Why did you choose Midsize

[blksn8k]

I realize this might not be a popular opinion here but I'm going to buck the trend. I used to own mid-size Ford trucks for years (3 Rangers and a Sport Trac) but in 2018 I went to an F-150 mainly because my '07 Sport Trac had 164k miles on the clock and I was not impressed with the 2019 Ranger. There were also huge incentives on the F-150. When I bought those smaller trucks the house I lived in at the time had a one-car attached garage and a full-size would not even fit. However, before I retired in 2016 I bought a house in another state and it has a 3 car garage with one of the doors being 16 FT wide. No problem fitting a full-size. I also have a lot of acreage to maintain, a mid-size tractor, an 18 FT enclosed car hauler and several collector cars none of which I could comfortably tow with a mid-size truck. I did it with the Sport Trac but even with the 4.6L V8 it wasn't really a good idea. Then, when Ford announced the Ranger Raptor I was seriously interested until the reality of the coil spring rear suspension with its reduced towing capacity, smaller interior space, probable dealer markups, production delays, etc. all sunk in and I started looking for a '23 F-150 Tremor in July of 2023. The other thing I had to consider was that my '18 F-150 still had a high trade-in value and there was no reliable info on how long I was going to have to wait for a '24 Ranger of any description. What I really wanted was a Ranger Tremor with the 2.7L. That obviously didn't happen either which is what led me to purchase a loaded '23 F-150 Tremor off a dealer's lot at a decent discount and I still got $33k for my trade. Someday my needs might change again and a mid-size will make more sense but it won't be anytime soon.

Sponsored

 

[Irony Guy]

Had a friend give me shit yesterday for spending 50k on a ranger and told me I should be getting full sized if I'm spending that money. I told him the ranger should be able to handle of all my functional needs and I don't have to deal with the inconvenience of a larger pick up truck in regards to maneuverability and parking. The segment seems to have gotten to the point where it is pretty large size wise anyway at this point in for me just feels like it offers everything I want without the drawbacks that come from the larger trucks. Just curious what other people's reasoning was.

Same same
2.3 litre instead of 3.5 litre

 

[Moto26]

People often seem to have a problem understanding why anyone else's needs/wants are different from their own.

I currently drive a full size truck, and I feel like my reasons for are it are perfectly valid. I don't really care if other people think I don't need it. Likewise, in a few years my wife and I are planning on making some significant changes to our lifestyle (think empty nesters, and no more horses), and I'm going to downsize to a mid-size. Again, my reasons are my own, and I don't have to rationalize to anyone why I won't need a full size truck - or why I'll need a truck at all, for that matter.

 

[MJE]

I started with an Escort. it got eaten by a bear.

This just sounds like a great story if you’re willing to share.

 

[MJE]

Heck I didn't even pay that for my house.

I bought my first house 20 years ago now (moved up the property ladder to my 3rd). & I’m starting to realize it won’t be long & it’ll be possible to spend more on a vehicle than I paid to buy that place. I can already get surprisingly close in build & price for more expensive vehicles to what I borrowed then.

 

[MJE]

People often seem to have a problem understanding why anyone else's needs/wants are different from their own.

Really, ”I want it” should be about all the justification you need.

 

[SparkyTWS]

This just sounds like a great story if you’re willing to share.

Short version of the story: Upper Peninsula of Michigan, driving home late at night from a National Guard Weekend. No Moon. Overcast. No street lights or city lights for miles. New blacktop on the road. Following a line of other guardsman heading home. Movement ahead. A car Further down the line swerves. The car in front of me seems to bounce like it hit a dip or a speedbump. Something Black that merges perfectly with the road. Escort takes flight. No one walks away happy, but everyone (except the bear) walks away. Later, I found out that it got hit by a van on the other side of the road which knocked it over to our side of the road where it was hit by a truck, then by an old sedan and by the time it got to me, it was mostly flattened which means when I hit it, the poor escort launched as if it had just gone off a ramp. definitely got air. The 89 Escort GT was not meant to fly, but it died a glorious death.

 

[chasvs]

Had a friend give me shit yesterday for spending 50k on a ranger and told me I should be getting full sized if I'm spending that money. I told him the ranger should be able to handle of all my functional needs and I don't have to deal with the inconvenience of a larger pick up truck in regards to maneuverability and parking. The segment seems to have gotten to the point where it is pretty large size wise anyway at this point in for me just feels like it offers everything I want without the drawbacks that come from the larger trucks. Just curious what other people's reasoning was.

Because Full sized was too big! Kinda obvious.

 

[chasvs]

Really, ”I want it” should be about all the justification you need.

LOL, which doesn't answer the question on why.....

 

[MJE]

Short version of the story: Upper Peninsula of Michigan, driving home late at night from a National Guard Weekend. No Moon. Overcast. No street lights or city lights for miles. New blacktop on the road. Following a line of other guardsman heading home. Movement ahead. A car Further down the line swerves. The car in front of me seems to bounce like it hit a dip or a speedbump. Something Black that merges perfectly with the road. Escort takes flight. No one walks away happy, but everyone (except the bear) walks away. Later, I found out that it got hit by a van on the other side of the road which knocked it over to our side of the road where it was hit by a truck, then by an old sedan and by the time it got to me, it was mostly flattened which means when I hit it, the poor escort launched as if it had just gone off a ramp. definitely got air. The 89 Escort GT was not meant to fly, but it died a glorious death.

Wow that is quite the story thanks!

 

[maxemus]

Ordered the ranger raptor for kicks. I currently own the bronco raptor, a 24 3500 denali ultimate, a 24 F350 SRW Limited and a Rivian R1T quad motor. RR was just a fun truck to order and modify.

 

[JimS]

Curious if he is actually aware of pricing and what you would get for $50k in a full-size in 2024. A F-150 4x4 crew cab short bed (most popular configuration I see and comparable to Rangers) starts at $50k MSRP with no options. XLs actually have a lot of content these days, but it's not similarly equipped to a $50k Ranger. A similarly equipped Ranger XL is $38k. So the price gap is $10k plus when comparing apples to 9/10 size apples.

 

[OH3Cobra]

Garage size, Parking Garage size, Needs, and drivability....

Sponsored