Which truck would you keep

[larscot]

I currently own 2 trucks:

1997 XLT Extended cab, 3.0 Manual, 170K. Strong runner. Transmission smooth, new-ish clutch. New AC/New Alt, Blend door replaced. Interior 7/10. Engine solid, body is VG, Have aluminum wheels which give it a nice vibe. Needs new paint to make it look pristine, but as it is, it gets some looks. 20 MPG (Actual) Oil burn: 1 qt every 2200 (corrected and actual).

2006 XL, Regular cab. 2.3 Manual, 115K. Strong runner. Transmission smooth. Original parts. Well maintained. Interior 8/10. Body Excellent. Stock wheels. Everything works well. Needs close to nothing except a replacement windshield (cracked). 26 MPG (Actual) Oil Burn: negligible - I monitor the changes and use the highest quality oils/filters.

Summary: I love them both. Each one has a solid engine in it's own right, and their drive trains are very stable. I know the horsepower of each is about the same, 3.0 probably a bit more torque. 2.3 has better MPG. I estimate both have another 100K of life in them.

One of them will be gifted to my oldest son, I will retain the other.
Which one would you keep?

* Below is my 97
* The 2006 is on loan to my middle son, whose getting ready to give it up to buy a car. Its a machine in great shape. He had a chance (I offered a few times) to take the 06...I don't think he realizes what he's passing up.
* I had a 3rd Ranger (2000, 2.5 M), but my youngest snatched it up, is rebuilding the engine and is stripping it down for in prep to run on the auto cross circuit..

As you can tell, I'm a fan of those Rangers and am trying to keep them in the family.

 

[Curious Hound]

Sorry, man.

 

[scotts90ranger]

The comfort of an extended cab is hard to beat... I like mine. The mile long wheelbase is hard to get used to...

If it were me I'd probably gift the regular cab, but it's a tough one...

 

[1990RangerinSK]

Hmm. Could go either way, with this, if it was me. On the one hand, I'd want to keep the newer, better truck for myself, and pass on the other one to my son.

On the other hand, it seems to me that it might be a better idea to give him the better truck, for the simple reason that he'll have to put less money into it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

On the other hand, it seems to me that it might be a better idea to give him the better truck, for the simple reason that he'll have to put less money into it.

And probably safer.

 

[sgtsandman]

Which one is most useful to you? Do you need the power of the V6 for hauling or will the 2.3 work just as well?

 

[Snoranger]

I’d keep both and buy a 3rd Ranger for the kid... but that’s me.

 

[don4331]

This is easy - my kids got regular cab and the seat belt for center occupant was removed.

Odds of getting in trouble go up exponentially with number of occupants.

 

[larscot]

Thanks guys -
My oldest son's 34 - not a kid. He's looking at using the truck as a commuter for a year or two, then it will be relegated to a weekend hauler, as he wants to get a regular 4-door car for the family. That leads me to want to give him the 97. But yeah, I like the extended cab and the vibe the truck has. But dang, that 06 is so clean, peppy and tight to drive...

You guys don't know how much sleep I've lost over this stupid thing...
Either way, he wins...and so do I.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Where's the pics? I'm that person that's influenced by the pictures on the menu.

 

[Alan_nc]

If you really don't care to much.....let him choose.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Id keep the 97. The 06 sounds like a better commuter truck just based on MPG

 

[racsan]

Id keep the 97 and gift the 4 cyl, I prefer the “older” stlye front end and am not a fan of rack & pinion steering. Having a supercab is always nice, can keep stuff behind the seats that wont fit in a regular cab. The 2.3 would probably be a better commuter truck anyhow, wish my dad would gift me his 2005 super duty, he has a “new” 2013 now.

 

[larscot]

I’d keep both and buy a 3rd Ranger for the kid... but that’s me.

Don't say that hasn't crossed my mind. I'm can be weird like that.

 

[larscot]

Id keep the 97 and gift the 4 cyl, I prefer the “older” stlye front end and am not a fan of rack & pinion steering. Having a supercab is always nice, can keep stuff behind the seats that wont fit in a regular cab. The 2.3 would probably be a better commuter truck anyhow, wish my dad would gift me his 2005 super duty, he has a “new” 2013 now.

That has crossed my mind countless times.