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Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I’ll have work coming my way and that brings me to what I’m going to drive. I currently drive a 1995 Ford Ranger that’s an automatic with the little 2.3 4 cylinder engine. I absolutely love everything about the truck (other than the fact that it’s now super slow) as it’s given me 300,000+ worry free miles and almost everything on the truck is original.
I mean, literally the starter, alternator, radiator, fuel pump, engine, transmission and so on are the originals and have never needed servicing. I’m also a big guy at 6’5″ and have never driven another vehicle that is as comfortable to me as the Ranger. I know you guys are probably thinking, “Why not just buy a newer used 4 banger Ranger and be done with it?”, but this is where gas mileage starts to creep into my mind. I currently average about 19-22 mpg and stats online show that the newer 2.3 Rangers still get about the same.
In that case going with something like a used Ford Focus or Honda Civic would net me a good 10+ mpgs more which would equal huge savings, but at the end of the day I simply don’t like driving cars. I can’t stand feeling like I’m sitting on the ground and don’t even get me started with having to crawl into the driver’s seat at my height. I’m sure at some point down the road I would get used to driving a car, but what do you guys think? I’m just trying to come from nothing by planning for the future. By the way, I’m truly sorry for all of this rambling. Somewhere in this mess was just supposed to be a simple question I swear.
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I know how you feel about sitting so close to the ground. I learned to drive in my mum’s big 4WD, which was a brute of a thing. If I was getting a ride somewhere, or when I first drove my car, it felt like I was about the break through the floor and leave a fleshy pink streak along the road. It doesn’t take long for you to get used to it, though. A few cars trips and you’ll completely forget about it.
As for crawling into cars, I can’t say I know that feeling. I’m about average height (Bang on 6ft) and don’t really have an issue getting into my car. You could always look at a small SUV/Soft Roader like a Honda CR-V or Mazda Tribute (If they have them in the US). They’d still be reasonably economical, but they would sit a bit higher up so you don’t have to kind of, fall over backwards to get in. My mother’s friend has a Nissan X-Trail, and it’s the perfect height. You don’t even have to bend your knees to get in. Just a thought.
I appreciate your input Fertro. My mother actually owns a 2002 Honda CR-V and she averages about 23 mpg. That’s why I’m steering away from small suvs as well as I’d like to finally drive a vehicle that gets more than just 20-24 mpg. As you said though, it probably wouldn’t take too long to get used to driving a car. I guess I’m also worried that a little car wouldn’t hold up as well over the long run as my Ranger has. At this point I’m not sure which way I’ll go though I will say that getting 33-34 mpg would put a big smile on my face (even if it was in an uncomfortable car).
It all depends on what you really want the most, comfort or mileage. It seems to me that you aren’t looking to spend a lot of money on a newer ride if you rode out 300k on your current one. I could suggest the Honda Element as a blend of mileage and comfort. They get near 30mpg, are comfortable for a larger person to get into and drive ( head room and leg room ), not to mention you’ll get some of the convenience of the truck as the rear seats fold flat, and then up..enough to park two mountain bikes INSIDE the darn thing!
not to mention AWD, or FWD, automatic or a stick depending on what you need for traction. However, they do hold their value for low mileage models. We ultimately ended up in a Santa Fe due to not wanting the larger car payment and having a vehicle that was still stout enough to tow with ( the Element is only rated for 1000lbs ).The only way you are going to get decent mileage with an SUV otherwise is to get an Escape with FWD and a 4 cylinder, and I’ve heard from owners that they are a bit sluggish/underpowered.
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