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…single-cab stick with crank windows or go home*…
*(my wife swore she’d drive hers until the wheels fell off; she did, and they did)
a month away from black wraparound sunglasses and sleeveless T-shirts.
The amount of old rangers I still see on the road around here, despite the salty rust conditions making older vehicles kinda rare on the road, makes me think people still really really want non monster pickups.
Congrats on the HRT tho
There was a time Rangers were considered larger trucks because they have an extra row of passenger seating.
I’m not old, you’re old!
Naw, those jump seats were only for emergencies and Toyota, Nissan etc had them for years too.
The Dodge Dakota was the first of the compact trucks to get big. Rangers were the last small American* truck sold, S10s went out just before it. When they replaced the Ranger with the Explorer Sport Trac is when the second row of seats got usable. Those things suuucked though.
*Even though it’s a Mazda, sort of.
** I’m old too.
I guess it’s area dependent to an extent, I grew up in a rural area and any truck that seated more than 3 people was viewed similarly to how a lot of people view emotional support trucks now. Complaints about how that’s room that could be used for more bed space, they never have to take more than 2 people anywhere 99% of the time anyway, etc.
My first car was my dad’s clapped out ex work truck. And 85 F-150 with a quarter million miles, an extended cab (back bench seat but no back doors), and full 8’ bed. Nobody thought there were unnecessary in my rural neck of the woods, and most contractors had something similar even in the late 70s full size fords. Also it basically flexed in the middle over bumps.
Toyota popularized the extended cab minitruck in the 80s in my recollection. But when we lived near Detroit back then Yotas got a ton of shit from the buy America crowd. I don’t think the US brands offered them until a lot later (later gen S10s and Rangers).
Mine was the first vehicle I bought with my own money, and I still drive it every day (although it’s getting a little more painful to fill up since it’s not great on gas).
A word of warning for you Ranger owners: if you have one with the 4.0L SOHC engine, especially an earlier model, take it in and have the timing chain tensioners replaced, or you can do it yourself if you have the tools. It will help prevent the dreaded “death rattle” that could lead to an engine-out repair or even a destroyed engine.
Can’t wait for Slate
They are fun little trucks to drive. I had one a long time ago for work.
huntin fishin lovin everyday thats a prayer that a country boy prays
does the r stand for rule 👀
the r stands for the flag 🏳️⚧️🫡
😮
Is this specifically 2001 models only or can my 94 XLT join in the fun too? Either way, congrats OP!
all rangers are welcome here
also holy shit, Mina drives a 94 XLT?!
'96 XL 4x4 checking in!
(No hormones for me, thanks; I like my stick shift just fine the way it is. But I’m glad to feel included.)
That’s how she unwinds when she isn’t liquefying orcs or turning the world into gold.
Congrats :))))
Man, i used to drive a stick shift '99 f150, solid goddamn truck. 20 years later (and after i learned to drive in it), it broke the original clutch on a hot day pulling other cars out of the mud (somebody else owned it at that point)
I had a brand new 2002 with the stick, and I cooked the stock synchros hot rodding it all the time. Also the clutch slave cylinder leaked on 3 different occasions. I could drop the transmission in my sleep by the time I sold it at about 140k.
Wait I got distracted, congrats on the HRT!
Had a 2001 F150… best damn truck. Had nearly 280k on it. Miss that truck. Died trying to haul/move cross country.
Congratulations! I’m not sure I’d describe it quite like that, but who am I to yuck your yum?
