Hey everybody,

I went out today to survey the field of Rangers/Mazdas and even an S10. I decided that I liked the clutch feel and the interior of the current generation Rangers the best (1998 and up, right?), so I think I'm in the market for one of those.

I drove a 3.0 and a 4-banger. I didn't mind the smaller engine so it might not be a bad idea to get one and save on gas. That's the main reason I'm switching from my tired old YJ. 14 mpg @ 90 cents/litre is killin me.

Some questions ...

- how bad is a 4x2 ranger in the snow? with new tires and some weight in the back are they okay? (i'm in ontario, i need to drive in this stuff and there aren't many 4x4 rangers around)

- what's the difference between the standard truck and the Edge model? the badass steps on the side of the bed, called "sportside", right?

- things to look for reliability-wise? is there anything that's really prone to breaking and screwing up on 1998+ trucks?

- I just got some new 31x10.5 inch AT tires for my Heep .... can a take these to a new Ranger without lifting?

- Anybody want to cut me a deal on a nice truck? lol I've got about 7k Canadian to play with.

thanks everybody

 

reliabilty wise... i got 300,000 miles out of my 92 ranger... nuff said but i have 47,000 on my 02 and the clutch slave cylnder went out
yep the tires will fit... i have them on my current truck
the EDGE has torsen bar suspention on the 4x2 models the XLT does not along with some other features like the rubber floor in the edge and fender flares ect
cant help so much about driving in the sonw since we dont get too much of that here in florida but i had no problems in the truck when i was in delaware in the snow earlier this year

welcome to the site man hope you found this somewhat helpful

 

good choice on the swap. people on here venture in the snow all the time with their 2wd trucks and seem to not have too many problems. not too much breaks on 2wd model rangers as far is im aware of. the edge model has all 4wd suspension and is lifted but no 4wd unless it says 4x4 on it. these trucks are extremely reliable and i put mine through hell everytime i go offroading (starting to be quite a bit) and nothing has changed with her and im still amazed everytime by wut she can do. 31s should fit the edge absolutely no problem. a standard 2wd im not too familiar with but should be able to squeeze them under there. good luck and happy hunting, youll be glad you made your choice.

 

I dunno if i would get a 3.0 to save on gas, mine gets 15 on a good day, and i know alot of other people are unsatisfied with their 3.0 gas milage.



btw, welcome!

 

yeah i've been doin some more readin .... a think the 4 cyl is the way to go to save on gas. thanks for the input so far : )

 

Depends. If you want the power, you're going to pay for it.

So far i'm up to 196,xxx miles and it runs just like i got it at 160,000. Although i can't tell you what work has been done to it. I don't have a carfax account and it came from my father.

Oh, and btw, i'm a sucker for the Mazda's.

 

I had a stick 2wd 98 ranger. I managed for a year in Erie with it. I put about 300 lbs in the back with some good tires. I had the most trouble in parking lots. They are always the worst and I got stuck a few times. Never park facing downhill if you are gonna have to back out. Now I got a 4x4 ranger and life is so much nicer. I will never by a 2wd in a snowy area again. Despite gas milage I am gonna have to recommend another 4x4 to you too.

I think you are refering to the flareside bed. It is the one with the steps on it. Theses have been available prior to the "edge". The edge can have the flareside or the styleside. The edge package is all in the torsion bar suspension, vinyl flooring, and the 4x4 ride height. The edge will fit your 31s without a problem. A 2wd xlt will not fit the 31s. Also the edge model was not available until 2001.

The reason the clutch on the 98+ rangers is nicer is b/c it is a hydrolic clutch before 98 they were cable clutches. I'm sure you will find what you are looking for.

 

I was guessing that was the case, but at the same time it's really surprising. Isn't 1998 a little late to be introducing a hydraulic clutch?

 

yes 98 was late to introduce a hydraulic clutch
the main problem is they put it INSIDE the bell housing you you have a big job to change it
a 2WD Ranger with a 5 SP Manual will give you pretty good mileage
plan on only 15 around town still with a 4x4 3.0 or 4.0 liter....

