Ford Ranger

Ford Ranger

I hadn't driven a truck in a long time before stepping into the cab of the Ford Ranger. And what did I discover -- in almost every respect, a car in front, with an open bed in back. For weekend warriors, this will be a perfect combination of comfort and utility.

After a day or two of driving, my kids discovered two seats built into the back of the cab. Appropriate for kids, these seats offer an extra degree of versatility. These seats have a lap seat belt but lack the more secure shoulder harness belts. With the turn of a switch, the passenger side air bag can be disabled. This makes it possible for small kids to sit in the front seat. Otherwise my three year old son Joshua would not have been able to ride in the vehicle. I know that I could never have put a car seat in one of the back seats, especially in the two door version I was driving.

I've always thought that I would enjoy having an open bed, and I was right. My trips to the hardware store and nursery were much more fun. It was great just throwing stuff over the side into the truck. I also put the truck through its paces, shifting into four wheel high [a flawlessly easy procedure] to climb a dirt track in search of landscaping stones. I found quite a few, and the Ranger handled the extra weight without complaint. It was at this time that I noticed the carpeting on the floor, or rather I noticed the mud all over the carpet on the floor. A truck with carpeting. I should have guessed that this model was the citified version. The vehicle's purple sheen and the "Splash" logo, well, splashed across the side panels, should have tipped me off. But the vehicle's power, the workmanlike five speed shift, and the hard working soul of this Ranger seduced me.

"This truck was full of surprises. First of all you can turn the airbags on and off, so someone like me could sit in the front. Second of all, there are two "Murphy" seats behind the driver and passenger seats. There very comfortable, and even a fat person could fit in them, contradicting their appearance. I like the big space in the back, and the small sliding window, that Shadow could stick his head out of. I also like the truck, because, it's not the kind you have to keep real clean in terms of dirt and dog hair, This and the above truck are also good because you can take them off the road. This truck, however, did have one problem. I don't like the material of the seats, cause crumbs get stuck in them."