Ford Ranger

**BMKal** · 25th March 2018, 12:16 PM

I've been looking at Utes a lot lately - possibly going to buy one in the not too distant future.

Have had a HiLux (work) for the past 6 months. Reliable and does what it is designed for quite well - but has its issues as well. I was prepared to consider one until I saw the price of new ones. Have scratched them off the list.

Only other two of the commonly available Utes I've considered are the Ford and the VW. I like the Ford, and my son has a 2.0 litre auto Amarok. The Amarok is a nicer drive (significantly) and has more room in the back (if that is an issue). The 3.2 Ford might be a better option in power - until you consider the V6 Amarok which is now available at only slightly higher pricing.

One other I've looked at is the Chinese made LDV T60. A huge improvement on previous Chinese offerings - bloody nice to drive if a little underwhelming in the power department. Has basically the same 2.8 litre intercooled VGT VM Motori diesel as Holden Colorado and various model Jeeps with choice of 6 speed manual or speed auto transmission. It's as big as an Amarok in the back (you can fit a standard pallet between the wheel arches). Top spec "Lux" auto at less than $37K drive away has to be worth considering - it is about half the price of some of the top spec Japanese models (and Amarok). Definitely has me looking further.

**AK83** · 25th March 2018, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by 3rr

.... Which year/s were ZFs?

Personally no idea.
But I remember him saying about the first couple of years .. or something like that.

If yours has gremlins, I do remember him saying they do come up good once they've sorted it.
And one of the main methods of sorting them out is to just change the trans, easier than spending time to fix one up.

**Tote** · 26th March 2018, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by AK83

A friend is the service manager at a Ford dealership, and he reckons that the most common single fault on the cars that come in for work is the Auto box in the Ranger.
He said the earlier ZF built ones never had issues, only the later Ford built boxes.

Its a very similar box to the Disco box and the six speed Falcon box, they all had issues if the oil wasn't changed regularly....

Regards,
Tote

**gromit** · 27th March 2018, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by Tote

Its a very similar box to the Disco box and the six speed Falcon box, they all had issues if the oil wasn't changed regularly....

Regards,
Tote

I think it’s the 6R80 box the same as the Territory diesel.
Apparently stronger than the ZF which was used in the petrol Territory.

Oil change recommended at 250,000km but this depends very much on driving style, load carried/ towed etc. At least the correct spec oil is a lot cheaper than that for the ZF.

Colin

**Zeros** · 27th March 2018, 08:26 AM

The Ranger 2.2 has a Defender engine

Tombie · 27th March 2018, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by Zeros

The Ranger 2.2 has a Defender engine

And in the Ranger it’s flat out trying to pull skin off a custard..

**Tins** · 27th March 2018, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by 3rr

We have 4 3.0 litre Rangers, 1 of which is auto. The auto has had (and still does) gremlins. Which year/s were ZFs?

Let's see how the swear filter deals with John Cadogen:

"Chris, I contacted a senior Ford executive with your question, and they got back to me in record time. The Chinese knock-off rumour-mongers are apparently bull****ting you. Ford does use some ZF gearboxes - but mostly in passenger cars and some SUVs. Not Ranger. I think ZF does actually have a gearbox factory in China - so they’re not copies, they’re ZF gearboxes made in China. Big difference.
According to Ford, Ranger’s 6R80 auto transmission is made by Ford and manufactured in one of Ford’s factories in North America. And the Ranger manual gearbox is manufactured in China under a joint-venture agreement with Getrag. So this might be the kernel of truth from which this oak tree of bull**** actually germinated. Chinese whispers, literally."

Source: https://autoexpert.com.au/posts/is-the-ford-ranger-gearbox-made-in-china

My bolding. The question he was answering was about Chines ZF knock offs, a result of some "rumours".

Note. The article quoted was published in 2015.

**Tins** · 27th March 2018, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Tombie

And in the Ranger it’s flat out trying to pull skin off a custard..

The 3.2, on the other hand, would pull the custard off the skin...

That's the engine that LR should have put in at the very least the 130.

**trout1105** · 27th March 2018, 10:48 AM

We had a older model manual Ford Ranger at work ( not sure of the engine size) and in the 7 years that we had it copped an absolute flogging and the only problem we had was the hose to the turbo came off once which was an easy fix and the headlight fuse used to blow occasionally.
It was usually fully loaded with heavy tools and equipment towing a heavy work trailer as well.
It had over 50,000K's on it we the boss traded it in and bought 2 new rangers.
I don't know about the new rangers But that old one was an absolute ripper work bus

**Tins** · 27th March 2018, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by trout1105

We had a older model manual Ford Ranger at work
I don't know about the new rangers But that old one was an absolute ripper work bus

What do you mean by "older"? If the Ranger was pre 2011 ( not sure which month ) it was based on the BT-50 Mazda. Since 2011 the situation reversed, and the BT-50 has been based on the Ford.

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