Just kind of thinking out loud here. Nothing wrong w/ my '03 Supercab 4x4, and I owe nothing on it. Last time I went for an oil change, I got to looking at the new ones and they got me in the hot seat crunching numbers. W/ the current incentives, and 2K down, I could be in a new one w/ all the toys for around $200/month. They offered me 10K for mine. It's pristine, 66500 miles, no dents/dings, no issues whatsoever. Thoughts of a new one w/ 4 doors, Sirius, cruise, tilt, power everything, etc, are coursing through my head and i'm having trouble focusing. I'd be interested in an FX4, but I don't care for the two-tone exteriors, and I refuse to own another black vehicle. I'd also have to change the wheels to the older style FX4 wheels (available as an accessory), because those weird ones they have now are hideous (to me). Hmmmm. I'm thinking white Supercab Sport, 4x4, 4-door, 4.0, manual, Sirius, limited-slip, power group, cruise/tilt, color keyed fender flares & mirrors, etc. I don't need this right? Somebody talk me out of it. If I wait, maybe they'll come out w/ a new improved Super Ranger/F100 for '09 or '10, RIGHT?

 

If it's paid off and nothing wrong with it, then it may be worth waiting for a while..... but $200 a month for a new truck with full warranty and more options would be nice too
I guess I'm not the one to talk to for advise... I traded my '04 for an '07 just because I wanted something new (although I am saving about $50 on the monthly payments and I now have a 5 year warranty)

 

If it ain't broke... don't fix it! But that just might be me. There are a lot of better things you could spend money on than another car that's going to depreciate. How about putting it towards a house? Or investing it? Put that money away and in a couple years when that truck is worth 1/3 of what it was, your investment will be worth a lot more!

Or put it away for a rainy day. You never know when something could come up.

Bottom line: why spend money on something you don't need?

 

i agree! dont fix what aint broken. a lesson my dad taught me, never have gotten into money problems yet. if you dont have payments now, then why get yourself into them if its isnt needed? does sound like a nice truck though...

 

^^^Exactly.

 

Stay away from the check book (or sales manager)

Put that money that you used to make in payments aside each month. Even if there was something wrong with it is there going to be $200 worth of problems EVERY MONTH for 60-72 months? Even if you just shove that $200 a month into your mattress after 5 years you will have $12000. If you come into major issues with your 03 it might seem to be a good idea to get a new one, but remember you will not have those same issues every month for all that time. A new engine (or whatever)might be a major investment, but still will cost less than a new truck.

 

You guys are right. One of the worst investments you can make. I shouldn't have an major trouble w/ my '03 for awhile. I change the oil every 3K, and it's serviced to Ford spec. I guess i'll wait. Hopefully new trucks quit zooming around myin my head before long.

 

Well I agree with everyone else, but 200 a month isn't bad on top of the fact that with your trade in, cash back and a 2k downpayment would put you WAY under what the truck is worth. So worst case you buy it a year down the line you should still get money out of the truck. I say if a new truck is what you want and considering your not going about it stupid like I did when I was younger, go for it. I have also been thinking about picking up a new truck with a few more options then what I have now, but not untill later next year. So if by chance 08 is the last year of the ranger I should get a pretty good deal on it.

 

Keep what you have since it's paid for.

 

Do It

 

Opinions vary widely I see. I know I don't need a new truck, but i'm at the point where it's coming up on 5 years old, and it's still worth "something" to trade in. I really like to have something reliable if I want to go somewhere w/o worrying about it. Plus, the new ones have 5 year warranties. I'm just going to go look at some, and see what I decide. There aren't any in my area (or anywhere i've looked online) that are exactly what I want, and it would have to be the exact truck I "built" on Fords website. Can you even order a vehicle the way you want it anymore? There is one locally I found online that is very close to what i'd like, but it's an automatic, so i'm going to go look at it and see if aesthetically it really IS something i'd want to buy. The exterior has everything I want, so i'll be able to tell if it's "the one". If not, I can get it out of my mind once and for all.

