thoughts on new Rangers?

[john112deere]

First off, I've put this plan on hold for a while (though I'm not sure how long)- I needed to either get the Escort legal or replaced by early last week, and I just wasn't ready to pull the trigger on a new truck (waiting on an inheritance, etc.) quite that fast. So I got it legal and mostly fixed, for now...few little things left to button up, but hopefully cheap and easy.

Supposed to have a meeting with my boss pretty soon (probably next week), and hopefully get a better feel for how what I'll be doing and how many miles I might be driving this summer for work. That'll give me a better sense of when it makes sense to buy, and what my bank account might be looking like.

I contend the best way is to buy as new and low mileage as you can afford (which includes new if it makes sense), and drive it until the wheels fall off. This is the key with a new/almost new vehicle- you have a lot more control over the upkeep/maintenance/driving style, which will dictate the long-term durability and reliability.

The numbers do rather bear that out...and, really, it's probably what I'll do. Dad's advocating the same thing, meaning I'll have a willing co-signer if need be, too.

(Considering my obsession with having a stick-shift, it'll probably be my only chance to buy a new car anyway... )