In 2003 I had a 1989 ford aerostar van that I used for part time work delivering lost airport luggage. The engine had just been remanufactured and it ran like a champ(original engine lasted 125,000 miles) . This van got about 20mpg with a 5 speed. That vehicle was totaled in an accident. I needed to replace the vehicle and i chose the ranger edge since it was a 5 spd with a 3.0. I also had a 1997 Taurus with the 3.0 that I liked. The dealer had made a mistake for the ranger, on the internet price, because he had discounted the vehicle from 16500 to 11500. That was a deal I couldn't refuse. I have used this vehicle for everything, commuting, moving my furniture, part time delivery work, construction sites, carrying softball equipment, and now leisure traveling. Still looks awesome, not a single problem. Matter of fact front brake pads were just replaced at 65500 miles! I've never had brakes last that long. I'm so happy and I hear folks on this forum talkng bout their rangers lasting 200K + miles.

 

i got my 3.0 cause it's in a 91 2wd xlt with a 5spd, all new tires, new clutch, body in pretty good shape a little surface rust nothing big, for $500. oh yea and it has about 70 000 miles. runs great drives great. only had to change a lifter. i didnt buy it to go fast, i have a 94 grand cherokee for that. or i can do over 100 mph in real style driving this

i only drive my ranger about 100 miles a month. it's my little s@#$box truck but i like it. and it gets around 23 mpg as well.
thats over 100 mph driving the kw not the wife lol.

 

My parents bought mine when my first car gave out.
The only say so i had was that it was a v-6 instead of a i-4

 

If I didn't have heavy loads to pull, I would have bought the 3.0. The longevity on it is very important to me since I drive so much. I hope my 4.0 lasts somewhat as long as the vulcan.

 

Same reason as above, truck was a gift. I'm happy with it, I wanted a truck not a sports car.

 

I havent heard bad comments about a 3.0V6 what i can tell you is that i dont have any against my truck now that i have been using it for a coupple of months runs good sounds good and i feel great driving it...

 

To be honest I bought mine because I didn't know that there was a 4 out there cuz I was a tard that didn't do ne research and I went out with intentions of getting a avalanche and didn't have any luck so I came across my ranger and just bought it. It sux and I feel stupid but I'm happy I went with a ranger over the avalanche. Thats the truth y I bought it.

 

cuz thats just what my truck had in it when I found it, and my friends Ranger had a 3.0 and it was pretty peppy and good for my usual drivin and what not, but yeah I do wish I had the 4.0 though... oh well got a good deal on it at the time too!!!

 

I got too good of a deal not to buy the truck and I was really looking for the 2.3 but settled for the next step up. All around it is pretty good.

 

I probably said this before in this thread but I got it cause I didnt know **** about Rangers at the time.

 

If you wanted a Regular cab short bed you really don't have a choice except in 01.

 

11 of the 13 Rangers I've owned since 1994 have had the 3.0.

I can't really compare the 3.0 to the 4.0 though. The 94 OHV I had was totaled the first month I had it and the 01 SOHC I still have sits at my cabin and only has 19k on the odo.

When it comes right down to it, the 3.0's been a damn good engine.

 

I didnt know much about rangers then, I was in high school and I originally wanted a 67, 68 camaro... good thing I didnt get it or Ill be broke because of gas prices. My dad took me to the ford dealer, there was a white, and blue step side regualr cab, and there was one bright red extended cab. I wanted a red vehicle and it had to have some room to it, didnt know too much about the motor until I became a RPSer and then a R-Fer... since then it has much better git up, Ive even surprised a few folks... not to many modded rangers in town so they didnt expect much. But from other 4.0s Ive driven they have a tall first gear and as said seem to lack torque at the lower rpms compared to a 3.0... also I think a 3.0 has a better stock exhaust note even better one with a cat back exhaust.

 

I knew alot about both engines.....

1) Money - It was cheaper, and you could still have an extended cab.
2) Longevity - From what I understand the engine is many years old 10+? and I would like to keep mine for awhile.
3) My dad has an 01 3.0 Edge 5sp, so I knew what I was getting into. Its 7 years old only has about 80 000 km (not miles) and the only somewhat costly repair he has done is brakes (rotars and whatnot).

I love my decision, a little better at the pumps than the 4.0 and lots of acceleration in town with a 5sp. Now 2/3 people and luggage on the highway - different story. But for the most part my truck is a city truck.

I hope everyone enjoys whichever engine they purchased. WIth the ranger there really is an engine for everyone. lol.

 

^^^ not really, they should put a 5.0 V8 in them also

 

Sounds like he has just a lemon of a truck.. Im pushing 125k on my truck right now.. never had a CEL, perfect engine.. no burps or stutters in it ever yet, maintanence is usually the best thing to keep an engine going, unless you pull out one of those vehicles that just seems to have problems left and right

 

i love my lil 3.slow shes taken in water and all kinds of abuse with a lil bit of lucas oil additive she was good as new again lol but she will be up for sale when i hit 180k or around that... only because my dad wants me to buy a new truck for when i go to college so i have something reliable mmmm.... FX4 LEVEL II FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

my first ranger was a 2.3 my second ranger was a 3.0 my third ranger is a 4.0.. basically you get what you pay for. They are all good reliable engines. If you want good value, decent power and torque go with a 3.0. If you are lookin for top end power you get a 4.0

Its really all your own personal preference

 

if ford would have offered a 3.0L V6 with the 4x4 i would have either bought a ranger or a B3000 with this set up... but in order to get the 4x4 i had to get the 4.0L. But im fine with that now :D

 

i think you can get a 3.0 with 4x4 now you probly just have to ask around and not so much as look around ya know..

 

^^^^^^^^^^^Nope not even offered in 2008. im not sure if thats a canada only thing, but im sure its the same in the states

 

I wanted a v6 5 speed manual and the ford vulcan, however wimpy is reliable and has a good amount of torque.

 

since i dont plan on driving my truck past 100k and the gas mileage to performance ratio is downright ****ty on the 3.0s the 4.0 is perfect for me =)

 

I knew I wanted a ranger for my first truck. The first thing I looked for when looking at rangers was if it was a 4.0L because I come from a ford muscle car family and so I automatically wanted the biggest engine you could get in it. And I tell you what It took me a while to find what I was looking for b/c all i found were 3.0L's.

 

Didn't do my research...