New Ford Ranger XLT: Any good?

[brisel]

My boss is thinking of getting me one of these as a work vehicle, but I know nothing about them.

It will be a XLT 2.5l double cab. Price looks like £11500 new with hard top, warranty & drawbar. It needs to be ok towing a 3 tonne trailer and do plenty of off-road farm work. To be honest, I'd rather have a Navara but then I have no choice

This will be replacing a Land Rover 110 Defender Td5 double cab which has been ok-ish. I'm quite looking forward to something that hasn't got such an awful driving position harsh ride!

Thanks in advance

[diesel piston]

I`ve had one over a year, no problems whatsoever.
35 to the gallon and good to drive.

[s3fella]

I've heard these are the pick up bargain of the century, new and second hand. You can pick up nice ones for say £2k, when an equivalent hilux would be £4k +

Friend has an 03 plate and has had no trouble at all,.....unlike his previous navara.......!!!

[brisel]

Thanks all

Did a deal today for 2 XLTs, double cab with hard tops and tow bars for £11.5k each not inc part ex.

Seemed very good on the test drive but quite easy to light up the rear tyres on junctions and slow corners. I'm just used to my gutless 2 tonne Td5 L/Rover!

Why aren't there more Rangers about? Is it just the stigma of Ford vs Japan??

Isuzu(GM), Nissan & Mitsubishi seem to dominate the pickup market

[diesel piston]

They`re pretty nippy for a pickup and theres always a few salvage nearly new Rangers with front end bumps on ebay driven by people who forget that they stop like a pick up and not a car !

[Jovial Joe]

brisel said:

Thanks all

Why aren't there more Rangers about? Is it just the stigma of Ford vs Japan??

Isuzu(GM), Nissan & Mitsubishi seem to dominate the pickup market

Think you will find that the Ranger is actually a Mazda mate
Rgds

[brisel]

Ah - thought they looked similar. Is is a Mazda design and engine?

[Jovial Joe]

brisel said:

Ah - thought they looked similar. Is is a Mazda design and engine?

I believe so,IIRC they are both built on the same Thai production line.The old model Mazda B2500 was always the more frugal spec to the Ranger but the revised BT 50 seems to be on the same par and they do look almost identical
Rgds

[leginigel]

If you want to tow 3 ton off road the only one is the Landrover 110 and that is it.The Mazda/Ford XLT is miles in front of the Navara with work in mind.But if you want to only look good buy Toyota Hi Lux.

[brisel]

Having seen someone die in a Hilux after they overturned it, I won't be getting one of those! The Aussies call them "Rolluxes" for their instability.

He lost it after going too fast into a bend and it flipped, throwing him partly out and rolling over him. Stupid idiot hadn't put his seat belt on and was very drunk anyway. This happened in the Australian outback in 2001 following a works Christmas party. Poor sod.

Very reliable trucks though.

[roverspeed]

You wouldn't buy a hilux because a drunk person, wearing no seat belt crashed one and died..........hmmmm.

Don't know how good an arguement that is.

The Rangers get a bad stigma because of the blue oval on the front, but in reality they are better than their nissan rivals imo.

Hi Lux would get my vote, but they are comparatively pricy

[leginigel]

brisel said:

Having seen someone die in a Hilux after they overturned it, I won't be getting one of those! The Aussies call them "Rolluxes" for their instability.

He lost it after going too fast into a bend and it flipped, throwing him partly out and rolling over him. Stupid idiot hadn't put his seat belt on and was very drunk anyway. This happened in the Australian outback in 2001 following a works Christmas party. Poor sod.

Very reliable trucks though.

Never been drunk in mine and its handling has been OK for truck 2 foot off the ground,but thinking ahead,going to get the wife on the white wine tonight and set her off around the field,could do with a later hi lux and wife!