Opinions on Mazda B2500/Ford Ranger

colm_mcm

Apart from the off-the-pace engines, crappy interiors and 90's styling, does anyone have anything to say about the old type Ranger/Mazda B2500? (2.5 turbo, double cab)

From where I'm standing:
It's cheap
indirect injection good news for farmers
good at towing
parts cheap thanks to Ford


I don't know of any major issues, other than possible problems with rear axles on heavily worked ones, and sometimes having problems with 5th gear. apart from that is there anything out of the ordinary too look for?

they seem to be a very well kept secret in the pickup world.

Don't want a Navara (reliability), L200 (manouverability), Hilux (price) D-Max (reliability)

This thing will be used as a farmers machine, occasional off-roading, nothing rough, towing a cow-box and general driving around. will be ran on tank diesel (so would prefer indirect injection) and power isn't a selling point (2.0D Carina is current weapon of choice)

thoughts?

Slidey

The ESB just bought a fleet of these very cheap. I think it was 12k each, I'll ask the boys if they are in tomorrow.

AFAIK it is not a ford diesel in them, if that is a good or a bad thing I will leave up to yourself.

As for your comment on the DMAX, I have seen very little problems from them and I work in an Isuzu agents. They also come with the 50euro vrt and have a gvw of 3500t.

Will resale be an issue?

colm_mcm

resale not an issue, but we're talking about the B2500 and not the newer B50. the Ranger and the B2500 are the same machine, apart from equipment differences.

the machines in question would all be around 2002 or so. Isuzu not an option due to previous experiences with Troopers, however blinkered that may seem, that's the way it is.

101sean

Do the earlier ones have electric front axle engagement? Any 4x4 with IFS is prone to damage so have a good look under the front. I wrecked 3 L200 front axles and a Ranger in conditions my Defender would have shrugged off (weren't mine and admitedly they were pure site vehicles used in appaling conditions )

CJhaughey

I read about this one being tested in the Sahara and seemed fine.

colm_mcm

the machine in question (according to the previous owner) has never been off road, or even had the 4WD engaged, sounds promising!

maidhc

colm_mcm wrote: »

will be ran on tank diesel (so would prefer indirect injection) and power isn't a selling point (2.0D Carina is current weapon of choice)

No view on the machine, but actually having your own tank is probably the cleanest way to have diesel so long as you wait a day or so for the sediment to settle after filling. We have clock a few hunded k on CR engines now with tank diesel and no issues.

But for a runabout, cheap is good.

colm_mcm

Of the guys I see claiming warranty on injectors, a huge majority have their own tank.

maidhc

colm_mcm wrote: »

Of the guys I see claiming warranty on injectors, a huge majority have their own tank.

I believe that, and have heard the stories. Just try and keep it clean, dry and in good repair and you will be fine!

jwshooter

i was chatting to a buddy of mine in donegal ,he was saying you will get a new ranger twin cab in the north for 10,000 pounds .

CJhaughey

I saw an advert in the donegal trader for a ford dealership in Donegal selling single cab rangers for €12k, I thought that was very cheap.

colm_mcm

jwshooter wrote: »

i was chatting to a buddy of mine in donegal ,he was saying you will get a new ranger twin cab in the north for 10,000 pounds .

Any more details, presume that's ex VAT

jwshooter

colm_mcm wrote: »

Any more details, presume that's ex VAT

i will find out

gofaster_s13

colm_mcm wrote: »

resale not an issue, but we're talking about the B2500 and not the newer B50. the Ranger and the B2500 are the same machine, apart from equipment differences.

the machines in question would all be around 2002 or so. Isuzu not an option due to previous experiences with Troopers, however blinkered that may seem, that's the way it is.

D-maxes are the best pick-up/crew cab on the market at the moment, they just don't give any trouble, totally differant than the 3.0 Trooper which I presume is the one you had trouble with. Don't kid yourself on parts being cheap for the rangers as Ford seem to charge the Mazda prices for parts, front top wishbone bushes give a lot of trouble and have seen a couple of them break the front drives and do lots of damage with the broken shaft breaking shocks, Abs wiring, brake pipes etc.

colm_mcm

Do you mind me asking what the circumstances were with a few of them breaking shafts, It's not something I've never heard about them - presuming it's in very extreme conditions?

As for the D-Max, I had to get injectors on a 3.0 06 one last year, it also needed some sensor or switch to do with the 4WD replaced (both under warranty) not huge problems, but an Isuzu just isn't on the cards for this one.

Thanks for the input so far lads

Fishtits

Fine machine, but you'll get sod all parts for it from anywhere but the Main Dealer in my experience.

Similar to the Jeep. (probably less than the six week (if you're lucky) lead time with these guys though...)

Strange but true...

colm_mcm

Fishtits wrote: »

Fine machine, but you'll get sod all parts for it from anywhere but the Main Dealer in my experience.

Similar to the Jeep. (probably less than the six week (if you're lucky) lead time with these guys though...)

Strange but true...

Hopefully won't be that bad, looks like it's gonna be the B2500 anyway. thanks to all who helped.

Bitten & Hisses

Fishtits wrote: »

Fine machine, but you'll get sod all parts for it from anywhere but the Main Dealer in my experience.

I found the same before with a Trooper. It ended up being a costly vehicle to run!

Dave Joyce

Hey Colm_Mcm, hadn't looked on this page in a while and just noticed the thread. I've owned a Mazda B2500 for about a year now and its been a great buy. I was in a similar situation as you and posted here and a Mazda came up for sale. Now I live in the countryside, do a 30 mile round trip twice daily and this has been as reliable as hell. Its comfy, ecnomical and I've had no trouble with it at all. Haven't towed much with it apart from a double axle trailer a few times and it wasn't a bother. Only thing that's worth noting is that the tail end is VERY scittish (used to drive a Toyota Dyna for a plant hire firm so I was used to this feeling) and can be very bad in the wet but this would apply to any vehicle of this type.

Just to give you more options, I wouldn't rule out the D-MAX either AS LONG AS ITS THE 3 LITRE. Mechanic friend of mine did a good bit of checking out for me and that was the info he came back with and he was very reliable.