Advice for my Son, used Ford
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Advice for my Son, used Ford
My nearly 18 year old son is wanting to purchase his first vehicle. He doesn't have much money (can't even afford the insurance, so it will probably set for 5 months--that's a whole 'nother story--but he thinks he needs it "now"). Probably only can spend $600-700. I've told him an Aerostar would be a good choice, but the minivan look lacks a certain appeal to his eyes. I've told him to get a Ford or I won't help him maintain it. He says he wants a truck, which is OK by me. If he does something stupid, the extra metal around him might come in handy.
Anyway, what would you guys recommend? There is a local F150 with a 4.9 IL6, 5spd that may be available in his price range. Allegedly it has 106K. Not pretty, and brakes need work. Sound like a deal? Any other 80s Ford engine / tranny packages that you'd recommend to get and/or avoid? Thanks!
Anyway, what would you guys recommend? There is a local F150 with a 4.9 IL6, 5spd that may be available in his price range. Allegedly it has 106K. Not pretty, and brakes need work. Sound like a deal? Any other 80s Ford engine / tranny packages that you'd recommend to get and/or avoid? Thanks!
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Rangers would make good options too. But avoid anything carberated, because you don't want to have to tune the thing up all the time. He should really consider an aerostar. Tell him can use it to haul his friends around in, he can put big subwoofers in it and haul band gear. To make it look better, he can get mudflaps, and a bug guard. It does make it look more substantial.
Post Fiend
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From: Kiev, Ukraine
Just show him how rear sofas in aero puts to bed and he'll like it. He can install DVD and wach it inside laying down with his GF on rear sofas.... :-)
Well... F150 and Ranger are good trucks and easy to maintaine, but my futher drives Ranger XLT '03, and I can compare.... Aero is much more comfortable. But F150 4.3 is not fast as my aero 3.4 with 5 st tranny.... and F150 is really hungry. low fuel milage
Well... F150 and Ranger are good trucks and easy to maintaine, but my futher drives Ranger XLT '03, and I can compare.... Aero is much more comfortable. But F150 4.3 is not fast as my aero 3.4 with 5 st tranny.... and F150 is really hungry. low fuel milage
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The 300 CID six has a great rep. The 5spd means that the worst you will likely have to deal with is clutch replacement. I personally would prefer a carb, since it is a simple device, and there are many specialist shops that can do a good rebuild pretty cheaply, if you don't want to do it yourself. FI is wonderful, but it is certainly not simple or cheap to repair.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2001
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Just about anything in that price range will be "fixer-uppers", more for your peace of mind than his. However, its also a great opportunity to spend some of the best father-son time together you will ever have. You both will learn many things about each other and have a common interest to share. That $600 dollars spent )plus however much in parts) will, as the ad says, be priceless in years to come.
That said, my advice - stay away from the Ford Contour/Mystique. I agree with the others, Ranger/150 would be good ones to consider.
That said, my advice - stay away from the Ford Contour/Mystique. I agree with the others, Ranger/150 would be good ones to consider.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: SoCal
Originally Posted by lastaero
The 300 CID six has a great rep. The 5spd means that the worst you will likely have to deal with is clutch replacement. I personally would prefer a carb, since it is a simple device, and there are many specialist shops that can do a good rebuild pretty cheaply, if you don't want to do it yourself. FI is wonderful, but it is certainly not simple or cheap to repair.
I once drove an E-150 with a 300 and a SROD 4 speed transmission, and it was always cracking one of its rear housings. I found much later that the 4th gear OD gear did not have sufficient support, so it would squirm around.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Wichita
Originally Posted by aerocolorado
Just about anything in that price range will be "fixer-uppers", more for your peace of mind than his. However, its also a great opportunity to spend some of the best father-son time together you will ever have. You both will learn many things about each other and have a common interest to share. That $600 dollars spent )plus however much in parts) will, as the ad says, be priceless in years to come.
That said, my advice - stay away from the Ford Contour/Mystique. I agree with the others, Ranger/150 would be good ones to consider.
That said, my advice - stay away from the Ford Contour/Mystique. I agree with the others, Ranger/150 would be good ones to consider.
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Posting Guru
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From: charlotte nc
If your son is willing to put some work into having a nice ride and wants to learn, YOU SIR have done well.......
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Post Fiend
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From: Washington state
my vote is for the Ranger or Explorer....easy engine bay to work in...tons in the crashed auto parts emporiums...new parts low cost compared to imports....
lots of info on working on them...both are tough full frame rigs than can tow...the ranger equiped correctly will carry good weight...
stay away from the late 90's to 2003 OHC V6 4.0L...major cam chain problems
tons of these rigs out there....far better than the Chev S10 4.3l
the Fords, especially the 3L with a 5 sp manual and right rear end get good gas mileage 28-30 hwy
that is, unless he has 6 girl friends that he has to haul at the same time, then go the EXT Aero
lots of info on working on them...both are tough full frame rigs than can tow...the ranger equiped correctly will carry good weight...
stay away from the late 90's to 2003 OHC V6 4.0L...major cam chain problems
tons of these rigs out there....far better than the Chev S10 4.3l
the Fords, especially the 3L with a 5 sp manual and right rear end get good gas mileage 28-30 hwy
that is, unless he has 6 girl friends that he has to haul at the same time, then go the EXT Aero
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2006
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did you say a van lacks appeal?? .. . it depends who you want it to appeal to.... i do agree that if you son wants to be cool and impress his boy friends then get him a Pick-Up-Truck.. he can pick-up his boy friends and take them out Stump Jumping.. i am sure they will be impressed!! or they will just say it is apeace of ****.. .... NOW.on the other hand, he can impress the girls in his life with a hot van of the Best! sound system/flat screen DVD-MP3 Player fridg running water and beds...get a small trailer for the jet ski`s snow boards and motorcycles.. if it is a matter of impressing his friends i bet EVERYONE will be impressed with this..... BUT i dont think the girls will be to impressed with his new Pick-Up-Truck.............. CLICK THE LINK BELOW.
http://www.yourwayautobody.com/galle...rostar_jpg.jpg
http://www.yourwayautobody.com/galle...rostar_jpg.jpg
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
I agree, if you want it to be easy to work on lean towards and Explorer or Ranger. For safety reasons, if you buy the Explorer, make sure it has a rear anti sway bar. I bet that pimped out ride pictured above has terrible ride quality issues.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
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From: Southern California
Originally Posted by thefarelaneman
some parents dont let their daughters get into vans with boys
I'm too young to be a grandpa!!!!!!!!
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Senior User
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Originally Posted by copper_90680
I'm too young to be a grandpa!!!!!!!!
I don't know which 5 spd tranny is on that 4.9 six. I'll need to look into that. I think that big bore six has lots of low-end torque, which would help him learning to drive a manual shift a bit easier.
From what I can tell, the prices on the Rangers seem a bit higher than comparable F150's. I guess the gas prices have something to do with that.
The good thing is that he's finally interested in things mechanical. He got a lesson in disc brakes versus drum brakes. Before that, I think my wife knew more about autos.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Kiev, Ukraine
Yep! I'm a yang one, I'm 29 and I like aero, becouse I can drive for a crazy picknik with my friends, sometimes there are 10 men inside (dont call police)... and Aero has really good cross-country ability with LSD. So Just imagine what will be inside your son's aero... so yua are right, the ranger ore F150 with sort cabine will be the optimal solution....