Should I buy?

[Nfuriate]

The Ranger's not fitting my needs anymore so I've been looking for a 4 door replacement. I've been leaning towards a SportTrac since I will be able to do a lot of maintenance from doing it on the truck. Here's what I've recently found and I wanted some opinions from some ST owners about potential problems to be aware of. What I really want is a 4 door 4x4 that will accomodate a rear facing car seat for my newborn daughter. Here are the specs:

2005 Sport Trac Adrenalin 4x4
62,644 mi
asking $14,995

I can see some wear from the pictures, but nothing too bad for the age. The only things that bug me are what looks like a CB mount screwed into the bezel and a couple of switches in the front compartment of the center console. There might be a plug for a winch up front, but no winch and no sign of a winch being mounted. Large dent on the bed cover, but I may be able to overlook all these for the right price.

I know about Range-Explorer issues such as wheel bearings. I've replaced ball joints, wheel bearings, and shocks on my Ranger so I feel comfortable if these things come up on a ST. Is there anything I'm not aware of that I need to look for if/when I go look at this thing in person?

Also, I replaced my shocks 2 years ago with Bilstein 7100's and 5100's. I know the fronts can be swapped and I may do that before selling the truck, but what about the rears? If those could be swapped too, it would be another selling point for me.

Thanks in advance for your help/input.

Josh

and does anybody want to buy a '99 Ranger?

 

[ragajungle]

just pay attention to the basics: how does the tranny act onces he's warmed up, any valve train noise.. maybe even bring a code scanner and see if there are any stored codes that would throw any flags.

Do that any you can steer clear of buying a headache.

 

[Nfuriate]

Thanks, anybody else have advice?

 

[justinspicher]

I have the same year and model and haven't had any problems with it. However, I wouldn't get rid of it. At first I didn't care for the ST because I had just gotten rid of my F150. But since I have added my "flair" to it, I have really started to like it more and more. It also helps to have a site like this to show what can and can't be done to one. I would pick it up, maybe negotiate the price due to the concerns you mentioned, but once you get it and start to modify it, I am sure that you will be like the rest of us and keep wanting to do more.

 

[a351fan]

I own an 02 4x4 and love it. The only thing I don't like is the gas mileage, about 17mpg and 13 when I tow. My wife and I can sit in the back seats and I am 6' 300# and my wife is 6'3". If you used the bed alot in the Ranger remember the bed in the ST is smaller but I have put a quad back there with the tailgate down. The problems I have had are rear door issues with the handles and window regulators, but I do have 100k+ miles on it. I would surely buy another one.