Mini trucks weren't a fad. They were inexpensive, fuel-efficient, and were often the right tool for the job. Most people never need a truck bigger than this.

So wild that this and the Maverick are only about 10 years apart, feels like 100

PLEASEEEEEEEE WE NEED MORE REGULAR VEHICLES LIKE THIS I had a 2006 2.3L Ranger and I LOVED it!

ASMR of old simple cars has been my thing recently. I want 15 minutes of all the shimmy’s and rattles exclusively

Had a 2007 Ranger 4-litre 200 hp V6 auto trans, 4x4, even had package with cruise, pwr windows & locks. It climbed off road like a mountain goat, zipped through snow covered roads in 4x4, with tons of torque - only problems, tie rod recall & horrific gas mileage, 12-14 mpg, but always started, easy towing, very reliable. Lots of folks liked the 2wd 2.3 litre 4 cyl with manual for mileage.

Crazy timing! Just got back from a 2 week roadtrip in my buddy's 2008 Ranger 4.0 V6. Had to sit bitch the entire time getting squished for 7000km.

It's crazy how archaic the interior looks when compared to what's available now. Things sure have changed.

So the company i work at right now has a work truck for the mechanics to get around and its a 2006 ford ranger with manual transmission and its a RWD, let me tell you that package is quite the treat. It just wants to have fun without even trying lmao, its all badged out with the company name in red too that truck is iconic man.

I enjoy the reviews on the 10-20 yr old vehicles. The stuff the most people can afford. LOL!

My first vehicle was a 2000 Ranger in the same cab/bed configuration. Had the previous overhead valve 4 litre V6 and was only 2WD. This video actually made me miss that little truck. Core memory.

This truck will never die. People STILL make videos of it.

I used to own a 2007 Ranger with the 5 speed manual. Loved that truck, the size was perfect. I rented a new Frontier, that is already too big. You can easily park Ranger's of this era on city streets or tight parking lots, they are great. Just an honest truck.

My dad had one of these for like 6 months. I drove around with all my friends in the back sideways seats it was a blast. Quite the silly vehicle

I had a 94 with a 2.3L man. transmission. Had a blazing 98hp. I put 280,000 miles on it.

It has a "5" speed automatic, but it's more like a 4.5 speed. Gears, 1, 2, and 3 are all very close together, so 2nd is normally skipped unless you're wide open.

Lots of great Ford fleet trucks, I personally loved the f150 with the 5L v8, the f250 with the 6.2 or 6.7 powerstroke, but the rangers were no nonsense. The older ones (2004-2010) are still running around today as fleet trucks, some with as much as 280k miles on the original power train.

Love my 07 4x4 xlt with the 4.0l auto. I've had to do a lot of things to it. But it's never left me stranded. Had my timing done at only 100k miles due to bad previous owners not changing oil. Now she sits at 168k miles. Been a beast of a truck!

I got a 2004 Ranger XLT a couple years ago. Had 83k miles, almost no rust, 4x4, 4L V6, automatic, for about $6500.

Went outside this morning to start up my old reliable 2001 4.0 in -27 Fahrenheit weather. Fired right while lots of other peoples newer vehicles couldn’t

Awesome review and easy to watch. You're well articulate and knowledgeable and have a soothing voice. I appreciate your passion and enthusiasm in what your doing. You would definitely make a great journalist with Consumer Reports or Car and Driver. The Ranger is a great no thrills old school small truck. Very reliable if maintained and not expensive to buy or fix if needed and easy to work on. Definitely a breath of fresh air considering the now modern complicated and often unreliable small trucks. Ford has always been the leader in truck designs and dependability. The reason the F-150 is the best selling truck in the US and why trucks like this Ranger sold well too and are still on the roads today with over 200k miles. ✌🏽🇺🇲

When I was a teen, we fit 5 of us in my buddy's manual ranger coming back from a weekend on the lake. Myself (1) and my friend (2) sitting in the back had to have our legs spliced together like 1212 with our feet under each other's jumpseat, literally wasn't room for our knees to be up, but we STILL had more room than the guy sitting in the middle front seat who had to lift his leg up every time the driver had to shift with a 50/50 chance of getting cup-checked going into 4th. Good times, good times.

One of the best reviews I’ve seen on this channel!😊

I've got my father's red, 2001 4l v-6 stepside. I have to keep up on something new every few years but it's still running like a champ. Nice review!

