Topic: Picking up a new vehicle

[stan98tj]

Here's the deal guys, I've been commuting to my union hall for the past week at a total of 160 miles a day and the Jeep is just not gonna cut it given my 15-16mpg. Vacation is over and it's time for me to head back out to sea, this process of driving down to NJ could last 2weeks, maybe more but I at 50 bucks in gas a day this is gonna get old quick.
I needed something efficient. My first option was a VW TDi. You all know i love 'em 
Then I talked it over with the old lady and she pointed out that it would be kind of an expensive alternative ($7k for a 2002 with 80k on the clock) for a car I'd use every 5 months for just about a month. Needed to find a vehicle that was multi-purpose. We just bought a house and given the fact of being new home owners, i figured maybe a fuel efficient pickup could fit the bill. So i found a 2009 Ford Ranger 4cyl automatic 2wd with 69k on the clock. Has anyone had any experience with these trucks? It says 28mpg highway, from the research I've done, ppl seem to be able to get 25-27mpgs and they seem to be fairly happy with them. I'd like to make sure these trucks are reliable and efficient. Pipe up if you have any experience with them, if they're great, if they suck, whatever, I wanna hear about it.

[Jeffy]

2.3L Rangers last forever, literally.

[sharpxmen]

25mpg for a truck would be great to be honest, i have no experience with them so dunno if that's accurate or not but sounds very good to me.

[stan98tj]

I was browsing around and saw some pics of lifted rangers and some were really nicely built. I started thinking it may be nice to set mine up, maybe i should pick up a 4wd one, would make a real nice expedition vehicle given the bed...
NO NO NO!! Have to be reasonable and responsible. No lift, no big tires, no 4wd cause I don't even want the temptation hahaa!

[chardrc]

I would believe that a modern ranger could get 25-27 on the hwy. Used to drive a 94 s10 with the 4.3l v6 4wd manual transmission and it would get 20 with 50-50 mixed driving if i babied it. 21 on the hwy with a 4 wheeler in back (at 170k miles). So a 2009 "small truck" should be-able to get 25-27 realistically.. Really loved driving driving that truck, could haul stuff yet could fit in a normal parking lot.  I'm not a real ford fan but the colorados just don't do it for me and they only offer a manual with the 4cyl (last time I checked)...

[sharpxmen]

apparently the 21 city / 26 hwy rating is for the 5spd manual, the auto is rated at 19/24, still very good for a truck imo (source fueleconomy.gov)

it also depends on how fast you're driving, i'm not 100% but i think the ratings are at 80kph (50mph).

[aw12345]

The little ranger does get very good milage for a pickup, so is not a bad choice at all

[stan98tj]

Talk about some freaking luck. I call the dealership and ask if they still have the 09 Ranger on the lot. Guy says he's gotta take a look outside but he would call me back in 5min. 35 min go by, no call. I call back and ask, i get a pause and he says "sure i got it, come on down." I drive down (no short walk around the block-this place isn't close by) only to be informed the truck was "just sold this morning" and spend the next hour passing up on other trucks which didn't match the price nor the fuel economy i was looking for.

I go back onto Autotrader and find another Ranger that matches what I'm looking at and give the dealership a call. I ask if the truck is available and I'm told yes and set up an appointment. I drive the 35 min to the dealership to find out the truck in fact was NOT there, and had been sold some days ago. Now my searches have resulted in more expensive Rangers or ones that are too far away. I did spot one with 111k on the clock, not sure if that's a lot for such a truck but given the Lear cap on the rear, I wonder if it was a work truck at some point. Perhaps I should keep clear of that one?

[aw12345]

Here is the biggest thing ever rash decisions and buying things in a Hurry is never good. Tough it out for now and keep looking for the truck you want lil Toyotas with the R22 engine aren't a bad buy either, but the lil ranger probably gets better milage

[stan98tj]

Here is the biggest thing ever rash decisions and buying things in a Hurry is never good. Tough it out for now and keep looking for the truck you want lil Toyotas with the R22 engine aren't a bad buy either, but the lil ranger probably gets better milage

Very very good point.

[Jeffy]

The problem with the Ranger is that they discontinued it and in later years they were really only sold as fleet trucks.  The last batch were all white and sold to Orkin.  Ford doesn't have a small/medium size truck anymore.  Thought the new Ecoboost F-150 is impressive but a lot larger.

