Looking for a good used truck.

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$18,000 for a Ranger LOLOLOL
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Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Originally Posted By: Ramblejam


Originally Posted By: NavyVet88
Definitely wish the ford ranger would come back

There are a glut of these at auctions now as they're cycled out of fleets; 01rangerxl could be of great help in selecting the best year, options, configuration, etc.



I have noticed a whole lot of used car dealers have at least one white Ranger in stock lately. This pic is from a used car dealer in GA...
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For what OP describes, a 2.3L Duratec engine Super Cab would be the best configuration. Those were available from 2003-2011 and are pretty common. Go for an XLT if you want features like power windows/locks, keyless entry, etc. Those features weren't standard on the XLT either, but they weren't available on the XL base model at all. XLTs also have more sound deadening in the door panels and much nicer stereos standard. Lots of fleets bought Sports and XLTs, so there are plenty out there. Sports only come with the 4.0L though.

Even if fuel economy isn't a huge concern, you'll definitely notice going from a Civic to a 4.0L Ranger. Their fuel economy is the same as a full size truck. The 2.3L Duratec gets much better fuel economy, is just as reliable, and even with an automatic it has enough power if you aren't towing.

2011, the final year, got four wheel disc brakes and traction control. I'm not normally one for "nannies," but these trucks can benefit from traction control.

Here is a nice 2.3L Super Cab with power windows/locks, XLT trim, etc...$18K though...
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http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/...80740&Log=0




They must have made a mistake their is no way a 5 year old Ranger sells for the same as a brand new base WT. Maybe they mean $8k.
 
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I think they post high prices on AutoTrader to make it 'easier' to pay what they are selling for in person. If you shop there or even on ebay and see them all going for twenty thousand.......even though some on ebay are not even real bids, zero bidders, or non payers, deadbeats, I think 'they' do this to manipulate the market and place their 'vote' on what they feel the monetary system is valued at.


Like when I was talking to an insurance company over whether to get full coverage or the state minimum on my first streetbike. I remember him saying they will pay market value for it if it is stolen. I say who determines market value, then he went on, afair, about how they would look on ebay and find one similar and use that as an adjustment.


Kind of how on television, some insurance commercial says they will give you a model year newer car than the one you wreck.
 
In response to the hysterics on pricing -- they're asking $17,948 for the Ranger. Edmunds TMV has dealer retail at $17,639 (outstanding condition). Not exactly out of line.

Original Window Sticker:
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Originally Posted By: hattaresguy

They must have made a mistake their is no way a 5 year old Ranger sells for the same as a brand new base WT. Maybe they mean $8k.


$8K will get you in a 8 year old XL regular cab with 100K miles off a dealer lot (talking full retail price). But it's not going to be easy to get a brand new pickup at $18K either...that's going to be at least $6-8K off MSRP of any full size. Not impossible, but you need to find a hungry dealer who has a base model to sell you. Right now we have exactly 0 WTs in stock at work...plenty of LS and LT trucks though.

Late model Rangers are fairly high priced at the retail level. No doubt about it. Lots of 2WD V6 Super Cabs are out there for $19K if they have low miles and power features. Over 50K miles and the prices get more reasonable, except you're getting a truck with more miles. Like Ramblejam said, a lot are just now coming off lease or being cycled out of fleets, so as supply goes up prices will drop, but if you want a nearly new example with features, it's going to cost at the retail level. If you can buy at auction or buy one directly from a company that's selling them off, you could get a much better deal. The truck I posted is probably sitting in a row of full blown retail trucks, none of which are a really good smoking deal. The last Ranger we had at work (Chevy dealer) was a 2010 reg cab 2WD 2.3L for $12K with 55K miles. I don't know what it ended up selling for, but it was gone after less than a week.

As to why so much...if you want a small Ford truck, that's your choice. The other small truck alternatives aren't really a better value either. If the criteria is dollars spent per pound of truck, don't shop Rangers or Tacomas period, and probably just go ahead and scratch every other small truck off the list except Mitsubishi Raiders. The plus side is they last a long time and upkeep is inexpensive and simple.