One of my dream trucks tbh I absolutely adore older rangers

My dad had a 1999 ford ranger 2.3 2wd auto that he got with 21,000 miles, and it was reliable as hell until he rolled it on his way to work at 389,000 miles about 16 years later, I grew up in the passenger seat of that old truck

⁠ 👏 great ride-along! Just picked up an ‘11 Sport 4.0 2wd auto with 102k for $9200, a rust-free cream puff in red on craigslist replacing my ‘93 Ranger with 225k. I got a PPI and it passed with only minor concerns. Love everything about it. New shocks made a hell of a lot of difference in the ride quality. The 207 HP engine supplies so much torque that inspires confidence in such a light vehicle, and though I drive gently most of the time it’s good knowing that it’s there to use. Mileage is not great, but driving mostly gently helps. I absolutely don’t miss all the complicated crap in the new crop of trucks, or their size. My only complaint is that I can’t figure out how to get rid of the *chimes* , the many nanny chimes. I'm not sure it's possible, but I hear that some techs have the codes to achieve this. Next little projects will be to secure my catalytic converter with a strap, find the best viper alarm system, and install a dash cam and a tailgate lock. Only then will I even consider driving to and parking in the big city. I’m also looking for the right OBD2 scanner (around $100 tops) to use with FORScan *with iOS/Mac* - if anyone has a solid recommendation to offer, I sure would appreciate it.

this brings back so many good memories, and the crash of 22..... BUT SO MANY GOOD MEMORIES! i now have a ram half ton

I love these Rangers. A lot of my family and friends had these, so I rode in them quite a bit growing up. My uncle almost sold me his when I was 16. Ended up not getting it, but I did get to drive it around. It was a '94, I believe. 2.3/5 Speed. 2WD. Crazy thing is, most of that interior is unchanged from the 1993 redesign. I could be wrong, but the door panels look identical, which is insane. lol Cool trucks, though. 😎

I've had three of these Rangers, the first being a 2000 Supercab/extended cab with a stepside bed, equipped with the OHV version of this engine (last year before the SOHC version that debuted for the Ranger in 2001), four speed auto and the 4x4 Off Road package with 4.10 gears. Don't remember too much from it tbh, that was back in ~2010 when I was still in high school. We did put a Gibson dual exhaust on it but that was about the only mods we did for it. About a year or two later after shuffling between cars and wanting another Ranger, I had another 2000 4x4 Off Road truck, this time with a straight bed and I believe despite it being a Supercab, no rear doors. It had the same transmission but with the 3.0 Vulcan engine mated to it. With 33" tires, it was certainly made more gutless than it would've been at stock height/tire size but I enjoyed it. My third Ranger was a 2006 Supercab, FX4 edition with the same powertrain that this one has. That had maybe 160k when I took ownership and when I passed it off to my brother it was around 220k miles. He still has the truck and the miles are still going up. As others have said regarding the fuel mileage, it was a little thirsty, especially with the 4.10 gears it had but never left me on the side of the road. With the SOHC version of the 4.0 engine, it had faults. One that mine suffered from was the thermostat housing is made of plastic and the plastic can crack and lead to coolant leakage. Also on the earlier years of the engine, about pre-2002, the timing chain guides/cassettes can fail and allow slack in the chain, leading to the chance of jumping cam timing and PTV interference. The guides were improved from 2002 onward but still was a chance of failure IIRC. I think the early versions of the engine that was used in the Explorers had intake manifold issues, until they redesigned the intake. I have a econobox car now for fuel economy but I still always loved the Rangers. I'm sure I'll get another one soon enough for a backup truck or runaround.

I had a 2004 ranger and everything was identical to this one it was a great little truck 240k miles ran like a top original engine and trans and I beat the hell out of it especially in the winter that thing was a blast to slide around in the snow I miss it dearly

I love the “clunky” notches when changing gear with the column. It feels not smooth but “solid”

Honestly, one of my dream trucks I may want to get in the future. You get a small extension, V6, a 4WD switch, nice interior, good bed in the back etc. Seems like a cool small pickup for off road or driving in general. One of my dream pickups. It would the job done.

