New vs Old, Then and Now

[rangerdanger19]

Amid all of this COVID-19 chaos, let's shift the focus to something a bit lighter. Show me your first car (or first Ford) versus your current Ranger! Feel free to share what you miss, what you've had in between, and if you're eyeballing your next ride.

THEN: This was my first car, a 1997 Ford Explorer Sport. I was lucky enough to find one with that was very well maintained, and was 4x4 with the factory 3.73 limited slip rear diff. I ran it hard to 338xxx miles without a single issue before the trans finally gave up. I was going off to college anyway and couldn't take it with me, so off to the scrap yard it went. I loved this truck. It put up with so much, and was so easy to work on. It had no issue tackling any terrain, even for an inexperienced 17 year old. Fun fact: I fit 22 people in it in my high school parking lot.

NOW: My 2019 Ranger XLT Sport. It's nothing special, but it's the first new car I've ever bought by myself so forgive me for being a bit proud.

Sponsored

 

[Zaph]

Old - 1999 stepside 2wd w Baja Claws and a rear locker

New. My first 4x4. pic taken still at the dealer.

 

[BDoc]

My first (this one isn't mine - no pics of it - but it is the same color mine was...gold). A '77 Honda Accord that I bough from my aunt's brother - aunt and uncle bought it new, sold it to him, he sold it to me for $400. This thing had blown rings and smoked like a chimney. I went through A LOT of oil. Had it for about a year and replaced the motor. Blew the head gasket and seized the motor...what a P.O.S. it was...lol. But she was my first and one I won't forget...especially since she left me stranded more than once:

Now, my 2019 Ranger

 

[Ranger8729]

First vehicle, that I still have, is a 1987 XLT with the 2.9L. 290k miles on it now, lost the overdrive band at 270k but it didn't care. New transmission but just doesn't drive like it used to. Currently building a mild 5.0L EFI to swap in. No cupholders, we don't need no cupholders.

Went through several vehicles, a TJ and XJ and F150, and now the new Ranger. Absolutely loving it. A very nice set up.

 

[RedlandRanger]

My first car (which I still own), was a 1973 Mercury Capri - this is what is looked like back in the mid 80's (after I painted it - it was a pea green when I bought it):

And this is what it looks like today, after a restoration about 10 years ago:

My 2019 is my fourth Ranger - I had a 2000 supercab (without the suicide doors which made putting anything behind the seats almost impossible) and a 3 liter, which I found somewhat underpowered, a 2003 supercab with a 4 liter (with the suicide doors) and a 2005 supercab FX4 with a 4 liter. Before that I had a Nissan 2WD pickup for 8 or 9 years.

This truck is my favorite vehicle I've ever owned - I love to drive it. The Capri is a blast to drive and I still love it, but the Ranger I like more. It is more civilized, has more power, is more comfortable and has a lot more useful technology.

 

[IdahoRanger]

Couldn't find a picture of my '73 Capri but here is my first Ford: 78 Fiesta

Wife's 65 Mustang

Getting the job done

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Couldn't find a picture of my '73 Capri but here is my first Ford: 78 Fiesta

Hi Steve,

I had almost the same Fiesta. Mine had a sun roof, same color. It was a fun little car to toss around.....sold it to another neighbor and then it was sold again...to an engineer that worked for me.... It had quite a few miles on it by the time it when to the scrap yard.....terrible body cancer thanks to Michigan road salt...

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[SOHK_Alumni]

New, and old -- my 02 had a few more stones than most!!

 

[IdahoRanger]

Hi Steve,

I had almost the same Fiesta. Mine had a sun roof, same color. It was a fun little car to toss around.....sold it to another neighbor and then it was sold again...to an engineer that worked for me.... It had quite a few miles on it by the time it when to the scrap yard.....terrible body cancer thanks to Michigan road salt...

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Hi Phil,
I got a flip up sunroof at the swap meet and installed myself. Was a fun car to drive and did great in the snow...explains the ski rack.

Back story: Everyone complains about the Ranger brakes. I went through 3 sets of brakes on the Fiesta before 20k miles, the first going out at the top of Mt Baldy with about 3k miles on the car. I used the e-brake to make it down the mountain and drove straight to the dealer. The second set was just after warranty so paid out of pocket. Third time Ford replaced entire system and reimbursed me for the second set. Trying to remember if the rotor design was too small...maybe you know.

 

[Scottopia]

My first ride... 1973 Pinto, it was a fun car, manual trans, thankfully it never blew up!

Then I upgraded to the ‘76 Cobra II Mustang, very fun car with tiny wheels, shockingly fast, pic is not mine but the same look. If I ever win the lottery I want to find one to do a resto-mod on to make it the way it could have been.

 

[JaysOnTheEDGE]

First Ranger 2002 4x2 Edge model 3.0 V-6 5 speed added the FX4 chrome shifter and ball, took the rear blocks out and uncranked the torsion bars a bit to level it out. I miss the Vinyl Floor material they used on it

 

[SubVet]

First Car and second car....

 

[Michel Jeanneau]

Oh boy, here we go....

First car 1976 Toyota Corolla...1.6 liter 4 cylinder with a 3-speed auto (stuck in third so had to shift manually)...bought for $1.00 from my ex sister in law...got me through freshman year of college

A total dog, and by the time I sold it it had more fiberglass than steel...engine still ran but no headlights, no wipers, no nothing...owned it between 1985-1987.

Second car, and first Ford: 1984 Ford Escord L, 1.6 liter I-4, carburated, 4-speed manual (fourth was OD), bought new to me in 86...good little car (34 MPG combined)

I think it had about 30k miles when I got it, ran it to about 70k (changed timing belt at 60k) and by the time I got rid of it the exhaust had a crack behind the cat...traded it for this:

1984 Ford EXP with the carburated HO engine, 5-speed manual and TRX wheels...thing had exhaust headers:

It also liked oil almost as much as gas....mostly spilled over those cool headers. A lot of firsts with this car: first speeding ticket, first hit a deer (a small one), and used the back of it as a bed more than once...
Also my first breakdown on the highway (Ignition module went), first tow home...
I owned this car between mid 1988 and mid 1990 when I traded up to this:

My first brand-new car...Bought after starting my career in 1990, a 1989 Ford Probe GL, 2.2 liter I-4, 5-speed..fast fun car (sucked in the snow)...after this it was two rangers 94 and 98, an 06 Hyundai Tucson, a 2014 Subaru Forester and the Black Beast of AAAAGGGGHHHH
PD> I almost forgot...1988 BMW 528e with euro kit...still own this one:

 

[rang19ca]

My first car ‘62 Ford Fairlane 500. My current.

 

[stringbreaker]

First car 1970 sportsroof Mustang and now the Ranger. I like red.

Sponsored