Ford Ranger Daily Driver

[floodstang]

I know this is a subject that is brought up a lot but I am now in the market for a daily driver. I have about $5k budget. It needs to get pretty decent fuel mileage as I drive about 100 miles round trip to work. I drive a 2011 F150 now and it gets about 17-19 mpg so I would like to get at least that. I would prefer it to be a Ford and it has to be an automatic in case the wife has to use it. I always liked the Ranger but I am getting conflicting answers on the fuel mileage issue. Anyone daily drive a Ranger that can give me a definite answer?

 

[PC03GT]

Used to have a Ranger, an older one like 2000, the gas mileage sucked. I would take an f150 over a Ranger any day. Also 17 to 19 mpg is pretty good, my 2.7 eb gets about 18

 

[Skitzerman]

I have a 2010 Ranger Sport Four Door Supercab 4X4, 4.0L V6, 5sp auto w/OD. If you're looking for gas mileage, this is not your truck. I'm lucky to get 13mpg in the city and 18mpg on the highway in OD. It's a solid reliable truck that likes the gas pump.

 

[ashleyroachclip]

Has a 94 , 4.0 , 5 speed , 4x4 extra cab .
I personally put 568.000 miles on it , and owned it for 10 years .
Before ethanol , i got 20 even mpg.
After i was lucky to get 18 .
Not a thrifty rig , but very reliable .

 

[BladeX10]

Rangers get absolute crap for gas mileage. I had a 1995 4 banger and the thing had like 100 HP and got like 14-15 MPG on a good day.

 

[Lzr96Snake]

I've got an 03 edge ext cab 2wd with a 3.0, auto. I used it for a dd till I bought my Focus ST in February. Drove around 80 miles a day and it averaged 18-20 mpg. I had a reg cab 2.3 auto before that and it got around the same mpg.

 

[ON D BIT]

If you can stay out of the gas the 4 cylinder is what you want.
I loved my 4 rangers all 3.0 and 4.0. Got from 18-20mpg.

The smaller engines will give you better mileage but suck on power meaning you're on the gas longer and harder resulting in lower mileage.

For that price you may need to look Toyota. For $13/14k you finance a 14 Fiesta st. 32mpg and a blast to drive.

 

[ford fanatic]

I'm on my 5th ranger, you can't beat them. I filled up my 4 banger today on the way to work, it got 30.7mpg on this tank, but it's a 5 speed. It also has 247K trouble free miles. My old 98' that I bought new and sold to a friend is pushing 400K miles.

 

[HudsonFalcon]

I loved my Ranger. I'd still be rocking it if i hadn't broke the frame plowing. I kick myself for not keeping it, welding the frame and using it for a work truck on my property.

 

[Gravik]

I had a 2.3 ranger. Gutless turd. Reliable. But gutless. If you get one get a 4.0 stick shift combo.

I doubt you'll see a huge increase in fuel economy though
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[RedVenom48]

You'll probably have better luck with a 1998-2003 F-150 with the 4.6L Modular

They do well on the highway for obvious reasons. This gentleman on fuelly.com does about 80% freeway and 20% city, looks like a commuter:

http://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/f-150/2002/thehoffmanzoo/433583

Nearly 20 mpg average (city/highway), and still has V8 power when you need it. A Super Cab 4x2 with a 4.6L Modular would be a better option over the Ranger. Find one that that has a stock suspension too. The closer the cab and frame are to the ground, the less drag. A Bed cover will also help increase MPGs.

My dad has a 2002 F-150 Crew Cab Lariat with the 5.4L (4x2) and we averaged 20 mpg highway from San Diego to San Fransisco (Bears game v. the 49ers). Needless to say, Ive been VERY impressed with all the Ford Modular V8's ive been around. 20mpg highway for a 4 door Full size half ton with 330hp isnt bad at all if you ask me.

In my opinion, it was the lack of meaningful fuel mileage savings over the F-150 and hauling capacity that doomed the original Ranger.

 

[floodstang]

I had no idea the older F150's got that kind of MPG's. That might be an option worth looking into. As long as I will get about the same MPG as I am getting now I will be ok. I need reliability, I drive through the war zone they call New Orleans everyday, parts availability, if it's down waiting for parts that means the Cobra has to come out (see above for the route I have to take), and be easy to work on. I know from working at a Ford dealership all of life, the Ranger and F150 fit into all of these categories. I am also considering a 99-04 automatic Mustang GT or possibly a Crown Vic. I want a truck but it doesn't necessarily have to be a truck.

 

[blk02edge]

You'll probably have better luck with a 1998-2003 F-150 with the 4.6L Modular

They do well on the highway for obvious reasons. This gentleman on fuelly.com does about 80% freeway and 20% city, looks like a commuter:

http://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/f-150/2002/thehoffmanzoo/433583

Nearly 20 mpg average (city/highway), and still has V8 power when you need it. A Super Cab 4x2 with a 4.6L Modular would be a better option over the Ranger. Find one that that has a stock suspension too. The closer the cab and frame are to the ground, the less drag. A Bed cover will also help increase MPGs.

My dad has a 2002 F-150 Crew Cab Lariat with the 5.4L (4x2) and we averaged 20 mpg highway from San Diego to San Fransisco (Bears game v. the 49ers). Needless to say, Ive been VERY impressed with all the Ford Modular V8's ive been around. 20mpg highway for a 4 door Full size half ton with 330hp isnt bad at all if you ask me.

In my opinion, it was the lack of meaningful fuel mileage savings over the F-150 and hauling capacity that doomed the original Ranger.

330hp....?

 

[PaxtonShelby]

The 4.6 was nowhere near 330 hp. I believe the 5.4 3v had 330hp. My 2004 crew cab F150 5.4 3V gets around 17 highway (4x4) if you keep it under 2k rpms, and maybe 14 around town. I think the 4.6 gets maybe 1-2 mpg better on average.

 

[Buckwheat 1]

Rangers are hard to find in New England with out rusted frames, shackles and beds. A mechanic friend just put this one on the market 2001 3.0 completely rebuilt with new everything. I may buy it because I may need it even though I don't need it. What would be a good price.

 

[blk02edge]

The 4.6 was nowhere near 330 hp. I believe the 5.4 3v had 330hp. My 2004 crew cab F150 5.4 3V gets around 17 highway (4x4) if you keep it under 2k rpms, and maybe 14 around town. I think the 4.6 gets maybe 1-2 mpg better on average.

Our old 5.4 dohc navigator was 300hp I think the 3v 5.4's were 260hp until 2009 when they hit 300

 

[PaxtonShelby]

Pretty sure my 2004 3v 5.4 is 300hp

 

[jeffh81]

My 2008 5.4 3v in my f150 reg stepside 4x4 was 300hp and got 13 mpg on a good day

 

[RedVenom48]

Totally my bad. The 5.4l is 330 cu inches... got my figures mixed up! 2v 5.4s made 260hp and 350ft lbs of torque.

I still have seen on multiple occasions driving from 75 to 80mph that truck getting 20mpg on the highway. Not loaded but with luggage, its done it multiple times.

 

[blk02edge]

Pretty sure my 2004 3v 5.4 is 300hp

Oh dang I did not realize the 3v came out that long ago, also got 2v/3v mixed up ha