Why did you pick Ranger

[veedubtuner]

The VW truck is a rebadged Ranger.

Yea I'm aware of that. Back in the 80's VW also had a truck that was a rebadged Toyota lol.

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[scarchild35]

I bought a 2000 Ford Ranger Trailhead edition brand new in November of 1999. Coming out of a 94 Mustang GT. At the time I wasn't necessarily interested in the Ranger but I was looking for something more practical for work and my lifestyle. The Mustang was cool but I was young and dumb and getting into too much trouble with it. So truck shopping I went. Not wanting a full size truck, I wasn't impressed with the Rangers until I came across the Trailhead edition. It had everything I wanted and nothing I didn't need. Test drive, fell in love, bought it straight away. Became a Ranger guy but mine was a little special because of the Trailhead package. Totally happy with it. Then learned in 2011 that Ford stopped making Rangers. I thought to myself, "if they ever start making Rangers again maybe I'll get one." Well, heard the news for the 2019 Ranger. Was excited. Still wasn't ready for a new truck yet. Waited. Old Ranger started getting really old. Started thinking about new truck in January of this year. Realized the time was right, realized I could order exactly what I wanted. Ordered the new one in April. Picked it up first week of October. New Rangers are so much better all around than the old, again instantly fell in love with the new one. So after driving the same Ranger for almost exactly 23 years I'm driving a brand new one. For my budget and style there was no other truck that excited me like this one. Who can argue with a turbocharged engine on even the base trim level? Who can argue with Ford Passapp remote start on the base trim level? Power windows, locks, mirrors, cruise control...Add a couple of packages and I'm happier than I imagined I would be. I have a XL with STX and FX2. Supercab. Velocity Blue. Old one was blue too (Atlantic Blue) and so was the Mustang (Vibrant Blue) it's obviously my favorite color. Blown away. Why am I so happy with just an enhanced XL? The old truck had crank down windows. No power locks. Manual transmission. V6 but wasn't that quick even with a 4:10 rear axle. Manual transmissions are cool but after 23 years I had my fill of life with a clutch. Like my old one, the new one has everything I wanted and nothing I don't need. Almost regretted not getting the STX special package but I don't regret it now. I've been deprived in the vehicle department for so long now that even the base model with Sync and bluetooth is super fancy, to me it is anyway. I'd be happy with this truck for another 20 years. Sometimes I sit and stare at it in the driveway. Sometimes I just sit in it in the driveway and enjoy the smell of a new vehicle and consider how lucky I feel to have this new truck. To me it's perfect. I admire the 4x4s and higher trim levels, especially the Tremor but I'm so happy with this one I don't regret my choice, not even a little bit.
Personally, I think the supercabs look slicker than the crew cabs, despite knowing how practical the crews are. My wife and I are empty nesters now so the supercab has enough room for our dog and/or other precious cargo that might fit back there.
Sport mode rocks. Don't know if I'm remembering correctly but it seems faster than my old Mustang. Maybe it's because I've been driving a V6 Ranger for 23 years. Maybe not.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy your new Rangers guys and gals, they've come a long way.

 

[scarchild35]

I did a ton of research before I ordered my Ranger. I've been pretty much a Ford guy, but I really tried to make it based on the data as much as I could. I owned a 2005 Ranger FX4 which was a good truck for me.

Nissan - A long time ago, I used to own a Nissan and it was a good truck, however it was just too old with no technology for me to even consider. Coupled with really poor mileage.

GM Twins - I didn't look at these too close - my brother and his son have had a TON of trouble with their Cruze's - both have spent quite a bit of time in the shop for sensors and other issues. I didn't even want to go there.

Honda - it ain't a truck - I didn't look at it too closely. I don't do heavy duty 4 wheeling, but I can get in enough where I need a real truck. And I haul stuff often enough it wouldn't cut it.

Jeep - between the reliability issues Jeeps have had under Fiat, and the price, this was just not even a possibility.