If you can't find one I'd check out a Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab.  These are their work trucks and they also have a very good reputation.  Not to mention are still being made.

[stan98tj]

The problem with the Ranger is that they discontinued it and in later years they were really only sold as fleet trucks.  The last batch were all white and sold to Orkin.  Ford doesn't have a small/medium size truck anymore.  Thought the new Ecoboost F-150 is impressive but a lot larger.

If you can't find one I'd check out a Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab.  These are their work trucks and they also have a very good reputation.  Not to mention are still being made.

I noticed a bunch that were white. With 111k on the clock, and the contracter cap on the back, i'm a little hesitant to pick up a truck that may have served as a work truck.
I wanted a toyota at first. They were all pretty expensive and the gas mileage isn't that great.

[Jeffy]

Hmm, strange that anyone would say the Toyota gets worse mileage.  The actual numbers should be very similar.  Although the Tacoma's can get big and heavy when you jump from a Regular cab to an Access or Extra.  Then you get a lot of luxury stuff that's not found on the work truck.

[Tr00b]

I had AWFUL luck with my Ranger. Transmission internal bearings went out (even after religious fluid changes)  rearend had all sorts of issues, body parts fell off, spring perches rusted off, lots of  electrical misfits..Blew a headgasket and ate batteries right after the warranty like clockwork. rear brakes had to be replaced every two years... That was a 1998 2wd 2.5 5speed. Never could do better than 23mpg. SUCH a SIMPLE truck! And SO much went wrong it was sickening! The sad part is, I took care of it so well and it didn't return the favor.

The newer 2.3 Duratec trucks are much better engine wise I heard can pull close to 30. I am not sure I will ever own another Ranger again after that beating though. WTF.

However, I've have terrible luck with every car I've had except the Jeep.

Look at it this way... having a second car costs a ton of money. In order for having the second car to pay off fuel wise, you should throw a calculation at it.... You will go back out to sea and that car will sit there, racking up insurance and car payments etc...

For instance, I bought a subaru station wagon to replace driving my jeep. I have spent $3500 for the parts I had to get on the car so far, and it has a really bad rod knock now so I need a $1000 motor. So instead of spending $4500 on gas this year with the jeep, I've wasted about $7300 CASH on gas and trying to save gas.

You are probably richer than me and have better luck though. 

[stan98tj]

I had AWFUL luck with my Ranger. Transmission internal bearings went out (even after religious fluid changes)  rearend had all sorts of issues, body parts fell off, spring perches rusted off, lots of  electrical misfits..Blew a headgasket and ate batteries right after the warranty like clockwork. rear brakes had to be replaced every two years... That was a 1998 2wd 2.5 5speed. Never could do better than 23mpg. SUCH a SIMPLE truck! And SO much went wrong it was sickening! The sad part is, I took care of it so well and it didn't return the favor.

The newer 2.3 Duratec trucks are much better engine wise I heard can pull close to 30. I am not sure I will ever own another Ranger again after that beating though. WTF.

However, I've have terrible luck with every car I've had except the Jeep.

Look at it this way... having a second car costs a ton of money. In order for having the second car to pay off fuel wise, you should throw a calculation at it.... You will go back out to sea and that car will sit there, racking up insurance and car payments etc...

For instance, I bought a subaru station wagon to replace driving my jeep. I have spent $3500 for the parts I had to get on the car so far, and it has a really bad rod knock now so I need a $1000 motor. So instead of spending $4500 on gas this year with the jeep, I've wasted about $7300 CASH on gas and trying to save gas.

You are probably richer than me and have better luck though. 

It's not just a mpg money save thing. I had originally planned on a VW TDi and actually made a deal at 7k for it. THAT would have been awesome on gas, however the vehicle would be seldom used as i enjoy driving the Jeep when I'm home and my fiance has a brand new subaru which she's making payments on, so she wouldn't want to drive my VW while making payments on her subaru and not use it. This became more about finding a multi-purpose vehicle. Something that could drive me back and forth to NJ for a month or so every 5 months AND be used to go to the dump and haul stuff from Home Depot on occasion.

To respond to Jeffy:
Tacomas aren't in price range- the only ones that are, are 2000 or older models. Their 4cyl may very well be efficient, but not as efficient as newer Ranger 4cyl motors...perhaps the newer Toyota 4cyl are, but i can afford them.