The Ford Ranger Thunder has rumbled into Britain. But do we need pick-ups with decals?
Whether you live in a muddy hell or not, the latest Ford Ranger pick-up is perfectly usable as an everyday mode of transport.
It's not quick off the mark and at motorway speeds the 2.5 turbodiesel starts to run out of steam. However, the double cab is great for four people, gives a commanding view of the road ahead and is a great tool.
In an ideal world there would always be a Range Rover Td6, a BMW 535d and a VW Beetle Cabriolet TDI parked on the driveway - but a serious load-lugger that can take mud, glorious mud or anything else you can throw at it, well, that would complete the set.
Unhinging muddy wheels off a mountain bike the other week, I imagined that it would be great to have just such a vehicle and dispense with all this fuss.
A pick-up was the answer, one of those big, chunky four-wheel drives with decals that only posh builders can really afford these days.
The best-seller is the ¯¿½17,150 (Exc. VAT) Ford Ranger and for extra decals and head-turning clout, you really need to be seen in the Thunder. Just 750 have been built for the British market and they%u2019re already selling well with 'lifestylers' of a certain age, like me.
What makes the Thunder a little more appealing is the fact that Ford hasn't gone too over the top with the flashy bolt on goodies. Yes, it comes with moody black and silver paint, spot lamps and decals, but it doesn't wave two fingers at other pick-ups like some of the competition (the ones with too many lights, sidesteps etc etc).
Inside, the double cab set-up is comfortable if not that roomy. It carries four people but then there's little room for luggage - unless you leave it in the flatbed protected by a cover. Leather trim is a first for the Ranger. It's not that plush hide you enjoy in upmarket saloons but leather all the same. The rest of the dash is fairly functional and wouldn't look too amiss on a building site
Winding the Ranger up to running speed takes some serious use of the five-speed gearbox and around town can be tiresome. The 2.5 WLT turbodiesel provides all the grunt you need for towing but does not live up to a name like Thunder. Ride is adequate on tarmac but there are compensations when you take the Ford off-road as it soaks up the bumps. It can manage 32mpg but this vehicle is all about load ability and plenty of torque.
