Mass airflow sensor went bad, replaced with $5 junkyard one.
Front left ball joint went bad.
Very slow, but it is dependable. Have had no complaints about the 2.5L, I am not sure why they only used them for two years before going back to the 2.3L.
The 2.5L gets great fuel economy for a truck. On the daily summer commute I can get 25-26mpg, and on the highway it usually stays at 27-28mpg.
Great for the everyday person who needs something to haul stuff around, but does not want the impracticalities of a big truck like an F150 or 1500.
It can handle anything I would want it to do. It hauls things in the bed very well, I have had over 2,000lb of rock in the bed before, it struggled but it did alright for being extremely over the weight limit.
I have towed cars with it, which I do wish it had a little bit more torque as it was hard keeping it at 75mph while towing a Jetta. But it made it and did 20mpg at the same time!
As is the case with almost all 2WD trucks, it is not great in the winter or mud, or rain. Though if you do it right, it will get through most anything you need it to without many problems. The back end it so light that you have to be careful when going around slippery corners in 2nd gear or it will spin the rear end right around. It is fun when doing it on purpose, but a little scary when you're not.
Just keep a light right foot!
I have a '96 Ranger with the 2.3 and manual. You cannot drive this truck with a "light right foot". The only thing I have ever had that was slower was a VW Vanagon Westfalia with automatic.
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