Anyone say, I should have purchased a different truck?

[Jason B]

I will second the Mustang II comment, I had a 74 and truly hated that car

I will third it. I had a '74 in Pastel Lime, with a piss ant 4 cyl. But it was given to me by my neighbor when he decided to return to the Navy. I was about 17 and drove it to school. I learned back then everyone wants to be your friend if you have a car, no matter what model or color it is.

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[5thranger]

I will third it. I had a '74 in Pastel Lime, with a piss ant 4 cyl. But it was given to me by my neighbor when he decided to return to the Navy. I was about 17 and drove it to school. I learned back then everyone wants to be your friend if you have a car, no matter what model or color it is.

I remember those lime colored ones, mine had a V6 and had mechanical lifters that required periodic adjustment. I just hated that car, my ex-wife loved it so that probably had a lot to do with it.

 

[Hickesy]

Well, all I can say is that after 50 years of Fords, I'm not terribly impressed with my 2023. I've had quite a few issues since I got it in Feb, some have been annoyances, some have been major issues. The problems with Sync 3 system, the emissions system check engine lights, and with the constant wind noise were all annoyances, and they all pointed to QC problems at Ford. The transmission and electrical issues I've been having though are not minor, and they are not just mere annoyances. I think they are pointing to much larger problems at Ford.

The fuel economy around town is definitely an issue with my Ranger, especially since my old '04 5.4L V8 F 150 @ 18 mpg, and my wife's 3.5L Explorer @ 18.5 mpg get better around town fuel economy (even with her lead foot). An average of 15.7 mpg isn't really acceptable in a 4 cylinder Ecoboost, and I'm a pretty careful driver. On the highway though, the little Ranger is hard to beat, 34 mpg is better than some hybrids.

The poor cabin materials quality so many have mentioned is true, and I see it was well, but then I saw them before I bought the truck; that's just Ford cheaping out. I have panels that don't fit properly, and even the dealer can't make them fit right. The little tray on the dash popped up one day and now it is permanently sticking up around the edges; even after being replaced by the dealership. Again, minor but still annoying.

Would I take my 2023 over my old 1973 302, 3 on the floor (with a custom Hurst shifter knob) F100 Ranger, nope. That old '73 Ranger was rock solid and built like a tank, and its still running today. Of all to the Fords we've had over the past 50 years, and perhaps we've just been lucky, but this little 2023 has been the biggest pita of all of them; including the wife's '89 2.3l twin plug Ranger which held that title for many years.

You get 34 MPG on the freeway? Wow. Mine's never been over 22.6

 

[23HRPXL]

Love my '23 so far. So comfortable, great fuel economy(although I didn't buy a truck for fuel economy), tows my travel trailer great, easy to park. I noticed the transmission shift when cold, but other than that, it's typical of a multi gear automatic. Had a 2016 Ram previously that I was getting tired of fixing.

 

[Redwinemaker]

Are you kidding, I have had to replace a head due to the leaking cowling pouring water onto the flat head and settling in the spark plug wells and rusting the plugs to the head, Ford seems to be ignoring this problem. I assume this will be an issue going forward for all Rangers, also have a really bad stutter @ low RPM. I hand it to you guy's that say it's a great truck, but quit dreaming. Besides the dealer, Ford Store San Leandro tried to hit me for 10K to replace the head with an extended warranty. My opinion, marginal truck and really bad customer support from the top down. Sorry.

 

[Redwinemaker]

Yes, lol. I waited nearly 9 months for mine, so I let that factor cloud my judgment.

financially screwed at the moment otherwise I would have dumped this pos for something of better build standards.


I know some are way to deep on fords ****, but I can't but protest how the 5G ranger is the poorest of the quality in fords line up outside of that ecosport thing but that's excusable given how cheap it is.


it has it's good points, too though. I can actually park the damn thing in most areas.

Can't agree more, with had an Escort, it's not quite that bad.

 

[XRANGER2019]

Yes, lol. I waited nearly 9 months for mine, so I let that factor cloud my judgment.

financially screwed at the moment otherwise I would have dumped this pos for something of better build standards.


I know some are way to deep on fords ****, but I can't but protest how the 5G ranger is the poorest of the quality in fords line up outside of that ecosport thing but that's excusable given how cheap it is.


it has it's good points, too though. I can actually park the damn thing in most areas.

If it's a pos. why did you buy it sounds like your judgments the real problem

 

[Friday yet?]

can't see me making up excuses to the wife just to go somewhere in my Taco , but I've made up shit that even had Google scratching its head so I could take a scamper in the Ranger ,

+1

 

[Friday yet?]

I will second the Mustang II comment, I had a 74 and truly hated that car

I too had a '74. Still remember 0-60 in about a half hour. Honestly though, at that age, I probably needed something with a 6 HP Briggs&Stratton.

Edit after reading the rest of this thread: My Mustang II was also that horrible green! And mine had the V6, with a stick. Might have had 3 more HP than the dreaded 4 cyl.

All that said, it was my first car! So yea, I loved it. (Also loved having a manual. Never dreamed that in 2023 a manual would be a car theft prevention system.)

 

[Jason B]

Are you kidding, I have had to replace a head due to the leaking cowling pouring water onto the flat head and settling in the spark plug wells and rusting the plugs to the head, Ford seems to be ignoring this problem. I assume this will be an issue going forward for all Rangers, also have a really bad stutter @ low RPM. I hand it to you guy's that say it's a great truck, but quit dreaming. Besides the dealer, Ford Store San Leandro tried to hit me for 10K to replace the head with an extended warranty. My opinion, marginal truck and really bad customer support from the top down. Sorry.

