I got my 1999 Ford Ranger in 2011 when I lived in Alaska. It is a manual transmission, with limited bells and whistles. I got it at about 170k miles and it's now over 215k. As of now the truck has been incredibly good and reliable. It drives well. It has been dependable and it has done everything I needed from it. And more. The only negatives of the truck are that it is a rear-wheel drive and only a four-cylinder engine.

I have a Ford Ranger from 1997, which I purchased used in 2004. It's a very reliable little truck, and I depend on it for completing everyday tasks like driving to the grocery store, to much bigger tasks such as moving from state to state. Living in Arizona and New Mexico, having a good air conditioning system is really important while driving. The A/C in my Ranger has never broken down on me and always provided a nice, refreshingly cold current of air in the cabin. And I find the cloth drivers seat to be pretty comfortable in any weather conditions. My sole complaint about the truck is that because it's rather small and light, it doesn't handle driving in the rain or snow very well and I've had a few close calls due to hydroplaning and skidding out in snowbanks - a problem I've ameliorated by putting bags of concrete over the wheel wells. That said, the Ranger is a great city and highway truck if you live in the desert - it deals well with heat, it's generally comfortable and is great for hauling around stuff. I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a dependable little truck.