Classic Hifi Care

I am kinda looking ahead. The faithful red Ranger has 188K on it and rust is poking through a little. In a couple years I ought to get a new vehicle. The Ranger is 17 and I've driven it for 16 years. If I bought a new vehicle now, in 16 years I'd be 90. So my next vehicle may be the last I buy, at least in the daily-driver category.

So it occurs to me that I should splurge and buy a NEW vehicle. In my years on this earth, I've bought one NEW vehicle, my wonderful 1980 Datsun 510 wagon. Maybe it's time for another dose of new-car smell. I went to the Ford and Toyota web sites and tried their "build" options. User-unfriendly is putting it mildly. Who designs these things, anyway?

I'll ask the important question here, then. Does anybody build a medium-size (Ranger-size) pickup with 4-cyl. engine and manual transmission? 2WD? Or even with a 6 and manual? And the next question, does anybody build a pickup with more bed than cab? They all seem to have tiny beds and huge cabs.

It seems that trucks have become suburban fashion statements and not devices designed for hauling stuff. The amount of standard gew-gaws they boast about is astonishing and, for the most part, stuff I can live without. (True confession: I do kinda like the AC on the Ranger).

Chris Campbell

I'd be in trouble if I had to buy a new vehicle today. I have no idea what I'd buy. Getting something new without an automatic transmission might be a challenge. I sure wish you luck.

The real challenge is $$$. I read a newspaper review of an SUV the other day; it tested out at something like $80K. Are you kidding me? For something to ride around in?? That's more than 3X my first house. The problem with getting old is that your reference point for purchases gets more more antique also.

Chris Campbell

Hello Chris, I have a 2001 Toyota Tundra V6 5 speed (60,000 miles) bought in 2005 for 9000. It just hit 190,000. It's my second vehicle now so it's not driven much anymore. Dont know what to say about whether you should get a new truck. That said I was talking to a rich guy years ago and he said the secret to accumulating wealth was to NOT get divorced and NOT buy a new truck... Hydro

Chris. I was listening to mainstream news this morning, which is something I never do but I was waiting for the local weather report. The gal talking was talking about vehicles. She said over the last year, vehicles have gone up $10,000.00. Ouch! I know for a fact that dealerships are getting sticker for anything setting on their lot. Some dealership are even price gouging and adding thousands of dollars over sticker. As far as what to buy, I wish you all the luck in the world.

Bill

I haven't any idea what is on offer from the mfr's. these days. I do know I had been looking for a pickup along the lines of what you want to get shed of. Trying to find one that isn't beyond my price range is difficult. The sellers think the frowziest heaps are true classics. I guess i just ain't got good taste.

We bought our only new vehicle in 1974, a left over Saab 99. Great car but parts hard to find. traded 3 yrs later on a used Ford F100. Ever since for drivers mostly full size used Mopar or Olds/Buick every few years, we put on lots of miles. Until we moved N to VT from MD, then NY, and Japanese SUVs from then on.

I'd go to Arizona or some other rust free place and buy a '90s to early 2000s Ford 150, several of the web gurus like Scotty Kilmer and the Vie Grip Garage guy say they were among the best and you'd avoid all the chips, screens, leather and drive-by-wire junk. Find one under 80-90k that's had decent care it'd probably outlast you and be cheap and easy to repair in the meantime.

"....the frowziest heaps are true classics". Thank you, Rex. I've been giggling like a third grader reading the National Geographic over that all evening. You could always make me grin and I sorely needed that.

The problem with buying a used vehicle in AZ is that the rust doesn't get the junk. Buy an Arizona body and put your mechanicals in it. I wouldn't want a used Arizona vehicle if it had any miles on it at all. I agree with Roger. Buy an older one without all the horsefeathers on it or fix up yours.

I've got a problem with full-size pickups. You need a ladder to access the bed. My Ranger is just right. I can actually lift stuff over the sides or onto the rack on the bed. It's really my idea of the perfect truck. 4 cyl., 2 WD, cheap 'n' cheerful. Happily, it's still behaving like the perfect truck.

This is certainly not the right time to buy new vehicles, or used ones for that matter, what with the shortage of components and prices skyrocketing. I just like to plan ahead. And in particular, I'd like to know whether I can even get a manual transmission. Shifting is my way of contributing to the undertaking. Hagerty Insurance sells t-shirts that say "3 pedals, no problem." And besides, a manual transmission is a better version of a theft-prevention device.

I had a wonderful 4-speed '62 Corvair in 1970, a little car that tolerated all my abuse, and since 1980 all the daily drivers have been manuals.

I've been wondering about just buying a new bed for the Ranger. The current one was built on a Monday, judging by its early surrender to rust on the floor. Years ago here in Michigan we'd see ads for "southern truck beds." Guys would travel to southern junkyards and bring back intact beds to sell to guys like me with great trucks and rusty beds. I'll have to do some searching. Or ask my cousins in AL to find me one.

Chris Campbell

If you want to find out about a bed, here is a good resource for locating such items. It is nationwide and I have used it often.

https://www.car-part.com/

I have a deadman on my old Buick as a theft-deterrent system. Buick installed a factory deadman theft deterrent. It is called Dynaflow. Park into the curb and the car will never get stolen unless they want to push it. Nobody can find reverse.

I haven't driven a Dynaflow since the '57 went to the junkyard ("deleted", that nags at me) in about 1969.Where is reverse on the selector?

Chris Campbell

I know GM put out a statement to all dealers that price gouging will not be tolerated for what that's worth .... but as far as inventory goes... our particular dealership gets about 5 - 10 new cars and trucks a week... most of which were sold before they get off the truck ... used car prices are driving the market and I feel sorry for anyone that has to buy something right now ... they are under water when they sign the contract, because as soon as new cars start flooding back in.... that used car you purchased for 10k over it's value is worthless as a trade for a new one

My wife took the cat to the vet this morning. She stopped across the street from the local GM dealer for breakfast. He has two new vehicles on his lot. TWO. Both GMC trucks. One is $104,000 the other just south of $100,000. For a pickup truck. Not a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley. The cost of breakfast is also up. But she got to go to our favorite resturant while I'm stuck at home babysitting the dog....

In 1978, I bought a new Mack Superliner V-8 with a 45 foot Fruehauf grain trailer for $95,000.

And, Chris, reverse on a Dynaflow, like on the Dual Range Hydro and early Powerglide, and Ultramatic, is on the bottom.

Apparently the high price of trucks and the rising cost of gasoline isn't deterring people from buying new trucks.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/compani ... hp&pc=U531

electra225 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 5:51 pm Apparently the high price of trucks and the rising cost of gasoline isn't deterring people from buying new trucks.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/compani ... hp&pc=U531

Well, there one born every minute.... Remember that I'm the guy who has purchased one (1) new car in my three-quarters of a century on this earth. As a complete cheapskate, I know that a big chunk of the purchase price of a new car just evaporates, poof, when you drive it away from the dealership. So while I do like cool cars, I've managed to get by with cool USED cars. And then they last forever while I save up the bucks to buy the next one instead of paying the bank for the privilege.

Chris Campbell