The 2005 Ford Ranger
By 2005, the Ford Ranger had been the best-selling compact pickup truck in America for 17 years. It definitely found its niche in the market. Some for men, a flashy ride means a sports car. For family men, only an SUV will do, mainly because it’s a minivan disguised as a sport vehicle. But for others, nothing quite says "manly" like a pickup truck. Tough, rugged, and sturdy, it's a symbol of the blue-collar man's work ethic and independence. Unfortunately, pickup trucks also drink down the high-octane stuff like a sailor on shore leave.
That's where the Ford Ranger comes in. It's the pickup truck for city boys. It's smaller, slimmer design fits better into those tight urban parking spaces. When the only hauling you do is helping friends move, you don't really need to gas-guzzling power of a V8 engine, and the Ranger engine's better fuel economy becomes a big selling point. In recent years, Ford's competition have taken their small pickups have given them increasingly bigger engines and roomier cabs—but that has also increased their overall size. The 2005 Ford Ranger remains one of the few truly small, compact pickup trucks with a fuel economy and price tag to match.
The Ford Ranger comes with three basic engine packages. At the base level is a 143-horsepower (hp), 2.3-liter V4 engine. This engine lacks the hauling, towing, and acceleration capacity of its bigger brothers, but compensates for it somewhat with better fuel economy. In the middle is the 154-hp 3.0-liter V6 engine, which delivers all the power and performance needed for the small truck. This model is also a flexible-fuel engine, meaning it can also burn the E-85 ethanol-gasoline mixed fuel in addition to gasoline. Although this doesn't necessarily give the engine better fuel economy, it does cost less to fill the tank. This is the standard engine for the automatic transmission Super Cab Models. On the high end is a 207-hp, 4.0-liter V6 engine, a good choice if you need to do a lot of heavy hauling and towing. Otherwise, this is a bit of overkill for a compact pickup. All engines are available in either manual or automatic 5-speed transmission, and in either two-rear wheel or four-wheel drive.
When it comes to cab models, this is definitely a bachelor's truck. The Regular Cab only seats two, and even the Super Cab has only two rear-facing, fold-down seats that too cramped for comfortable riding, especially over long distances. Family men may need to look elsewhere for a true extended cab or crew cab pickup.
There's not a lot of variety in truck bed lengths. Super Cab models are available only with a 6-foot (1.8-meter) truck bed. Regular Cabs over either a 6-foot (1.8-meter) or 7-foot (2.1-meter) truck bed. All truck beds come in either flat Styleside versions (for more room inside the truck bed, or Flareside (for a flashier look).
The Ford Ranger continues to be the best compact pickup for off-roading. In four-wheel drive, the 4.0-liter V6 engine provides strong low-rpm torque for off-road work. A high ground clearance allows it to clear most bumps and ruts. If it doesn't, skid plates shield the transfer case and fuel tank from damage. The suspension, shocks, springs, bushings, and tires were redesigned in 2004 to provide a smoother ride.
Overall, although the 2005 Ford Ranger's design is beginning to show its age, it is still a good, solid pickup. Although not a powerful or a spacious as it's competitors, it is still tough, rugged, and reliable, especially for the light hauling and commuting of the urban driver. Despite its size, it's still a good, dependable work truck. With better fuel economy and a lower price tag (retail prices start below $15,000 (£11,000) than most of its competitors, this is the perfect entry-level pickup for the young urban single guy.