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I still really like the old Ranger size. I wanted one, but found a 94 Mazda B3000 still on the dealer's lot in 95. I raised the hood and every sticker on the engine said FOMOCO. I did a little research and found out it was made in the same plant as the Ford Ranger, just rebadged as a Mazda. I bought it and drove the snot out of it for four years.
During the time I owned it if O'Reilly's didn't have a part listing for the Mazda, I asked about the same part on the 94 Ford Ranger. Yep, the parts fit and functioned just fine. Still wish I had that truck, it was the perfect size. |
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"To observe a Marine, is inspirational. To be a Marine, is exceptional." ~ GySgt Charles F. Wolf, Jr.
I do not fear tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today. |
Originally Posted By Slufstuff: I know it is not a revelation, but I noticed this current generation (not sure which exact year) Ranger XLT parked next to my 1998 Ranger XLT. I was struck by the size difference. The newer truck looks much bigger when next to my 98. I can easily reach into the bed of my Ranger, not so much on that current style. It seems as big as an F-150 from 1998. I am not knocking the new Ranger, I am sure it is nice, but in a considerably larger package. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/312/98ranger_jpg-3197917.JPG View Quote Now do half ton trucks from the 1960 and 2020s. Comically different. All for safety but also lightened so we can get 20+ mpg. |
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Originally Posted By Prae: I miss those size Rangers. Had a 93 Splash. Been looking for another w/ a 4.0. Almost impossible to find around here unless it's beat to hell. View Quote I daily drive a 94 4.0 5 speed nanual I bought new. Doing everything I can to maintain it. I've noticed same as OP...personally though I don't really like the new ones. But anyways....mine has 180k I've put on it...hard miles although I have taken care of it and kept maintenance up. Lots of city stop and go, lots highway. TBH...the 4.0 is great, but I think the rest of the truck will fall apart around the motor. |
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Originally Posted By danco302: Oh, you poor summer child PS, can we wait till the end of page three before y'all tell him View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes |
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Originally Posted By Gtdhw: My dd ‘97 2.3 5spd https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172459/IMG_1589_jpeg-3197948.JPG View Quote Mine is this color but regular bed. Paint peeling off of it. She has been a good one though....if holds together |
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Originally Posted By Neomonk21: Exactly. I heard somewhere that the new emission laws make it way more expensive to manufacture smaller trucks so they just made the trucks bigger to get around it. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By Neomonk21: Originally Posted By Rudukai13: It's because it's cheaper for the manufacturers to make the trucks bigger than it is to make them more fuel efficient Exactly. I heard somewhere that the new emission laws make it way more expensive to manufacture smaller trucks so they just made the trucks bigger to get around it. When I say it sounds like BS what I mean is it sounds just like the type of BS the government would do. |
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Originally Posted By Prae: I miss those size Rangers. Had a 93 Splash. Been looking for another w/ a 4.0. Almost impossible to find around here unless it's beat to hell. View Quote Ditto, been looking for either a ranger, taco, or GM of that size. It’s fucking annoying that all you can get nowadays are essentially full-size trucks, or XL sized. |
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Originally Posted By mnd: The Maverick isn't small, but the bed height isn't outrageous. My metric for light pickups is Datsun 620/720s though which are even smaller than the 90s Rangers. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By mnd: Originally Posted By p3590: Originally Posted By mnd: Originally Posted By mustb123: Exactly why I bought a new Maverick last year. 4,000 pound tow rating, AWD, 4 doors and the Ecoboost motor that gets 30mpg. I don't need a huge truck to tow my little 17' flats boat here in flat Florida. 27.3k brand new. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/126943/2DF2E86C-0FB2-44FD-97A3-7309CD9A719A-3197933.jpg My wife has a 2024 Maverick. My daughter has a 2002 Sport Trac and my son has 1994, 1996 and 1997 Rangers. It's interesting to see the spread of size. I think Ford nailed it with the Maverick. The Maverick isn't small, but the bed height isn't outrageous. My metric for light pickups is Datsun 620/720s though which are even smaller than the 90s Rangers. It's crazy, when the Ranger first came out it was a midsize truck. |
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The pendulum is broken
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Originally Posted By Slufstuff: I know it is not a revelation, but I noticed this current generation (not sure which exact year) Ranger XLT parked next to my 1998 Ranger XLT. I was struck by the size difference. The newer truck looks much bigger when next to my 98. I can easily reach into the bed of my Ranger, not so much on that current style. It seems as big as an F-150 from 1998. I am not knocking the new Ranger, I am sure it is nice, but in a considerably larger package. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/312/98ranger_jpg-3197917.JPG View Quote TLDR new ranger sits higher suspension wise and has higher bed sides. |
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undercover in a commie state.
trump 2024. |
I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.
