MotorWeek | Retro Review: '83 Ford Ranger

[Kcducttaper]

1983 Ford Ranger MPG - 27 city 39 hwy
2020 Ford Ranger MPG - 21 city 26 hwy
Looks like those EPA mandates are working great!

[Edsecondstocomply]

A four cylinder manual transmission old school ranger is one of the most reliable American made vehicles you'll ever find.

[MarkMeadows]

My dad had a 1988 Ranger XLT long bed, 5 speed manual. I loved that truck!

[bhvideo]

I really liked both of my Rangers! One was 2WD like this one and the other was a super cab 4WD. Both lasted me for many years with very few troubles, along with good value and dependability. 👍

It's also amazing how long the original 1983-2011 Ranger run lasted with only minimal styling updates.

[Porschedriver]

Those still are great little trucks, still a bunch around. Prefer a V6 for a little more grunt though. Hate all these giant megaton trucks today.

[branon]

I've got an 84 Ranger 4x4 with the 2.3l and a 4spd...it's got 298, 212 miles on it, never had the motor opened up, and it's my daily driver....I friggin love that little rig....

[alexknees]

I just bought an '87 single cab this past weekend. Automatic trans. 51k miles on the 2.9L V6. Love these old trucks.

[packard]

I have a 1987 Ranger XLT with the 2.3 and 5 speed manual and it is the best and most useful truck I have ever owned. Not the quickest thing on the road but very reliable!

[tilsenmulalley]

I used to have an 87. Thing was sturdy as hell.

[RhinoXpress]

I love these retro reviews keep them coming!!!!

[MaestroTJS]

Too many big trucks on the market today when I'm sure people could get away with something smaller for most of their needs.  But there's probably an image factor in that segment....

25 mpg average is quite impressive though!  I don't think there's a truck on the market today that matches that.

[DUNEATV]

I just love the looks of a Ford Ranger. Two tone paint back then was cool. They were great truck too...very reliable!

[firemasterx]

Wish they make small truck nowadays, 2011 was the last year of that

[Doc]

We’ve had an 83, 88, 90 and now our 11. Our 11 is the best Ranger we’ve owned so far

[Firejob]

I had one of these. That 4 banger couldn't get out of its own way.

[ChipmunkRapidsMadMan]

I loved all three of mine. My 4.0 was great for driving sideways on fire trails.

[ClassicTVManX]

This marked the return of the German-built 2.8 V6 engine in the US; its last use was in the 1979 Fox-body Mustang and Mercury Capri, but when Ford couldn't get enough 2.8s for the 1980 model year due to supply problems in Cologne, Germany, the engine was temporarily discontinued in the US in the 4th quarter of MY1979 and replaced by the old 3.3 "Thriftpower" inline six initially used in the 1965 (after August 1964) Mustang.

[pizzasubs]

speaking of not fitting 3 people very comfortably,  I remember my grandfather had a truck like this and I always sat in the middle,  and with it being a manual transmission,  I was always told that you have to be on a first name basis with the driver only because the way I sat in the truck,  when the driver shifted to either 2nd gear or 4th gear,  those two shifts always came really close to the you now what's....LOL

[wildbillc]

I loved my 84 Ranger. I still miss that truck.

[jasonmastbergen]

I've had all sorts of Branco ll and rangers they run for ever they get great gas mileage the body's supports go first I have had 2.3 2.8 2.9s all run great with over 400 thound miles on a 2.9 I parked it it sat 10 years and started right up and drove 60 miles to the new owners. I still have a Ford ranger it's a 88 exd cab with a 2.9 five speed runs great its 4x4 I live in Minnesota it can get down to 44 blow zero it starts every time it goes through snow great don't even have to put it in 4 wheel and I love it and I'm a mopar man never done any thing to but changed the oil and put gas in it .it's got 84.000 miles on it I pull sracp with it and a full size car tralier I've halled 2010 John deer WITH it pulled just fine 3/4ton junk trucks you name it I've pulled it out of a grove