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Utes have always been popular with Aussies, but never more so than in recent years when there has been more to choose from than ever before.
The humble ute is no longer a mere work wagon; it is now called upon to perform all sorts of duties, from traditional worker, to cool sportster, weekend escaper and family hack.
They were once the realm of the traditional local car makers, Holden and Ford, who between them claimed the market. Now the market is dominated by Asian brands, in particular the Toyota HiLux.
New
Released in 2011 the PX Ranger is Ford's entry into this new ute market and like all new generation utes it comes in a wide range of models to suit most needs.
You could have almost any style you wanted including single, dual and super-cab bodies, cab-chassis or ute, 4x2, high riding 4x2, 4x4, petrol or diesel. There was also a choice of models from basic entry-level to the XLT with every feature you could wish for.
Depending on the model you could carry up to 1271kg and tow as much as 3350kg.
Unlike yesterday's utes, today's utes also deliver on the safety front. Most of the Ranger models get a five-star tick from ANCAP, it's only the lower level variants without curtain airbags that are hit with a four-star slap.
There was a choice of three engines, including a 2.5-litre petrol-slurping four-cylinder, a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel and a 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel.
At the top of the tree the five-cylinder diesel delivers plenty of low-down grunt for comfortable cruising or hauling a hefty load.
On the road they exhibited decent drivability, the handling was safe and secure, the braking powerful.
Tucked away inside you rode in quiet comfort with every feature you could want. Indeed today's utes are all things to all owners.
Now
Everyone agrees, the Ranger looks great, is comfortable and is a great towing vehicle.
Most owners say they are happy with their choice of ute, and few report any problems, but there are a couple of issues that keep cropping up.
One is the turbo. A number of owners have had turbos melt down, and the more experienced say the key is to let them idle to bring them the turbo temperature down before switching the engine off. Another thing they recommend is to use a good quality engine oil to keep the turbo bearing well lubed.
There are also reports of major engine issues after an oil change. It is claimed that the oil pump won't prime if the oil dump is longer than around 10 minutes, and if the pump won't prime it won't deliver oil to the engine and that means serious trouble. Some mechanics are aware of the issue, so talk to the guy doing your service and make sure he doesn't take a cuppa-break while the oil drains out of the engine.
Take a look at the lower radiator hose on your car and if it is close to rubbing on the engine, or has scuff marks that suggest it is rubbing on the engine, get a zip-tie to hold it away from the engine. Letting it rub through could lead to water leaks and a serious meltdown. There is a new hose available to avoid this issue, so talk to your dealer at the next service and get your car updated.
Anyone buying a used Ranger should be aware that it has a dual-mass flywheel and is affected by rapid clutch wear. A pulsation through the clutch pedal on manuals is a sign that all is not well in the clutch department. Replacing the clutch is not a cheap exercise.
If you are planning to operate the Ranger at or near its weight carrying capacity check it out with a suspension expert before doing so.
Check your chosen car for a creditable service record, and carefully go over it in search of evidence of off-road use. The Ranger is quite a capable off-roader, so anticipate that many will have been used off the black top. If you believe the car you're keen on had been off-road walk away.
Ford Ranger 2011: Wildtrak (4x4)
| Engine Type | Diesel Turbo 4, 3.0L |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | Diesel |
| Fuel Efficiency | 9.3L/100km (combined) |
| Seating | 5 |
| Price From | $17,600 - $22,330 |
| Safety Rating |
|
Verdict
SMITHY SAYS
Good looking ute will carry and tow with the best of them, but be aware of engine issues.
3.5 stars.
OUR READERS SAY
Will loves his 2012 PX Ranger, except for a loud humming noise at idle that Ford describes as "normal". He says it is the oil pickup vibrating. He also says Ford has a fix for it, but isn't as forthcoming about it as he would like.
Graeme Rimmer says his 2013 Ranger is a lemon. He has had a litany of problems with it, ranging from the driver's door not closing properly, the driver's seat dropping, difficulty in selecting reverse, the clutch pedal pulsating, the gearstick coming away, and the brakes failing resulting in a crash.
Ian Morris has done 80,000 km in his 2013 XL Ranger manual. He says it has more power and tows more than a HiLux, and he gets better fuel economy than the Toyota.
At the 15,000km first service it was noticed that Peter Blair's 2013 PX Ford Ranger 4x4 3.2 the rear suspension was inverted due to the weight of the motorhome it was carrying. When fully loaded the vehicle was right on the GVM limit for the Ranger and the rear suspension was almost down on the bump stops and the springs were inverted. Peter said it drove poorly and felt unsafe, but no one from Ford or the RV manufacturer would accept the problem. The answer was to upgrade the springs and shock absorbers. After paying $1300 for the upgrade the van handles better, and is stable and smooth. The guy who fitted the gear told them that it is not an isolated problem, and that he fits a couple of new Rangers with two extra leaf springs each week.
SPECS:
Price new: $19,740 to $55,390
Engine: 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 110 kW/375 Nm; 3.2-litre 5-cyl turbo-diesel, 147 kW/470 Nm; 2.5-litre 4-cyl, 122 kW/226 Nm
Transmission: 5-speed man, 5-speed auto, RWD, 6-speed man, 6-speed auto, 4WD
Economy: 7.6 L/100 km (2.2TD), 8.9 L/100 km (3.2TD), 10.4 L/100 km (2.5)
Body: 2-door ute, 4-door ute, 2-door cab-chassis, 4-door cab-chassis
Variants: XL, XLT, Hi-Rider 4x2
Safety: 4/5-star ANCAP
ALSO CHECK THESE
Mitsubishi Triton – 2011-2013 - Three stars
Good value, long warranty, good looks, but handling is sloppy and performance sluggish.
Pay $10,000-$33,000.
Volkswagen Amarok – 2011-2013 - 3.5 stars
5-star safety, strong performance, a class act, but is not cheap, and the jury is still out on long-term reliability.
Pay $18,500-$51,500.
Toyota Hilux – 2011-2013 - 3.5 stars
The benchmark, but under attack. Dated looks, but roomy cabin. Only four stars for safety.
Pay $11,500-$43,500.
COMING UP
Do you own a Honda Odyssey? If so tell us what you think of it by sending your comments to Graham Smith at grah.smith@bigpond.com or Carsguide, PO Box 4245, Sydney, NSW, 2010.
Pricing Guides
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