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I like the new size because F-150s got too large.
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Originally Posted By Plasticseng: The new Rangers are barely smaller than my 1990 F-150. It's only a couple of inches smaller in every direction. View Quote Agreed. I used to own a 1991 F-150 2wd, and when it was parked next to a new Ranger, it was shorter AND less tall than the new vehicle. It's no secret that modern (post 2000) full-sized trucks have become HUGE compared to the older stuff. In turn, the Ranger (and GM Colorado/Canyon) as "mid-sized" pickups have grown to fill the niche for something less. Unfortunately, it means a "mid-sized" pickup is still quite large by older standards. (This is also why the Maverick, Ridgeline, and Santa Fe have caught on. They seem to cater to the market segment that wants the old small-sized pickups found back in the 1970's to 1990's) |
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Originally Posted By Wildfowler: Can anyone go into greater detail on this please? When I say it sounds like BS what I mean is it sounds just like the type of BS the government would do. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By Wildfowler: Originally Posted By Neomonk21: Originally Posted By Rudukai13: It's because it's cheaper for the manufacturers to make the trucks bigger than it is to make them more fuel efficient Exactly. I heard somewhere that the new emission laws make it way more expensive to manufacture smaller trucks so they just made the trucks bigger to get around it. When I say it sounds like BS what I mean is it sounds just like the type of BS the government would do. Someone posted this a while back in a similar conversation. The Chicken Conspiracy Robbing Americans of the Toyota Hilux |
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BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles. People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird. |
One of my best friends in high school got his dad's 88 Ranger single cab 4cyl 5 speed when he got his license. His dad's rationale was it was too small and fit too few people for him to get into any trouble.
Of course we proceeded to load the bed with a picnic table, 4 or 5 of us in the bed, along with a case of beer and drove it several miles down US govt/Navy owned railroad track to deliver the picnic table to a remote lake that the tracks ran next to. My friend then high centered it on the tracks trying to turn it around. We had to walk out on the tracks, get a ride to a pay phone and call his parents. Tow truck had to be called. The first tow truck got stuck on the tracks, requiring a second truck to free up the first. They also had to notify the Navy of the situation on their tracks. So much for staying out of trouble. Eta I've had three OHV 4.0s in Explorers with one of them having neatly 390,000 miles and still running strong when sold. The vehicle will in fact fall apart around the engine. They're one of the most reliable little engines Ford ever built imo. We still have two, one 240k miles the other 110k miles, spare Explorers set up for hunting/camping. |
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I really like my 2020 Ranger, but it sits so high that my old ass can't climb up in the bed. I had to buy one of these folding ladders...which is AWESOME!
Attached File |
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Originally Posted By VACaver: I really like my 2020 Ranger, but it sits so high that my old ass can't climb up in the bed. I had to buy one of these folding ladders...which is AWESOME! https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/100647/20240426_123648_jpg-3198455.JPG View Quote @VACaver that's exactly what my wife needs to get in the bed of my truck. Where did you find that? badass |
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Will not shelter in place
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Originally Posted By VACaver: I really like my 2020 Ranger, but it sits so high that my old ass can't climb up in the bed. I had to buy one of these folding ladders...which is AWESOME! https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/100647/20240426_123648_jpg-3198455.JPG View Quote How about when you have to load wide stuff in The bed? Does it interfere with any thing there on the side? Legit, the one reason the Toyota is really used is that I can step into the truck front the ground, and pull up 7-10 50-65gal garbage cans every week. Done it a few times with the 3/4-1 tons, but the bed height and heavy cans gets old fast. |
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-Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American G.I. ~ One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
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The voices in my head say I’m just being paranoid
KY, USA
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People would be shocked if they actual looked up the numbers.
