Ford Ranger is a smooth-riding heavy-duty truck

We’ve gotten so used to seeing pickup trucks running around in the concrete jungles that we’ve sometimes forgotten what pickups were really made for. Some pickups have been so “dressed to the nines” for docile urban uses that their owners seem loath to let them frolic in their true natural habitats and performing work that they were really designed for.

Let’s get down to business with the true-blue pickups immune to such kind of identity crisis. We’re talking about trucks that were created precisely with the word “tough” programmed as the first word in its automotive vocabulary, and its owners who’ve seen past the fancy accoutrements and the marketing hype of other trucks, and placed their hard-earned money on decades upon decades of proven field worthiness.

Let’s read what two owners of the Ford Ranger have to say.

Mud and rebels

Evenboon Galang Bacamante, 24, married with one child, is a farm owner who buys fertilizers and banana tissues for his farm. He travels to the city twice a week, and picks up his wife at her office everyday. Before settling for a Ford Ranger XLS 4×4, he was also taking a serious look at a Nissan Navara.

“The first thing we did (with the Ranger) was to test the power of its 2.2-liter engine on our way home from Davao to Digos City, a 57-km long mixed-city and highway drive, and from Digos to Kapatagan, a 24-km uphill drive,” Evenboon recalled. Evenboon took the truck even farther when he drove his Ford Ranger on a round trip from Kapatagan in Digos to Kabacan in North Cotabato on the Calinan-to-Arakan route in just one day.

Evenboon’s 8-month-old Ranger has given him some memorable drives, such as that round trip between Digos and Kabacan. “That area was critical because it was rebel-infested, and there were 67 km of rough roads. Without the Ranger’s 4×4 capability we couldn’t have made it through and we would have gotten stuck in the mud.”

Evenboon’s favorite feature in the Ranger is the cruise control. “Not all trucks have that. It makes me more relaxed on the highway, and gives better fuel economy. I got 10.2km/liter in the city and 21km/liter in the highway using cruise control. Overall, I get 14km/liter in mixed city and highway.”

Evenboon says he owns two Elf trucks. His Ranger serves as a backup when any of the two trucks experience trouble.

Why did he choose the Ranger XLS 4×4? Evenboon replied: “The leaf spring suspension of this variant can carry more load than coil springs, and its 4×4 capabilities make my drives possible even in muddy terrain. And I do encounter a lot of mud because I’m a farmer. The Ranger, for me, provides the most comfortable leaf springs and cabin space—especially the leg and head room—which also make my passengers more comfortable while traveling.”

Evenboon sums it up: “Having a Ranger is like owning a truck and a sedan at the same time. There’s also more high-tech features than what the price suggests. Among competitors, my Ranger offers the most affordable 4×4, with its features that you can’t find in others, such as the cruise control and the speed limiter. It has the lightest power steering among all others, and the 800mm wading depth is very helpful, especially in flood-prone areas.”

Evenboon stresses that the Ranger is also ideal for family use. “It also serves as a leisure vehicle for my family, and we love going on road trips when on vacation. With this truck, all things are accessible for all members of my family.”

Evenboon’s only wish for his Ranger is that there could be second-row vents for the air-conditioning. “The air-con vents work just fine at the front, but my passengers at the back should experience the same level of cooling comfort.”

800-kg marble slab a piece of cake

For Jose Maria “JM” Sian, 29, married, who owns a sewing business, a heavy-duty pickup to weave together a solution for his needs for both business and family was provided by the Ford Ranger. He needed a pickup that could be strong and reliable enough to regularly transport big, heavy rolls of fabric from the warehouse to his shop, but comfy enough for his family. He looked first at a Toyota Hilux, but his gaze was transfixed on a Ford Ranger XLT. His decision was made after reading up on vehicle reviews and owners’ feedback.

A day after purchasing his Ranger XLT, he drove it up to Antipolo Church with his family to have it blessed.

Both the pickup and the high-altitude anointment seemed to be manna from heaven, because after a few weeks, another income-generating endeavor came his way: Transporting household appliances, and some more substantially heftier stuff, like an 800-kilogram slab of marble for sanding purposes.

