What’s your automotive history & journey that led you here?

[VehicleNanny]

I grew up in a Chevrolet family (my dad was an engineer for GM) and I worked at GM (service and sales) from 1984-2016. In that time, I had a number of company cars (too many to list). After I retired, I ventured through a few MINI Coopers and a Subaru Outback. I wanted a small pickup, so ordered a 2025 Maverick.

After thinking it through, the Maverick was going to be a bit too small for me (and it was taking a while to get built), so I bought my XLT in November. I looked at Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Frontier and the GM twins. On a lark, I test drove the Ranger and was so impressed that I bought it. Keep in mind, I could have bought a Colorado or Canyon with my discount, but still opted for the Ranger (with a little X-Plan help from a friend at Ford).

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[RangerRider]

First vehicle I ever owned when I got my license at 16 was a 1967 Ford Fairline 500 with 3 on the tree. 1st thing I did was put a Hurst floor shifter in it.

After years in the military and living on Guam for 8 years, driving a 1982 Datsun 720 with the Z22 carbureted 2.2 L engine. I paid 3995.00 for it new. Shipped it back to the states when I return to Texas. It had no AC. So I traded it in for a 1992 Ford Explorer Sport. (No Photo)

Then in 1998 I purchased 1 F150 with the 4.2L V6 and 5 speed Manual transmission. Had 196,000 miles on it when I traded it in in 2017. It was only 2 wheel drive. Made it fun driving in Colorado during the winters there.(Photo Attached)

In 2002 I purchased a 4 door Ford Explorer XLT. Kept that till I retired in 2021. It had 320,000 when I donated it to Soldiers Angels Organization. Still didn't leak a drop of oil on the garage floor. (Photo Attached)

In 2017 I traded the F150 for a Ford Edge. (No Photo) After a few years I missed the F150.

So in 2024 I traded the Edge for my 2024 Ranger Lariat 4x4 with the 2.3L engine. Would have liked to gotten another F150, but it wouldn't fit in the garage (20' depth), F150's are 19'6". So I settled for the Ranger at ~17'6". And I'm very happy with it.

Don't have pictures of all the vehicles but attached are what I have.

 

[Arsenall11]

Too many to list but here are the last two.

 

[Mirko Smart]

First vehicle I ever owned when I got my license at 16 was a 1967 Ford Fairline 500 with 3 on the tree. 1st thing I did was put a Hurst floor shifter in it.

After years in the military and living on Guam for 8 years, driving a 1982 Datsun 720 with the Z22 carbureted 2.2 L engine. I paid 3995.00 for it new. Shipped it back to the states when I return to Texas. It had no AC. So I traded it in for a 1992 Ford Explorer Sport. (No Photo)

Then in 1998 I purchased 1 F150 with the 4.2L V6 and 5 speed Manual transmission. Had 196,000 miles on it when I traded it in in 2017. It was only 2 wheel drive. Made it fun driving in Colorado during the winters there.(Photo Attached)

In 2002 I purchased a 4 door Ford Explorer XLT. Kept that till I retired in 2021. It had 320,000 when I donated it to Soldiers Angels Organization. Still didn't leak a drop of oil on the garage floor. (Photo Attached)

In 2017 I traded the F150 for a Ford Edge. (No Photo) After a few years I missed the F150.

So in 2024 I traded the Edge for my 2024 Ranger Lariat 4x4 with the 2.3L engine. Would have liked to gotten another F150, but it wouldn't fit in the garage (20' depth), F150's are 19'6". So I settled for the Ranger at ~17'6". And I'm very happy with it.

Don't have pictures of all the vehicles but attached are what I have.

