Simple vehicle

[dreamaker]

Well it is getting time for one of my old girls, she is getting up there in age. "96 Ford Ranger, going strong but you never know. So I am think of a new or newer ride. I use to be totally GM guy but GMAC screwed me on a lease vehicle and I vowed to never lease or buy a GM again.  So now I am Ford man!! It has been a long time since I looked at new rides. Thing is I just don't want all the crap they put on vehicles today. I am computer/ technology literate, I just don't believe it belongs in cars as much as they do. Cars of today contributes to making us lazy and fat.  Not considering how repairs rapes out wallets.  So my question is do they make a bare bones vehicles anymore?  I don't want anything power, I want seat leavers, window handles, and adjust my own mirrors. Or am I talking out my orifice. Had my Ranger since 1999 and only broke spring perch.  Good batting average!!!

[alph]

we just bought a dodge durango.  our '99 ford windstar blew an intake manifold gasket on our way to MSP, and i told the wife that enough is enough, and if she was going to go anywhere she's going to have to get a new vehicle.  

it cost only $475 to fix the van, and it runs just as great as it did before, but she's got 155,000 miles and i don't want to worry about Mrs. Alph getting stranded somewhere.  so one week after buying the Durango she takes it to MSP when she's stuck in traffic smoke starts pouring out of the engine, and some lady yells over to her telling her there's antifreeze spraying out all over!!  the thing only had 600 miles!!  of course the dealer couldn't find anything wrong!!  oh, then there's the heater that comes on spontaniously on high, they can't find anything wrong with that either......  we're keeping the van as a reliable spare.....  the wife doesn't trust the Durango to visit her sister, she lives in Virginia MN, there are a couple stretches of nothing out there!!  and she doesn't want to take the old blue ford either.

oh, forgot, i had an '89 ford ranger with jump seats behind the driver, that was a fun truck!!  had about 140k miles.  that was an excellent truck!!  never had any problems with it, ever!!  traded it in for an F-150 supercrew, that's got 110k miles, only had to change the front wheel bearings both sides, and the fuel filter almost left me stranded in rockford ill. once, but it started up after 20 minutes of sitting.  fuel filter had been neglected, wasn't on my schedualed maintenance sheet..... (funny thing, the ranger and the F-150 get the same milage!!)

[olddog1946]

I recently bought a 2003 Chevy S10, 2wd with just over 139,000 miles on it, with manual windows, locks, etc. I just love those S10's, though I do wish this one had cruise control, but it is a 3 door, rides smooth and has the 4.3 V6 with a ton of power. A few years ago I had a 98 that had 280,000 miles on it and still ran like new, but was having issues with gout and driving it in town was killing me.
AT any rate I am sure what you're looking for can be found, but may take a long time to find.

[alph]

i know you can order a vehicle and they'll make it without any options.  have you tried that? 

[GreenLantern57]

Ford does offer a work truck version.  No carpet. 

[Fudd]

Well it is getting time for one of my old girls, she is getting up there in age. "96 Ford Ranger, going strong but you never know. So I am think of a new or newer ride. I use to be totally GM guy but GMAC screwed me on a lease vehicle and I vowed to never lease or buy a GM again.  So now I am Ford man!! It has been a long time since I looked at new rides. Thing is I just don't want all the crap they put on vehicles today. I am computer/ technology literate, I just don't believe it belongs in cars as much as they do. Cars of today contributes to making us lazy and fat.  Not considering how repairs rapes out wallets.  So my question is do they make a bare bones vehicles anymore?  I don't want anything power, I want seat leavers, window handles, and adjust my own mirrors. Or am I talking out my orifice. Had my Ranger since 1999 and only broke spring perch.  Good batting average!!!

I think you're talking out your tailpipe wishing for a simple vehicle.  Remember 'Y2K' ?  The way it really got us is, since then everything you have bought is run by a damn computer.  Imagine what will happen if we get a giant solar flare or a C.M.E. that fries all the electronics.  We'll be back in the stone age looking for a horse to ride.

