Should i trade?

[rockin86ranger]

i know on a ranger forum with high gas prices i'm goin to get a lot heck no's but thought i'd ask. My dad is looking at a ranger for better mileage on 114mile round trip to work. he has a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 extended cab short bed with a v8 auto. i have a reg cab short bed 2.0l ranger with a 5speed. Should i offer him a trade and cut his debt to me in half. If i get the Dodge i'm planning on getting a Vw bug.

Thanks, Bill

 

[motocross]

i would say do it, i just bought a V6 mustang to save on gas but i dont recomend getting a bug i wanted to get a a jetta TDI but couldnt aford it

 

[rockin86ranger]

i'm going to get a an old beater baja bug i think it's a 1969 he only wants 300 bux for it but it needs work. and i love baja bugs and their prices on parts have been pretty cheap compared to other vehicles.

and if i get the dodge i'm getting a computer thats supposed to increase mileage.

 

[Boggin]

I vote for the bug
but watch out when you purchase those computers, theres alot of BS computers out there

and I love those bugs too,

 

[rickcdewitt]

sounds like dad is trying to pawn off his gas guzzler on unsuspecting prey....

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

i'm going to get a an old beater baja bug i think it's a 1969 he only wants 300 bux for it but it needs work. and i love baja bugs and their prices on parts have been pretty cheap compared to other vehicles.

and if i get the dodge i'm getting a computer thats supposed to increase mileage.

My brother has a '68 Beetle with a '73 Super Beetle dual port 1600. The guy he bought it from said if it doesn't get 45mpg bring it back, so far it has been pretty close to that mark. He is wanting to go thru the engine and up the power from 50hp to something more respectable which will of course hurt the milage some, but the darn things are like legos, you can about buy a whole one out of a catalog piece by piece. Really sad thing is even at only 50hp or whatever it is at, it will still thrash my Ranger with authority in a race, it is pretty spunky if driven right.

If you live in a cold area be prepared spending some time getting something to work for a defroster, getting hot air into the cabin is easy, but getting it to come out of somewhere other than under the back seat isn't...

 

[rockin86ranger]

i know all about that dodges mpgs and they aren't really that bad. when i drive it i get close to 20 on the backroads. which is all i ever drive. but now i'm thinking about getting the extended cab ranger for myself and giving dad mine. it is a v6 with a 5speed, but needs some rearend work done. but i love rangers and sticks which the dodge is not. but i love dodge too. i'll just wait and see i can get the extended cab ranger because i can get the seats to back further in that and be more comfortable.

 

[Mark_88]

I just voted no, keep the Ranger...but gas prices are worth considering getting something better...I wouldn't buy something that is not suitable for daily driving or needs more work than one that is working...

Just my 2¢ worth...

 

[lil red]

i vote keep the ranger and save up for a bug, or make your dad buy you an extended cab 5 speed

one more thing, if its wet out bugs get scary, 4 wheel manual brakes arent the best for a dd

 

[Boggin]

get one of these baja bugs!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

i vote keep the ranger and save up for a bug, or make your dad buy you an extended cab 5 speed

one more thing, if its wet out bugs get scary, 4 wheel manual DRUM brakes arent the best for a dd

You forgot a key feature, and disk upgrades are dirt cheap. In a 1500lb car you don't need huge Brembo brakes to stop. My brother has never had a problem with his though, but he does have stockish sized tires on it.

They do like to spin if you don't take corners with caution in snow though, all the weight in the rear is the major culpret. But they go places that a 4x4 would be proud to go.

 

[Hawker]

Kinda drifted far from the guy's question haven't we?

My thought would be:

Getting into selling vehicles within the family is a sure course for disaster. So many reasons it's best left at that. Dad 'giving' the kid a vehicle, happens pretty often. But when you start 'selling' things - disaster looms.

If you were to make a swap, his problem is now your problem. You're stuck with a white elephant that there is no market for. And now you've got to feed it.

Dad's been around longer than you have and likely knows what he's got to do. He'll probably surprise you and figure a way out that works for him all by himself without getting you bogged down.

This suggestion is worth twice what you're paying for it. So treat it accordingly.