Found an 86 Ranger on CL that I am interested in. I previously owned a 98 Ranger 3.0L with an automatic and I was very underwhelmed by it. Anemic power and abysmal MPG.

My daily is a Wrangler with better power but worse MPG. I wanted to find something that would let me haul things for around the house and make better MPG along the way.

Found this 86 Ranger on CL and it looks great. Its a 4cyl with a manual. My only fear with a vehicle this age is problems with maintenance. I know every used car or truck is different, but did this generation have any significant issues to look out for or even just overall questions I could show up with when checking it out? Also, would I be better off saving a few hundred more and just getting a slightly newer generation Ranger? I don't care about fancy, I just want something that runs well, gets decent MPG and can haul things.

The guy is asking $1600, is that way out of line for an 86 Ranger? He apparently got it in trade for something. He just sells cars on the side it seems.

 

I would be careful. wheeler and dealers will ask high for a lemon. it looks clean, but look at it as best you can, we are talking frame, body, wheels the whole thing.

If he sells cars on the side he's looking for $$$ and wants to make a buck flipping lemons or cheap cars for top dollar. check out the car nex to it. if that's his he obviously makes a lot of money doing this....

 

Rangers will probably never be able to get good MPG's.. except maybe the 2.3.. but then you lose some of that hauling power. If you're driving it around the house, why worry about MPG's and just get a 4.0?