I had to chuckle about the F150 in Colorado winters with just 2WD, that must have been quite the adventure. Getting 320,000 miles out of that Explorer without any oil leaks is seriously impressive, they just don't make them like that anymore. It's funny how we always seem to come back to what we love, like you trading back for a truck after the Edge. The Ranger Lariat is a solid choice, and honestly the size constraint makes perfect sense, better to have a truck that fits in the garage than one sitting outside. Sounds like you've got a good eye for picking reliable rides that last I grew up around Vespas and Fiats and my uncle always said a car should feel like an extension of your body. Now living in the UK and juggling two jobs I finally need my own. My budget’s tight and credit history less than stellar so I was looking for alternatives and saw https://carplus.co.uk/ while browsing on my lunch break. The layout made sense and I could easily sort through options that suited my actual needs. Not everyone needs a luxury SUV sometimes you just want something honest that gets the job done without complications. Feels like I’m finally driving toward the adult version of myself.

 

[Bushmechanic]

This is the only reason I'm here, and really the only automobile that mattered.

She may not look too special, but that's intentional, and this extremely modified Land Rover out-cornered my Golf GTI while at the same time being capable of nearly any trail in the US; and quite a few elsewhere.

I thought the Raptor might be the most similar modern vehicle in performance, if not capability and cargo capacity. The Watt's linkage was the thing that sold me on the Raptor VS other pickups. The second I saw that it was all I cared about.

I've had plenty of other automobiles, but they weren't keepers. This one was. I bought it new with my Uncle Sam bucks as a down payment in 2001. Last year, this happened.

 

[1996-to-2025]

I bought a Ford Ranger in 1996. I am still driving it today. 29 years of faithful service. I kept waiting for a new V6 Ranger to replace accompany the old girl. And I finally found in it 2025, that's why I am here.

 

[Offsidewing]

Oh boy, I owe most of this obession to Pole Position II for the Atari 7800 and Gran Turismo 1 for the PS1.

My Car
1993-1997 - '86 Ford Crown Victoria
1997-1999 - '97 Nissan Sentra
1999-2002 - '98 Pontiac Gran Prix GTP
2002 - 2007 - '02 Ford Focus ZTS 5-speed (first modified car, full suspension rework, intake, throttle body, wheels/tires)
2007 - 2010 - '07 Mazda 3 Grand Touring
2010-2012 - '07 Ford Fusion SEL V6
2012-2016 - '02 Lincoln LSE 3.9 V8 (modified - loved this car, some idiot in a parking lot totaled it - full suspension rework, intake, exhaust)
2016-2023 - '16 Ford Fusion SEL 2.0 (third modified car - totaled, rear ended insurance scammer- full suspension rework, intake, tune, intercooler, charge pipes, wheels/tires)
2023 - 2025 - '16 Ford Escape Titanium
Current - 2024 Ford Ranger XLT 2.7L (ProCal Tune, CVF intercooler and Charge pipes)

Wife (former Ford Engineer and daughter of Ford Retiree)

2004-2007 - '05 Ford Explorer XLT V6
2007 - 2010 - '07 Ford Fusion
2010-2020 - '10 Mazda CX9 AWD Grand Touring
2020 - Current - '20 Ford Explorer XLT 2.3L

 

[Arsenall11]

A little of this and that!

 

[Boosted6G]

A bunch of cars (including Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4, 350ZX, Corvette C6, supercharged Frontier, F150, Acura TL, and a bunch more), and even more motorcycles (too many to list but including Hayabusa, ZX-7, 3 Honda VFR V4s, Ducati, and currently a Kawi H2). ?

998cc supercharged Kawasaki H2. Tuned to ~250 rwhp.

 

[daedalus]

A Lot.

early 90's
Buick Le Saber

1995-1998
1964 Triumph TR4 with a 327 Small Block and a 10-bolt Positrack.

