I am looking for a used vehicle for my son and he would like a small pickup. I would rather him have a 1/2 ton. but, he does not need to be burdened with the MPG. I have been looking at Rangers (most available) and they go like hot cakes and list for 2-4 Kelly book values. What is the deal?

I know what you mean. I just picked up a 94 for my daughter. It was not my first choice but it was what she liked the best, in her budget.

Kelley Blue Book is always overrated.
Check with nada.com or edmunds.com.
My bank uses the NADA figures.

The issue is that the blue book is much lower than the asking prices.

you will see that the Ranger doesnt get much better MPG then a half-ton with a V6 in it..... about 15-17 is about all it's going to get on the highway, and most half-tons get the same

They are inexpensive, get great gas mileage and they are very reliable. I think that explains it.

I guess inexpensive is a relative term because I would not say that 2-4 times book value is inexpensive. As for gas mileage I do not know where the 15-17 comes from unless you are driving over 100 mph. My Supercrew 4x4 with the 5.4 gets that. My Sporttrac with the 4.0 gets 21-22 and it is heavier than the Rangers.

Yea, I am about to buy a truck and have been looking at Rangers and Jeeps...

I think the main thing about the Rangers is that it's one of the cheapest "mini-trucks" out there. Look at a Ranger and then look at a comparable import. The import is going to cost much more. Also, most folks that are in the market for a truck are going to have gas mileage as a factor in their decision.

Make sure the self-igniting cruise control switch has been replaced under the recall.

Not to mention that the imports are almost impossible to find.

They are all around great little trucks. I had a 98 Ext Cab that I put 140K miles on before trading in. It was a 2.5L and I got 25 - 27 on it consistently. I really like the little truck and it was easy to manuever around town. Would like to have another, but with two growing kids it is just not the best choice.

I have owned three. One I put 252,000 miles on with no major issues, one with a 4 cyl. that my daughter drove in high school and all through college, and the one I drive now. I would still be driving the one with 252K miles if I hadn't totaled it. When looking for another truck, I wasn't stuck on getting another one, but after looking at the Chevy S10, and the prices on the Toyota's and Nissan's I ended up getting another one. No regrets, I bought a 2002 with only 30K in 2006 and have put 30K on it and haven't done anything but normal maintenance. I get 20-22 in town and only slightly better on road trips. Pulls my little boat with no issues. Mine now is an extended cab 3 liter, automatic. The first was a 3 liter 5 speed extended cab, and the daughters was a 4 cyl. automatic. We loaded it down when she went off to Tech and loaded it down after she graduated and never did anything to it other that fluid changed and brake pads on the front once. And she drove it for 6 years. My current one I bought from Carmax for exactly what KBB was, entering all the options it has.

I had a 94 with the 3.0L V6 and it got 20+ mpg. My father-in-law has a 2000 with the 3.0L and he gets about 18 mpg, but he doesn't drive on the highway, and he has 4.10 gears with the Trailhead package. He hasn't had any problems with it. I think the fact that they are cheaper than the imports, and just as reliable makes them popular.

Steve,I have same truck but 2001. The 4.10 rear does eat the gas a little more with some variable in miliage depending on where I buy gas but I can take my "lil" truck and "bench" more than some twice its size!

I had a 2000 Ranger in 4cyl that got great milage but the lil 4cyl just wasnt up to hauling all my hunting gear and the heavier trailer loaded with my ATV and several large coolers.Id have it floored at times and only be doing 60 on hwy. So I took it back traded up and went to the Ranger Edge it is a much better truck. 53k no issues!
My only regret is no xtd cab!

This is another case of varying experiences I suppose. I had a 1991 Ranger regular cab long bed back in 1993, and will NEVER own another one again! It had a 5 speed and the 2.3liter 4 cylinder. This thing was one seriously underpowered turd. I raced motocross at the time and would go out to trail ride and practice at Marshall Creek off of 377. I lived in FlowerMound at the time off of 1171 and on the way home from Marshall Creek there was a hill that my buddies would love to mess with me on. If I had 1 dirtbike in the back, along with my gear and a gas can this thing was doing good to move under it's own power on perfectly flat ground. My friends would always make sure to get out in front of me in their fullsize trucks and then come to an almost complete stop at the base of the hill because they knew if I didn't keep a good amount of momentum up I would be creeping up the hill at 20mph!! They would accelerate up the hill with ease and look back laughing at my Ranger trying to putt up the hill at a snails pace.
The final demise of the truck came while I was driving down the road one day and all of a sudden engine oil started spewing from my hood and onto my windshield. Apparently for some reason the truck had started running lean I guess and burned a hole through the top of #3 piston. It pressurized the crankcase and sent my dipstick flying who knows where as well as all my oil everywhere. I had to have my dad come tow me to our shop. I replced the o2 sensor, went through the fuel system and replaced the pistons and rings after having a machine shop hone the cylinders and inspect the head for any damage. Put it all back together and the check engine light wouldn't turn off, no matter what I did and none of the codes made any sense. I ended up selling the truck for a huge loss.

I went on and made the mistake of buying a Mustang GT after that before I wised up and started buying import products. Have never had an issue with an import. I am on my 2nd Toyota Tacoma now, it has plenty of power even when towing or hauling something. I have never had to do more than oil changes and brakes. If y'all are doing good with your Rangers then I'm happy for you but my experience with that particular truck was miserable.