To sell, or not to sell. That is the question.

[koda6966]

Still cant decide if I should sell my truck to get something better on gas, or another Ranger with 4x4. So I figured I might let you guys decide.
Heres all of the info on it, along with some pictures.

1993 Ford Ranger XL Supercab
2wd, Automatic, 3.0 V6
147k Miles
Gets about 18-20 MPG
Flip up roof, Supercab Windows open.
Cap Included. (Two large side hatches, both open. Two Small Vent windows, both open. Rear hatch. Aluminum, non-locking.)
Minor rust on fenders, no holes on the body although the rear bumper is rusted out. Theres scratches along the drivers side along with a large scrape on the rear fender, and a dent/scrape on the front fender. I'm also going to purchase new tires soon, so there would be brand new tires on the rear instead of my current ones that have absolutely no tread on them.

Sorry about the poor quality of some of the pictures, i had to take stills from a video because my camera refuses to take pictures that arent 100% white.

Exterior
Front of truck
Front of truck 2
Drivers Side
Cab Side
Box/ Cap Side
Rear opened up
Tailgate
No cap and the roof open.

Exterior Closeups
Drivers side scrape
Front Bumper, rust
Rear Bumper, rust
Grill
Cap Side Hatch
Flipp-up Roof
Inside the Cap

Interior
146k Miles (the four is under the needle)
Toolbox
Supercab Compartments
Stock Radio
Dash

If this post looks familiar, its because I copy and pasted most of another one of my posts, that already had the pictures set up in it. I would like to thank you in advance for your input. And no, keeping it and buying another vehicle anyway isn't an option for me.

 

[mhughes165]

fix the truck up, put a 5spd in it, and drop it on its nuts, poof, ull be gettin 25mpg+ with it

 

[exbass94]

Do you want to sell it strictly because of gas mileage?

 

[JohnnyU]

If fuel economy is your primary concern, you're probably best off selling the truck in favor of a small 4cylinder car capable of running 30+ mpg. The Toyota Tercel and Corolla come to mind, as to Geo Metro, Chevy Nova, Honda Prelude, etc.

 

[mhughes165]

If fuel economy is your primary concern, you're probably best off selling the truck in favor of a small 4cylinder car capable of running 30+ mpg. The Toyota Tercel and Corolla come to mind, as to Geo Metro, Chevy Nova, Honda Prelude, etc.

not so much the prelude from my experince, well, the ones ive owned anyways, i averaged about 25mpg in my 3 3rd gen preludes i had

 

[koda6966]

Do you want to sell it strictly because of gas mileage?

Mostly because of that.

If fuel economy is your primary concern, you're probably best off selling the truck in favor of a small 4cylinder car capable of running 30+ mpg. The Toyota Tercel and Corolla come to mind, as to Geo Metro, Chevy Nova, Honda Prelude, etc.

I was thinking about either a Metro or a Civic.

 

[Shran]

If it were me I'd consider three things.

1. What I use the truck for
2. What my budget is for another car
3. How much I'd miss the truck when it's gone

If it's reliable and you haul stuff, and you don't have a whole lot of money set aside for another car, I'd keep it. Simply because if you get a cheap car you're usually just getting someone else's problems.

I went through the same thing. I always ended up getting tired of driving the Nova I have (want to buy mine?) and buying another truck.

 

[mweidner]

get the best of both, go on craigslist or something like that and pickup a junk car for $300 - $400, then you can have the gas mileage and when one breaks down you don't have to hurry to fix it up.

I ran three cars for a long time and it was nice, the spare just had minimum insurance on it and it didn't cost me much more per year to have it. I am looking for a third car again so I can do that again, my ranger is taking a decent amount of gas right now (4.0 liter) but I wouldn't get rid of it for anything.

 

[koda6966]

If it were me I'd consider three things.
1. What I use the truck for
2. What my budget is for another car
3. How much I'd miss the truck when it's gone
If it's reliable and you haul stuff, and you don't have a whole lot of money set aside for another car, I'd keep it. Simply because if you get a cheap car you're usually just getting someone else's problems.
I went through the same thing. I always ended up getting tired of driving the Nova I have (want to buy mine?) and buying another truck.

1)Delivering special cut stones to customers, but I can use my work truck for that. I also use it for camping/hunting. Same deal as the work truck.
2)Whatever I get from selling the ranger.
3)Very very very much. It was my first vehicle.

get the best of both, go on craigslist or something like that and pickup a junk car for $300 - $400, then you can have the gas mileage and when one breaks down you don't have to hurry to fix it up.
I ran three cars for a long time and it was nice, the spare just had minimum insurance on it and it didn't cost me much more per year to have it. I am looking for a third car again so I can do that again, my ranger is taking a decent amount of gas right now (4.0 liter) but I wouldn't get rid of it for anything.

I cant afford to have more vehicles on the road than I already have.
But picking up a clunker has occurred to me, except the lack of money has kept me from doing it.

 

[CJREX]

Remember, you have to put gas in a new car too.

Will the payment be lower than the gas savings? Not likely.

Calculate how long it will take to save enough $$$ on gas to pay the price differential. And then think if you really want to be in a Metro for that number of years.

Quick math

15000 miles per year

20 mpg = $3000 annual fuel cost at $4 per gallon

30 mpg = $2000 annual fuel cost at $4 per gallon

$1000 annual fuel savings = $83 per month. If you get a $300 car payment, it's going to take a LOT of fuel to reach parity.

If fuel economy is the crushing concern, you're likely better off getting a disposable 4 cyl beater and drive the wheels off 'til it croaks. Lather, rinse, repeat.

I make a 35 mile commute each way every day driving either a lifted Ranger or a V8 sport coupe. The Ranger gets around 17, the car around 21. Since the car has to have Premium fuel, the costs are roughly the same.

I'm in no hurry to get rid of either, although I will likely bring the Ranger back down to 31" tires since I have the CJ7 for muddin'

I could get something that gets better mileage, but consider...

A. Both of these were bought cash

B. I LIKE driving both of these vehicles

C. They are both paid for

D. Did I mention that there is no monthly payment?

Average out the costs, the miles you drive, and what you want to drive.

I personally like having the ability to roast the rear tires for a city block, although I don't make it a habit since tires are more expensive than gas

Think it through. You will have to live with what you get.

 

[koda6966]

As I said before, my car budget would be whatever I got out of the ranger, therefore I would find a car with a price at or below selling price of my ranger.

 

[Shran]

How about this: save up, say, $100 a paycheck for 3 months. If you still want another car, use the $600 you have and buy a junker. If you decide that the Ranger is still your baby and you're still very attached to it, then blow the $600 on it. That way you'll know that you made the right choice.

 

[koda6966]

Or since I cant keep two cars on the road.
I could stick with the origional plan.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Personally I would take the ecomomy of your Ranger and run, sure my F-150 gets the same milage as yours on the highway but you would eat me alive around town.

But if you don't need it and don't want it (I am getting that vibe) sell it and move onto something you would rather have.

I would save my pennies and get a beater, but as you said that isn't an option in your case.

 

[mhughes165]

why not, u can get a beater and TAKE THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD, and then work on it while its sittin, ever consider that