Road Tests: Long-Term Test

We've completed this test. Click here to see the final results.

We've said it before and we'll say it again - everybody needs a truck. Our staff is no exception. Trucks are great for hauling stuff like supplies from Home Depot or detritus from a spring cleaning session. Who do you call when you're moving? A friend with a truck. How do you avoid delivery charges on large pieces of furniture and electronics equipment? Use a truck.

When equipped with four-wheel drive, a truck confidently battles any type of inclement weather. And if you want to have a little fun, head for the hills and do a little off-roading. How do you get baby formula in the middle of a blizzard? Use a truck. How do you get to a remote campground away from the (literally) unwashed masses? Use a truck.

What trucks, specifically pickups, are not so great for is hauling people. So as primary family transportation, trucks generally fail miserably. But innovations are making pickups more palatable. Witness our new long-term Ford Ranger. We bought a Bright Red extended cab model with a Flareside bed and a four-door cab. The Ranger, along with twin the Mazda B-Series, is the first compact pickup on the market with four-door cab access. We plan to put this $595 option to good use during the next couple of years, loading people, pets and packages into the Ranger on a regular basis.

We also selected the off-road package, partially so that our Ranger can serve support duty on four-wheeling excursions and partially because we hate the chrome grille affixed to other four-wheel drive Ranger XLT models. Apparently we're in the minority; all 1999 Ranger off-road trucks get chrome bumpers and grilles. The off-road package is mostly cosmetic, but does include specially tuned shock absorbers for heavy-duty use.

For 1998, Ford substantially updated the Ranger, allowing the vehicle to qualify for our long-term testing program. In addition to a four-door extended cab option and an available off-road package, Ford engineers made the front frame section 370 percent more resistant to twisting by adding front box-section rails. To offset weight, the hood is now aluminum. A new short- and long-arm front suspension improves ride and handling, while the addition of power rack-and-pinion steering provides better feel and response.

Our truck has a new patented Pulse Vacuum Hublock four-wheel drive system that allows us to shift into four-wheel drive at any normally traveled speed. A single-piece driveshaft reduces noise and vibration in our Ranger. Other changes that helped us make our selection are the addition of improved seats, interior grab handles on the A-pillars and other minor modifications. Plus, the Ranger is the best-selling compact truck on the market.

When we arrived at El Cajon Ford in the San Diego area to pick up our new pickup, customers were inquiring whether the truck had been sold or was available. No wonder. This is a good looking Ranger, sporty in appearance and equipped with very sharp, five-spoke aluminum wheels. We plan to add a bedliner and black tubular side rails to enhance the appearance and functionality of our truck. If you're interested in obtaining a Ranger like ours (which we special-ordered), contact Phil Smithey, the fleet manager at El Cajon Ford. He was a pleasure to do business with, and delivered our truck on time and flawlessly detailed.

Initial impressions of our Ranger are good. Editor-in-Chief Christian Wardlaw drove our latest long-term acquisition to Los Angeles after delivery, and found the truck comfortable and fun to drive. Already he wants a seat height adjuster, though, because without a power driver's seat the bottom cushion feels too close to the floor. The stereo system produces excellent sound, and the rear doors are already making life with a pickup easy. The 4.0-liter V6 makes adequate power, helped by the five-speed automatic transmission in getting to speed.

We're looking forward to subjecting the Ranger to a Colorado winter during coming months, so stay tuned.

Best Fuel Economy: 13.6 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 13.6 mpg
Maintenance Costs: $0
Problems: None