My uncle might be selling his raised Bronco II
or if you don't want something like that, go with the GMC Syclone

A Syclone, good luck finding one cheapish

Syclones are neither cheap, nor beaters (for the most part), nor a great work truck?

Hell it'd be more fun than the bonne with some work..

if you want speed, go with a base *-10, superlight. if you want TRUE reliability, get a stick ranger, those things run forever! not all that fast, but hey, its all good.

actually when i drove my friends ranger, had 2 people and a engine and trans in the back (big windsor 5.0) probably totalling 1700lbs and i barely noticed the weight. good truck.

i vote anything with a 4.3 liter in it. i love mine and its a beast, good power and decent gas mileage

edit: and if you can get the vortec 4.3 its much better than the tbi

Get a 5 speed 4.0 Ranger and you won't be disappointed...they are a bulletproof engine. I know of many high mileage Explorers that don't have any problems.

The 4.3 does suffer from manifold issues as well, but at least youd know what the problem was and how to fix it. They do seem to be good engines though, a friend of mine has one in her Blazer, and despite the fact it has a bad MAF sensor and she doesnt take care of it that well, it still puts down some good torque, even in that heavier Blazer.


But if speed and power arent your concern the Ecotec 2.2 in the S10/Sonoma has a good reputation, should be a little easier on the wallet than the 4.3 as well.


I dont know much about Ford'* 4-cylinder engines that they put in the Ranger.


Dont forget that the Mazda B-series pickups are essentially Ford Rangers if Im not mistaken, or that might be the other way around.

Little Isuzu trucks are just rebadged *-10 trucks, too.

riiiight my '00 V10 ram got like 4-6mpg.

Alright everyone, don't shoot me, but if a compact truck is what the is looking for, honestly to me it seems the best choice would be a Toyota. I loved my *-10, but you can do anything in a Toyota and yo can drive it forever.