I’m looking at buying a ‘97 Ranger with 225k miles on the engine. It looks pretty clean under the hood, and the carfax shows good maintenance, but what should I expect if I go ahead with it?
If it runs and drives now, it’ll probably last long enough to pay for itself. But really, no one here can give you a solid answer. All three engines are pretty reliable, but you didn’t mention which one it is. And just looking under the hood doesn’t tell the full story. If you’re not familiar with cars, definitely get a pre-purchase inspection done by a mechanic. And just to clarify, are those 225k miles or kilometers? Because 225k miles is near the end for most gas engines from that time.
@Diana
It’s 225k miles, and it’s a V4.
Matthew said:
@Diana
It’s 225k miles, and it’s a V4.
V4? Seriously? 
Matthew said:
@Diana
It’s 225k miles, and it’s a V4.
Nah, that’s not right.
Matthew said:
@Diana
It’s 225k miles, and it’s a V4.
It’s probably an I-4 or a V6. No V4 in these.
How often was the oil changed?
Could be anywhere from 30 minutes to 30 years 
Honestly, no one can say for sure without knowing more details. You don’t have a full history of what’s been replaced or how well it was maintained over the years. Plus, it’s pushing 28 years old… some parts just don’t last that long no matter the brand. Something could break tomorrow, or it could keep going for another 25k miles. If it’s got an automatic, I’d worry more about the transmission than the engine at this point. The best move is to get it checked out by a pro, but even then, expect to spend some money on repairs. It’s probably cheaper than buying a new car, but it’s still good to set aside some cash for those unexpected fixes.
You’re not even going to mention what engine it has?
It’s a Ford Ranger… those things last forever!