1998 to 2003
Geo Metro

2003 to 2006
1993 Ford 150 Straight 6 (wrecked after a E250 used my tailgate to stop)

2003 to 2007
1985 Mazda RX7

2006 to 2006
1985 BMW 325e (Road Rager ran me off the road totaled)

2007
2006 Dodge Stratus

2008
2006 Dodge Magnum

2012
2010 Scion XB

2014
2014 Hyundai Veloster

2017
2018 Hyundai Tucson

2021
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz (still Have this)

2025
2024 Ford Ranger XLT New Old Stock

This does not count the cars the Wife has had while we were together or bought together for her.
1997 Saturn SC2
2006 Mazda 6
2017 Hyundai Elantra (Hit by Food Delivery Driver when she ran a red light in 2020)
2020 VW Jetta

 

[CP0861]

I'm a Ford + Honda guy. Can't beat a Honda, but the Ridgelines are disgusting and I wanted a 4x4 truck.....so here I am.

First car was an 87 Ranger (used).

85 Honda CRX (used), bought it for $500 bucks, got it painted.....mechanic went through it....drunk driver pulled out in front of me in a Lincoln Town Car and the CRX lost. Lol. Took the insurance money and bought an

88 Civic LX (used) - Got me through 4 years of college and first years of working. FANTASTIC vehicle I wish I kept - was pushing 300k when I got rid of it.

1993 Accord LX (used) - mint car gifted to me by a great aunt. 10th anniversary addition. Had almost 300K when it wasn't worth the $1500 or so it needed in misc repairs (exhaust leak, brakes, calipers, rotors, headlight, AC was leaking, etc.)

2001 F150 (new) - 5.4 lariat 4x2 Screw - great truck. Zero issues in 200k miles.

2014 Acura MDX (new) - when I was married and my ex kept it in the divorce. She still drives it and its up over 300k. Still looks mint and rides great.

2005 Honda Pilot (used) - bought this in 2016 instead of putting more money into the 300k Accord. Maybe the best vehicle Ive ever owned. Gave it to my daughter when I got the 22 Ranger. It has 190K and runs like new. Its about to go to college with her and no doubt it'll get her through and then some. Its ugly AF but its badass. Great vehicle that you can still find used in decent shape for a few grand.

2022 Lariat Ranger 4x4 (new) - put 67k miles on it in less than 3 years and had issue after issue after issue. Just traded it in after warranty issue #5 which was a trans replacement. I typically keep vehicles for 10+ years and 200-300k miles, and with the assortment of issues I had in less than 3 years coupled with an expiring warranty....figured there was NO way I was gonna get 150K hassle free miles out of it after 5 issues in the first 70k....so I just traded it in to get away from the dumbass 10r80.

Now on to my 2025 Ranger.

If Honda made a true truck....they'd own the small truck market.

 

[ChronciallyChronic]

Cars I have owned in order:
1986 Chevy Sprint Plus 1992 - 1996 (timing belt broke & the engine ate itself)
1984 Chevy Caprice Classic 1996 - 1999 (a catastrophic electrical failure)
1997 Chevy Malibu 1999 - 2006 (transmission grenaded itself)
2001 Hyunday Accent 2001 - 2004 (throttle body injection failed, burned up the cat, engine damage - warranty repair then sold)
2004 Hyundai Accent 2004-2007 (head on collision with an 90's F150 that was driving the wrong way)
2006 Chryser PT Cruiser 2007-2011 (a POS, gave up on it)
2009 VW Beetle 2011 - 2013 (a POS, again, gave up on it)
2013 Ford Mustang 2013-2016 (got T-Boned at roughly 40mpg, totaled)
2016 Ford Fiesta ST 2016-2025 (an awesome car, but I was ready for something different)
2024 Ford Ranger Lariat (bought new Feb 2025)

 

