Ford Ranger...
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surveyor

Original Poster:

18,680 posts

212 months

Saturday 20th February 2021
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Once every 3 years I get to start one of these threads....

As a job, I am a telecoms surveyor. My usual patch is UK and Ireland (although I've not been allowed in Ireland for a year). I can be on top of a mountain, or on a city centre tower, often on the same day.

Over the years I've tried old and bangery, SUV, and over the last 3 years a crew-cab van. Having got stuck one or twice, it was time to bite the bullet and go 4WD.

First complication was that the truck was late - it turned out very late. We had built a couple of weeks wriggle room into the delivery schedule, but even so the van had to go back. Trying to talk to the lease company to negotiate an extension was in practical terms impossible, so after a bit of pressure the dealer lent me the sales managers truck..





I'm not sure the dealer fully understood the travel that I do. Last week I was in Northern Ireland, and I did detect a bit of a irritation in the dealers voice when they realised that. Suddenly they had found my truck and sold theirs. On Friday we swapped.

Mine is a 2.0 213 auto Limited, slightly lower spec than the dealers Wildtrack model. Still it comes with Climate Control, Cruise, and a load of modern tech. I'm happy enough. The auto is a 10 speed auto, and is actually very good. The truck is composed and quiet at speed, and handles not too badly. Off road the dealers truck was very capable. It had a lockable diff, which mine does not. I'm not sure if that will make a difference.

I was very unsure about the colour, and thought I had got it wrong. It looks dull on the Wildtrack models. The chrome of the Limited however does set it off well... In my opinion of course.

It's a company car so no mods. Just standard down the line...

It will be interesting to see how it copes in the next couple of months...



Stick Legs

8,893 posts

193 months

Saturday 20th February 2021
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Nice!

Liking the chrome on the Limited spec. Much less shouty than the Wildtrack models.

CHARLESBERG

158 posts

130 months

Saturday 20th February 2021
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Looks ace. I had a Ranger company van previously; I found it so much more comfortable than the Hilux it replaced that was only a year older, much more like a massive car rather than a commercial vehicle.

I don’t want to appear like I’m teaching to suck eggs as this genuinely isn’t the case but the only thing I would say is just be aware of the speed limits you may need to adhere to, especially as it’s sounds like you do big miles.

motomk

2,186 posts

272 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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Nice, They are very popular down here. I lose track of all the different models though.
Wildtrak, Raptor and XLT.
Think I saw 3 Wildtraks on my 20 minute drive to work yesterday.
There is the Ford Everest to, which is like a normal wagon 4WD based on the Ranger

RC1807

13,627 posts

196 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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Nice!

There are 2 Rangers down the road from me outside the same apartment building, and my daughter's ex boyf has one too!

Given your work and time on the road, I thought you might have opted for the enclosed / roof back need to store equipment?

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

224 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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I decided on Amarok over the Ranger, it’s quite scary just how much I absolutely love the thing!

I went V6, furling at around £90 for 450 miles is quite expensive but I just adore the thing, as do the family.

Escort3500

13,420 posts

173 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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My roofer mate’s on his second one and swears by it (not at it). It takes all sorts of abuse - ladders, tiles, slates, buckets of compo etc - and never lets him down accessing remote buildings and sites. He reckons it’s better than the Japanese pickups he’s had previously as it’s just (if not more) as capable and more refined.

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,680 posts

212 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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RC1807 said:
Nice!

There are 2 Rangers down the road from me outside the same apartment building, and my daughter's ex boyf has one too!

Given your work and time on the road, I thought you might have opted for the enclosed / roof back need to store equipment?
It’s being fitted on Thursday.



Trophy Husband

3,924 posts

135 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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I still love my Wildtrak. Just over 2.5 years old and 58k on the clock. The 5c diesel is a character motor if a little juicy.
I've not had a single problem with it and it gets driven hard.
Tried the rest of the same type barring the Amarok. The Wildtrak just felt better all round.

