Last Gen Ford Ranger Owners?

Bradmax57

Bradmax57

Bradmax57

Soldato
Joined
13 Dec 2002
Posts
7,937
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
Just wondering if theres any of the Last Gen Ford Ranger owners here? I recently test drove a 20 plate which was a 2.0D wildtrack, it was pretty strong money but guess thats main dealers for you but gave me a chance to drive one and I liked it in the 10 mins or so I was in it before we had to head back as it had no fuel in! Just wondering if theres anyone who's currently got one or has had one (2litre diesel to be specific) who could share any genuine day to day living with one, never really considered a pickup till recently just fancy something a bit different. Initially i saw a DV8 Works one which I think looked great but then found out they will for a cost of course convert used ones too
 
Rroff said:
Can't speak specifically to the last gen Ford Ranger but in terms of living with a pickup I do actually miss a proper boot - on my Navara there are 2 small bins under the rear seats but one is taken up with the sub-woofer and space behind the bench seat is limited. Unlike the pickup I had in the US where you could get 2 medium size backpacks in the storage area under the rear seat. Even with a tonneau cover the load bed isn't a perfect substitute for a proper boot.

Personally I'd say the last gen Ranger was 3rd behind the Amarok and Navara for general road use as well, though it has some refinements which are much better than the Navara it falls down in other areas so I'd consider the Navara more balanced and has lighter steering, though vaguer, than the Amarok, while the Ford is somewhere in between for steering.

You may or may not be restricted to van speed limits depending on the classification of the pickup and/or the weight and will usually have to pay light commercial vehicle tax, which isn't too bad, can actually be cheaper for some larger engines, but generally more expensive than the average car.
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I did think about the Amarok theres something about the ford I like the look of and seems to be so many "subtle" modifications that can make them a bit more interesting, coming from a e46 coupe it will be big enough :)
 
This was the one that I liked the look of originally but when I enquired it had already gone, i'd probably skip the light bar on the roof however

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Rroff said:
It is doable but to be honest a dual-cab pickup isn't the ideal platform for that - I've had a couple of bikes strapped upside on my tonneau cover (which is a solid one) but the load beds are only ~1.5m long on a dual-cab (a proper mountain bike around 1.6-1.7m) so you can't just chuck bikes in easily.
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Thanks for your input
 
Rroff said:
Also something worth noting if using daily - unlike a car most recycling centres don't allow you to just turn up with a pickup (N1 classification) and off-load, you have to register first which is usually free.
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our local one is ok I think providing there is no sign writing on it, i can take my plain white vw caddy work van in but not the sign written one
 
Thanks for that, i drove the 2ltr and thought it was ok, although the 10 speed gearbox seemed to constantly be changing gears. On paper the 2.0 looks better than the 3.2 with more power and torque and better mpg? I know figures don't always show the real thing, maybe I should try one. Had I chosen the Amarok it would have definately been the 3.0 V6
 
Rroff said:
Something I would say - if you are daily driving it on the road, all-terrain let alone off-road tyres are not ideal - reduced fuel economy, increase braking distance, increases wear on the transmission, etc. some of them are actually hilariously poor on properly wet tarmac. On the flip side though XL summer/touring/UHP tyres are really meant more for SUVs and can have too soft sidewalls for a pickup impacting on how they feel on the road - one of the better tyres in my experience is the Conti Cross Contact LX as they combine good road performance with some capability to deal with snow or light off-road, but the fuel economy could be better.

Reversing camera is an absolute must unless you are far more skilled than I am :s and all-around view/360 cameras are handy - though mostly for the spot over the front left which is the one spot you can't really see much - generally for driving I really like the visibility and the big wing mirrors are a huge benefit over the tiny ones on the average passenger car these days.
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Well I bought it and due to get it in a week or so, thanks for the info on the tyres and year although the big knobly tyres may look great I will more thank likely just be keeping it on the stock tyres, it has Conti's on at the minute not sure if they are still original at 33k (doubt it) but will bare that in mind when I have to change, in all honesty its more of a third car so wont be getting a huge amount of use

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BF-Bert said:
I have a 2020 Wildtrak which did 60,000 on the original tyres and there was plenty tread on them when I got them changed....... absolutely no grip but plenty of tread.
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Do you still have the car? afaik the thunder is basically a wildtrak with a few different bits of painted plastics, wheels and stitching on the leather, anything I should be aware of as soon as I pick it up?
 
Picking it up tomorrow and god what a nightmare it has been everything from insurance and payment to dealership has just been one thing after another but finally sorted, weather looking a bit breezy again tomorrow but hopefully dry meaning the thing shouldn't get too filthy on the way home :)
 
Rroff said:
I know a guy with one with a lift kit, 34" wheels, snorkel, bonnet bra, deflectors, the works - only uses it for the school run, but if it makes him happy *shrugs* my pickup just gets used for a little bit of everything.
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those are some wheels :) have to admit ive already bought some window deflectors, the only other thing im possibly thinking of is a all black mesh grill but not in any hurry to do that
 
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