So my 63 year old mother decided she wants a truck.... help!

[Eddo Rogue]

So my mom is getting ready for small town retirement, and wants a "truck" (or SUV). She is ready for the simple life, and wants a simple country life vibe vehicle.

She is a business woman, and drives a Mercedes. She has taken my F150 to Ikea before, it was probably sketchy. Never drove my ranger because its a stick.

I'm thinking maybe a new ranger, but might be too much for her, shes 5'2" and not much over 100 lbs.

She liked the Maverick, which might be perfect, I'm just worried about waiting lists, recalls etc...They haven't been time tested yet.

I was thinking maybe an explorer or some other Ford SUV.

She has noticed how my Fords take a beating and fix right up when something busts, and is now a fan. She wants a Ford...its weird and awesome.

She is shrewd Idk if any Ford SUV would be up to par MPG wise.

My only worry is she is used to european luxury components making up for not so perfect driving. She drove a rental jeep once and spun it around trying to operate regular American brakes. She is scared of jeeps now, which I am glad about.

She needs something that can tolerate late braking, aggressive throttle and steering applications, and little to no regard for road obstacles/conditions.

Oh and she always has the visor down and mirror flap open, so there can't be a light there to kill the battery.

Do they make any cars that prevent the interior lights being left on from killing the battery?

What else is there that is between a Maverick and Ranger sized? SUV's count too....

 

[RonD]

Why not a Mercedes SUV?

They have midsize(or smaller) models that are easy to park, you sit up higher, lots of features
My neighbor has one, not sure of the model, midsize, about 5 years old, his eyesight is failing so I drive him around when needed in it
No complaints, drives great, good visibility, easy to park, has all the warning features

 

[sgtsandman]

A Maverick might be a good fit for here. If she doesn’t want the Supercrew, then steer her to a Ranger. I doubt she’s going to want a 11+ year old truck since she drives a Mercedes now. The current Ranger is very similar to driving the classic Ranger, outside of the tall bed sides and tiny rear window.

If she still wants to look at an SUV, show her the Bronco Sport and the Escape. The Bronco will probably be too over the top and the Explorer to big for her.

 

[Roert42]

Simple country living eh?

should be driving a 25 year old 1ton Chevy with no less then two miss firing cylinders and an escape hatch in the drivers side floor.

Just be prepared to park it in the garage to keep the HOA from complaining.

 

[Roert42]

on a more serious note.
I agree on the euro cross overs. Maybe a Volvo. Volvos are knows for their safety features.


Or that new Hyundai trucklet.

 

[19Walt93]

First, recalls aren't something to worry about, they're free upgrades to fix acknowledged problems. Ford used to drive us nuts when they announced recalls immediately(as the law demands), before repair parts were available. The first person killed by a Takata airbag in a Honda was in 2001, more were documented over the years and Honda finally recalled them in late 2014 when NHTSA forced them.
If she wants a Ford that's what she should get. I dealt with many city and town fleets over the years, if a new person was elected as police chief, road agent, or whatever and didn't like Fords the complaints never ended. Once they lost the next election, all those "problem" vehicles were suddenly fine. If you convince her to buy something else you'll likely get the blame if it lets her down.
A set of running boards would make a Ranger easier for her to climb into and I assume a current model's accessories will time out like my 2016 Escape does and the battery won't be drained.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Why not a Mercedes SUV?

They have midsize(or smaller) models that are easy to park, you sit up higher, lots of features
My neighbor has one, not sure of the model, midsize, about 5 years old, his eyesight is failing so I drive him around when needed in it
No complaints, drives great, good visibility, easy to park, has all the warning features

I think she is over the luxury car thing. Ford can be maintained and sometimes even repaired in a driveway, parts acquisition is not a big deal either. The battery doesn't die from sitting as quickly either, she won't be driving much or often. Also she tends to tap stuff, luckily its rarely other cars, and so far (knock on wood) no people or animals (yet).

 

[Eddo Rogue]

on a more serious note.
I agree on the euro cross overs. Maybe a Volvo. Volvos are knows for their safety features.


Or that new Hyundai trucklet.

I was looking at the volvos, and it looks like they only offer hybrids. She wants ICE only. My mom is cool lol.

Maybe a used one. I would like to buy new though, or at least a warranty keeping me out of wrenching on it for a bit.

The Hyundai trucklets yea could work, but they are surprisingly hard to find around here.

What's it like getting parts for those Asian trucklets? Im assuming like Toyota, possible but more spendy, easier than German stuff though.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Simple country living eh?

should be driving a 25 year old 1ton Chevy with no less then two miss firing cylinders and an escape hatch in the drivers side floor.

Just be prepared to park it in the garage to keep the HOA from complaining.

I should have said "quasi" country lol....As in not Las Vegas (her current residence) or Los Angeles (my residence). Definitely no HOA!

Are you talking about the Rivian in Miami story? I can't believe they consider it a truck smh.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

A Maverick might be a good fit for here. If she doesn’t want the Supercrew, them steer her to a Ranger. I doubt she’s going to want a 11+ year old truck since she drives a Mercedes now. The current Ranger is very similar to driving the classic Ranger, outside of the tall bed sides and tiny rear window.

If she still wants to look at an SUV, show her the Bronco Sport and the Escape. The Bronco will probably be too over the top and the Explorer to big for her.

We were looking at the Escape online, she says needs to see it in person....makes sense. We'll take a trip to the Ford Dealership after the holidays pass, ideally test drive a Maverick, an Escape and maybe a Ranger.

Bronco would be too much. Plus I would probably pull a Ferris Beuhler w/ it.

 

[rumblecloud]

Being a recently turned 73 with a wife at the soon to be same age area (never tell a woman's age), I would advise against anything she would have to climb up to get into. (Ranger(). Maverick seems like the best choice from Ford. The more I see them, the more I like them.

I can't comment on other brands. Just keep that "step-into" height in mind when choosing.

 

[97RangerXLT]

Another vote for the Maverick. It will do the truck things that she needs it to do and will drive like an Escape.

AJ

 

[Roert42]

What's it like getting parts for those Asian trucklets? Im assuming like Toyota, possible but more spendy, easier than German stuff though.

I’m not happy with how Subaru offers service information to the general public. They only will only let you rent a service manual, no purchases, $30 a day. They also make it practically impossible to download.

I would be sceptical of other Japanese auto makers for this reason.

Hyundai is Korean. No idea on their situation

Are you talking about the Rivian in Miami story? I can't believe they consider it a truck smh.

I lived in an HOA for a while. It just seems like something that would happen.

 

[superj]

My uncle is 83 and loves thst mavierick he recectly got. He said he reslly liked the bmw but loves the maverick and plans it to be his last vehicle to own for the rest of his life. We went to eat a few days ago and he and his girlfriend both got in and out easily and my wife and i were prefectly fine in the back seat. The rear view camera was very good and parking seemed very easy for my uncle at the places we went to.


He said he got 52mpg on his last tank

 

[Josh B]

That light could be a cataract or something. I have one beginning to cause mine a problem when the sky is excessively bright so I pull the shade down to stop the glare and vision is greatly improved