[superj]

i don't remember them all

1979 buick regal
1977 honda accord cvcc
1990 toyota truck (pre-tacoma name, just called truck)
1985 f150 lariat
1965 mustang with ho 302 and 3 speed standard
1988 mazda rx7 twin rotor
1971 karmann ghia
1968 vw beetle
1988 chevy 1500
1985 nissan/datsun 300zx
1988 honda civic dx
1988 ford mustang lx
1995 jeep cherokee
1985 jeep comanche sport
1985 bmw 325e
1995 geo metro
1989 325i
1988 325is
1988 735i with factory 5 speed
1988 325is
1986 325e
1987 325e
1985 325e
1984 318i
1985 318i
1980 320i
1998 mazda 2500
1979 grey market 635csi
1988 vw corrado
1998 jeep grand cherokee
1998 jeep cherokee
1991 jeep wrangler
1987 jeep wrangler with 4.5 stroker (i swapped to a 302 v8)
2001 dodge pt cruiser
2007 jeep wrangler 4 door
1994 chevy silverado
2005 mini cooper s
2014 ford escape
2015 ford escape
2018 ford escape
1998 gmc sonoma steps side (zq8 package)
2017 nissan texas titan
2018 mazda3 touring (still have)
2003 jeep wrangler rhd (still have)
1984 bmw 318i (still have, being restored)
1984 bmw 318i
2004 ford ranger edge step side (still have)
2019 jeep wrangler 4 door (still have)
2024 ford ranger stx (still have)
1997 wrangler (just got)

i know i missed some but thats the basics

what got me to the ranger is i wanted to have a brand new, never owned by anyone else, vehicle once in my life. my wife always had new vehicles because of hte kids but i always would buy 100 - 500 dollar cars and fix them and then sell them after a while. but, my wrists and back don't like working on stuff anymore.

 

[ChronciallyChronic]

i don't remember them all

1979 buick regal
1977 honda accord cvcc
1985 f150 lariat
1965 mustang with ho 302 and 3 speed standard
1988 mazda rx7 twin rotor
1971 karmann ghia
1968 vw beetle
1988 chevy 1500
1985 nissan/datsun 300zx
1988 honda civic dx
1995 jeep cherokee
1985 jeep comanche sport
1985 bmw 325e
1995 geo metro
1989 325i
1988 325is
1988 735i with factory 5 speed
1988 325is
1986 325e
1987 325e
1985 325e
1984 318i
1985 318i
1980 320i
1998 mazda 2500
1979 grey market 635csi
1988 vw corrado
1998 jeep grand cherokee
1998 jeep cherokee
1991 jeep wrangler
1987 jeep wrangler with 4.5 stroker (i swapped to a 302 v8)
2001 dodge pt cruiser
2007 jeep wrangler 4 door
1994 chevy silverado
2005 mini cooper s
2014 ford escape
2015 ford escape
2018 ford escape
1998 gmc sonoma steps side (zq8 package)
2017 nissan texas titan
2018 mazda3 touring (still have)
2003 jeep wrangler rhd (still have)
1984 bmw 318i (still have, being restored)
1984 bmw 318i (donor car for above)
2004 ford ranger edge step side (still have)
2019 jeep wrangler 4 door (still have)
2024 ford ranger stx (still have)

i know i missed some but thats the basics

what got me to the ranger is i wanted to have a brand new, never owned by anyone else, vehicle once in my life. my wife always had new vehicles because of hte kids but i always would buy 100 - 500 dollar cars and fix them and then sell them after a while. but, my wrists and back don't like working on stuff anymore.

Wwwwwooooooooooowwwwwwwww

 

[Blue_Raptor]

My first car was a 83 El Camino, but unfortunately no Chevy 350 in it, just an anemic V6. But then that led the way to Ford vehicles

93 Mustang 5.0 LX, heavily modified with aluminum heads and Vortech supercharger
96 Mustang Cobra, largely stock aside from some suspension mods
86 Merkur Xr4ti, also heavily modified that I tried to make a Cosworth clone out of, but never quite finished the project
94 Jeep Cherokee
05 Tacoma TRD sport, first pickup, great truck which I still have an will become my daughters first vehicle
17 Fiesta ST, sold this to get the Ranger Raptor. I loved that car, but didn't drive it much because I was obsessed with keeping it nice which didn't serve me very well so I decided to let it go
24 Ranger Raptor. Love it
Now also have an 08 Scion xD which is my daily so I don't rack up the miles on the ranger

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