I remember knowing everything about what's under the hood in my '67 Chevy pick-up.  The last hood I looked under, I can't even tell you for sure which way the engine is facing!

[musclehead]

here ya go.....well it IS simple and truth be known I had one for a few years (delivered pizzas in it, made a killing on gas mileage)

[Jess from VA]

This is why my brother will only own '69 and earlier vehicles.  No sensors, no smog pumps, no Fi, carburetor only, no computers.  Of course he does not care anything for luxury or creature comforts, and is a master mechanic.  He just puts in new and used parts when they need it, and they run forever.

Cop argued that he was not driving a '67 dodge truck (per the registration), and could not find a vin number in the dashboard cutout.  He said yes he was, he just dropped a 2004 Dodge body on his old truck, it is the frame-chassis that gets registered.  

[Tropic traveler]

Simple vehicles are pretty much a thing of the past. Loaded up cars & trucks make more profit, not to mention the general publics love affair of distracting gadgets these days. 
Alph I hear you about the fuel mileage of the Rangers.
This truck gets the same fuel mileage,


As this F250 I sold to buy it.


I sold the F250 diesel & bought the Ranger back in 2008 when I saw the economic S@#tstorm coming. Didn't really need the power of the big truck & the added bonus of buying Kim her Valkyrie with the F250 money as well! 


Downsizing can be a good thing but don't expect to buy anything new that is as simple as the older ones! 

[franco6]

Do they still make the Checkers as in checker cabs ? those were undestoyable, just basic transportation

[cookiedough]

Personally, I'd stay away from Dodge vehicles overall since overall reliability is not as good as GM or Ford or Toyota.  Since Ford rangers are no longer made,  good luck finding a good used one, but they are out there.  If you want a truck,  I'd highly consider the 'work truck' package in Ford, Chevy, or Toyota 1/2 ton trucks.  I was a GM guy almost forever and the 4.3L V6 in the Chevy S-10 and even on the full sized work truck package Chevy Silverado usually just in 2wd is a very good engine achieving 22 mpg or so with tons of power for a V6.  Only other very good GM engine for reliability is the 3.8L V6 engine in the older say 2004ish year Buick Lesabre, Chevy Impala, and their other mid-sized 4 door sedans with it achieving near 30 mpg driving which is very good for a 4 door decent sized sedan.

Now, as far as trucks, hard to beat a good used work truck package in the Toyota Tundra either in the older 4.7L V8 or the 2007 or was it 2008 4.6L V8 delivering o.k. fuel economy at 18-19 mpg with excellent power comparable to the 5.4L Ford or 5.3L Chevy 1/2 ton truck engines.  If I was single and needed a truck,  either Ford, GM, or Toyota in a 'work' truck package would be a good choice to be had pretty darn cheap since not too many owners nowadays want them because most come with basic radio, roll down windows, vinyl seats and vinyl floor (no carpet) with column shifter which I still prefer but most still have cruise control.

[Hoser]

This is the only Y2k proof vehicle I own, rebuilt to new condition, it will run when they turn on the disabling computer thingie.  Hoser 

[dreamaker]

I guess I don't have to get a truck any more.  I use to be an El Camino guy; I loved it, best of two worlds.  They didn't make them anymore so I went small pickup.   At the time I looked at GM and a GM engineer told me they were slapping them together to compete with Ford.  Looked at MoPar and they were having trouble with drive trains.  Then I talked to 12 people that had Rangers and they loved them, with virtually no issues.  The longevity was my main concerned, wanted something dependable. I guess now I am aiming towards dependability and gas mileage.  
I keep hearing this chatter about Carbon Tax. Not sure exactly of the facts of it, but I get the impression that what it boils down to forcing people in one instance to get rid of the old and by new vehicles.   Another ward you pay heavy penalties on vehicles that are not fuel efficient.  This also means our toys and Utilities!!!  So throw everything away and buy everything new. OK!!!   So has anyone heard the facts on this?     I sure hope I am wrong!!!
The problem is they put so much trash in the vehicles today. Vehicles that parallel park, you're kidding!!!  If you can't parallel park you shouldn't be driving.  Do in dash video streaming conversation as you drive, boy that makes me feel safe. Vehicles are not Lazy Boys; they are potential weapons and need to be treated with total attention and respect. Just want to get from point A to point B.