As far as being stupid about purchasing, i'm not a kid anymore, and I take large purchases seriously. I wouldn't go into it not knowing if I could pay for it or not, simply because I wanted one. My truck payment was $267 or something, and I usually paid at least $100 dollars over, sometimes double payments. It's been paid off for a year or two now, even though it was a 66 month loan, purchased new in July of '03. I could go pay cash for a new truck, but it's better served gaining interest, and it is certainly nice having a "cushion" to fall back on if something were to happen. Those days of living to paycheck to paycheck are over (hopefully).

There's so many sides to the coin. The Ranger platform is dated, and there are a lot of choices out there on newer platforms, w/ better power, and nicer amenities. The thing is, I like my Ranger, and I like the look of Rangers. They just suit me to a "T" for what I need out of a truck. The new Toyota's are certainly nice trucks, but to me, they are so ugly they'd make a clock throw up it's hands. And they are a LOT more expensive. A NISMO Frontier might be nice, but they are due for a facelift too, and I hate it when I buy a vehicle and the very next year they come out w/ an updated version. I think it is best to wait until at least '09 to see where Ford is going w/ the Ranger line, even though i'd love to have a new truck. Thanks for the opinions, and keep them coming if ya'll have any other suggestions after what i've written.

 

I went thru the same thing two months ago. Had a perfect 02 XLT Supercab 3.0 w/ 55K miles. Got to looking at new ones for no good reason and next thing I just had to have something new. Got a beautiful 08 (Vista Blue) XLT Supercab 4.0 which does everything my old 02 would do. Everything is right where it was in my trusty 'ol' 02 and it almost gets as good of gas mileage. Insurance is more, sales tax is down the tubes and I'm now spending bucks on the personalized items I had on the 02. Bottom line is I've paid a lot of dollors for a new color truck.

If you get what I'm trying to say. I'd encourage you to listen to the wise advice above and hang on to your trusty 03. You're thinking wrong when you talk yourself into thinking $200/mo. vs. $0/mo. is a good move. You're talking a lot more than $200 when you tally up the whole debt. Car salesmen want you only to think of a monthly payment so it seems like nothing too bad. You're falling for their trap.

Just an old guy's $.02.

 

My .02 is : I was thinking the same thing. I even went to the dealer twice to look at them,but after thinking about payments and the big 1 for me would be starting over with all the different mods, I woke up. Lemme see tires and rims, lift ,lockers ,winch ,tool box ,bed tire mount ,linex and the ones I cant think of. Theres why i woke up. But they did look nice. If they had a ranger with a diesel that was getting better milage , well thats a different story. lol

 

Do not buy a new ranger. with this being the last year of them the resale value wll plumet. Just keep yours and do some mods to it. lift it, supercharge it.

While the 4 doors are handy, it does allow for more noise from the cab.

i say keep what you have. if you want to kep it then modify it. if you want something new then wait for the '09/'10 F100 and F150

 

I'd wait for the new "F100".

 

My 2003 edge has only 65000 miles and is running great, and I'm going to keep it awhile....I think... you say the new Ranger has 4 doors?....Damn, I always wanted a 4 dr truck with power windows.... Naw I like mine paid for....but it's how much a month?... Only $200...Damn that sounds nice....H'mm.........I've done all the maitenance on my Ranger so I should just go ahead and keep it......Any pictures of the new one out there? just in case!

 

Great advice all around. I'm sure you guys know how I feel. You get behind the wheel of a new truck on the lot and you get to thinking real heavy about doing it. I believe i'm just going to hang onto mine and wait awhile. I actually test drove a new one awhile back when I was getting mine serviced. It didn't really make me want to buy it.

As per some very wise advice you guys provided, I can save/invest the money and be at least as far ahead when it comes time where I actually need a truck. I'd just put more money down and be in the same place payment~wise, w/o losing as much. I never really thought about insurance rates going up, all those taxes to pay, etc. I'm still going to go look at a white sport model, but I know I won't buy it because it's an automatic. Mine still looks pretty dang sharp when it's cleaned up though.

Thanks again for the great advice. Sometimes it really helps to bounce an idea off other people for it to make sense.

 

I don't mean a 4 door like the crew cab Frontier/Dakota's/Tacomas, etc. I mean the Supercab w/ the 4-door option.