Bonus Match-Up: A Truck For Katy
by Kaibeezy: My friend Katy wants a new truck. “New?!” I snorted incredulously, “gah, such a ripoff.” “I know,” she said, “but I can’t help it, I’m in love with that new big Ford, and I’ve been driving this hand-me-down Buick for so long, I’ve paid my dues, life is short, and I want what I want.”
What she (air quote) wants (air quote) is an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle… wait, wrong cliche. It’s the 2016 Ford F-150 King Ranch SuperCrew. I don’t know if she mentioned or even cares whether it’s the regular 5.0 V8, the upgrade EcoBoost 3.5 V6, 4×4, or whatever else. Any way you rope it, you’re riding a big, buckin’ bronco of dang near a $50,000 car loan.
“New?”, I whined again. “What?”, she what-ed. “Oof, you’re going to get hammered on the depreciation, and all those payments, and the insurance, but then again, you don’t commute, so you’re not going to put miles on, so it’s going to last you a good long time and be worth more if you ever sell it.” She keeps cars.
Even so, it’s an awful lot of money. “Why, I bet,” I drawled, “my posse over at Daily Turismo could come up with fantastic options for you on a truck with style, presence and luxury, for under $20,000.” “Fine,” she conceded, “but there’s one thing I can’t abide, and that’s being stranded on the side of a west Texas backroad because I tried to save a buck and my dang used car broke down on me.” “I understand.” “You’d better, because if I do and it does, I’m calling you and I’m not going to be happy.” “But,” I stammered, “I mean, what can I even do from all the way over here on Neptune?” “Exactly.”
Frankly, that imperative many people have not to be stranded probably pushes them towards new cars even when they would be much better off, financially and otherwise, even possibly reliability-wise, with the right used car. I know I don’t trust *any* car, new or old, right from the start, and it takes me a really long time to chill with it. At least with an older car, I’m working on it, or at least diagnosing with my mechanic, specifying good replacement parts, getting out ahead of things, getting to know the noises and quirks. With a new car, you get blindsided. Take a solid older car, a repair budget, and some time to get things done, and that’s a car you can rely on.
So what do we suggest for Katy? She wants the (air quote) reliability (air quote) of new, she likes the King Ranch, wants the King Ranch, and possibly has already bought the King Ranch. Unless she’s thought twice about the expense. But a cheaper new truck won’t have the luxury of the King Ranch.
Yes, I showed her a Lincoln Blackwood (“it’s ugly, and it’s too old”), a Honda Ridgeline (” I just can’t”), a cool, 70’s full-size Ranger (“cool, too old”), and so forth.
Are we really stymied by the argument of people who can’t abide being stranded that anything that’s not new is unreliable and old? Certified used, maybe? But that’s practically a new car anyway. Your comments and ideas, please.
~KBZ
She thinks a blackwood is too old, I wouldnt be caught dead in one because its too new so I got nothing.
I'm with Jake.and he didnt even mention it's just a pathetic tacky replacement for the inability of a fat gutted geezer to git it up! That said I stand with Kalibeezy's inciteful and insightful analysis of the reasons people buy new junk and why they are SO WRONG! What an unbelievable waste of money a new anything is…….just terminal stupidity no matter how much money you have. Life may be short and in many cases cruel but that doesnt justify terminal stupidity!
Hey, don't give people who buy new stuff a hard time and for the sake of all that is good, don't let them know how foolish they are. Remember people with more money than brains are where the nice cheap used stuff comes from. On then the other hand, if you could convince a few more of them go buy fast station wagons with manual transmissions, then by all means do.
Agreed. If no one buys the cool stuff then all we will be left with is CRV's and RAV4's. It's your enthusiast duty to buy a new sports car (whatever that is).
Seriously, I will probably end up buying a new ND Miata when the supply eases up a bit. I don't think they will sell very many – maybe 5K a year *at most* and there won't be many available used in a couple of years time.
youtube.com/watch?v=pz_bLAojSGU
Gianni — I just took the ND for a ride around the block (it came complete with a Mazda engineer in case something went wrong) and it was sublime. Can't say enough nice stuff about it, that electric power steering is REALLY dialed in. But…at $26k, I can't help but see that as 10 NA Miatas…BUT…boy do new cars smell nice. Maybe once the kids are grown I'll throw what is left in the bank into something new, but for now I'm gonna stick with stuff that'll leave me stranded from time-to-time. Keeps me on my toes!
Vince
Are we going to see a New Car Review on it soon? I've only been able to sit in one and get a ride in one so far – have not been able to drive one (yet). All that seems to be on dealer lots around here are AT's, the MT's are gone as soon as they show up.
I do somewhat agree with letting dumb people buy new. Someone has to wreck those camaros and mustangs. Keep a good supply of lsx and coyotes at the scrapyard.
Gianni – Vince and I have both sampled the ND and I can say it's highly worthy of a DT new car review. However we will need more seat time to really get a proper assessment together. Maybe Mazda can give us a scratch n' dent loaner or something.
For now, I'll say:
I drove an ND Club with the Bilsteins, Brembos, etc around on city streets. The shifter is sublime. Very Hondaesque. I'm 6'0" and fit with plenty of room to spare in the cabin. That little 155hp 2.0L feels much more punchy than it looks on paper. It makes really strong midrange power (area under the curve) and combined with the low mass of the car, and the true close-ratio 6-spd, the ND scoots.
