1989 Ranger & 2025 Maverick - brothers separated by 36 years

[dbbii]

I had an 89 Ranger extended cab. Put about 160k miles on it with minimal issues. Really liked the 5 speed until I had to drive in a lot of traffic every day. As much as I didn't want to, decided to get an automatic, especially with a kid on the way. I really wanted another Ranger, but since the 2 dealers in my area were PITA about it, I went to Carmax and bought a 4 month old Maverick with 3k miles.

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[BLUEOVALRACER]

Off topic but that 1989 2.9L V-6 was a FANTASTIC engine. So much better that the 2.8L predecessor. I had one in a 1989 Bronco II and got 245,000 miles out of it with near zero issues

My Dad may He RIP had a 2.9 V-6 in His Bronco II.Every now and then it would fail to start.Right before He sold it we replaced the Fuel Pump Inertia Switch in it from the 89 Mustang i have since i swapped a 460 in it with a Carburetor.The Guy that bought it never had a problem with it after he bought it.My Dad changed some parts but it must have been the Inertia Switch all along that was the problem

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

I still have my '85 and use it for hauling things I don't want to put in the Mav. It's over 40 years old, bought in December, 1984. I swapped in a roller cam from a later model year, but all else is factory. It will be there until I no longer drive...
The Mav is larger except for the bed, and a LOT more comfortable and a LOT LOT easier to take on a long trip. Gets better fuel economy too.
If the Maverick has been offered as a regular cab/longer bed, with a 5-speed, I would have bought one of them. This pic from July 2019

This is from 1229 after driving home from the dealer.

Is that color on Your Maverick Area 51?

 

[grumpyunk]

Is that color on Your Maverick Area 51?

Yes, but what shows on my screen does not reflect actual appearance. It is darker in person.

 

[Waterick]

Love it. My first Ranger was an 87 XLT with the 2.8L V6 and a 5-speed. I put 744,000mi of mostly highway driving on the original engine and trans, although the rest of the drivetrain was too small and had to be replaced twice in that time. It was a good truck that was fun to drive, although it spent more than a few days on blocks while repairing the rear drivetrain issues. I bought a 2008 Ranger XL with a 3.0 V6 that was too big and tall for comfort. It was pretty gutless and got worse mileage than the 87, but at least the rear diff, wheel bearings and driveshaft were big enough not to constantly fail like on the 87. I only put 186,000 on it before I traded it in. I looked at the new Rangers, but they're now oversized monsters that defeat the purpose. Ford really messed up when they built the new Ranger. The 23 Lariat Mav is actually larger than the 87 Ranger and about the same size as the 08 one. Its very comfortable and does the job just fine, and now that I just do gardening and daytripping, its hopefully my final vehicle...

My '87 Ranger XLT 2WD with the 2.9 and 5 spd had over 245k on it when sold. Did replace the norm plus clutch, rear end, exhaust and heater core over the course of 12 years. The heater core was real easy; a door in the passenger footwell firewall for access. Was starting to have some coolant leaks and electrical switch problems when sold.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

Yes, but what shows on my screen does not reflect actual appearance. It is darker in person.

I really like that Area 51 color one of the nicest Colors on the Mavericks IMO although the Desert Sand on My 2025 is growing on Me.

 

[Bobby Chapman]

Love the old rangers

 

[grumpyunk]

Love the old rangers

Me too, that's why I still have mine.
I think withing FoMoCo there is a F-150 mafia that has more control over product
lineup cuz they are the 'cash cow' for Ford. They want their record to grow longer
as best selling...
So they feared a revised Ranger taking away from their F-150 sales... and they voted
to cancel the Ranger in spite of the 250.000 annual sales. Gave the market to Toyota.
Someone noticed... that F-150 did not gain the former Ranger buyers... the killed off a
market and gave it away while being the sales leader. Dumb move. It took a while
for common sense to show up. And when it did, the New Ranger was an older version
that had been on the WORLD market for several years... They would not allow the laters
version to be sold in USA. Dum clunks. Would knocked Toyota off the pedestal. And
gained a big chunk of the market. Could be wrong, but would not be surprised as
there is a lot of infighting in the Dearborn offices... factions for this that and the other.
Note, no more sedans. They may rue that decision as they likely will not get new
buyers to wander into the showrooms when the bottom dollar vehicle is a short step
from $50,000 ... what will they come to look at, and eventually look at a 150? not much
and they strangled Maverick sales, and are planning on dumping the Escape... and
have dumped models that were selling.. I doan geddit.
tom

 

[TheRef]

Miss my 5 speed on my 2011 XLT but very happy with 2022 XLT

 

[Old Young Man]

My first 4x4, a 84 Ranger long bed. Loved it but the manual transmission was a weak spot.
Miss it, rusted away. Wish they made a two door Tremor version.

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