What Is the Best Year For a Used Ford Ranger?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re in the market for a used pickup truck, you may be considering the Ford Ranger. It’s a Ford compact truck that’s been beloved for years. The tricky thing about the Ford Ranger is that it was discontinued between the years of 2012 and 2018. We’ll just look at the Consumer Reports ratings for the 2010, 2011, 2019, and 2020. 

2020 Ford Ranger | Ford

The good thing about looking at these four particular years is that you likely have an idea (or a budget) that helps you narrow down the range that you’re interested in. Still, a stellar year with exceptional safety ratings and reliability can outweigh the comforts and style of a newer vehicle. 

What is the most reliable Ford Ranger?

The 2019 Ford Ranger is unquestionably the least reliable of the four Rangers we’re looking at. Consumer Reports measures reliability by looking at how previous Ford Rangers have held up and uses this to predict how each particular model will do in the future.

Consumer Reports gave the 2019 only a 1 out of 5. On the other hand, all other three models get a 4 out of 5 for their reliability. One of the most common trouble spots in the 2019 Ford Ranger is the power equipment, which only gets a 1 out of 5. The transmission is another problem area in the 2019, getting only a 2 out of 5. 

Owner satisfaction is all over the place, but the 2020 Ford Ranger is the clear winner

The owner satisfaction is measured by surveys that Consumer Reports sends out. The surveys ask owners how happy they are with the vehicle they purchased in relation to the amount of money that they paid. 

The lowest owner satisfaction scores goes to the 2011 Ford Ranger, which got only a 1. The 2010 has the next lowest score, at a 2. The 2019 has a decent owner satisfaction score, receiving a 3. 

The 2020 Ford Ranger gets a 4 for its owner satisfaction, meaning most people who purchased a 2020 Ford Ranger are pretty happy with it. That could change as time goes by and problems arise, but for now, the 2020 has a pretty decent owner satisfaction rating. 

The 2019 and 2020 Ford Ranger’s safety features smoke those on the 2010 and 2011 

Let’s begin with the included safety features in all four models. The 2010 and 2011 don’t come with most of the advanced safety systems that the 2019 and 2020 models do. This makes sense, as many of these safety systems, like forward collision warning, are fairly new. 

Still, that’s not an insignificant difference. Front crash prevention cuts down on the likelihood of a rear end accident by 27%, and the chances of a rear end accident with injuries by 20%. Automatic emergency braking, which both the 2019 and 2020 Ford Rangers come with, but the 2010 and 2011 don’t, cuts down on the likelihood of a rear end crash by 50% and the likelihood of a rear end crash involving injuries by 56%.

Overall, 2020 is the best year for a Ford Ranger. It has the highest combination of owner satisfaction, reliability, and also safety features. If you’re in the market for a used Ford Ranger, the 2020 is your best option. 

RELATED: The Future Is Electric: Ford to Announce Two New EV Platforms

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Ford Has 3 of the 9 Best Cars for Your Next Beach Trip, According to Carfax

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Ford may be better known nowadays for its trucks, but the brand actually makes some great cars for the beach, too. This shouldn’t be too surprising since Ford makes some pretty fun-to-drive cars. In fact, here’s a look at how the automaker actually produces three of the best cars for beach trips.

The Blue Oval makes 3 of the best beach cars

2021 Ford Bronco | Ford Motor Company

Most people are looking to have a good time when they go on beach trips. And it can be fun to drive a car that’s ideal for the beach. But when it comes to those types of cars, there are several factors to look out for, Carfax reports. The most obvious is its offroading capability because some people want to drive their vehicle on the beach.

Tallying those factors, Carfax came up with a list of nine great cars for the beach. And Ford ended up dominating the list with three models. They’re the 2021 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and Mustang convertible. 

Why are the 2021 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport great for the beach?

Because the Bronco and the Bronco Sport are both SUVs, it’s not that surprising they ended up on Carfax’s list. After all, both Bronco models are relatively affordable. The Bronco starts at around $28,500, while the smaller Sport crossover starts at about $26,600. On top of that, Ford designed both Bronco models with off-roading in mind.

