Hi folks, I'm Pete. Brand new to Rangers, learning more about them Forced to buy another truck because I was a dumb **** and tried to drive a mile with no serpentine belt. BAD IDEA. So I killed my S10 and I'd gladly buy another but I can't find any and Rangers are ubiquitous. There's one near Santa Barbara (I'm in the SF Bay Area) I think will be ok but it's at 90K and that's a point where some expensive **** starts to happen, like timing belt (the S10 was better in this regard, had a timing chain). The owner says it has a front end squeak which he thinks is a control arm. If it]s the UPPER control arm, that's a spendy job because I'm 68 and can't do a lot of things any more. I just hurt too easily, ya know?

So any advice about buying an XLT (https://santabarbara.craigslist.org/...530089975.html) and if you have any opinions on what I'm looking at (and what maintenance horrors I can expect) I am grateful in advance. Thank you.

 

You don't mention in the post about the year of Ranger you are looking at, you should include that

In your profile I see 1999 2.3l but no mention of manual or automatic trans

1999 Rangers had 2.5l 4cyl option, 1998-2001
But its just a stroked version of 2.3l used from 1983 thru 1997, so basically the same engine

Yes, these use a Timing belt but are non-interference engines so broken belt won't cause engine damage, but engine would also not run if that happened, lol
To have a shop change the timing belt it should cost under $500, closer to $400, parts and labor, includes fresh coolant
People often change the water pump at that time, $45 or less
Fan belt as well if its cracking

The 2.3l and 2.5l SOHC Lima engines were used in Fords from 1974 thru 2000, 1/2 year in 2001, so proved to be very reliable engines or Ford would have dropped them from the line
They could do up to 25MPG but expect 22MPG or so with automatic trans

"Squeak in the front" is not much to go on, look at front tire wear, if it looks equal across the tread then most likely just a bushing
If inner or outer tread wear then ball joints are the issue

Look at the gas and brake pedal pad wear, does it match the mileage shown on odometer?
Check all the fluids, smell them
Fresh fluids are often a sign seller is trying to hide a known issue, but could just be they are good at maintaining vehicle, judgment call

Manual trans would be M5OD-R1 and bullet-proof, just needs a new clutch when it starts to slip
Automatic will be a 4R44E model, same as any automatic, change fluids and filter and its should last 200K+ miles, but like any automatic cost is high to replace/repair
This automatic was used from 1986 thru 2011 in Rangers so has a good reputation, but IT IS a Automatic, lol

Ask if you can pay for an inspection, if seller says no outright then walk away, you dodged a bullet, if they say yes, then its up to you to pay for an inspection if you want, usually about $150
But after the inspection, things are always found(it's 23 years old), lol, you can "usually" negotiate the price down enough to cover the cost of the inspection

Make sure Title is Clean, not Rebuilt or Salvaged

Used Rangers are a pretty safe bet, as you said there are lots of them around........................because they just keep on keeping on :)

 

Apologies, the Ad said the year, but it's a '99.
An inspection is mandatory. Here's what I usually do - I tell them, "I will bring an inspector of my choosing, whom you will not know. But before we get started, here's the deal - I will give you your price, but you fix every squawk (or at least major ones) my guy finds. Your guy or mine.
If they refuse, you walk away. In this case, because it's so far away, I'd have to make the offer before traveling. Either way, if the thing is as cherry as he says, my guy won't find anything and away we go.

Edit: Manual trans only. I'm 68 and have only owned one automatic in my lifetime. I can drive them but I don't like to.