2005 Ford Ranger Consumer Reviews

Update after 3 years. Even better.

Written by: JDP on 05/02/2008

Vehicle

2005 Ford Ranger 2dr Regular Cab XL Rwd Styleside SB (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I wanted to give an update after owing the Ranger for 3 years. I am even more impressed with this little truck than earlier. Mileage is still great for a truck (4cyl,5spd) I still have the original tires. No squeaks or rattles, and it is a truck. Moved from Austin to DFW with a full load and a trailer load behind. Probably 2000lbs total. I thought it would be a slow 4th gear go. Not a bit of it. Got out on I35, shifted up to 5th gear and away we went. I love this truck. I have met several owners that have owned more than one and now I know why.

Favorite Features

This is the little truck that can do it all and get good mileage doing it.

Suggested Improvements

I can't think of any.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Great Truck

Written by: Rick on 04/26/2008

Vehicle

2005 Ford Ranger 2dr SuperCab EDGE Rwd Styleside SB (3.0L 6cyl 5M)

Review

It's a truck & rides like one. I can live with that. Terrible gas mileage. Average 19 mpg under the best circumstances. Wish it was better. Considering trading it in for a VW or something that gets some mileage.

Favorite Features

Body style

Suggested Improvements

Better gas mileage.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Nice truck for couples

Written by: JJJohnson on 04/22/2008

Vehicle

2005 Ford Ranger 4dr SuperCab EDGE Rwd Styleside SB (3.0L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I traded my F150 in for the Ranger hoping to get above 20 MPG in which I barely get 19 with the 3.0. Other that than this is a nice small truck which handles well. It pulls my 14' tandem trailer with ease.

Favorite Features

Rides as high as a full size truck for driving in pastures.

Suggested Improvements

Better gas mileage. A sixth gear for the highway would accomplish that.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Yum, I like to eat tires

Written by: Mike on 03/26/2008

Vehicle

2005 Ford Ranger 2dr Regular Cab XLT Rwd Styleside SB (2.3L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I bought my little 4 cyl. for about 10k. It has nothing but ac, spray in bedliner, and a cd player. I like the interior and the seats okay. My problem is it always eats the tires. I have the tires rotated, and the alignment check over and over and yet it still eats the inside of the front left. Ford says there is nothing wrong with it.. You get what you pay for. I want something new but my wife won't let me get anything worthwhile and we don't have much money so 10k is 10k. Stay away if you aren't poor like me.

Favorite Features

Mileage

Suggested Improvements

Build something comparable to a Toyota or at least bring back the Bronco with a rag top and I could do that

1 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Stay away!

Written by: Aaron on 10/06/2007

Vehicle

2005 Ford Ranger 2dr SuperCab XLT 4WD Styleside SB (4.0L 6cyl 5M)

Review

My 2005 Ford Ranger was as close to being a lemon as a vehicle could get! Between the choppy, whining ride, to the rediculous plastic interior, this was definately a vehicle I regret buying. I had to take the vehicle in for service twice in the first 2 months. Once for it switching to 4WD Low on its own (and I couldn't get it out of 4WD!), the second when the inertia switch failed while I was driving at 70 on the freeway. All systems shut down: ABS, powersteering, transmission, everything! I nearly wrecked on that one. STAY AWAY FROM THE FORD RANGER!

Favorite Features

The front end it cool looking.

Suggested Improvements

Discontinue this death trap!

4 out 11 people found this review helpful

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Edge

Written by: Cary on 09/21/2007

Vehicle

2005 Ford Ranger 2dr Regular Cab EDGE Rwd Styleside SB (3.0L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Nice little truck. The only true compact truck on the market. I am a little disappointed with the acceleration of the 3.0 V6. I took it to the drag strip. 17.80 at 76 mph. The manual shifter is a little stiff, so I replaced it with a Hurst shifter. I am pleased with the gas mileage. it matched the EPA estimate.

Favorite Features

White faced gauges, cool Sonic Blue paint.

Suggested Improvements

Better transmission shifter.

4 out 6 people found this review helpful

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Test Drive Them All

Written by: Mediocre on 07/07/2007

Vehicle

2005 Ford Ranger 4dr SuperCab EDGE Rwd Styleside SB (3.0L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I bought my Ford in 2005 when they had the employees discount promotion. When I test drove the truck things were OK. The ride was better when I bought the truck than it is now. Every once in a while there is a creaking noise from the right side when you go over something crooked. The 4.0L engine is enough to do anything I need but the interior misses with quality. The dash plastics on the drivers side don't come together right, and there are varoius rattles, squeaks, and creeks that everyone tells me are "normal operating noises"-yeah right! The 150's ride better but are too much money. Why not put that quality into the Ranger series of trucks Ford? I mean quiet is nice in a truck too.

Favorite Features

Engine. Nice power and giddy up! Tranny shifts smooth, sometimes rough. Style. Mags are nice, design is OK.

Suggested Improvements

Overhaul the style of the truck. Seems the interior and exterior hasn't changed that much in 10 years. Better quality on interior items. Quiet up the cab for wind noise and block out exterior noise. Quieter ride would be nice.

2 out 4 people found this review helpful

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mountaingoat

Written by: Preston on 03/09/2007

Vehicle

2005 Ford Ranger 2dr SuperCab XLT 4WD Styleside SB (4.0L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I purchased this truck as a replacement for one that was totaled in a wreck. It is a daily driver to and from work mainly but in the fall and winter this little truck really shines when we go through the mountains here in VA hunting for deer. If the tires could get traction on a tree I think it would climb it. The 4-wheel drive system has never let me down and I have been in some pretty bad places.

Favorite Features

By far the 4-wheel drive system and the steering. The 4.0 liter has plenty of power.

Suggested Improvements

Supply a bedliner and cargo light.

3 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Poor Brakes, poor quality!

Written by: Ken on 12/26/2006

Vehicle

2005 Ford Ranger 2dr Regular Cab XLT 4WD Styleside SB (3.0L 6cyl 5M)

Review

I have owned this Ranger for almost two years. I have faced continuous problems with the braking system. Continued maintenance required that is charged to "clean, adjust, lubricate, inspect" the brakes. Pad on disc brakes continue to hang up. Too many issues with the entire braking system for me to be satisfied with this vehicle. If you live in a climate where there is snow and/or road salt, do not buy as you will have to pay for the brake service at least once a year ($80+). I have had mine done three times because normal driving on highways with snow, road salt, sand causes brakes to hang up. Would recommend looking at foreign made trucks such as Nissan Frontier and Toyota Tacoma instead!

Favorite Features

None.

Suggested Improvements

Need better cup holder design. Brakes are absolutely lousy. Needs higher quality brakes, better standard warranty, better crash test ratings & a VAST improvement on fuel economy. Very dull interior that needs to be revamped with digital gauges and more features!

1 out 8 people found this review helpful

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A sporty truck...

Written by: mike surf on 12/13/2006

Vehicle

2005 Ford Ranger 2dr SuperCab EDGE Rwd Styleside SB (3.0L 6cyl 5M)

Review

Wonderfully comfortable seats, good handling, and I like the "trucky" styling. My 3rd Ranger.

Favorite Features

Seats...and armrest is high enough for use. So many vehicles have the armrest too low!

Suggested Improvements

Map lights, PLEASE.

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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