I think roughly 10-15 year old used trucks are the best value right now, full size or small. Old enough to be considered "old" by most shoppers, but still new enough to be good, easy to service and repair daily drivers if they haven't been run into the ground. You could probably get a 2003 Ranger 2.3 Super Cab in decent shape for $4K or so, or a full size for not much more. $6K could get a nice mid trim ~12 year old full size 2WD that has years of reliable service left if it's kept up. OP could shop older trucks and maybe get out of payments entirely, but a newer truck will carry a financial burden whatever brand or model it is.

Sticking with the Civic for now makes the most sense financially, I was just throwing the info out there, not trying to sway the OP.
 
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The joys of used truck pricing these days. Actually has me looking at buying new on my next one - something I swore I would never do. Used truck pricing went crazy a few years ago, and it still is nuts.

Not surprised to see a 5 year old ranger in a non-rust belt state with that price at all.
 
These little trucks cost a fortune right now.

In 2004 I bought a 2003 Sonoma with 15k for $8k
In 2009 I bought a 2004 Colorado with $30k for $8k

Earlier this year I needed another one, didn't care what brand. I figured great! $8k would get me something decent. Wrong! $8k bought a Colorado/Ranger/Tacoma with 130k plus on it - no thanks.

I ended up with a 15 year old Sonoma with 200k on it for $2k. Tossed a set of tires on and it's been fine. I'm done with what I needed it for and should sell it but I've been lazy.
 
Excellent posts, Ranger -- chocked full of useful info!

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
I think roughly 10-15 year old used trucks are the best value right now, full size or small.


Agree. There are some very good trucks to be had out there in this range that sell for a song because of nothing other than age. Additionally, any issues are well documented by this point, and brand/model specific forums are full of everything you'd need to know to keep them running.
 
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So trucks with between 150,000 and 225,000 miles.

Sounds like a hobby and not a daily driver.
 
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CKN, I guess it all depends on how much work you can and will do to the vehicle.


Never pop the hood? Get a new one.

Like tune ups and can handle a breakdown? Get one with 100,000

Not an engine builder or restorer....yet? Get 125-200k.

Know what you want, want to do and have the skill and tools/time to do it then you can probably get any year any model for probably what a junkyard would buy it for (barring some classics, gems, and well cared for vehicles, etc)

Live to ride ride to live? Get a scooter.


Need a challenge? Put a milk crate (or basket) on a road bicycle and hammer down!








None of the above? Hail a cab
 
Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy

They must have made a mistake their is no way a 5 year old Ranger sells for the same as a brand new base WT. Maybe they mean $8k.


$8K will get you in a 8 year old XL regular cab with 100K miles off a dealer lot (talking full retail price). But it's not going to be easy to get a brand new pickup at $18K either...that's going to be at least $6-8K off MSRP of any full size. Not impossible, but you need to find a hungry dealer who has a base model to sell you. Right now we have exactly 0 WTs in stock at work...plenty of LS and LT trucks though.

Late model Rangers are fairly high priced at the retail level. No doubt about it. Lots of 2WD V6 Super Cabs are out there for $19K if they have low miles and power features. Over 50K miles and the prices get more reasonable, except you're getting a truck with more miles. Like Ramblejam said, a lot are just now coming off lease or being cycled out of fleets, so as supply goes up prices will drop, but if you want a nearly new example with features, it's going to cost at the retail level. If you can buy at auction or buy one directly from a company that's selling them off, you could get a much better deal. The truck I posted is probably sitting in a row of full blown retail trucks, none of which are a really good smoking deal. The last Ranger we had at work (Chevy dealer) was a 2010 reg cab 2WD 2.3L for $12K with 55K miles. I don't know what it ended up selling for, but it was gone after less than a week.

As to why so much...if you want a small Ford truck, that's your choice. The other small truck alternatives aren't really a better value either. If the criteria is dollars spent per pound of truck, don't shop Rangers or Tacomas period, and probably just go ahead and scratch every other small truck off the list except Mitsubishi Raiders. The plus side is they last a long time and upkeep is inexpensive and simple.

I think roughly 10-15 year old used trucks are the best value right now, full size or small. Old enough to be considered "old" by most shoppers, but still new enough to be good, easy to service and repair daily drivers if they haven't been run into the ground. You could probably get a 2003 Ranger 2.3 Super Cab in decent shape for $4K or so, or a full size for not much more. $6K could get a nice mid trim ~12 year old full size 2WD that has years of reliable service left if it's kept up. OP could shop older trucks and maybe get out of payments entirely, but a newer truck will carry a financial burden whatever brand or model it is.

