Looking sharp and formal in what Ford referred to as “Black” paint (every other color got a fancy name but Black), this 2000 Ford Ranger SuperCab Flareside is a RWD model, and it appears to be in nice condition according to the 41 photos (!) the seller provided. They have it listed here on eBay in Levittown, Pennsylvania. There is no reserve, and the current bid is $5,500 with under a day to go.
Growing up in snow country in the 1970s, we only had rear-wheel-drive vehicles and somehow lived through that era. I know that AWD or 4WD is better in snow, but a lot of vehicles now are only AWD (I’m looking at you, ubiquitous silver or black SUVs), and even people living in the desert Southwest or tropical Florida drive vehicles with 4WD/AWD. I know, it helps with traction in the rain, and there are probably other reasons. Here’s a 2000 Ford Ranger brochure to check out.
One of my favorite vehicles was a BMW 528iT wagon with rear-wheel-drive, and I never had an issue in Minnesota winters with proper tires and traction control. My brother had two Ford Rangers with RWD, and he just put on snow tires as the rest of us did in the 70s and 80s before most vehicles came with AWD. Enough of that. I just wanted to say that I wouldn’t be afraid of driving this Ranger in the winter, other than the thought of packing salty slush and snow up underneath all of its “rust-free” metal. Here’s what it looks like under that nice bed cover.
This is a third and last generation of the original run of the Ford Ranger, which ran from 1998 through 2011 for the U.S. and Canada, and it looks really nice. I’m wondering about the interior, though. The seller has uploaded an incredible 40 photos and a video, but they don’t show one overall photo of the interior. It’s just close-up detail photos. I combined a couple of them here, and there is some wear visible, as is to be expected in a vehicle with 88,000+ miles and being 26 years old, but it sure looks nice to me. This one has an automatic transmission, which is either bad news or good news, depending on the person. The SuperCab feature gives a nice amount of space behind the front seats for a couple of jump seats and for hauling a lot of stuff inside, out of the weather, if you don’t want to put it in the back.
The engine is Ford’s 3.0-liter OHV V6 with 150 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque, passing through the 4R44E four-speed automatic to the rear wheels. The seller says this truck is “rust-free,” has a solid frame, has cold AC, and runs and drives like new. I know that many of you have driven a rear-wheel-drive vehicle in the winter: what was your strategy for getting good traction in the snow? Snow tires and a few sandbags in the back of this Ranger would work fairly well.
Looks like a nice Ranger. When I think of them today, I usually visualize a basic low-option example, always white, perhaps formerly used by the city utility department, now beat to within an inch of its life. But still soldiering on. So it is good to see one which is in solid shape.
I like the SuperCab/ Flareside body style. I had forgotten about the passenger air bag on-off switch. I too drove RWD-only vehicles for years.
Good job SG.
I’m right with Bob on this one. It looks like a solid, well kept Ranger with a lot of life in it. As for the snow and 2WD, my Dad usually drove 1 ton Chevie’s and GMC’s . In the late fall he’d mount either one or two 55 gallon drums and my brother or myself would freeze our hands filling them both with water before rolling up the hose and shutting off the outside hose spigot for the winter. He never had a problem getting around in the snow with the extra weight and “only” 2WD. Does 4WD help? Absolutely, I live in the mountains and definitely appreciate my Subie in the wintertime!!! But it can and has been done for decades without it. Nice write up and perspective Scotty. Thank you!!!