They are not, as many have the repairs covered under warranty.
And not all Rangers suffer the same problem, so I don't see "an issue going forward for all Rangers".
Who knows what problems the 6G will bring?

 

[Alaska Wolf]

You get 34 MPG on the freeway? Wow. Mine's never been over 22.6

I do, I guess that's to make up for the terrible mileage in town. I think I would much rather see that EPA-estimated 21 mpg in town though.

My opinion, marginal truck and really bad customer support from the top down. Sorry.

I would have to agree with you on the bad customer support from the top down. Granted, even Ford makes a lemon some time, and that's perfectly understandable; but Ford used to stand behind their product. Today, I'm not impressed; they sell you a vehicle that's not right from the factory and its like pulling teeth to get them to even acknowledge there's an issue. Unfortunately, the widespread 10R80 transmission issues and Ford's "No comment" are a prime example of that.

Its really sad that a company that we have always regarded as being one of the best of the best has let their Customer Service and Quality Control sink so far in such a relatively short period of time. Still, I keep hoping that Ford can turn it around and bring back their famous tagline, "Quality is Job 1."

 

[Wence5]

Maybe you just got one built on a Monday?
We've had our 2022 FX4 since October of last year. Been on a 2000 mile road trip with her last summer with no issues. Even getting fuel mileage in the high 20's on the freeway. I am very satisfied with my Ranger.

 

[2stroke]

Agree man. I sold my '14 Tacoma TRD Off Road and got a Ranger Lariat FX4. The powertrain is a gazillion times better. Low end torque is so nice. And the comfort level..I am 6'3 and I am not claustrophobic In it like the Taco. I am at 40K miles. Mine has no squeaks or anything. I do a lot of kayaking and hiking in Northern WI where I live. No issues on crappy roads. Has handled deep winters fine. I am perfectly happy with it.

Agreed.. I was shocked at the difference. In '21 I decided to order a new mid-size truck before the expected prices increased. The truck that appealed to me the most was a 22 Tacoma access cab TRD Off Road... until I test drove one! Felt like a '92 truck for a '22 price. Noisy, uncomfortable cramped seating, rough ride, no power, crazy auto trans constantly hunting. I previously owned two Rangers, both were new, a '05 Sport and '08 FX4 manual trans so decided to test drive a new gen 5 Ranger. The difference was amazing, especially comfort and engine power. So I ordered a 22 XLT FX4 supercab. Not one problem with it since and always fun to drive, especially on long trips and off-road. Upgrades include 32" Toyo AT3 and Eibach pro 2.0. coilovers and shocks. Love this truck, so far so good.

 

[MountainGoat]

the below isn't a knock on your perspective at all, just kind of how i'm looking at the next 10 years for myself:

between my family's experience growing up, and my own vehicle ownership, it was very rare to see a vehicle make it past 200k miles without some major component failure (usually the transmission). my old man always repaired em and kept em running. that's including the well respected japanese brands. those toyota powertrains were great, but holy hell those bodies didn't like midwestern winter salt. rust is only cheaper than a transmission because you choose to ignore it as long as possible.

no matter how i try to look at this, i keep coming back to the fact that replacing a transmission will always be cheaper than a new vehicle. 2023 has only underscored this fact.

every month my truck doesn't have a payment it's paying me. those dollars stack up pretty quickly to the value of a transmission or turbo or head gasket.

suffice to say, i'm happier keeping my truck for the time being, potential repairs and all, than the stress of a new purchase. my brain doesn't wanna sit in excel spreadsheets running numbers when my gut already knows what's what.

That wasn't my experience. I bought used my whole life and the only time I grenaded a transmission was from doing neutral drops in a Camry. Now am I an adult non-reckless driver and if my tranny goes in my NEW Ranger, the first new vehicle I ever bought, I'm gonna say that's a decline in quality.

Plus while I've changed clutches and engines before, I'm betting if I had to replace the transmission in this truck it's gonna be extra complicated for some silly reason. I kinda figured buying this meant having to do that kinda stuff was over.

 

[Big Blue]

As a late Comer to this thread but a long time member of this forum, I will get MY answer to the OPs ORIGINAL question, NO! Back in 2019 we had just sold our pop-up camper and bought a travel trailer. My 2011 Ranger with the 4.0 and 5spd pulled it, but was marginal, to marginal to do any of the out of state trips we were planning. We had also just bought the wife a new car that year. I had looked at the new Ranger, mainly because of the tow rating. Took one for a test drive and both of us loved it at first drive. The next week I went back and bought the one we test drove, a Lightening Blue XLT FX4 SCrew. The only time it has been back to the dealer was for the recall on the heater fan motor, mine didn't have the problem. I know all the stories about buying the first year of a new model, but I'm actually happy I did, I think QC actually went down after COVID hit and all the shortages. The only thing decontented on mine was the middle tie downs. Other than the usual things like a tonneau cover, Bed Rug, Clearview tow mirrors, Bilstein rear shocks and few other minor mods. Oh don't forget the best mod ever, the Fitzstick transmission dip stick, my truck is stock, and I love it. It does everything I ask of it and more, fits in my garage, and still after 4 year still get comment from people I meet.

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