[hubcapsc]

Another ward you pay heavy penalties on vehicles that are not fuel efficient.

We were talking yesterday about a co-worker's 70's model gutless Ford (Tempo?)
that got 50+ mpg....

-Mike

[cookiedough]

Yah, we use to won a 1988 Toyota Tercel 4 speed floor shifter 2 door coupe that achieved with I think their 1.5L very peppy 4 cylinder around 45 mpg, no joke.  So, if in 1988 they could achieve over 40 mpg and be a very good car,  why can't car mfgs. easily achieve NOW some 20 years later easily over 40 mpg in their 4 cylinder cars?  I don't get that at all.

If looking for a car, I know most used buick lesabres/park avenues and chevy impala's 3.8L V6 engines are very dependable and peppy enough for most people in the 2004-2006 year class or so can be had for around 8K with lower mileage if you can find one usually pampered by an older person and yet still achieve near 29-30 mpg hwy. miles and not too many 4 cylinder engines in a much smaller car achieve more than 35 mpg.  If looking for something newer I'd consider a 2009-2010 Toyota Corolla LE 4 door sedan can get for 12.5K getting 35 mpg and the seating in front is comfy as long as not over say 6'1" tall, but back seat room in non-existent for anyone over 5' since legroom in back seats are dinky.  I had both a 2004 chevy impala LS 3.8L V6 and a 2009 Corolla LE and both were very nice and roomy for the driver while still achieving very good mpg and both rode very nice and quiet.

Now, don't go looking for any Ford product in the past few years since most of them have that fancy gizmo called Ford Sync that my neighbor has and if not a techy guy which I am not,  looks to be more of a pain in the butt and distracting while driving plus he has had issues with it working in his newer 2011 Ford Edge SUV. 

[HayHauler]

2 words cookiedough......   Polution Control  that's why we can't have a 1.5 litre get 45 mpg anymore.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[dreamaker]

2 words cookiedough......   Polution Control  that's why we can't have a 1.5 litre get 45 mpg anymore.

Hay  
Jimmyt

I think Pollution Control is a crock of .... I think it is a method that creates components to expand manufacturing just like the useless trash they put in vehicles today. I am kind of a techy, but I don't want it in my car.  I understand that If in reality pollution was a great concern, why are we as consumers the only ones that cause the pollution.  Of course the buses, semi trucks, factories, refineries and energy producing plants never cause pollution. We are the culprits !!!  Also it is not like we have big walls on our shorelines and borders that will not let pollution from other countries that have less regulation then we do. You ask why they can't !! They can but they don't want cars to last forever otherwise they would have to shut down there stables.

[Black Dog]

'91 Honda Civic DX Sedan...

Was my mom's, but became mine when she passed away 2 years ago.  60,000 miles, original owner.  1.5 L 4 cyl.  Crank windows, manual locks, 5 speed man, no tint in the windows...  A 'basic' car 

When the trip meter says I've gone 400 miles or so, I stop and put in 9 - 10 gallons, and I'm on my way.  Compaired to my Suburban, this lil' bucket sips gas 



Black Dog

[jer0177]

This is the only Y2k proof vehicle I own, rebuilt to new condition, it will run when they turn on the disabling computer thingie.  Hoser 

Hoser - that thing still have points and condenser or did you upgrade to pertronix unit?