The Bronco’s standard engine is capable enough, but what’s really great about this body-on-frame SUV is its standard four-wheel drive. That, along with what Ford calls GOAT, or Goes Over Any Terrain mode, and it’s pretty clear the 2021 Bronco can handle navigating the beach and surrounding areas. What’s also great about the Bronco is its spaciousness and utility.

According to Carfax, there’s plenty of room in both Bronco models to store all the gear you might need while on a beach trip. After all, the standard Bronco has a max cargo capacity of about 77.6 cubic feet, while the smaller Sport offers 65.2 cubic feet. Plus, thanks to the Bronco’s design, its interior is “easy-to-clean,” and much of the interior is waterproof, Carfax reports.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Convertible also made the list

Because many of the best beach mobiles are also great for off-roading, it might be a surprise why Carfax gave the 2021 Ford Mustang the nod. Although the iconic pony car isn’t a good choice to drive on a beach, it’s definitely a fun, stylish car to drive to the beach. That important distinction is why the Mustang convertible won a spot on Carfax’s list.

The Mustang convertible, which starts at around $32,600, doesn’t have much cargo space going for it. After all, it’s two-door a muscle car, so it has only about 11.4 cubic feet of trunk space. But what it does have is a powerful 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine harnessing about 310 hp. 

It’s even more fun to drive when packing any one of its many optional engines, but Carfax says that’s not necessary. The standard Mustang engine is more than potent enough to give riders a great time on their way to and from the beach.

RELATED: The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Will Have This 1 Feature It Needs

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9 Ways to Get Your Vacuum to Stop Smelling Like a Dog

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Having clean floors is great, but vacuuming might not be how you want to spend your time. And if your vacuum cleaner smells like a dog, vacuuming might be a chore you’d really rather avoid. Here are nine ways to keep up with your vacuum maintenance and make this task less unpleasant.

Causes of vacuum cleaner odors

There are four primary culprits of vacuum cleaner odors. They are pet hair, mold, a burned belt, and too much dirt, Oh So Spotless reports. Pet hair, dander, and any attached urine all smell outside the vacuum and continue to smell once inside. Also, vacuuming a carpet that’s damp with any fluid can introduce mold growth inside the machine’s bag or filter.

If hair is caught in the bristles, preventing the vacuum belt from rotating properly, there can be a burned rubber smell. Also, dirt and crumbs can carry their own smells, particularly from certain foods.

5 ways to prevent your vacuum cleaner from smelling like a dog

Here are a few products that can help prevent odors from forming:

  1. Baking soda. Add several teaspoons of baking soda to the dust bag or dust bin. Baking soda can also be sprinkled on the carpet before vacuuming.
  2. Essential oils. Add approximately 30 drops of an essential oil like lemongrass or thyme to a 32-ounce spray bottle filled with water and a teaspoon of baking soda, Oh So Spotless suggests. Spray only a few squirts inside the dust bag or dust bin.
  3. Fragrant spices or herbs. Periodically sprinkle half a tablespoon of powdered cinnamon or lemon verbena in the dust bag or dust bin. If you’re vacuuming darker-colored carpets, just sprinkle the herbs or spices on the carpet before vacuuming, CLEAN Choice Cleaning & Restoration says.
  4. Fabric softener sheets. Put a fabric softener sheet inside the dust bag or dust bin or in the interior compartment. Using the vacuum releases the smell from the sheet.
  5. Commercial deodorants. Commercial deodorants come in a variety of scents, and you can add one tablet or tablespoon to the dust bag or dust bin.

4 ways to clear the smell from a stinky machine

If your vacuum is already smelly, luckily, there are ways to remedy the problem. Cleaning can help fix a stinky machine, and it can also prevent smells from forming in the first place. Schedule a good cleaning every three to six months.

