A tough, dependable, everlasting truck!
I have had this truck for 6 years, and the only thing to go wrong was the Timing Belt and the Alternator.
This is the most dependable vehicle I have ever owned!
This truck never left me along side the road or failed to start in the coldest of winters!
I would buy another in a heartbeat!!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 10th August, 2003
Extremely reliable transportation
Replaced alternator twice.
Replaced timing belt every 100,000 miles or so.
Freak incident... my differential cover was plastic, not steel. Spare tire jumped out of carrier (my fault for not securing) and rubbed pin hole in the cover. Oil loss ruined original... replaced with differential from a junk yard.
Best truck I have ever owned. Regular maintenance included oil/filter change every 6,000 to 7,500 miles (Halvoline 5/30, NAPA Gold filter).
Generally 25-28 MPG on the highway. (89 octane ethanol blend)
The 2.3 engine is not particularly powerful, but was adequate for occasional, modest hauling and pulling.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 25th March, 2003
Miss my 1989 Ranger
This was my third Ranger, and my most favorite. I had a stroke of bad luck with TAXI driver's. All my Rangers met the same fate. They were hit by Taxi drivers in the winter, while parked in a parking lot. I feel Taxi drivers who come from warmer climates should take mandatory winter driving lessons... now about the Ranger. Great truck with long box and 4x4. I have no problems with these vehicles. Most people who say a product sucks had a bad experience either from pure personal stupidity or the dealer. Don't fight with the Dealer, just goto a good garage in your area. I too think Ford dealers are the worst for service. Especially here in Canada... make that Calgary! The truck itself is a scaled down full-size, very dependable and rugged if you own a 2.9 or 4.0. If you want fuel economy, buy a car. I have had three of these truck, other than Taxi's destroying them... Ford built good ones. Regular maintenance was all I did... my truck was a work truck and play truck.
Solid ladder frame. Not rusters, if you wash'em now and then, a little wax too. Not bad on fuel. I prefer long box reg cab, more useful... but people want to live in their truck these days, so super cab is more popular. Good tranny's and electronic shift on fly was problem free. There good solid trucks, if you take care of them and drive or 4x4 smart.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 12th March, 2003
I also have a 1989 Ford Ranger. I got it for free from my Grandpa's friend. It has a 2.9 liter. I have replaced the transmission and it is a five speed manual, but it is from a 1986 Ford Ranger, and I don't know how the guy got it to fit. The radiator is leaking, but it runs good, doesn't start up right away, but runs good.
27th Dec 2010, 20:28
Don't worry (too much) people, these 2.3L are non-interference.