Tired of new vehicles. Should I sell my Ranger?

[pentode]

I still don't understand how a signal without any SIM info wouldn't be anonymous... But again, just pull the fuse if you want to kill every last bit of it.

Agreed on "soft" power buttons though. TV provider set top boxes were one that really stood out for me as being the case here. We switched to a roof antenna not so much because of the data that gets passed back & forth (it still was a small part of it), but mainly because it just got waaayy to expensive for what we were getting (there's a ton of stuff to watch on OTA TV since the switch to digital TV signals... About the only thing we missed for awhile was Comedy Central, but were past that now).

Every baseband cell radio has an IMEI. If it has power, it's phoning home. It makes me vomit to report that if you buy tampons (or God forbid, day after pill) at the local pharmacy on a credit card, data brokers are scraping that up.

It's sickening but easily verifiable.

Edit: obviously the nightly news isn't reporting this stuff. Suddenly I realize I'm that guy.

Edit2: I don't pretend to be the oracle of truth but I'm happy to explain any of this tech as far as I understand it. I'm moderately qualified. . Also very happy to learn and be corrected.

Edit 3: I don't offer these examples to be controversial, they're just examples of sensitive personal data I can imagine people probably don't want to share.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Jim, I understand your frustration. I have a 2024 Bronco and have the same concerns. I was lucky enough to be able to pay cash for it, so I don't have the payment issue but don't like all the complexities about it. However, I like it so much that I would never get rid of it to find a simpler vehicle. I did keep my 2002 Ranger with 312K miles on it because I like having a truck to haul things. When I drive the Ranger I realize the less complexity of it but miss the comfort and ease of driving my Bronco.

I bought a 10 year/1,000 mile extended warrantee for my Bronco just in case some of that overcomplicated stuff starts giving me problems. It did have a serious problem before it got to 2,000 miles. It took a while for the dealer to find out what the problem was and get the correct parts but is has been flawless since at 14K miles. I hope that lack of problems continues.

Ford Gave me a 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands with a 2.7L V6 to drive around from Austin TX to their Off-Roadeo in Horseshoe Bay. I really liked it and said I'd like to have one someday, but I'm losing faith in newer vehicles.

https://www.blueovaltrucks.com/2021-ford-bronco-first-highway-drive/

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On a side note, I get a lot of miles out of my t-shirts because I have that same damn t-shirt on right now 5-years later. LOL.

 

[superj]

I have shirts like that, ha ha ha. One says "your Honda is 1.6 liters and my mountain dew is 2". That is from 2005 and I have it more as a collector shirt now.


I bought an stx for as little electronics as possible also, though for 24, this ranger is still full of electronics. The base model stx has the same fully loaded junk as my 85 lariat f150 had. But I really like it and will keep it till the trans goes, or it gets wrecked as its just to nice a ride and gets great gas mileage, which is a huge factor in how long I keep vehicles.

I do wish I still had my 70 karmann ghia. Gas mileage and no extra junk at all

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have shirts like that, ha ha ha. One says "your Honda is 1.6 liters and my mountain dew is 2". That is from 2005 and I have it more as a collector shirt now.


I bought an stx for as little electronics as possible also, though for 24, this ranger is still full of electronics. The base model stx has the same fully loaded junk as my 85 lariat f150 had. But I really like it and will keep it till the trans goes, or it gets wrecked as its just to nice a ride and gets great gas mileage, which is a huge factor in how long I keep vehicles.

I do wish I still had my 70 karmann ghia. Gas mileage and no extra junk at all

Your '85 was much much simpler however...

 

[tiredmec]

I hear what your saying abought the new junk. I have a 2012 3.5 f150. The timing set up set me back around 2500.00 in parts to do it right. Granted I bought it knowing it was bad. But found the trans line coupling was almost rotted in half. Its got 250000 miles on it now. Just bought this ranger for 1500.00 found a few bad spots in frame but repairable for me. When done it will be main truck. It has close to 139000 miles as of now. I have only put 1000 miles on it so far.