Hi to all just join the forum, what a great place this is. I had a 99 4 cyl i believe it was a 2.3 (not sure about 6 years ago) and never had any issues, great mpg, i was very happy but i had it for work aswell and security isn't all that on trucks, long story short sold it. Now i am in the market for another one, Any advice from you guys on what year truck and motor i should look for, maybe there some year motors better than others?

 

It depends on what you are looking for...good gas mileage... or 4 wheel drive. Want to be able to tow things... or a daily driver. After learning what I know now, I would get a newer fx4 level II with the 4.0, 4.10's LS, and hope to find twin sticks.

 

This guy hit the nail right on the head!!! i wish i knew what i know now about rangers when i bought mine :)

 

What do you mean by level 2. I am looking for something reliable that saves gas to go to work. only thing i tow is my jetski but that weights very little,nothing a 2wd cant handle right.

 

a level 2 is a top of the line 4wd ranger.

 

yeah deff go wit a 4.0 5spd, pretty good gas good if live in a hilly area, now if live in an area that doesn't get sonew then you don't need four wheel drive unless you like to go off roading, even though i have a four banger my friend has a 4.0 5 spd and that thing is beast, and in my personal opinion is the best engine in avilable in the ranger, but if you live in flat land a 2.3 should be sufficient, since mine struggles in the mountains where i live.

 

Thank you for the advice, No hills here, Miami FL. The only thing i need it for other than moving around the city is to pull my Jetski. I think that would'nt be an issue, it's very light about 700lbs.

 

yeah a 2.3 should beable to handle that, just go for a manule if you pulling with a 2.3 though the manuals go soo mush better than automatic, my manual 2.3 can keep up with my girlfriend's dad's 5.8 V8 which is an automatic :D but yeah just stick with 2wd unless your going off road, the 3 liter it a happy medium but agian, 4.0 the best.

 

and i'm not exagerating either when i drove his truck up hills it was just like driving my ranger up hills, and my ranger gave a 6.4 liter powerstroke a run for its money it still passed me but put up a good fight.

 

your 2.3L struggles because it is 90hp and from 1989. if he gets a new 2.3L it will be an 01+ DOHC. It's like 130hp and with the manual they haul butt

 

well agian it doesn't really struggle that much now if you looking for gas milage and don't runn the **** out of it then it does struggle, that and mine has had mods and runs a bit better than stock. and its rates 100 hp stock not 90 hp maybe with my engines four cylinder predecessor might have been.

 

If I had to do it over again I would get an FX4, LS, and powerlocks which are included in the FX4 package.

If you cant get a FX4 just make sure you get the 4.0.

 

thank you guys for the help. I think a 130hp 4cyl manual is exactly what i am looking for, I'll stick to racing with my jetski (alot less tickets).