  1. Replace the dust bag or clean the dust bin. If your vacuum cleaner has a dust bag, first try replacing it with a new one. If your vacuum has a dust bin, remove it and wash it thoroughly with hot water, soap, and a bit of white vinegar or baking soda, Oh So Spotless suggests.
  2. Wash or replace the filter. If your vacuum has a washable filter, wipe around it and rinse the filter with cold water until the water is clear. This might take more than five minutes. Let the filter dry for 24 hours before returning it to the vacuum. If your vacuum has a replaceable filter, replace it every six to 12 months. If you own pets, you’ll likely need to replace the filter every six months.
  3. Clean the brushes. It’s a good idea to clean the vacuum cleaner’s brushes once or twice a year, especially if you have carpets, Oh So Spotless says. To do this, unplug the vacuum. Then use scissors to carefully cut any hair that’s stuck in the bristles. If the brush can be removed from the floor head attachment, wash it with soap and water. If the brush isn’t removable, spray it with a water-and-vinegar solution. Let the brush dry for 24 hours before using it.
  4. Wash out the hose. An easily forgotten source of odor is the hose. Debris can get stuck there and begin to smell. To clean the hose: First, remove it from the vacuum, and push a broom handle through it to clear any large debris. Then fill a sink about four inches full of hot water. Add one tablespoon of dish soap and two tablespoons of either bleach or baking soda and vinegar. Put the hose in the sink and swish it around to clean inside it. Then empty the sink, and run clean water through the hose to rinse it out. Hang the hose over a shower curtain rod and dry it for 48 hours before reattaching it.

With a little extra effort, these tips can get rid of odors keep your vacuum smelling fresh. Once it no longer smells like a dog, consider professionally cleaning your carpets too.

RELATED: 5 Best Small Shop Vacs for Your Car According to Popular Mechanics

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Hyundai Hires First Black-Owned Marketing Agency

by Gabrielle DeSantis

America is undergoing a cultural awakening. Brands are beginning to realize the importance of sensitivity to diverse buyers. Hyundai has hired its first dedicated black marketing team to deepen its relationship with a vital consumer base. Automotive marketing is big business and it’s beginning to make some exciting cultural shifts.

What will Culture Brands do for Hyundai? 

Hyundai logo | Raymond Boyd via Getty Images

Black Americans spent $400 billion on consumer goods in 2020. That buying power gets attention from brands. Hyundai ranks as the seventh most popular automotive brand among this segment. The automaker recognizes the opportunity to strengthen its relationship with black buyers as an opportunity to tap into a significant market. 

Andrew McCaskill, Senior Vice President, Global Communications and Multicultural Marketing, Nielsen said: “When it comes to African-American consumer spend, there are millions, sometimes billions of dollars in revenue at stake, With 43% of the 75 million Millennials in the U.S. identifying as African American, Hispanic or Asian, if a brand doesn’t have a multicultural strategy, it doesn’t have a growth strategy.”

He went on to say, “The business case for multicultural outreach is clear. African-American consumers, and all diverse consumers, want to see themselves authentically represented in marketing, and they want brands to recognize their value to the bottom line.”

Culture Brands is a young agency with top-tier talent

Marketing dynamo Eunique Jones Gibson has had an incredible career in marketing. She made a name for herself, working with brands like Microsoft, AOL, and Custom Ink. She founded Culture Brands in 2017 to bring black voices to the forefront in marketing content. 

“Brands and organizations would come to us and would ask us to create culturally relevant content or sponsor the content we were creating,” Jones Gibson said in an interview. “And so I saw where the career that I once had and the path I was on really started to intersect.”

Hyundai considered five black-owned agencies when filling this critical role. Maryland-based Culture Brands beat the competition to the multi-year contract. This is another outstanding success for the young agency, which is sure to leave its mark on the automotive industry.

How black buyers will influence markets in the future

A row of Hyundai cars on a sales lot
Hyundai cars | Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

Social media is the fastest-growing marketing avenue, and black buyers are active and vocal users. Black car buyers are three times as likely to recommend a brand on social media and 37% more likely to purchase based on a brand’s stance on cultural issues. Brands will have to have an online relationship with this demographic to remain relevant.

Black buying power has risen 114% since 2000, and that growth will continue over the next 40 years. This is one of the fastest-growing segments representing 20% of projected U.S. population growth through 2060. Brands that don’t consciously cultivate their relationship with black buyers will miss the wave.

Hyundai ranks seventh in popularity with black shoppers. Each brand higher on that list already employes a dedicated black marketing agency. Brands that are not marketing to the black consumer are already behind the curve.

The automaker may be late to the game, but it’s hired a marketing powerhouse that will likely catch the brand up at lightning speed. Culture Brands is a formidable agency founded by top talent. It’s up to the task of building Hyundai’s relationship with the fastest-growing consumer demographic. 

RELATED: Hyundai Breaks Sales Records for the 2nd Month in a Row

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