New ride: 2019 Ranger

[sutyak]

2019 Ranger Lariat
Lightning Blue
FX4
2.3 turbo 270hp/310tq (soon to be tuned)
10 speed auto
7,500lb towing capacity

For my needs a mid-sized truck was ideal. I was very skeptical about the 2.3 turbo in a truck, but the numbers don't lie. It's top in class for power and just a hair under the Colorado in towing. A lot of videos show it tows very well.
Driving it doesn't feel like a 2.3 (which is the idea I suppose). I test drove a Tacoma, Frontier, Colorado, and the Ranger last. 0-60 the Ranger feels like the torquey 4.0 Frontier, which was very surprising. The 10 speed does decent keeping it in the peak torque when accelerating, but I figure it will be much better after a tune. Most of the time it wants to hang out in as low RPM as possible for fuel economy, but honestly isn't anymore laggy than any other engine puttering along at 1,500 RPM.

I had a very specific combination I wanted: blue Lariat supercab. I wanted the 6' bed over the full back seat. We have a Dodge Journey as a family hauler. The is a stuff hauler. There was only 1 that matched within a 400 mile radius, and no others in line to be built. This one had a fancy retracting bed cover installed by the other dealer. It's both good and bad. It's a VERY nice metal cover, but the part that it rolls into takes up 12" of the bed! I'll leave it for now since it's so nice, but I'm bummed I lost a foot of bed space.
It also fits in my garage!

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BTW the Mach 1 is for sale!

[Monkeygrits]

Looks good! I'll probably test drive one of those when I go for another f150. I really wanna see what the Bronco is gonna end up looking like.

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[PaxtonShelby]

That’s sharp! I liked the one I saw last August at Woodward. Not cheap though!

[yeahloh95]

very nice truck i like that color

[Stangman701]

Great looking truck Mark! I've always loved rangers. Pretty bummed the new one doesn't come in a manual, but I may own one someday anyway

[Viper_ed]

Nice little truck. Like the color.

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[Dan B.]

Rangers are the bomb dot com...especially the Gen 1's.............that are also blue................................and are V8 swapped.

[PaxtonShelby]

Rangers are the bomb dot com...especially the Gen 1's.............that are also blue................................and are V8 swapped.

What are you going to do when Colt beats your 1/4 mile time by .3 sec in the Ranger?

[Dan B.]

What are you going to do when Colt beats your 1/4 mile time by .3 sec in the Ranger?

He won't...I'll block the secondaries from opening before he starts it.

[GOT SVT]

nice truck

this is on my radar for my next daily as well

keep us informed on your impressions going forward

[07v6vistablue]

Nice truck!

[sutyak]

Impressions so far are great. 25mpg driving from WV to NC empty and going towards lower elevation. 21mpg on the way back with around 800lbs in the bed and uphill with a lot of stops and not being easy on it.
The power is great. I think it would surprise anyone who might think the turbo 2.3 wouldn't be enough motor.
I'm likely going to purchase an enclosed trailer for my business, so I'll let everyone know how it tows. It's supposed to tow 7,500 lbs, but I doubt I'll be pulling more than 4,000 or so.

[03 OW SVT]

Very nice. Love the color.

[hemi14]

I will be interested to see the mileage when towing. My buddy has an F150 3.5 ecoboost. Pulls a 30 foot camper. Plenty of power, very poor mileage when towing. Also developing issues, warped exhaust manifold. Like 2K estimate to repair.

[excell]

Good looking truck! How does it drive?

I will be interested to see the mileage when towing. My buddy has an F150 3.5 ecoboost. Pulls a 30 foot camper. Plenty of power, very poor mileage when towing. Also developing issues, warped exhaust manifold. Like 2K estimate to repair.

I have the 2.7l in mine and towing either of my foxbodies on an open trailer, I get about 19mpg. Hills, flat, whatever, if it's 70-80mph... consistently 19mpg. I was really surprised and pleased with the performance and consistency. YMMV

[sutyak]

Good looking truck! How does it drive?

Stock in regular Drive it's very docile and definitely feels like it's in "eco mode" by default. Sport mode really give it the extra few hundred RPMs it needs to feed the turbo and makes a world of difference.
I also have some tunes for it which are a night and day difference. It's shockingly fast. I don't run the tune all the time, though because I drive so much on the interstate and the fuel mileage isn't great with the tune.
On the shelf I have a catted downpipe and parts for a full 3" exhaust, but I'm holding off until companies start releasing lowering kits. It will already over-power the brakes and suspension in a curve. I'm not going to slam it, just match the body roll and cornering to the power output. Something like a Ranger Lightning but still 4WD and usable hauling would be nice.

[excell]

Stock in regular Drive it's very docile and definitely feels like it's in "eco mode" by default. Sport mode really give it the extra few hundred RPMs it needs to feed the turbo and makes a world of difference.
I also have some tunes for it which are a night and day difference. It's shockingly fast. I don't run the tune all the time, though because I drive so much on the interstate and the fuel mileage isn't great with the tune.
On the shelf I have a catted downpipe and parts for a full 3" exhaust, but I'm holding off until companies start releasing lowering kits. It will already over-power the brakes and suspension in a curve. I'm not going to slam it, just match the body roll and cornering to the power output. Something like a Ranger Lightning but still 4WD and usable hauling would be nice.

Nice. We sound like we have a similar point of view. I haven't picked up a tune yet, I've been pretty happy with performance from the 2.7 but once my extended warranty is out I'm sure I'll tune it. I am about to pull the trigger on better brakes and sway bars/handling kit. I've got 18" wheels, so also looking for factory 20's to wrap in some sport rubber. I drive 99.9% road, I want to set it up a little for better handling a'la a Lightning as well. I'll put some more aggressive off road tires on the 18's and swap over when I need to and in the winter.

Roll on

[2000GT]

Stock in regular Drive it's very docile and definitely feels like it's in "eco mode" by default. Sport mode really give it the extra few hundred RPMs it needs to feed the turbo and makes a world of difference.
I also have some tunes for it which are a night and day difference. It's shockingly fast. I don't run the tune all the time, though because I drive so much on the interstate and the fuel mileage isn't great with the tune.
On the shelf I have a catted downpipe and parts for a full 3" exhaust, but I'm holding off until companies start releasing lowering kits. It will already over-power the brakes and suspension in a curve. I'm not going to slam it, just match the body roll and cornering to the power output. Something like a Ranger Lightning but still 4WD and usable hauling would be nice.

What tune do you have? I am assuming they do all Ecoboost vehicles? If it can be cleared, does that effect the factory warranty?

[gregormc]

It looks amazing. What tonneau cover is that? I currently have a tri-fold tonneau cover and I want to replace it with a retracting one that I saw from 4WheelOnline. I might consider the one that you have.

[sutyak]

It looks amazing. What tonneau cover is that? I currently have a tri-fold tonneau cover and I want to replace it with a retracting one that I saw from 4WheelOnline. I might consider the one that you have.

The cover is a Retrax. It does take up a lot of space in the front of the bed, but I still love it.