9th May 2008, 16:33

When I got my learner's permit in 1984, one of the first cars that I drove was my dad's 1929 Model A Ford, which needless to say (hopefully) was a 3-speed manual. I was still driving that off and on up until a few years ago when he sold it.

I next drove my dad's 1950 Chevy DeLuxe, which was a 3-speed manual mounted on the column, during my junior year of high school, and then I drove my parents' 1976 Plymouth Volarè, which had a 4-speed manual, during my senior year.

My first car was a 1964 Dodge 440 with a 3-speed manual mounted on the column.

By the time I came home to visit from college, my parents had a 1983 Chevy Cavalier, which was a 4-speed manual, and that car was replaced with a 1984 Plymouth Reliant with a 4-speed manual.

More recently, I've driven the two Toyota motorhomes that my parents picked up, which both had manual transmissions.

And then there is the 1984 Ford Explorer pickup with manual transmission, and the several Jeep Wranglers that I drove for my grandfather, not to mention the 1938 Allis Chalmers tractor, 1950 Ford tractor, etc...

Americans can't drive stick-shifts? Uh-huh. Just keep up those broad generalizations, because they really hold true...

10th May 2008, 04:42

How about in the 70's and 80's America? Most of those appear to be automatic? I understand that most of America appears to have low speed limits for long straight roads - which would explain the love for Automatics (especially with huge engines that appear to do nothing except drink fuel). I am not on about cars from 100 years ago! It may be a misconception but all the American programs seen to feature huge, saloons (sedans) that are all automatic? Can you buy manual Ford Crown Vic's for example?

23rd Jun 2008, 22:17

The comments about whom learned to drive standards first, misses the point. Why did this gentleman fry his clutch?

When you back up a hill in two wheel drive, most of the vehicle weight is off the drive axle, so it will spin the wheels easily. If you then stomp on the gas, and push in the clutch often to try and get some 'bite' on the surface, guess what? You will fry your clutch! Clutch rotors don't just routinely burn out these days. That takes some real effort.

24th Jun 2008, 12:21

22:17 is correct. As a mechanic I can assure you that YES, it DOES take some real effort to destroy a clutch these days. Usually 150,000-250,000 miles is typical for a Ranger. Our family's companies use these little trucks and up until last year there were still some 1993 Rangers in the fleet. 300,000 miles out of a base 5-speed, 4 cylinder Ranger is not uncommon. They are some of the best little work trucks made.

26th Jul 2008, 11:28

Wow, sorry to hear you had bad luck with your '07 Ranger. I bought my '07 in '06 and have had absolutely no trouble whatsoever, the best & most reliable vehicle of any kind I've ever owned. My son bought and '08 and has had the same experience. Also, the Ford dealership has been awesome, treated me like a king every time. A number of friends & co-workers also own Rangers, from 3 - 10 years old and all love them. I would definitely buy another Ranger and would have to say that your experience is the exception rather than the rule..

26th Jul 2008, 22:15

I've driven Ford vehicles, including 4 Rangers over the last 30+ years and thankfully I have had virtually ZERO problems with any of them, because I can assure you that although the VEHICLES are bullet-proof, the service DEFINITELY is not up to par at a majority of Ford dealerships. That's why my family has gone from being a 3 Ford family 6 years ago to being a 1 Ford and 2 GM family now. Our GM dealer is great.

6th Jul 2009, 11:02

The American and European Rangers are very different trucks. That might explain why there seems to be more clutch problems in European online reviews. The European Ranger is a re-badged Mazda.

20th Mar 2010, 16:21

The first poster is correct, I got the burning smell at 50mph in fifth gear.

I wonder why Ford had to fit an uprated clutch from the middle of 2009 to the European Rangers with the 2.5 TDCi engine.

EH!!! I don't think it's because we can't drive them over here, it's because they had too! The word was out and Rangers were left sitting on dealers forecourts.

PS: the Model T was nothing more than a motorised wheelbarrow, and a crap one at that.

F = Fix

O = Or

R = Repair

D = Daily

20th Mar 2010, 16:29

For you folks across the pond.

An earlier poster from over there mentioned earlier in this post, how good the Explorer was.

The Ford Explorer was that GOOD, it had to be withdrawn from the European market.

But if you want to drive unsafe, deadly engineered SUV's, feel free.

And also nothing drives worse than than an F150, well maybe the new Mustang runs it close for first place.

I wonder why you lot buy loads of German cars when you think so much of Ford???

I rest my case.

7th Jun 2010, 14:16

Are there any UK bloggers that have a Ranger and were happy with it? I'm not worried about the dealership stuff, as I'm looking at buying a Ranger second hand, but haven't decided what model (new style or old). If anyone has any experience on these trucks, would they please share? I'm hearing so much conflicting info about both styles.

That the 03 - 06 had lots of problems fuel economy, tranny.

And that the new model is great. I prefer the style of the old, but I want it to be reliable.

Thanks.