Toyota - I really wanted to like the Taco. It has a lot of things I really liked - The seating position didn't bother me, and I really like the dampened tailgate and wireless charging, plus the ability to get a 6' bed. But the test drive totally turned me off to it. The engine/trans combo is TERRIBLE. You have to wind up the motor to redline to get any power and the transmission felt like it was constantly hunting for gears.

Ranger - I ordered it before I was able to test drive it (there were none on dealer lots here when I ordered), but I did do a test drive about 2 months after I ordered it. The test drive exceeded my expectations and I was sold - after that test drive, I knew I had made the right decision.

I did up a whole spreadsheet with features and compared the various models to come up with a weighted score. The Ranger came out on top every time for the things that were important to me. Once I had figured out I wanted the Ranger, then it was a matter of figuring which model (XLT or Lariat). I ended up with the Lariat - and a pretty loaded one at that. This is now my daily driver so I wanted something comfortable that I can also take out when I go hiking.

Long answer - but I'm sure I made the right choice for me. I haven't been this excited about a new vehicle ever. 3 weeks in and I'm still looking forward to driving it every chance I get.

Edit: The powertrain really is the crown jewel in this truck. It is amazing. I was worried having 10 gears it would be shifitng all the time, but the shifts are so smooth many time you don't even know it shifted if you aren't paying close attention. This combo is a killer....

Yep, these are excellent trucks. Agree with all points. And the power train just can't be beat in this class. I'm the same way. I'm on week number five with mine, 1500 miles +/- and I still get excited to drive it. Sometimes I just sit and stare at it in the driveway. My old daily driver was a 2000 Ranger Trailhead that I bought new in 11/1999. This is such a vast improvement over my old one there is simply no comparison. Very happy with my purchase. VERY happy. Enjoy your ride.

 

[Justin says...]

Wanted a truck.

1. Fords run in the family.
2. All the rednecks & meth dealers drive Tacomas around here. So, no. Plus they're more expensive.
3. Colorado seats are like cement blocks. Plus if I own a Chevy, I have to date my cousin and have a criminal record, which I don't have.

 

[Deleted member 15875]

Was set to purchase a Tacoma and thankfully there was a Ford dealer down the street and I test drove the Ranger on a whim - just to see. I knew nothing of the Ranger. Took about 30 seconds and it was clear there was no way in hell I was gonna buy the over-hyped Tacoma. I don't drive my SUV any more.

 

[Tracy Bowman]

Why?…It’s the best!

 

[Bob902]

I bought mine because it doesn't have a damper.?

 

[AzScorpion]

I bought mine because it doesn't have a damper.?

 

[Bob902]

 

[ControlNode]

Best in class towing of the gas engines. I didn't want the diesel tax at purchase, and currently, every time I went to the pump. I like the 2.3l in my Focus and have heard good about the 10-spd in other models for a while. Knowing that the chasses (for the most part) has been in production overseas since 2012 I figured most of those issue had been worked out. So far, I'm very pleased with the truck I got.

 

[Deleted member 15875]

Nobody calls me Francis.....

 

[Philvarah]

Wanted a truck.

1. Fords run in the family.
2. All the rednecks & meth dealers drive Tacomas around here. So, no. Plus they're more expensive.
3. Colorado seats are like cement blocks. Plus if I own a Chevy, I have to date my cousin and have a criminal record, which I don't have.

Not to mention you would be on a first name basis and having breakfast, lunch, and dinner on going with your dealer's service manager for the life of your breaking Chevy.

 

[Philvarah]

Was set to purchase a Tacoma and thankfully there was a Ford dealer down the street and I test drove the Ranger on a whim - just to see. I knew nothing of the Ranger. Took about 30 seconds and it was clear there was no way in hell I was gonna buy the over-hyped Tacoma. I don't drive my SUV any more.

We have way more and better... Mexican burritos stands ...than Tacos here in Colo

 

[Gonz Fx4]

Because of towing rating over the Tacoma and the X-Plan pricing was very competitive.

 

[Atitagain]

Back in 1983 I bought a Chevy S-10. I had nothing but trouble with it and traded it for my first Ranger. Never had a problem with it or my other two Rangers. Looking forward to driving and learning my 22 Lariat.

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