Hi I'm new here, so hello everyone, but unfortunately I'm starting my introduction off with a technical question. I just bought my first Ranger about 3 months ago. Its a 2000 3.0 V6 5 speed 4x4 and I've noticed its incredibly sluggish coming from a stop and in 5th gear, pedal to the floor, I max out at about 74-ish mph.

Now since I'm new to Rangers and this is the smallest engine I've ever owned I'm just wondering if this is normal. my old 92 s-10 accelerates much easier and I used to get that old girl up over 100 mph as a trouble-making teenager. Granted that has a 4.3 V6 but even my old Cherokee with the 4.0 i6 sitting on 35's accelerates better and tops out around 95mph.

When I first got it (not enough time to notice the sluggishness) my wife wasn't used to a manual and left the parking brake on for the drive home from work and blew the wheel cylinder in the drum brake and disintegrated the pads and I replaced them (pads, cylinders and drums). The brakes work again but the brake light is stuck on now and will intermittently turn off. Could something maybe be rubbing still in the drum brake? I don't know I'm just shooting the only idea I have out. I've taken them back off and didn't notice any rubbing though.

My daily drive to work the speed limit is 60 so I do about 67 so its fine for me there but I'm about to make a trip to my mom and pop's. The old Chevy just isn't running like it used to and I don't think it has another trip like that in her without some major work so I need to take the Ranger. My only concern is that driving through some places in the trip the speed limit is 70+ and I don't want to get run over by everyone else going 80.

Sorry for dragging this out but basically I just wanna know if this is normal or hear any possible ideas. Thanks y'all.

 

I have a 2000 3.0 V6 Ranger, but equipped with the automatic. I can cruise easily at 70, but I don't push this truck; it has 215K currently, and still drives great. The acceleration is not anything to write home about for sure. I think your truck is running fine. I've not pushed mine to a limit, so I don't know if 74ish is it's max. I drive it mostly on weekends, and drive the Mustang during the week. I absolutely love this Ranger! I've owned the large F150's; great trucks, but this ranger impresses me.

Hopefully someone who has pressed their 3.0 can give you the top speed information your looking for.

 

I have the 3.0 L V6 ranger, it's acceleration is not that impressive compare to other vehicles. Regarding the speed, I don't have any problem going above 70. Sometimes I even reaches 85 w/o noticing it. Sunday driving w/ not much cars on the freeway and all the other cars are running at that speed. So I don't think there's a problem with its capability on running at high speeds. The acceleration is what I want some improvements (specially going up hill).