Rangerx2
Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2016
- Messages
- 86
- Reaction score
- 27
- Points
- 18
- Location
- Pennsylvania
- Vehicle Year
- 2012
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 3.7 V6
- Transmission
- Automatic
- My credo
- Always question authority
I finally got the opportunity to drive a new Ranger last week. One of the largest volume dealers in the Pittsburgh area, Shults Ford has a bunch of them between their two locations. So I scheduled an appointment for last Thursday after work and went up drove an entry-level XL Supercab fleet truck with basically no other options except 4wd, locking diff, and a cool back up alarm. Salesman explained it was part of a fleet order that the company backed out of and didn't purchase all the trucks they had ordered. This truck even had vinyl seats with the rear seat delete package. The rear seat delete is one option I'm actually interested in as I would never be putting people back there. that area would be reserved for cargo and/or pets. For pets I can always put down a large pillow for them to lay on. I told the guy I'm thinking probably the STX package on the XL but I wanted to drive that one just to get an idea of how it drives and how much real interior space there is in a supercab. Numbers don't mean much until you see one.
All in all, I was impressed! I like that truck! The size is right, The 2.3 Ecoboost felt like it plenty of power at any given time with the 10-speed automatic. It rode and handled nice on some back roads. It had a quiet and solid feel to it. Visibility outside was great, which is one thing I've always felt my 2012 F-150 is lacking in. The side mirrors provide good visibility for that size of a truck. When we got back to the dealer afetr the drive I backed into a spot between two other trucks and found it very easy to park. Only used the rear camera to spot the distance between myself and the expensive new Super Duty behind me. This model of course did not have the Co-Pilot 360 option with the sonar in the back bumper. Not sure I'd want that package either since I want as few electro-nannies as possible in my truck.
Having owned two previous Rangers, an 86 and a 95, I think this 2019 model does a great job of carrying that torch. I would like to see a naturally-aspirated engine option but that's just me. Obviously this truck was way quieter and more solid-feeling than I remember my 1986 truck being, but then, it better be! It's got 33 years of technology improvements over that first-gen! Unfortunately it's also a lot heavier and more complex than even the last-generation Ranger of 2011. Doesn't seem to be a whole lot bigger than the 2011's though. If anyone has photos of the two lined up side-by side I'd be intetrested in seeing them.
All in all, I was impressed! I like that truck! The size is right, The 2.3 Ecoboost felt like it plenty of power at any given time with the 10-speed automatic. It rode and handled nice on some back roads. It had a quiet and solid feel to it. Visibility outside was great, which is one thing I've always felt my 2012 F-150 is lacking in. The side mirrors provide good visibility for that size of a truck. When we got back to the dealer afetr the drive I backed into a spot between two other trucks and found it very easy to park. Only used the rear camera to spot the distance between myself and the expensive new Super Duty behind me. This model of course did not have the Co-Pilot 360 option with the sonar in the back bumper. Not sure I'd want that package either since I want as few electro-nannies as possible in my truck.
Having owned two previous Rangers, an 86 and a 95, I think this 2019 model does a great job of carrying that torch. I would like to see a naturally-aspirated engine option but that's just me. Obviously this truck was way quieter and more solid-feeling than I remember my 1986 truck being, but then, it better be! It's got 33 years of technology improvements over that first-gen! Unfortunately it's also a lot heavier and more complex than even the last-generation Ranger of 2011. Doesn't seem to be a whole lot bigger than the 2011's though. If anyone has photos of the two lined up side-by side I'd be intetrested in seeing them.