Post by scowha7 on Aug 1, 2019 8:38:14 GMT -6
Last Saturday (July 27,2019), as I drove into town to pick up some wood to repair a kitchen stool, I decided to go test drive the truck I've been hearing so much about--the 2019 Ford Ranger. I owned a 1995 Ranger Splash 2wd 4.0L 5-speed manual which now has 240K+ miles on all original equipment. I also have a 2002 Explorer Sport Trac 4WD 4.0L 5-speed automatic that has 235K on it and is a hybrid of a Ranger and Explorer.
Mind you, I have NO intention of buying one at this time--there's just no way we could swing it financially. After the test drive, I can tell you that it's a very nice truck. It has a nice ride with plenty of power in that 2.3L ecoboost (4cyl twin-turbo) and the 10-speed tranny. However, I found during and after the drive that my excitement for it or any other new truck right now is absolutely nil. Maybe I'm getting older or maybe my desire for a "simpler" life is spilling into my car choices but I've decided that my 2002 is probably about as computerized or technologically advanced as I can stand right now. The radio on this thing is all touch screen and although I am on my iPhone, iPad or computer most of the day, I don't want it in my car--give me the old button/knob radio that I have in my truck. My truck also doesn't tell me what to do. It knows its place! Finally, I think the excitement is squashed by the fact that to get one of these new trucks, I'm going to be plopping down between $36,000 and $50,000. (The Ranger XLT I test drove was $36,000 and didn't have all the options I'd like--but I'd be stuck with that stupid radio to get them so...The $50,000 would be an F-150 spec'ed out to my desire) Realistically right now, I could put about $6,000 into my truck and drive it for another 10 years.
Anyways, when I do buy, I can't see myself going much newer than 2010. Give me OLD any day!
