I'm getting the new Ford Ranger to test for 3 weeks!

I think Ford are taking an even bigger risk....giving them to the 5 members public to test as they see fit. There have been no rules other than staying within the wading depth (800mm), We aren't allowed to modify the cars in any way...no bullbar, no tyre upgrades so I expect plenty of flat tyres and a busted bumper to start with. They are fitting towbars which is lucky as I'll be towing a boat almost everywhere and an Aussie Swag camper on weekends!

I agree. Oh well I'm excited anyway. Apparently it has been designed by Aussies and the Mazda is the clone with different skin...the mazda looks weird at the front and back, however the one at the motorshow was awesome with bar work, muddies etc.

I will give it heaps as the final video produced is voted on by the public and I don't think someone pussy footing around is going to get anybody interested!

Thanks for your support.

I will get measurements next week. I sat in it at the motorshow and it was comparable to my 120 prado.

Hey Mackayboy

I am doing some measurements today with it parked side by side with my 120 Prado.Check out the blog for more details later. If you have specifics just let me know.

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No it does not sound like an ad, and I for one think Terry putting this up here will give us all a good in site to what the Ranger is like. I for one have it short listed for a new vehicle and this is going to help me no end.

I'm with Isuzumu on this one ! I'm in the market for a new vehicle and any REAL opinions from REAL people will be more influential than what a dealer tells me !


Happy Travelling

Gazz

Sorry mate. Look I am not wanting to offend anybody and if you think my post is I'll happily remove it.

Terry

Nah I checked!!! Get a brand spanker fortunately so the gloves are off.

Will do... I guess long term reliability is the one I can't test.

Started my assessment in the blog yesterday.

Hey Rocco

I've had an annoying buzz in my cabin for just over 20 years - both my Patrols and in my current Rodeo ! I've driven corro's for months, graded dirt for years, sand like you would't believe and at least 3 million k's of black top ! Doesn't matter what I do or where I am that annoying buzz always says "haven't you already had enough to drink ?"

Any tips ?


Cheers

Gazz

Hey gazz

used to get some noise from the around the passenger seat but that went away a few years ago ...

Cheers

Hey Gaz

Funny thing, Ive got the same buz telling me exactly the same thing. Had it for 33 years.
My wife tells me I can get rid of it but it will be VERY VERY expensive

Oh well back to the ear plugs LOL

Cheers Teza

I had a buzz I couldn't find and it turned out to be the toll tag stuck on the window behind the rear vision mirror. It sounded like it was coming from the dash so I was looking in the wrong place. Mike

Actual I see above you will get a tow bar & will be towing.. I'm interested in reading what you have to say about that..

I checked it out at the motorshow for the second battery and unfortunately in the current configuration a second battery won't fit. However it appear that with some re-mounting (similar to 100 series V8) of power steering it may fit. Guess we'll have to see what the aftermarket guys come up with.

As for towing I will be and fuel consumption monitored closely. I don't even know what size tank it has yet.

Terry

Ok I'm Back!!!! It has just been hosed, washed, vacuumed and now has the doors open to dry out the carpet...river was a bit deeper than expected when I opened the door



Bitumen towing with back loaded (300kg?) and boat (1.2t) is effortless with fuel consumption average of 12.7l/100km including heaps of hills. Speed was usually somewhere between 100 and 110km/hr. It holds 6th gear easily on most hills with revs at around 1700rpm for 100km/hr.



Dirt towing was great though plenty of interference from traction control due to wheel spin! Of course putting it into 4x4 helped.



Real off-road was brilliant. Crossed an 80m wide soft sandy water section in a 500m wide river bed with ease. Nobody had crossed for 2 years and the track we went on hasn't seen any maintenance from the station in over 12 years. Lots of washouts, long grass, steep drops without too many problems. I'll admit I got stuck a couple of times but I was pushing my luck. Managed to get out though. I bellied it and got hung up on the towbar.



The video crew had a great time and reckon they got some great footage. Hope so as it will become the video everyone votes on. I felt a bit foolish talking to the camera at times...



I've answered some questions here and will try to get to them all during the week. I didn't get any pictures myself as I always had to drive the car. The crew promised to email theirs through so it might be a week or so before I can post some of the trip.



I'll keep providing any info I can while I still have the car.



Terry

Whoops that was for the blog...anyway iot has info about towing etc...don't know how to move or delete. Sorry.

Max roof capacity is 75 kilograms
Load carrying page is blank (mmm what is doing there...)
Max towing 3350kg braked and max 335 kg on ball.
Same specs for 2.2 and 3.2 engines and manual or auto.

Weird about the payload page being blank? Maybe some secret squirrel stuff going on?

Terry

I'm sorry, but why would a car company design a car to satisfy approx 0.1% of the population???

Unless it's for marketing purposes that is.

Yes community people would thoroughly test a vehicle to its limits but the majority of car owners wouldn't. More people buy Landcruiser 200's not 76's for comfort not to abuse it to an inch of its life. Besides a 200 will still take people to 99% of the places they would ever want to go.

Just got back....blog updated.

Good one Terry, one question what is it like in size, say compared to a Hi Lux?

I put some measurements in the Blog that compared with 120 Prado. I don't have a hilux to compare to at the moment. A good mate has one and we plan to get together soon to compare.

Also the offset is printed on the back of the rims apparently but I don't know what all the numbers mean.. Any hints?

Off set works like this 0 hub is in the centre of the wheel, + off set means the there is more of the wheel inside of the vehicle. Most of the new vehicles have it this way. - neg has more of the wheel out side, big dish effect. It will say +35 which means 35 mm from the centre, I think that how it works hahahaha

Bruce

I haven't had a chance to pull a wheel off yet. Sorry mate. I have measured the distance between the outer rim and the centre on the inside. I put a board across the spare. Anyway it is 170mm. When I get a chance I'll remove a wheel (might be the weekend).

Cheers

Nothing has ever happened to me like this before. It is a bit of t a thrill getting to test a car before release! Where are you in FNQ? I'm more than happy for you to come and have a look! I'll be in Atherton this Saturday and Cairns next week if it helps.

I agree with the photos etc. When we were filming in the Gulf they had a guy there to clean the grill and bumper before certain shots. I kept saying....but it is dirty for a reason!

I plan on doing some tracks this weekend to get some better shots and hope to try and make a YouTube video (short) showing some of the features etc.

Will post the link in my Blog.

Voting starts in 2 weeks so I hope the video turned out. I also hope I get a few votes from the forumites!!!!

I'm at Mission Beach. I'd love to have look but unfortunately I'm flying back into Cairns on Saturday to go home so Atherton is out.

When are you in Cairns next week?

Mind you I'd love to see the Ranger on some of the seriously steep rainforest ex-logging tracks on our place, now there's a thought!!!!

I'm in Cairns next Tuesday for a meeting then dropping in on Trinity Ford to show the sales guys the car after 4pm. Anything to drum up some votes haha.

I plan on visiting my parents in Innisfail next week....maybe Wednesday during the day. Might be able to tee something up?

Cheers, Terry

Wednesday is looking good, have sent you a PM.

Cheers

Good video Terry, like the 12 volt plug in the cargo area. How have you found the build quality so far?