Is it a mistake to not take the 4WD option?

[VAMike]

Truck would be defined by the state and the license plate allowed to be installed.
No matter how you slice it, the Honda Ridgeline does many things well but does not fit in the same category as the Ranger, Tacoma, Colorado/Canyon or Frontier.
My Transit Connect would be a truck except it is licensed as a car. It too does not fit in the same category as the Ranger.

The Ridgeline is a glorified Pilot with a "sorta" pickup box nothing more nothing less, no matter which license plate is applied.
That said... It may be just what some buyers want more than they want a truck!

I guess in my state you drive a car then.

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[Floyd]

I guess in my state you drive a car then.

That would be nice here in IllAnnoy, where in some places you can't drive a pick-up on a boulevard, but mine would still have an IllAnnoy truck plate if I drove in Virginia.

My brother got a ticket in Chicago for driving on a boulevard with a Ranchero! which is still not in the same real world category as a Ranger either ( And it had a frame)

Heck every definition is getting blurry these days, even gender... Glad I was only shopping for a truck!

 

[RANGER_MARC]

I can't speak for the non-FX4 rangers, but my ride is amazingly soft, probably the best ride in all of my prior vehicles. My dad will have a non-FX4 Lariat here pretty soon, and I can post a ride comparison if they ever build his truck.

(prior vehicles include various Rangers of 2nd and 3rd gen, Focus ST, Edge Sport, Jeeps, and whatnot)

Please do give us that comparison if you get the chance....

 

[t4thfavor]

Dad's is a little softer. I still have my tire pressure a bit above the sticker (17"), and he's on 18's. Both trucks could definitely benefit from a rear sway bar as they both bounce around and body roll a lot.

Add some weight to either truck and they are about the same. We didn't do any off-roading or faster dirt driving, but I suspect his truck would be much less planted when the bumps get bigger. (I drive down 55Mph dirt daily, and it's completely planted).

 

[Sandman Ranger]

RWD truck in snow is worthless.
Slightly better than a Corvette in snow.
That being said, the Ranger handles wheel spin well. It is all about risk and budget. If cost an issue then go without. Living within ones limit is one key to happiness. If it snows, just stay home.

 

[t4thfavor]

RWD truck in snow is worthless.
Slightly better than a Corvette in snow.
That being said, the Ranger handles wheel spin well. It is all about risk and budget. If cost an issue then go without. Living within ones limit is one key to happiness. If it snows, just stay home.

It's all about tires... I can't stress that enough, get a set of modern snow tires (not all seasons) and you will be amazed what a 2WD ranger can do.

I drove it a little in snow this year and it was fine. The electronics of today do amazing things when the road surface gets "odd".

That said, the comparison above was between my FX4 and my Dads non-FX4 Lariat.

 

[Sandman Ranger]

It's all about tires... I can't stress that enough, get a set of modern snow tires (not all seasons) and you will be amazed what a 2WD ranger can do.

I drove it a little in snow this year and it was fine. The electronics of today do amazing things when the road surface gets "odd".

That said, the comparison above was between my FX4 and my Dads non-FX4 Lariat.

Agree.
My worthless 2WD was a 97 F150.
Spin a single wheel even on wet. Ranger does well even in 2WD only.

 

[Floyd]

RWD truck in snow is worthless.
Slightly better than a Corvette in snow.
That being said, the Ranger handles wheel spin well. It is all about risk and budget. If cost an issue then go without. Living within ones limit is one key to happiness. If it snows, just stay home.

Disagree about the 2WD, I've pulled many 4WD trucks out of the ditch, responding with my 2WD wrecker.
I admit that 4WD offers more traction,but it also offers over confidence and longer stopping distances.
The price of one hub is more than a day's lost wages and makes more down time than a blizzard. That would be a week's wages if you hire it done and have it towed in.
Beyond risk and budget is drivability, street performance, even payload and towing.

The key is buying the right tool for the job.

I see most Ranger buyers feel that they are best served with a SuperCrew 4WD , most even need all the bells and whistles.
That's the best Ranger made for that buyer.

Disdain for the SuperCab or the 2WD, or even the XL series is truly unfounded.
I bought the best Ranger Ford made for 2019 ...STX SuperCab 2WD.
Mine is the right tool for the job.

