Mixed Feelings

I love this truck so much, I'm thinking about upgrading to a full-size Ford.

Purchsed the 2004 Ranger EDGE Supercab in August of 2005. This truck was used with 21,000 miles on it. I purchased this particular truck during the 'Employee Pricing' promotion that kept getting extended and extended and extended and (you get the point). I was in a 2002 Chrysler Sebring LXI at the time and also owned a 1994 Ranger XLT Supercab that I purchased from my father and owned for about 6 months.

The 94 Ranger was a 5 speed with the 4.0L engine. I had to do alot of work to the truck since my father is getting old and found it easier to just buy another truck than fixing problems like brakes, radiator, other issues.

I had 2 vehicles, one paid off, one with a payment and I loved the 94 Ranger so much that when it seemed that the clutch was going, I decided to trade it in with my Sebring on a newer model.

I went for a brand new Ranger. I WANTED the 5-speed with a 4.0L engine. Those were the only things I knew, other than the payment I wanted (around $250-300/mo.). The dealership I went to (Woody Anderson Ford in Huntsville, Alabama) stocked about 20 new and 20 used models at the time I was looking. The ONLY NEW 4.0L they had was a 'fleet' model that was stripped to the bone. They had over purchased a couple of models for the local utility company and had two of them left for a LOW price. They were selling them for around $13k with 3 miles on them, supercab, 5 speed and 4.0 BUT the road noise they produced was unreal! I drove one and picked my kid up from school (in the rain) and it drove nice, had lots of power but the fleet model doesn't give you the jumpseats, power packages and any sort of noise dampening (so it seemed).

The other NEW models were all 3.0 except for one FX4 model which was above my price range (payment sweet spot) and I don't need 4x4 since I go offroad very little.

The dealer showed me a used model. 21,001 miles on it. It was owned by a guy who did in-home medical repair/setup. He purchased the truck new in July of 04 and traded it in at 1 year old for a full-size.

I talked the dealer down from $16k to $12,500 for the truck. This EDGE model has an exterior upgrade package included painted bumper covers, flares over the wheels and driving lights (fog lamps). Inside, it has power locks, windows, cruise, tilt, cd/tape (upgraded that immediately), slider rear window and darkened glass on rear seating area.

I knew I was moving to Florida soon and loved the idea of not haviing a carpeted floor. The Edge is made for 'offroad' use and has a nice sound-dampening mat in the place of carpet on the floor. Trust me, if you live where dirt or sand (my case) is a problem, you'll LOVE this. I just take a dust brush and sweep the floor out when I don't have time to detail the truck.

I'll get down to it :

I LOVE :

Engine - 4.0L is quite powerful. I have yet to pull anything with it but I feel comfortable knowing I can if I need to. Runs like a clock, tho it is time for a tune up at 28k. (notice a little miss in the idle).

Interior - Floor is vinyl and simple to clean. Button placement seems adaptable. Everything is in a decent place. This is a truck, not a Mercedes. Gauges are simple to read.

Exterior - (this is a matter of opinion I guess). I love the curbside look of this truck. Once I got over how narrow it is, it looks sexy. My '05 Tundra-owning friend liked the look of my truck better than his leather-clad fancy pants model.

Cons : Interior cloth. The material used on the seats, doors, armrest is very rough and , at times, irritating on my skin. Not to seem like a wimp here, but it just doesn't feel good on my elbows when I rest it on the armrest. I had to cover it with something softer. The cloth also does NOT clean well. Simple water stains (like from a wet cup between your legs while driving) seems to stay in the material even after you clean it. ??? Paint on flares and bumper cover is poor. Chips very easilly. My bumper cover was ripped off on one side by a BRAND NEW car wash that claims to be gentle while still doing a great job cleaning. I take my wife's Ford Escape there all the time and it does nice.

I had LINE-X sprayed on the truck bed. Now the bed squeeks. Could be that Line-X didn't tighten the bed bolts down good enough. I don't have a torx bit big enough to tighten it.