Newer trucks aren’t really much bigger than the old ones, they’re just taller and that makes them look huge. Most trucks have factory 6 inch lifts now. |
If you aren't representing Jesus in a way that makes people want to hang out with you, you're doing it wrong.
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Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE: Someone posted this a while back in a similar conversation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMJsM--jmRA View Quote I actually watched that video because he talks so fast it was a pleasant delight to hear it and it was obvious when there was an announcement so I just skipped forward and for some reason the embedded video actually played after I was tapping forward a few clicks instead of sitting there and buffering, doing nothing and making me wish I had never been born. |
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I would love to have a 90s Ranger to DD
My dad had a 90s/early 2000 Mazda B3000 (I think that's it) and hit 330k before giving it to a cousin. It towed up to a 21ft ski boat and the V6 legitimately didn't feel underpowered towing. Just looked it up. 154hp 180ft/lb. My current truck is a factory 500hp and 1200ft/lb and a payload near the towing capacity of that truck. Nuts |
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I'm about to possibly make a deal (x plan price) on a new ranger for offroad and advanced towing packages. Anything I need to look out for?
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Become prompt critical.
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Lots of vehicles like that.
Our 2022 Corolla is the size of our Camry from the 90s. Tacomas now are the size of the early Tundras. |
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Originally Posted By MattR: I would love to have a 90s Ranger to DD My dad had a 90s/early 2000 Mazda B3000 (I think that's it) and hit 330k before giving it to a cousin. It towed up to a 21ft ski boat and the V6 legitimately didn't feel underpowered towing. Just looked it up. 154hp 180ft/lb. My current truck is a factory 500hp and 1200ft/lb and a payload near the towing capacity of that truck. Nuts View Quote Starting to look like all of the newer trucks are crap spy tech and EPA 10 year life cycle junk. Too bad these old trucks rust out over time. My thinking is the next decade is going to see Cuba style mechanics maintaining older vehicles just to provide basic transportation for mid to low income folks. Hence why they want to kill fossil fuel. Remove that option to limit freedom of movement. Take notes from the current third world...were heading there quickly. The faster men can adapt the longer they can survive. Pre 2010 Toyota Siennas...older Rangers and F150s may well be highly prized vehicles in the next decade. |
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Originally Posted By slow3v: the angle of the photo exacerbates this but yes its bigger. Bedsides (really beltlines) are higher on newer vehicles in part for crash safety standards, which raises the bedside. Also, it is nowhere near the size of an old F150. F150 has been 80" wide for 40+ years. New Ranger is somewhere around 74-75" which makes a big difference. TLDR new ranger sits higher suspension wise and has higher bed sides. View Quote 1998 Ranger is 187.5 inches long, 2024 is 210.6 inches long. Over 22 inches longer. 1998 Ranger is 70.3 inches wide, 2024 is 75.5 inches wide. Over 5 inches wider. 1998 Ranger is 64.9 inches high, 2024 is 74.4 inches high. 9 1/2 inches higher. 1998 Ranger weighs 3085 pounds curb weight, 2024 weighs 4,415 pounds. 1300 pounds heavier. The new Rangers are not just a little bigger, they are substantially bigger in every measure. |
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Our idea of a rough TDY was if the hotel did not have a swimming pool.
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Originally Posted By imq707s: Look at the average obesity rate from back in 98, and now. People are HUGE...they need bigger vehicles to carry them around. Your average 300+ pound person isn't fitting in an 89' Ford Ranger. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Obesity_in_the_United_States.svg View Quote Not gonna lie. Most of the time when I see people here comment that the interior of the Tacoma, Frontier, Colorado, Ranger is too small, I just assume they're fat. I'm tall and perfectly comfortable in my Frontier |
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Originally Posted By mancat: Not gonna lie. Most of the time when I see people here comment that the interior of the Tacoma, Frontier, Colorado, Ranger is too small, I just assume they're fat. I'm tall and perfectly comfortable in my Frontier View Quote I don't like cavernous interiors. Like the OBS Ford pickups of the 80s-90s, I don't care for the wide open space. My 2nd gen Ram isn't small, but the interior just has a more cozy feel to it. Can't really explain it. |
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"You can't tourniquet a taint, folks." - Andrew Branca
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Look at any model of car that has been made since at least the 90s.