I picked up a 2008 4.0L 4x4 Sport ranger for $2500 Cad about 18 months ago, rebuilt the bed, patched the cab floor (lifetime ontario rust), did various other miscellaneous repairs, now its my daily driver. I love it. So useful, so easy to work on, so easy to find parts. I can drive it up on ramps while INSIDE my regular sized garage because its so short. Used it the last 2 winters, just floats above the snow, never gotten stuck, and pull out other cars out of ditches regularily. Took it for a 6000km road trip this fall, not even a hint of any issues. I love this truck, I wish they still make them this size. Only thing that sucks is the fuel mileage haha

Nice video! Man, seeing those rear seats brought back some memories. My Grandma had a ranger at one point a long time ago, used to ride in the back often. Completely forgot that those seats face inwards to each other lol.

I had a 1998 Ford Explorer XLT with the 4.0 SOHC 5-speed auto. It was a good vehicle sold it back in 2015 with 167K still ran great.

I love you!! Instead of "smoker" you said "cigarette enthusiast". Way to not put labels on people man!!!!

This truck has got to go on the Winding Road Channel!

I swear each time I see you upload, you get closer and closer to where I live lmao it's so funny

I always find it amazing that Toyota can squeeze nearly 300 horsepower out of their lazy 4L V6, and Ford only got 200. Truly outstanding work.

Just an epic truck. I used to have an s10 and I miss it every day.

Nice to see an American Car with the typical Steering Column-Shifter for a change! I've only seen that in the Ford Mercury, Late-90's/00's Chevy Impala cars you guys have over there. We've never had column-mounted shifters in our European cars.

I just traded in my 2011 4.0L Ranger XLT 2WD truck a month ago. Failed emissions, needed a bunch of other work, was quoted outrageous numbers for the repairs so it was time. Everything is accurate. Kind of noisy on the highway, rattled a bit over bumps, but the brakes were very solid and responsive. Sounds like that truck needs the brakes bled and maybe a new set of pads/rotorts. Great reliable little trucks though and the 4.0L V6 makes a nice sound. I really liked it. Picked up a 2019 Nissan Frontier SV and I'm very happy. I will miss my old ranger though, simplicity, quirks and all.

Another good video!! This made me feel better after today 😅

I have a 2011 4x4 with 4.10 gears and a manual transmission. It’s a really fun truck to drive.

I used to drive this route pretty much everyday and I gotta say I’m impressed you were not thrown around as much considering how bad those roads are lol. My f150 felt like a bucking bull some days

I miss my '03 Ranger XLT Supercab. I had done some modifications to mine, and it really scooted. I can't say much about fuel mileage as I was really concerned about it as I am today with the price of gas. It wasn't fantastic on fuel with the 4.0L engine, but were well powered. I also had three other Rangers prior to that one. My '99 with the 3.0L flex fuel engine and a 5 speed was amazing. It was a different animal from the other 3.0L engine and sounded amazing and revved with ease -- not to mention, a beautiful sound. I easily got 28 mpg highway with it, and on my '01 with the 3.0L vulcan engine I managed 26 mpg. I also had one with the 2.5L four, it was rather unremarkable.

I had the same motor in my 4th gen Explorer. I miss that thing so bad. This brought back some memories for sure.

Same interior from 1995-2011. I miss my 1997 Ranger. 4.0L 5-Speed, regular cab, short bed.

My favorite era of Ranger.

Yea these Rangers are pretty cool cars! We have a 2008 Ranger (RWD) and we got it for like $1500, and it even came with a manual!

So happy to see this review! I just bought a used 2011 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 with the 4.0L V6. Southern-owned and manufactured, zero rust, 50k miles. Overpriced at $17.9k, but the competition to buy this truck was insane. I only drive 3k miles a year, so I expect this thing will treat my family well for a long time. So excited to get it shipped to my home in a few days!

I daily a 2005 Ranger 3.0L V6 RWD Single cab, it's been pretty faithful except for a persistent misfire that i've been doctoring for years now. I love running around in it until I have to load up with my gf and anything in the cab and then it's cramped as hell, I'd have killed for an extended cab version of it but it was the only one in my price range at the time. She's gotten me through school and part of me wants to hold onto her but at the same time I kinda want a change. I have a '73 Maverick as my project vehicle but I'm currently just eyeing something more comfortable and spacious.

Finally! A truck that actually fits on a trail.

