Modern pick-up trucks have long dropped that crude, agricultural workhorse persona like it was hot. They’re basically as refined as unibody sedans or crossovers whilst still retaining that robustness expected when the going gets tough.

But do you remember the bullish pick-up that brought about the paradigm shift in the segment and forced the competition to up their game as welll? It was the Ford Ranger.

Although the Ranger did initiate the trend of pick-ups slowly ditching their country roots and becoming city boys, it was the previous PJ generation that kickstarted the transformation with the yellow Ranger Splash inspired by Pamela Anderson’s jugs bouncing in slow-mo along the beach. There might have been a TV show associated with those funbags; it’s hard to recall.

However, it was the all-new Ranger T6 that cemented the arrival of a refined pick-up and made it possible to really have it all. You got the utility of a pick-up without sacrificing much comfort.

Also Read: New Ford Ranger WildTrak Sport launched in Malaysia, final hurrah model priced from RM 158k

The Ranger T6 truly was the first car-like pick-up. It appealed to a whole new buyer demographic that needed a truck for an active lifestyle but weren’t willing to renounce refinement by going with contemporary pick-ups that were essentially lorries with nicer seats.

The Ranger T6 pre-FL variants offered in Malaysia

All-new from the ground up, the Ranger T6 was launched with much anticipation in 2012 and was initially available in these trims:

Both had six forward ratios to choose from with the only option being if you opted for three pedals or two.

Ford were pretty gung-ho about the Ranger’s max wading depth of 800 mm. That coupled with its cargo weight capacity of up to 1,333 kg and a max tow rating of 3,350 kg ensured it didn't forget how to truck when required to.

Safety kit was pretty standard for the time. The XLTs packed two airbags (just like Pamela Anderson), ABS, EBD, BA and load adaptive control. However, the WildTrak got all the bells and whistles with the addition of ESP, hill descent control, hill launch assist and roll-over mitigation. It got an extra two airbags as well (unlike Pamela Anderson).

Also Read: 2022 Ford Ranger: RM 3.8 billion investment poured into Thailand for plant upgrades

Not only did the cabin resemble something you’d find in a sedan but it certainly felt like it too. You got the usual cruise control, auto headlights and speed-sensing wipers. For the time, the early version of Ford Sync meant infotainment was controlled via the 4.2-inch display and featured voice controls though the latter wasn’t always very fluent with the Malaysian tonality.

Reasons to buy a Ranger T6?

Granted, most current pick-ups have picked up (pun intended) the slack and are much more refined machines than their predecessors.

Nonetheless, if you desire a pick-up for your active, urban lifestyle but you’re restricted by a budget and said pick-up will most likely have to be your sole vehicle as well, the Ranger T6 is probably the answer to your questions. It’s very much at home in the city and will definitely not drop the ball as a daily driver.

Also Read: This is the all-new 2022 Ford Ranger – the baby F-150 you can soon buy, adds 3.0L V6

Unless robustness and reliability take precedence over everything else such as comfort, you might be better off with a Toyota Hilux or Isuzu D-Max from the era. Otherwise, the Ranger T6 will fit the bill just fine.

Used market prices for the Ranger T6

Our focus here is on the pre-facelift Ranger T6 that was available from 2012 to the tail end of 2015. It’s easily recognisable by the more rounded front façade as compared to the squarish face of the facelift that arrived in 2015.

You’ll definitely want to go for the Ranger 2.2 XLT. Depreciation has brought the lower trimmed Ranger 2.2 XL into approximately the same pricing range so it makes sense to just go for the higher-spec option.

Also Read: In Brief: Ford Ranger, combining the best of utilitarian and refinement

For the 2015 pre-facelift models, you’ll find that most start in the low RM 60k range and can go up to the high RM 60k. There are some that dip below RM 60k. Bear in mind you’re always going to try and negotiate as well.

Some stragglers will even exceed the RM 70k mark but for that kind of money, you’re already approaching the facelifted models so ignore those.

Even 2014 models are roughly in the same bracket although for that year you’ll find more options starting under RM 60k.

Also Read: The Ford Maverick is the better handling, hybrid Ford Ranger that Ford refused to give us

Seeing that the 2015 pre-facelift models turn 7 years old this year, if you can afford to forego a year on a loan (if you’re opting for one), it would make sense to aim for a 2014 model priced under RM 60k and start negotiating from there.

Common problems

The Ranger is after all a pick-up so it had to be hardy… to an extent. There was always going to be some sacrifices in the pursuit of refinement and the Ranger was guilty of some common issues although most people in the business now know what to look out for.

We spoke to Pala Ganesh of Bug Auto Centre in Subang. They’re a familiar name in Ford circles and have plenty of experience in keeping the Blue Oval models here on the road.

Also Read: Spotted in Thailand, this is your next 2022 Ford Ranger; Triton, Hilux rival gets very American look

He shared some of the common issues with the Ranger and even went as far as sharing the expected costs with labour should you find yourself needing to address these gremlins.

One of the most common issues is the weak intercooler rubber charge pipes. They tend to crack prematurely, resulting in a lost of power. The aftermarket has the solution here with pre-fabricated metal ones that will last a lifetime. If this hasn’t been already changed, you should make the upgrade as it’s more of a matter of when, not if. Expect to pay in the region of RM500-800 for a pair of metal ones with plenty of options online.

Another common issue is the EGR valve that has coolant circulating for cooling. They do tend to fail so it’s something to keep an eye out for as well.

One of the major gripes with the Ranger stems from the automatic transmission. Symptoms such as juddering when downshifting, jolting when shifting out of P or being hesitant to upshift in higher gears aren’t unheard of.

This could be related to the valve body separator plate in transmission. However, Pala stresses that preventive maintenance could cure this from happening.

He states that the Ford service manual recommends flushing the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) every 200,000 km. Replacing your ATF at much shorter intervals will go a long way in preventing any transmission issues. In fact, Pala recommends changing the ATF at 30,000 km intervals or less if your wallet permits. The cost for the ATF is approximately RM 260 without labour.

There have been owners claiming that the turbocharger unit failed. There’ll be a huge loss in power if this was the case and while it may be possible to service the unit, you can replace it with a new one as well.

Lastly, a good move would be to have the injectors cleaned once you get your Ranger. Think of it as peventive maintenance in the long run. While you're at it, you might as well clean the fuel lines and change some of the rings.

Another issue to keep an eye out for is the U-joint on the longshaft. A symptom of it could be some vibrations from the driveline.

Lastly, you'll also need to remember that the engine in the Ranger uses a lot of oil. It's American after all so the thirst for liquid gold seems like a joke waiting to be made.

*bear in mind all these charges are estimates from previous jobs and are subject to change

Conclusion

Some might argue that for a lifestyle-oriented pick-up, the Ranger isn't exactly on the affordable side to maintain. We haven't even included the road tax and the cost of replacing tyres though the latter is subjective. Road tax is on the lower side with the 2.2-litre engine costing RM 598.40 a year.

However, the lifestyle orientation does necessitate a certain expenditure and this is; for lack of a batter term, literally the price to pay. Then again, you are still getting a pick-up that is one of the most refined on the road and will stay that way so long as you stay on the road... mostly.