So im looking for something to be my first car, and since I was little I've wanted a ranger, but since I've gotten my permit I have been looking at cars instead of a truck...what use would I have for it. I know rangers are reliable and just badass. Plus lower insurance. So please tell me if you have had a ranger for your first car and how much you payed for it/how long/how good it ran. I really hope to find a ranger with decently low miles for cheap..just need a job so please help me make up my mind! tell me you ranger stories

 

My first vehicle was a '97 Ranger 3.0L 5spd reg cab flareside. I beat the **** out of that thing, drove it for 5 years and it didn't need much more than a brake job, blower resistor and DPFE sensor. It was a great truck, I drove that thing everywhere! Paid $5700 for it about 7 years ago.

 

I got a 99 xlt in 2001 as my first car. 25K on it when we bought it, $8000, still have it..drive it everday, has about 140k-150K on it now...great truck

 

My 98 ranger was my second car. The first was an 86 VW that had a load of problems.
My mom bought the ranger and I made payments to her, as well as insurance.
Bought it with 50k miles, completely stock in mint condition. I lifted it, installed a big bumper, canopy, blah blah. I drove it for years, wheeled the crap out of it, and it never let me down. I sold it with 145k miles still running great.
There were a few minor things, clutch, shocks, front end parts, a sensor here and there. Mostly just oil, tires and a couple sets of brakes. But it ran great, never left me stranded. I sold it for half of what I paid for it, even after I put 100k miles on it after 5-6 years.

 

My 2001 Ranger was my first vehicle (got my 77 at the same time) next month I will have had it for 6 years.

It's been a great and reliable truck. Just rolled over 105K.

I've had odds and ends things fixed, biggest being the 4x4 control module

What years are you interested in?

 

Got a 2005 ranger EDGE new from dealership. Bought it for 16k, good truck. Wouldn't want anything else, very reliable. I have had it for 5 years now with 60k miles on it.

 

my 04 ranger was my first car which my parents got for me. Its getting close to one year that i've had it. Its been good to me and what i use it for. The only gripe i have with it is seating, can barely fit three people even with the extended cab

 

My '99 is my 4th vehicle I think. I've had it for 3 years. Its been a great truck. Got it at 116,000 miles for $3100. Just about to role over 150,000 miles and runs just as good as it did when I bought it. Would be a great first vehicle. All I have done is normal maintenance and tune up. Transmission is getting close to needing to be rebuilt though. Original clutch.

 

I had a 93 Ranger xcab 2wd xlt with a 3.0l engine, and 5spd. I loved her so much that when a year later when she unexpectedly lost her life due to a careless drive i went out and bout a 2004...


Btw the truck was giving to me by a friends dad who bought it from a guy for 50 bucks and that guy inherited it from his father-in-law who bought it brand new...

The truck was in perfect condition with 134k miles on it when i got the keys and 145K miles on it when it was totaled out... it had many miles left in her

highly recommended as a first truck

 

I got my Ranger as my first official vehicle. I loved it, IMO its the perfect truck for anyone under 18-20. Plenty of fun but yet not enough to kill ya

 

my first car was a pickup truck. an 86 ranger standard cab short bed 4x4 to be exact. that was almost (gasp) 12 years ago! lol now i feel a little old, but not really. a ranger is a great first vehicle!

 

my 08 was my first (with payments).... my first on the road vehicle was a 85 bronk. if you don't need the passenger capacity, go for it. just be warned. you become that "friend with a truck"

 

Beer and gas come from that

 

but it also works both ways, when its time for a group of your friends to go somewhere you can say, i cant drive, i can only carry one passenger. lol

 

not in my world.... one bud has a torrent, the other a fusion, a third a flex. the other two that would drive one has a cavalier the other a super crew 2010 f-150. most times it's me driving.

 

the ranger was my first truck as well. we bought it new in 2007 and its about to turn 41 thousand miles. right now it needs tires, and brakes. i love the truck. only problem is, i cant carry more then one person. im the only one in my group of friends with a truck so i get called for everything.. and 18.5 mpg on the high way 8 hours and 500 miles one way from home to school kinda sucks

 

01RangerEdge-um well not sure yet, maybe something in the 2000+ years, like a ford edge 4x4 off road? I just gotta get a job and find one with low miles first haha unless parents wanna give me a treat for Christmas ahaha

 

01-03 Edge 4x4's FTW lol

 

so you like the edge alot eh?

 

I prefer the painted bumpers yes

 

hahah yeah all my friends drive cars and im kinda the "redneck" of the group though i dont dress like one hahaha so i think me being the one with the truck in the group might fit just right

 

im gonna go look which year i like on the edge

 

thanks everyone for your opinions keep posting if you want

 

My 2000 is my first truck, I'm happy with it. You got all the good parts pinned down- low insurance and reliability. Mine has 125k and the past owners beat it to sh*t. I love her though.

As with any car you are looking to purchase, find the problem spots and get them checked out.
Depending on what year, engine, and such you get their are quite a few with Rangers.

FORD TSB's (technical service bulletins)

If you find one you want check out the service bulletins for it.

 

I had a 91 4x4 2.3 5 speed for my first car, loved it, beat the **** out of it and it just came back for more harder! Couldnt beat it! I have since owned 2 other rangers and thats it untill just here recently i bought a DD car.