Bigger is what people want, bigger means better crash ratings and more volume for features(10 airbags, electronics, storage, etc). I have a 2018 honda fit and it has more space for people than a 90s accord had. |
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What have the Romans ever done for us?
TN, USA
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Panem et Circenses
I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances. |
Originally Posted By imq707s: Look at the average obesity rate from back in 98, and now. People are HUGE...they need bigger vehicles to carry them around. Your average 300+ pound person isn't fitting in an 89' Ford Ranger. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Obesity_in_the_United_States.svg View Quote I bought a Dodge Dakota new in 1990 because I didn't fit very well in the smaller trucks, midsized was perfect. I love my 2019 Ranger as it's just about the same size as the midsize from 30 years ago. I weighed 185 when I bought the Dakota, I was just under 200 this morning, then again I am 6'4". It's not just the fatties some of us just aren't manlets. |
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Originally Posted By mancat: Not gonna lie. Most of the time when I see people here comment that the interior of the Tacoma, Frontier, Colorado, Ranger is too small, I just assume they're fat. I'm tall and perfectly comfortable in my Frontier View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By mancat: Originally Posted By imq707s: Look at the average obesity rate from back in 98, and now. People are HUGE...they need bigger vehicles to carry them around. Your average 300+ pound person isn't fitting in an 89' Ford Ranger. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Obesity_in_the_United_States.svg Not gonna lie. Most of the time when I see people here comment that the interior of the Tacoma, Frontier, Colorado, Ranger is too small, I just assume they're fat. I'm tall and perfectly comfortable in my Frontier The old Rangers never had a ton of room. I’m fat but the real problem was front to back legroom and it got worse with the manual tranny. My friend had a Mazda version I couldn’t hardly shift because he put a tiny little cb radio on the left and I had to contort to use the clutch. I can physically fit in a Miata but my knees are pressed up against the steering wheel on either side so I’m not sure I could safely drive one. |
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BikerNut:
Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles. People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird. |
S10 versus last generation Colorado. The new generation is even bigger. I miss compact trucks.
Attached File |
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https://instagram.com/_odiegreen_?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
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Originally Posted By gunnut003: How about when you have to load wide stuff in The bed? Does it interfere with any thing there on the side? Legit, the one reason the Toyota is really used is that I can step into the truck front the ground, and pull up 7-10 50-65gal garbage cans every week. Done it a few times with the 3/4-1 tons, but the bed height and heavy cans gets old fast. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By gunnut003: Originally Posted By VACaver: I really like my 2020 Ranger, but it sits so high that my old ass can't climb up in the bed. I had to buy one of these folding ladders...which is AWESOME! https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/100647/20240426_123648_jpg-3198455.JPG How about when you have to load wide stuff in The bed? Does it interfere with any thing there on the side? Legit, the one reason the Toyota is really used is that I can step into the truck front the ground, and pull up 7-10 50-65gal garbage cans every week. Done it a few times with the 3/4-1 tons, but the bed height and heavy cans gets old fast. It folds up flat on the inside of the tailgate when not in use, and if you want to remove it, two pins are all that are holding it in place. |
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Originally Posted By right_rudder: @VACaver that's exactly what my wife needs to get in the bed of my truck. Where did you find that? badass View Quote @right_rudder found this tailgate ladder |
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The pendulum is broken
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Originally Posted By imq707s: Look at the average obesity rate from back in 98, and now. People are HUGE...they need bigger vehicles to carry them around. Your average 300+ pound person isn't fitting in an 89' Ford Ranger. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Obesity_in_the_United_States.svg View Quote I have an '03 FX4 Ranger 5 speed that used to be my DD. I'm 6'4" and 250lbs on a good day. I fit no problem but it's quite a shock going from the spacious F150 into the Ranger. |
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Originally Posted By Never_A_Wick: I had an ‘89 just like this but white. Had the 2.3. Great little truck. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/578900/IMG_5909_jpeg-3197939.JPG View Quote I had an 88 Ranger long bed. I have never seen another Ranger long bed. Not 1. I put ~130k miles on it. I got good money for it when I traded in for an F150. |
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z - Deplorable Neanderthal
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The Ranger Raptors are… very fast.