The transmission sounds weird on paper too (6th gear is 1:1, no overdrive) but the driving experience dissolves any worry about that. The final drive gearing is like 2.8:1 which is super duper tall but you don't feel it at all in the lower gears, which are super duper short to compensate.
For anyone complaining about the apparent lack of power or worried the ND will feel slow I say: drive one before drawing any conclusions.
Mid aughties Silverado SS
bemidji.craigslist.org/cto/5177557357.html
Now how did someone find a car in the town where I live. We don't even have a craig's list of our own and Bemidji is a good 100+ miles from here. Do I know you? Pretty good chance I know who owns this truck. Not many strangers in thief river falls
Certified used once was a good option. Now? You can usually get a new truck for the price of a Certified Used if you consider the rebates on the new. Certified used were, at one time, also reconditioned to a high standard. Factory spec new tires, new brake linings/pads, new floor mats, etc.. The dealers bitched about how much the reconditioning cost and the manufacturers lowered the requirements. Now? They pretty much just change the oil and check all the boxes on the electronic form and declare it "certified".
She said she wanted a truck? This is a "truck".
ebay.com/itm/Dodge-Power-Wagon-B-1-/221907252742?forcerrptr=true&hash=item33aab3f606&item=221907252742
Most others are wannabes.
Save your money and look for a 2008-2010 F150. May not find a KRanch but could get a lariat which are nicely loaded. I have owned a couple of these, a 1999 and a 2009, bought both used, and never had a problem with either of them.
Dunno how it changes for milage etc, but what about this beast?
Expedition
Maybe look for a 2009 to 2010 f150 may not find a Kranch for 20k but there are Lariats out there in that price range and they are nicely equipped. All kinds of these on Craigslist and eBay. I had a 1999 and a 2009, both purchased used, and had no issues with either one. Both had the 4.6 v8.
Maybe a Hummer H3 pick-up is different enough and could hold it's value. The underpinnings of the H3 is all GM so it can be serviced at any Chevrolet dealer or indy shop even on Neptune. Repairs should be at reasonable costs with parts readily availability.
[img] i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Fc4AAOSwFnFWEvcZ/s-l500.jpg[/img
Myself I like the H2 better. However the price of a low mileage H2 is getting out of reach.
I was unaware that they still made trucks. I've seen a lot of things that sort of look like trucks but have carpeting, that makes them smell like the last dozen things you stepped in while doing truck stuff. Unless you try to clean the interior, then they smell like the last eleven things you stepped in plus wet mildewing carpet.
She won't want this, but there is a screaming deal on a Unimog here
ebay.com/itm/1971-UNIMOG-Radio-Box-German-Military-Vehicle-Original-and-complete-/301759690268?forcerrptr=true&hash=item464247761c&item=301759690268
Agreed! Wth happened to rubber floor mats and window cranks in trucks that are made to haul greasy engines and get huntin' pinstripes? Why does every truck have to look like a bmw on the inside? Navigation cant help you find deer trails.
Instead of the H3 pick-up suggestion, get this H3 SUV with 46,381 miles.
It is listed for $22,900 but accepting "best offer".
This has the reliable I-5 engine and should get reasonable gas mileage.
Tough enough to visit Neptune.
[img] i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mlsAAOSwo0JWGX41/s-l500.jpg[/img]
King Ranch interior for point of reference
[img] mytruckreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016-King-Ranch-Ford-F-150-interior-630×353.jpg[/img]
Does it come with the Noose?… I mean rope?
on TV, when they swirl that lasso around to make a circle then chuck it over a moose or whatever, it sure looks like an amazing display of skill – but when you see it in person you realize the rope has got a wire inside it or is somehow just really stiff and bent into a circle – that's a metaphor for a lot of things, sadly
All of us in Detroit will thank you and leave you with this song by Neil Young…
I caught you knockin' at my Buick’s door
I love you King Ranch, can I have some more?
Ooh, ooh, the damage done.
I hit the dealer and I traded my car
I watched the salesman stretch my credit too far
Gone, gone, credit damage done
I sing the song because I love the King
I know the pleasure that it’s gonna bring
Gas card to keep from running out
I've seen the needle of the gas gauge drop
I need to fill it to the top
But every Daily Turismo is like a settin' sun
Ooh, Ohh car addict, damage done
Yes, this is good. We need more musical interludes on this site!!
While I am a big fan of purchasing used. When it came time for a truck, I did buy my first new vehicle. Needed a 3/4 ton and wanted the diesel and could do better off the internet for a new one in TX than anything used that was less than 5 years old on without 100k on the clock. That was for a base bottom truck (rubber floor liner, no electronic locks/windows, appliance white) since must folks due want all of the comforts of the Lariats, Platinums, and King Ranches. Getting pig and cow sh.. excrement out of leather and carpet is not easy (just saying).
Big, flashy used truck? Cadillac EXT
[img] zombdrive.com/images/2010-cadillac-escalade-ext-1.jpg[/img]
Might think about adding a good set of Texas Longhorns (the horns), which might impact the aerodynamics, but would add a little of the King Ranch vibe.