I had 2003 Ranger before I traded it in 2011 for a new F-150 5.0L. My Ranger was a great truck though, was a regular cab 5-Speed stick, the only downside was it had the gutless 3.0L V6 which, while reliable had the power of a small 4 cylinder coupled with the fuel economy of a big V6. Overall great truck though, having the standard transmission made it much more fun to drive than it had any right to be with that paltry 3.0L V6 powering it.

it's absolutely shocking how similar this is, on the inside especially, to my 1999 ranger xlt lol. the appeal is definitely obvious, it's just so freaky seeing all the elements i can pick out from my own truck's interior and even hearing the *beeeeeep* as you get out that mine also does...!

curently driving and fixing up a 94 ranger. it in decent shape for PA and its what i got, been fun in the snow so far with now 4 wheel drive though XD

More cars around this era pleaseeeeeee! :)

I have a 06 Ranger 4X4 with the SOHC 4.0 and a 5-Speed. Mine is an XL with the short cab. It weighs only 3400 lbs. Thing moves pretty good. Though have to store stuff in the bed box on long trips due to basically no room behind the seats.

i have a 2002 ford ranger, with the same motor, and the differences are absolutely insane..

I miss these body on frame micro trucks. Seems like they will never come back

I miss my 02, same thing as this minus the face lift. Coldest a/c I’ve ever had in a vehicle period too…. Quick little truck that would go anywhere that’s for sure

i drive a 1999 4.0L ford ranger and its fun to see how not much changed between the years, except for how I wish mine didn't have crank windows..

Love my 06 Ranger 4x4 with the 4.0. Will keep it on the road as long as I can considering how bad the new Fords are doing.

I would take this truck over anything that's currently out today!!!! There's just something about older, simple vehicles that make me smile!!!! No bs, no overly complicated tech. Just drive, and enjoy a CD.

Got a 09 xlt 4x4 with only 93k miles no rust for living in the Midwest only payed 9k and it has never let me down

I had a 2011 4.0 automatic 2WD, good truck. I'd buy a manual one though if I were to buy another.

Maaan those back seats used to make me so carsick when i was a little kid lol

Ford Ranger Engine: 4.0L v6 Transmission: 4 speed automatic 0-60: at some point Fuel economy: No Fun: 10/10 would drive like lunatic again.

I added a supercharger to my 4.0 Ranger. It's a lot of fun. I love driving.

I have an '04 XLT with the FX4 package. It has lousy mpg, you feel every crack and pebble in the road (I call it the boneshaker), all the plastics are flexy, creaky, and squeaky, there's panel gaps everywhere, I'm convinced whoever designed the seats wasn't familiar with human anatomy, road noise infiltrates the cabin through every crevice, and even on dry roads the tail kicks out really easily. However, it's nimble for it's size, fits well in the city, shrugs off the harsh Denver winters in 4x4 mode, easily scampers up steep mountain roads, and in an age where all new cars are completely digitized and sterilized, it's nice to drive something so simple and so analog. There definitely is a market for these trucks now; my Ranger has 133,000 miles on it, but it's in good shape save for a large dent in the side of the bed from the previous owner, and I routinely have random people coming up to me at gas stations and grocery stores asking me if I'm interested in selling it.

that ones optioned rly nicely tbh. a lot of these were 2wd base sport models here in canada

Unfortunately with the 2010/11 models the traction control can't really be turned off. It turns back on automatically around 10-15 mph from what I've been told.

I had a a 95 XLT V6. Loved it!

That is a pristine little pickup truck right there, I'd love to get something like that some day with a 2.3 4 cylinder 2WD or even better a 4.0 V6 4WD and a manual transmission. I don't know if I would trust the 3.0L engine though since it does not make much power for its size and it may have had cylinder head issues around the 2010 model year or so.

The current gen Ranger was designed by Ford Australia and it's counterpart or cousin the Mazda BT-50 isn't sold in North American or Japanese markets.

I have that exact truck except I have the 2 wheel drive version. It's been very good to me. The 4.0 gets knocked for it's fuel mileage, but it does better than my old 3.9 Dakota did ......

@thetopher or sub topher. I have a 2004 2.3 5 speed here in milwaukee with 31,000 original miles. The whole truck is almost all original except for tires. No rust. I store it winters and it's a 2nd vehicle for me. If you want to drive it next time you make it out to elkhart lake or milwaukee area, let me know.