 

aint that the truth... mine is going in the shop tomorrow to get fixed... i dont want to know how much its gonna cost to replace it

 

2wd is alright.. however one thing I would 100% do. Pick up a extra set of stock
rims. and get some dedicated snow tires.. a day and night difference.
Bridgestone blizzacks pop to mind.
also 300# is a good weight in sand.
my 4.0 4x4 gets 14mpg winter 18 summer 19-21 on trips if below 70mph.

The 4-cyl should get ~~25mpg maybe close to 30 on trips.

Rand

 

i have an '04 3.0 2wd. i dunno about the snow stuff, but as far as gas mileage, i get approx. 20.18 miles to the gallon, and that was before i put an exhaust on (supposed to improve, but might not as i accelerate to higher RPMs to hear my new toy!). that was a 3 full tanks test averaged out as well. that's about half city, half highway driving.

if you don't care about having power, get the 2.3. but you sound like you would use the 4 wheel drive, so if i were you i would spend the extra dough, it's about 1.5-3 grand more for the 4 wheel drive on the same vehicle (from my research), depending on what year/how used you get it. just my .02

 

heh ... and i though Jeep engineers were the only ones stupid enough to do something like that. the slave on my 93 wrangler is inside too. figures i have a small leak, so i throw about a teaspoon of DOT 3 into the master every week to jeep her topped up. figures that in 94 jeep smartened up and put the damn thing outside the bellhousing.

so all in all ..... 1998+ Ranger, 2.5 w/ 5 speed
- 4x4 would be a nice extra
- flareside would be nice too

can't wait!

 

Its a 2.3L now.
4x4 + 4 cyl = not likely.
So you would have to get at least the 3.0 for 4x4
Being you live in ontario. 4x4 would be nice. I did drive for 2 years
in a 94 thunderbird it had something in excess or 350lb torque at 1800rpm.
It was undriveable in ohio winter until I put snow tires on. After that I never
got stuck.
Snow tires are actually better in one way than 4x4 because they help you STOP too... The best of course would be both. Obiviously if there is alot of days when the snow isnt plowed and 4"+ on the road 4x4 is real handy.
Rand

 

Well, I got one today!

I found a pretty sweet 1998 with 170 000 kilometers (about 100 miles) on her. 3.0, 5 speed, very clean. rust proofing receipts for every year since new, brand new rubber, bedliner with a toolbox (might go soon). all this for 7500 canadian, tax, registered, out the door.



that's the one .... when she's all cleaned up she looks great. can't wait to get her home tomorrow, provided that when my mechanic and i go over her everything checks out.

 

100 miles?? did i read that right?? wow

 

100,000 miles.

 

thanks for clarifying that brian :)

 

I'll only say this once DO NOT GET A 3.0L only a 2.3L or a 4.0L....alright my rant is done...

 

I totally missed this thread..

I live in NH and drive in a fair amount of snow every year. My last truck was a '99 XL Sport w/ the 2.5L I4 manual and 4x2. I hated winter in that thing! It was pretty bad. I regularly got stuck in the lightest of snow storms. Momentum was my friend, and stoplights were my enemy. Weight in the back was MANDATORY! I traded to a 4x4 in '03 after just barely making it through one of the worst winters New England had seen in a while.

Now having said that, I was also driving around on the stock Firestone Wildernes HT tires. They had good treadlife and were fine on the road and even in the rain, but downright blew in snow. I now have a 4x4 w/ BFG ATs. This thing hums through snow like a friggin' snowcat on steriods. It gets tricky on ice, but it eats up snow. I love it. I didn't even bother w/ weight in the bed this winter. How much of it is 4x4 drive train and how much of it is the tires I can't say. But I doubt I will ever buy another 4x2 truck, at least as long as I live in the Northeast..

 

 

Ya i missed the thread as well. 4x2 in the snow=bad (expecially single cap-lighter). I had some weight in the back and it still sucked (didnt have my a/t tires in the winter tho). I would say spend the little extra money and get a 4x4. But as i read above you may have already bought it. So if you did, have fun.