I sincerely hope that every buyer feels the same way as I about the choice he has made.
The best Ranger made for 2019... is a Lariat Supercrew FX4 ...if it satisfies the buyer and he thinks so.

 

[Sandman Ranger]

Key is to buy what one wants for me.
As I keep my vehicles a long time and am getting older, time now or 4WD for no reason other than I want it! The Ranger one owns is the best. All enjoy.

 

[NickTheEnforcer]

JMO but been driving 4x4's for past 15 years. Live in northern IL and will never consider anything else as long as I'm up here. Got my wife a '16 escape se w/AWD and its a whole different vehicle in winter conditions from FWD variant.

 

[Floyd]

JMO but been driving 4x4's for past 15 years. Live in northern IL and will never consider anything else as long as I'm up here. Got my wife a '16 escape se w/AWD and its a whole different vehicle in winter conditions from FWD variant.

I have lived in northern IllAnnoy for 55 years and seen every blizzard from thirty miles out in the country. never owned a 4WD and never needed one.
I admit that I put snow tires on my Pintos back in the 70s.
Had two Escapes, lots of Mustang/Cougars every thing from a Model "A" on up.
Heck I once had a 3/4ton 4WD truck stuck in my driveway and pulled it out with my 1977 Pinto Sedan (actually a "coupe" but Ford called it a sedan)
He was stuck, I went around him to dry concrete.

 

[DakotaGuy]

I wouldn’t consider a 2WD anything no matter the tires living in the mountains. Pretty much everyone up here drives 4x4 trucks, AWD SUVs, Jeeps (still quite a few faithful XJ owners) and Subarus. Heck you even still see a couple old Eagle wagons get pulled out of the garage when the snow flies. 2WD trucks have their place, but it isn’t here.

 

[Floyd]

I wouldn’t consider a 2WD anything no matter the tires living in the mountains. Pretty much everyone up here drives 4x4 trucks, AWD SUVs, Jeeps (still quite a few faithful XJ owners) and Subarus. Heck you even still see a couple old Eagle wagons get pulled out of the garage when the snow flies. 2WD trucks have their place, but it isn’t here.

IllAnnoy is a little shy on mountains, and most of the steep back road hills are way south.
I tow an RV and other trailers on pavement, and now go South when the snow flies. For me, buying 4WD for my truck would be like adding A/C to a Racecar.

You are correct, 4WD is a sacrifice which should be made for certain lifestyles or the beauty and joy of living in rural mountain areas...4WD trucks do have their place,but it isn't here.

Ranger is marketed as a "lifestyle" truck, and like so many here, Marketing thinks that all lifestyles include offroad capability.
While that makes for exciting and ADventurous looking commercials... It just ain't so!

 

[Caliope]

IllAnnoy is a little shy on mountains, and most of the steep back road hills are way south.
I tow an RV and other trailers on pavement, and now go South when the snow flies. For me, buying 4WD for my truck would be like adding A/C to a Racecar.

You are correct, 4WD is a sacrifice which should be made for certain lifestyles or the beauty and joy of living in rural mountain areas...4WD trucks do have their place,but it isn't here.

Ranger is marketed as a "lifestyle" truck, and like so many here, Marketing thinks that all lifestyles include offroad capability.
While that makes for exciting and ADventurous looking commercials... It just ain't so!

I use to think that 4WD was a waste living in a urban area in west central Illinois even in winter. 4WD was for those that lived out in "farm" country. However, in the last few years, winter snowfalls have changed my mind. Even with 140# of sand in the bed of my '06 Ranger FX4, the back wheels would easily slide in the snow in 2WD. Driving in 4WD controlled this. For me, 4WD is no longer a waste.

 

[Floyd]

I use to think that 4WD was a waste living in a urban area in west central Illinois even in winter. 4WD was for those that lived out in "farm" country. However, in the last few years, winter snowfalls have changed my mind. Even with 140# of sand in the bed of my '06 Ranger FX4, the back wheels would easily slide in the snow in 2WD. Driving in 4WD controlled this. For me, 4WD is no longer a waste.

You should have it if you need it
2WD is clearly better for towing, initial cost, maintenance, economy and driveability.
I get your desire for 4WD and applaud it, but if my truck had accidentally been delivered with 4WD I would have refused delivery.
I live way north of you and can't justify the cost or the burden of 4WD.
I'm glad Ford offered all the choices they did, wish it could have been more.

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