Nice black truck. Cool. I still have blue ranger 2011 truck. Near 160, miles. It has been replace clutch last year, also replaced gasket valve cover been oil leaking into spark plug tube. I still love this truck perfect budget for me and today vehicles hard to get budget new vehicles. This American all about money. That black ranger with v6 gas tank is 16 gallon should has 20 gallon to fit travel up to 400 miles but 16 gallon only up to about 340 miles. My truck is 2.3 4’cycle fit 16 gallon. No longer make end 2011. New rangers are not for my budget.

So cool to see the same V6 from the early S197 mustang

My friend has one of these. Awesome vehicle!

My first truck as a teenager lol loved it

You flip the dimmer switch all the way up and past the click to turn on the cab light in a Ranger. Older models had this labeled around the dial itself.

i love my girlfriend’s 2001 Ford Ranger 4.0L 4X4 XLT !! its awesome. my RSX type S and her Ranger make a great combo 😄

I own a 2010 Ranger but the versions that came to my country in those years had an International 3.0 engine with around 160 horsepower and we didn't get the interior updates nor bigger engine options or automatic transmissions, instead we got a face lift and wider fenders wich they actually look great in my opinion but still, underneath it's the same truck that came out in 1998 i think. I'm in love with my truck don't get me wrong, it's my first car in fact, but it would have been nice to get some of the upgrades you got in the USA before the new version of the ranger came out

i have a 89 ranger with a 4 speed manual and the same with my 93 i love them to death

Quick question for anyone who knows: Does that Radio have Bluetooth, and if so, say I wanted to play a song from my phone, into the truck's stereo, would I be able to?

love your vibe bro

Wow, incredible flashbacks to my old 98' 4.0 SOHC explorer that I drove for 14 years.

just traded my 08 fx4/sport 5 speed for a 2018 gti and god do i still miss that truck. unfortunately something in the clutch system on my truck was bunk and couldn't be fixed, either way definitely gonna pick another ranger up in the future.

Love my 06 Ranger FX4!

2010 very different from previous years. Traction & stability control, side airbags, 4 wheel disc brakes. Some great safety features vs 2009 and older. I have owned both versions and currently have a dark red 2010 Ranger Sport 2wd. The traction control is more aggressive than the limited slip that was available 2007 and prior. I have been driving it through the winter in Alberta with Cooper Cobras on it and goofy sizes of 295/50r15 rear and 235/60r15 front. I haven’t tried since the recent 12”+ of snot though,,,, it WILL get stuck then!! 😂. The fuel economy is 24mpg imperial on the highway average. If it’s perfect conditions it bumps up to 26 mpg. That’s at 65mph or 105kph. City mileage just sucks,,, haha. The topper on the Ranger here weighs about, or slightly over, 200 lbs. these trucks last well over 400,000 kms (250,000 miles). There’s not usually any serious issues show before that except front end parts, especially with the 4x4 models. Nice trucks for city use, tow 6,000 lbs and the 2wd I have has a near 1200 lb payload. I have towed up to 3500 lbs with no issues. Put it in tow/haul mode (push the button on the end of the gear shift (automatic only) and drive! There’s a reasonably wide torque band on the engine so it does well even in windy conditions. 6x12 V-Nose trailer both tandem and single axel. I prefer the tandem axel trailer.

Michigan roads suck. $15K price for a 13 yr old ranger with 76,000 miles sucks too, but that seems to be the market. Good video.

I had a 07 Ranger fire truck red extended cab 4.0 V6. It was a nice little truck but it came with the typical baggage a ford is associated with. Got rid of the thing a little over a year of owning it. I do have good memories with it though.

I have a 1994 1st gen Explorer with the 4.0 it’s engine is amazing the transmission needs work buts she’s reliable asf

There’s a lot of cars from 2000-2010 that still feel modern and relevant against todays vehicles (as far as the interior). This one isn’t one of them.

my first truck was a 04 with a v6 4L 4x4, I miss it so much but let go at 270xxxkm when headgasket let go

Love you topher

my stepfather had one of these trucks, very reliable it had over 230k miles. he ended up selling it because the frame split from all the rust.

I was so disappointed when ford showed the new Ranger, I loved these old rangers because them and the Tacomas were the perfect size mini trucks. You had everything you needed and nothing you didnt, just a cozy capable truck

i got the 2.3L 5 speed, its all right, but they have a 4.0L v6 option with the 5 speed! i have one for winter ofc, since i modded my ranger w the 2.3