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The Ford Ranger is a long-running favorite of small truck aficionados everywhere. I have owned four Rangers since 1994. The ’94 and the ’98 were actually a Mazda B4000 and a B3000 (but essentially the exact same truck with a different look) – and the ’02 was an XLT SuperCab, followed by my current ’06 FX-4 Level I.

From the bare-bones 4-cylinder regular cab, up to the gnar gnar 4.0 liter FX-4 SuperCab 4×4, there is a trim level for any need or taste. Over the years Ford has added all sorts of goodies and improvements to this little beast. The Ranger Sport model features available leather seats, and the largest engine and most interior leg room in it’s class.

The Ranger FX-4 is a true off-road warrior – featuring a limited-slip rear axle (with an optional TORSEN® l/s axle available), 3 skid plates (on the SuperCab 4×4), Rancho® branded heavy-duty gas shocks on all FX-4′s, and 16″ Y-spoke cast-aluminum wheels with P255/70R16 all-terrain OWL tires (on the SuperCab 4×4). All SuperCab models are available with a 4-door option – which is recommended for easy access to the area behind the seats. My last Ranger had the 4-door option, and my current FX-4 does not…an oversight on my part which drives me insane on a daily basis.

As one of the most economical trucks on the market for 2008 (with the 2.4 liter DOHC I-4 engine), the Ford Ranger is something to check out if you need a truck with good fuel economy. The 4×4 models all have “shift on the fly” 4 wheel drive, cruise control (available in XLT / standard in FX-4) for those long rides, available MP3 player, and much more. The Ford personal safety system ensures that all Ranger models come with the safest possible technology; such as a tire pressure monitoring system and dual-stage airbags. My favorite safety feature was the fuel pump inertia shut off, which, should there ever be a roll over or similar condition, will shut the fuel pump off automatically.

The 2008 Ranger is available in a Regular Cab longbed model, with a seven foot cargo box. The towing capability has been kicked up a notch as well. The Ranger now boasts up to 7,000 pounds of towing capacity in certain model configurations. Overall, if you’re looking for a small truck with a full feature set, test drive the ’08 Ford Ranger and see if you like it as much as I do.

You can request a Ranger brochure from the Ford website here:
http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/ranger/brochures/index.asp

Categories: Reviews
Tags: 2008 Ford Ranger Review, Pictures, Video