn't rusty and has low miles.

They are no good on icy roads. My son had one & totaled it in the ditch after hitting ice.

Same way with any truck. you have to load them to have any traction. Never had a Ranger but in my trucks I always had close to 750# in the bed in front of the rear axle as close to the cab as I could get. Putting back of axle reduces steering.

Pete, I have a 98 with the 2.5 and 5 speed 2wd. Very good truck. bought used with about 130,000, replaced engine at 189,000 and clutch at 200,000. Ben the best little turuck I have ever owned and is great on gas also. I haul a lot of heavy items to my frm in eastern WA State from my home in Tacoma WA, round trip about 650 miles and have never had a problem.

Back ends are very light, exterior of the box is fiberglass interior is steel. Very easy to work on and with normal maintenance will last a long time.

Leonard

Beg to differ...Good snow tires, good weight and common sence when driving in the snow / ice - these trucks handel very well.

I had on a bit older than this when I lives in Whistler resort. I lives 2 km up the mountain at staff residence. There were days when the snow plows were in the ditch and the rest stopped and waited for the snocat to clear the path. My little truck just chugged up the hill. I wouldn't even try that with my f250 now - long wheel base and light rear end make them difficult even in a dusting..
Get the truck. Grant

Rangers were probably the best of the big three mini trucks built. I had an old one an "85 got 285000 adjusted the lifters once when it was new and never opened another thing on it. Did replace the slave for the clutch.

I bought mine new in 97 it has 82,000 on it. We drive a lot Giggle. Had real trouble with clutches at first but the last one is going strong at over 40,000 I have the 4.0 L V6 and 5 speed. I get 15 MPG not great on. Mileage but I have the low ratio diff. For more power have towed 2.5 ton of hay on trailer with no problem. Tough little truck that looks great. Mine has every option I could get at the time. Cost me $25,000 when new.
With 4X4 it will pretty much go anywhere got it stuck once on grass and 25 % grade. Almost made it up but couldn't get a run at it had to start dead on hill.
Walt.


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Four cylinder with auto is pretty gutless. Had a five spd 95 with four and very little starting torque. An auto would be worse. Drove a 97 or 98 which had the slightly bigger displacement 4 cyl engine also with 5 spd and although wasn't great it had noticeably better acceleration. Bought the 95 for $2500 at 90,000 miles when it was ten years old and it was the only vehicle I've ever made money on. Got hailed and insurance paid $3500. Never fixed. Someone rear ended me at low speed and bent the bumper. Insurance paid $1500 and I went to the junk yard and found a good bumper for $50. It was helpless in snow, so bought rims from the junk yard and new snow tires. With a little rear weight it would do fine in the snow. Last year at 165,000 miles it didn't use oil, but compression was getting low. Both rear springs had recently broke, a rear brake line failed, and the shocks were bad. Also I had let someone borrow the truck and they drove it with the emergency brake on which pretty much toasted the rear brakes. Ford offered $1000 for any trade in on a new Ranger so bought a four cylinder and auto. Wanted the manual but she likes the auto. Performance is just OK and if you frequently pull heavy loads and insist on going fast, this isn't the vehicle for you. The old snows/rims wouldn't fit so bought four additional rims and snow tires for winter use. Expect to keep it a long time and can also rotate the snows. The V-six and four wheel drive would be nice, but way too much fuel mileage penalty. If these were necessary I wouldn't even consider a Ranger, but would jump to a full size vehicle, which would haul a lot more and give similar mileage. Friend has had several S10's. They have served well and give a little better mileage than the Ranger.

Had a 93 2.3 5-speed, great on fuel, ok in winter with snow tires and weight in the box.

I'd avoid the automatic, gutless wonder...

I own a 97; bought it with 82,000 or so. I now have 266,000;hands down ,by a long shot the best vehicle i ever owned.2 timing belts,brakes and basic maintenance. A/C compressor,alternator,heater valve and a clutch(because the pilot beg seized).yes, no power-2.3 5 spd, but 26 or better mpg.It does not burn oil. I now plan to go 300,000 or retirement. I think it is Madza based. I taught my son to drive in it.Plenty of power for a 17 yr old.MARK

I hate to burst your bubble... but the Ranger was made by Ford using a design common to the Mazda B series. The evolution of the truck owes it's roots to Ford in spite of that fact.
They were assembled in the Twin cities and Trenton (Edison) NJ plants....
Ranger's are good little trucks. At this point I'd expect one of that vintage to have significant cab and frame cancer tho. The engine and rest of it will run forever as long as you keep putting ball joints and brakes on it.

Rod

The Dodge Ram 50 was a Mitsubishi.

My oldest son turned 19 last month. He learned how to drive an old beater IH pickup with a 304 V8 and 4-speed at age 15, and he became very familiar with driving a manual, with a choke. He drove it until this spring when he found a rust-free red "97 Ranger extended cab in pristine condition with 113k miles for $3800. It had the 4 banger and 5-speed. Made in Minnesota by Ford. He bought it and had the timing belt replaced since the original was still on. The little pickup runs like new and shifts well, and cold A/C. I"ve driven big block V8 vehicles most of my life and have stayed away from tiny vehicles, but I"m impressed with the Ranger, and wouldn"t mind driving one myself, especially when gas prices shoot up again. The 4 cylinder and 5-speed combo have been said to give up to 30 mpg driving light on the pedal. In comparison, people have told me that a V6/auto Ranger gives 16-24 MPG. There are 2 things I don"t like about the Ranger. It accelerates very slowly (not much power), and it"s too quiet. I can"t even tell if the engine"s running when I"m driving. I"d want to make it a little more vocal.

My son just drove the Ranger to Charleston for college, and it will be his vehicle during his college years. It should be relatively cheap to own and operate, which is what a teenager and college kid needs. He can get a hot rod after college when he spends the next 8 years in the USMC.

I highly recommend "97 Ranger with 4 cylinder and 5-speed. It"s no Corvette, but very practical, economical and durable, just what a kid needs. Try to find a rust-free one. Take a trip South to find one if you live in the North. No sense in investing in a rust bucket when there are cancer-free ones in the South for fairly cheap.

Thanks all for the feedback,
Living in Maine I am concerned about the PU and rear wheel drive. BUT, after hearing all this I am keeping my open for one for myself as our 2002 Montana which we use for dump runs and hauling stuff needs a head gasket and is a total Bitc@ to work on.
Jack is leaning towards a Saturn SL100 as he says they can be had real cheap as they have no resale value since Saturn went bust.
Pete

I have a 97 with the 4cyl, 5 spd that just rolled over 200k. Bought it with 64K and have put a fan clutch and a starter in it. If I could find another with low miles I wouldn't think twice.