“It was most memorable for me because carrying that block was effortless for the Ranger. It felt like nothing,” JM exclaimed.

JM, who rides his motorbike in his free time, says, “I get to use my Ford Ranger to transport my motorcycle from Bulacan to Taytay, Rizal.”

JM says he is more than satisfied with his Ranger XLT, the pickup being his one and only four-wheeled vehicle. He has never seen the need to buy a second vehicle, “because it perfectly fits into everything I do. The Ford Ranger has made my life easier.”

JM doesn’t see any areas needed for improvement, though he says, “I’m looking forward to what Ford designers have in store for future Rangers.”

Sub-P1M Ranger up to Nov. 30 only

If you intend to join Everboon and JM’s company of happy Ranger owners, this may be your best, and easiest, chance yet to own one. Ford Philippines said, in its effort to expand its ownership of the segment-defining “Built Ford Tough” pickup truck among Filipino customers, it’s bringing the Ford Ranger below the P1-million mark up to Nov. 30 only. Its Ranger XLT, for instance, is now available with a P125,000 cash discount or zero percent for 24 months.

Starting today until Nov. 30, 2019, the Ford Ranger 2.2L XLS 4×2 MT would be available starting at P943,000. The Ford Ranger 2.2L XLT 4×2 AT and MT variants now come with a cash discount of P125,000, compared to the P55,000 cash discount offered last month. Customers can also opt to get these variants on a financing scheme with zero percent interest rate for 24 months.

With 11 available Ford Ranger variants, Ford is offering a wide array of pickup trucks in its vehicle lineup, including the Ranger Raptor, Ranger Wildtrak, Ranger XLT and Ranger XLS, with every product complementing a customer’s need, budget, and lifestyle.

“We’ve made solid headway in our pickup truck business this year, and we aim to sustain the momentum by having the Ford Ranger accessible to more customers by making the Ranger XLS more affordably-priced at below P1-million, and the Ranger XLT available with a bigger cash discount or at zero percent interest,” shares Ryan Lorenzo, marketing director of Ford Philippines. “With these great deals for the Ranger, more Filipinos will experience its versatility, toughness, and world-class capability.”

The Ranger XLS and XLT variants are equipped with the 2.2L TDCi engine and six-speed manual or automatic transmission, delivering 159hp and 385Nm of torque. The Ranger XLS and XLT are perfect mobility partners for customers with workhorse and utility needs with the segment-leading 800-mm water wading capability, as well as its towing and payload capabilities.

The Ranger XLS 4×2 variants boast of a towing capacity of 2,500 kg, while the XLS 4x 4 manual variant has a towing capacity of 3,500 kg. All variants of the Ranger XLT 4×2 have a towing capacity of 2,500 kg. Meanwhile, all Ranger XLS and XLT variants have a 1,120-kg payload capacity.

The Ranger XLS and XLT variants are also equipped with driver-assist technologies such as cruise control, anti-lock braking system with electronic brake force distribution, and adjustable speed limiter.

To know more about the Ford Ranger and the special deals available this month, visit a Ford dealership nearest you.

Ford Philippines is offering gigantic deals for the Ford Ranger XLS and XLT available on this month. Starting today until Nov. 30, 2019, the Ford Ranger 2.2L XLS 4×2 MT is now available at a starting retail price of P943,000, bringing the base Ranger manual variant below the P1-million price mark and making it more competitively-priced for pickup customers.

On the other hand, the Ford Ranger 2.2L XLT 4×2 AT and MT variants now come with a cash discount of P125,000 versus P55,000 cash discount offered last month. Customers can also opt to get these variants on a financing scheme with zero percent interest rate for 24 months.

With 11 available Ford Ranger variants, Ford is offering a wide array of pickup trucks in its vehicle lineup, including the Ranger Raptor, Ranger Wildtrak, Ranger XLT and Ranger XLS, with every product complementing a customer’s need, budget, and lifestyle.

Visit https://www.ford.com.ph/shopping/hot-deals/2019/thegiganticdeal/ to know more about these gigantic deals for the Ford Ranger.