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Direction, not intention, determines destination.
Integrity is the essence of everything successful. |
Another one for missing the older 80’s Rangers.
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Originally Posted By mancat: Not gonna lie. Most of the time when I see people here comment that the interior of the Tacoma, Frontier, Colorado, Ranger is too small, I just assume they're fat. I'm tall and perfectly comfortable in my Frontier View Quote This reminds me of one of the channels I watch on the youtubes. Its a few rednecks who hotrod vehicles. One of their vehicles is a colorado owned by a 600lb fat fuck. They wouldn't need quite so much horsiepower if the driver shaved off 400lb. Bed Mount Turbo Colorado hits the Dyno! Most Power we've Ever Made! Until it wasn't... |
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Originally Posted By Foxtrot08: Originally Posted By -daddy: Originally Posted By Foxtrot08: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/148484/IMG_2143-3196660.jpg Bigger than my old 2003 f150. About the same size as my 2015 f150. Smaller than my 2018 Raptor f150. I take it home tomorrow. What color is that? Shelter Green Huh. I thought it was a bronze/metallic brown, colors aren't my thing |
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Originally Posted By Foxtrot08: The Ranger Raptors are… very fast. View Quote I'll bet, I have a tune on my '19 from Livernois. Their vid shows 308 rwhp and 380 rwtq. I think it's pretty quick, so does my wife and she drives a Turbo Macan. When somebody puts a tune out for that version of the TT3.0 it's going to fucking fly. |
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Originally Posted By hbilly: Now do a 70's ford ranger View Quote Even as a heavy half it's probably same size as a new Ranger. I pulled up next to a new Colorado the other day with my '05 Cateye Silverado. About same size and Colorado was taller. |
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Originally Posted By kentucky_smith: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/92324/IMG_3945_jpeg-3198883.JPG View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By kentucky_smith: Originally Posted By hbilly: Now do a 70's ford ranger No F150 Ranger Explorer? |
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Originally Posted By PinePig: I'll bet, I have a tune on my '19 from Livernois. Their vid shows 308 rwhp and 380 rwtq. I think it's pretty quick, so does my wife and she drives a Turbo Macan. When somebody puts a tune out for that version of the TT3.0 it's going to fucking fly. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By PinePig: Originally Posted By Foxtrot08: The Ranger Raptors are… very fast. I'll bet, I have a tune on my '19 from Livernois. Their vid shows 308 rwhp and 380 rwtq. I think it's pretty quick, so does my wife and she drives a Turbo Macan. When somebody puts a tune out for that version of the TT3.0 it's going to fucking fly. Only reason I’m really considering keeping it. To turn it into a little rocket ship of a pick up truck. Flip side, I also really want a Gt500 to go with my Bullitt Mustang. And I already have an F150 raptor with a Cobb tune. |
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Direction, not intention, determines destination.
Integrity is the essence of everything successful. |
Originally Posted By JVD: No F150 Ranger Explorer? View Quote Previous owner put an Explorer hood ornament on Attached File |
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Originally Posted By Foxtrot08: Only reason I’m really considering keeping it. To turn it into a little rocket ship of a pick up truck. Flip side, I also really want a Gt500 to go with my Bullitt Mustang. And I already have an F150 raptor with a Cobb tune. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By Foxtrot08: Originally Posted By PinePig: Originally Posted By Foxtrot08: The Ranger Raptors are… very fast. I'll bet, I have a tune on my '19 from Livernois. Their vid shows 308 rwhp and 380 rwtq. I think it's pretty quick, so does my wife and she drives a Turbo Macan. When somebody puts a tune out for that version of the TT3.0 it's going to fucking fly. Only reason I’m really considering keeping it. To turn it into a little rocket ship of a pick up truck. Flip side, I also really want a Gt500 to go with my Bullitt Mustang. And I already have an F150 raptor with a Cobb tune. Sounds like good problems to have |
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