Sticking with the Civic for now makes the most sense financially, I was just throwing the info out there, not trying to sway the OP.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Tacoma-Base-Extended-Cab-Pickup-4-Door-/121680718670?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1c54bc6b4e:g:2D8AAOSw3ydVgeVW&item=121680718670

That's how insane the Ranger market is. I don't get why they are worth paying a premium they are just a basic little truck that Ford made a ton of. You can run right over to Toyota and get just about the same thing but brand new for a bit more.


The used vehicle market is why I now buy new.
 
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Yep, there was a guy from FL that bought a new Tacoma for the low 20's.

He posted pictures of it, I forgot his mane.
 
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-Tacoma-Base-Extended-Cab-Pickup-4-Door-/121680718670?forcerrptr=true&hash=item1c54bc6b4e:g:2D8AAOSw3ydVgeVW&item=121680718670

That's how insane the Ranger market is. I don't get why they are worth paying a premium they are just a basic little truck that Ford made a ton of. You can run right over to Toyota and get just about the same thing but brand new for a bit more.


The used vehicle market is why I now buy new.



I'm sure the Ford dealer will consider dropping the price if it doesn't sell. Car prices are ultimately what the market will bear.

Now is a good time to get a new 2015 Tacoma leftover because the refreshed 2016s are out.
 
put a hitch on your civic and buy one of those trash trailers from harbor freight. i'll take $200 a month for this great advice because i just saved you $600 a month and i'm feeling kind.
 
Originally Posted By: CKN
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So trucks with between 150,000 and 225,000 miles.

Sounds like a hobby and not a daily driver.


Not necessarily.

Obviously with anything that has some age and miles, you need to look it over carefully and know what you are buying, but a truck of that age and miles can absolutely be a reliable daily driver. There are many out there with less than 150K on them as well.

At work we use a fleet of GMT800 1500s for parts deliveries. These trucks are driven much more than the average vehicle, often times over 3000 miles in a month. Actual breakdowns for us are very rare, and when we do need to fix something, the parts availability is unbeatable. Only one of the trucks, a 2004 with 410,000 miles, was bought new. The others were bought used. The most recent addition was a 2000 model 4.3 WT grandpa truck earlier this year to replace a '99 4.3L that chewed up the distributor gear after 525,000 miles.

My daily driver Ranger is 13 years old with 177K miles. It has never broken down, and I would have no problem driving it anywhere right now. Everything works, just turn the key, throw it in D and go. Lately though I've mostly been driving my 21 year old hobby truck...more fun.
 
We also have a small fleet of daily-driven GMT800's here (4.3L 1500's), and my experience mirrors that of 01rangerxl.

-Lots of miles/time with minimal fuss
-Excellent parts availability
-As aforementioned, issues are well documented by this point, and brand/model specific forums are full of everything you'd want to know.

I'll share a little story...

When I went to go purchase a vehicle for myself awhile back, I really looked hard at a late-year Land Rover Disco II. I mean, they're awful cool, right?
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However, after delving into research, and understanding all the issues, I quickly came to a realization: Were I (in an ideal world) to actually fix everything, what I'd essentially done was slap a GMT800 2500 drivetrain and multiplexed electronic system underneath the Discovery. That's when I realized that I needed to forget about brand cachet, and just go buy the GM truck.
 
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: NavyVet88
You guys got any suggestions?

...and she doesn't want a higher monthly payment than what we have so I've partially got her on board


Sure. Get out from under vehicles you can't afford. You have a 2 year old car that you're paying through the nose for, and now you want to extend those monthly payments out another few years just so you can have a pickup. It's fiscally irresponsible and downright foolish. Especially if, as you claim, you're still in school, your efforts should be focused on getting through school with little or no debt, not investing monthly payments in depreciating assets.


Thanks dad
 
While I agree on late model Chevy/Ford (with any and all exceptions noted above) I'd probably aim for even less. 2WD truck has only ground clearance for it in this case; and I'd think it too easy to get in over its head. Even over 30miles the lower fuel economy is going to be felt.

What are the future plans? I'd hate to trade out of a four door only to trade back into one a couple years down the road.
 
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