[Hoser]

This is the only Y2k proof vehicle I own, rebuilt to new condition, it will run when they turn on the disabling computer thingie.  Hoser 

Hoser - that thing still have points and condenser or did you upgrade to pertronix unit?

Got the petronix on it, got the stock set up on the shelf. Ten minutes it's stock again if the petronix shoots craps.  I don't expect it to, sure is nice not to adjust the points periodically.  Hoser

[jer0177]

This is the only Y2k proof vehicle I own, rebuilt to new condition, it will run when they turn on the disabling computer thingie.  Hoser 

Hoser - that thing still have points and condenser or did you upgrade to pertronix unit?

Got the petronix on it, got the stock set up on the shelf. Ten minutes it's stock again if the petronix shoots craps.  I don't expect it to, sure is nice not to adjust the points periodically.  Hoser

Not arguing about the pertronix being nice, but it would be subject to an EMP...   

[Hoser]

Like I said, ten minutes it's stock.....     Hoser

[Michvalk]

A well tuned motor from and older car can pass emissions. The problem is, people have the "only fix it if it is broke" syndrome. Hence the emissions crap they put on todays cars to make up for not keeping up with the tune. I had a 65 Ford Galaxie 500 with a 289 and a stick, that got over 25 miles per gallon at a minimum. I was only 16 at the time, so you know it never got babied. Then again, I never heard of a car getting over 100,000 miles on it without a major overhaul either, so some improvments have been worth it

[dreamaker]

If I recall correctly in the 60's the Buick, Olds and Cadillacs would get 100,000 miles on them. I don't recall all the details but I had a 65' Buick, gold color, it was a show boat in excellent condition, gold on gold. It had 90,000 plus and purred like a kitten. The one thing that always stuck in my head was the gas mileage. I never checked it because gas was reasonable, but it seemed like forever before I had to put gas in it. Don't recall the size of the engine but I do recall on the air cleaner says Wild Cat engine. The stupidest thing I did is give it to my sister and they trashed it. Ran low on antifreeze an put water in it got cold and cracked the block. When I gave it to her it was in nearly new condition, that was in the late 70's. Bummer!!!!!

[Hoser]

Forgot this, I could still ride it, just take me awhile to get there.  Hoser 

[czuch]

I bought a 98 Mazda from a friend for $50.00. they were gonna have it towed, I figured the injection setup was worth that. I put a battery innit and been driving a 35mpg car for 3 years. It has 125K on it and runs like a top with minor maintenance. I play a mechanic on the weekends.
I also have '61 Galaxie/ '57 Ford Ranch wagon / 69VW bus/'63 VW baja,? '69 VW based Bugatti kit car / '88 xj-6 / 2 1972 Suburbans / '98 Suburban, with 208K and gets 22mpg without a trailer.
Plus various camper trailers and motorhomes. 8 Motorcycles and a weed whacker.
Did I go off the rails a little?? sorry.

[Thulsa Doom]

I found a '98 Ranger parked under a tree with only 90,xxx miles and was able to pick it up cheap. Thought it would be a perfect first truck to teach my boy to drive. I threw new tires on it and a ton of elbow grease and it cleaned up pretty good. It took a month to make it look this good. I was pretty psyched at the results.


Basic truck. Hand crank windows, no power/remote door locks. Has AC and auto, 4.0. Pretty basic and IMO set up well for a small pickup. I had big hopes.

Unfortunately I've been working on it practically non stop. We've only put about 600+ miles on it since July and I've already replaced the water pump, idler pulley, serpentine belt, freeze plug, fixed the air bags, dome light, leaf spring shackles and mounts rotted/replaced, shocks and now the check engine light is on.
I still believe its worth fixing up but it is wearing thin. I'll be ordering an EVAP solenoid and new ball joints and shocks to install this fall.
The point is even a basic old truck is way to freaking complicated. I wanted 2 air bags and an automatic trans for him to learn/test with and I ended up with a project.