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

224 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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Trophy Husband said:
I still love my Wildtrak. Just over 2.5 years old and 58k on the clock. The 5c diesel is a character motor if a little juicy.
I've not had a single problem with it and it gets driven hard.
Tried the rest of the same type barring the Amarok. The Wildtrak just felt better all round.
IMHO the Amarok just knicks it (only just mind you), I found the Ranger had a little more driveline shunt and just felt a little more agricultural.

One thing I find with all of them, stick a bit of weight in the back and they all ride that little bit better.

Mikebentley

8,572 posts

168 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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Are you going to be doing your usual mileage? If so this will be an epic test for it. I look forward to your reports ,mpg and running costs etc.......gets popcorn.

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,680 posts

212 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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Yes I am, for now at least.

My role is supposed to change end of Q1 and will likely reduce my mileage fairly significantly. In fact for a while I was concerned at losing the truck altogether (and still am a bit). We will see what happens....

I kept reading about the previous vans being unreliable and saw none of it. In fact the dealer selling it seems to rather like it.. - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Transit-Custom-2-0...

General Price

6,268 posts

211 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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LaurasOtherHalf said:
I decided on Amarok over the Ranger, it’s quite scary just how much I absolutely love the thing!

I went V6, furling at around £90 for 450 miles is quite expensive but I just adore the thing, as do the family.
We have a v6 amarok at work and I thought the engine was quite harsh on acceleration,cracking gearbox though.It was lovely once you got it upto speed.


Edited by General Price on Sunday 21st February 13:43

RobFerrari

793 posts

232 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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Driven a couple of Rangers, really liked them.

If I was in the market for this type of vehicle, I'd be after one just like yours!

Enjoy

normalbloke

8,790 posts

247 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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Stick Legs said:
Nice!

Liking the chrome on the Limited spec. Much less shouty than the Wildtrack models.
That’s an interesting perspective. One of the reasons I have gone Wildtrack, is that a dark colour Wildtrack,is less shouty than the plastic chrome on the Limited, given that most of the Wildtrack features are anthracite. Enjoy o/p, they are a fairly pleasant place to be for a long r7n. We’ve been down to the south of France,Italy,Switzerland etc in ours. We’ve had two new ones over the last 6 years. Just about to decide whether to pull the trigger on a new 2.0, but there’s no way I can do that without driving it.

Its Just Adz

18,693 posts

237 months

Sunday 21st February 2021
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Lovely, I really do like these.
Be interesting to see how you get on using it off road.

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,680 posts

212 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Today we have gained a boot. Essential for my purposes.


LouD86

3,290 posts

181 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
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Good choice. I sell commercial vehicles, and I have to say the new 10 speed and Bi Turbo lump is cracking. Its seriously impressive for towing too. Not quite as gutsey as the V6 amarok, however the fuel consumption certainly makes up for it.

The locking rear diff has only been standard since they facelifted the Ranger 18 months ago, so your not missing much. It was optional on all models before that.

If you tow a lot, Auto gearbox cooler is a must, if not, sit back and enjoy it!

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,680 posts

212 months

Thursday 25th February 2021
quotequote all
LouD86 said:
Good choice. I sell commercial vehicles, and I have to say the new 10 speed and Bi Turbo lump is cracking. Its seriously impressive for towing too. Not quite as gutsey as the V6 amarok, however the fuel consumption certainly makes up for it.

The locking rear diff has only been standard since they facelifted the Ranger 18 months ago, so your not missing much. It was optional on all models before that.

If you tow a lot, Auto gearbox cooler is a must, if not, sit back and enjoy it!
Thanks. Occasional caravan towing so hope not needed.

Cloudy147

3,145 posts

211 months

Friday 26th February 2021
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Love the look of these things. Always reminds me of The Fall Guy truck when I see them about with the chrome bits on. Great stuff. smile