2019 Ford Ranger Taking Orders

[Clutch]

It is very common for me to see vehicles at night with no lights on. Whenever I get the chance, I give them a good dose of flashing high beams. About 50% of drivers turn on their lights after a bit of flashing. Some still don't get it, even after I drive behind them flashing my high beams at them for a full minute.

But, I do know why it happens. It happened to me even. My vehicle has auto headlights, so I never think about it. I drove my (at the time) girlfriend's Hyundai Sonata, and the dash was all lit up. The city street lights lit my way. I did not even think about a headlight switch. Back in the day, the gauges were all dark before you turned on your lights, so it was pretty obvious your lights were off. That is no longer the case in many vehicles.

Seems like the light flashing is lost on many, they don't get it. Like at a 4 way stop, I'll flash my lights signaling for the other person to go...more often than not they'll just sit there staring into the oblivion....

I said the last good year was 1991. From 1992 to 2008 it was a slow descent kicking and screaming until 2009. There's reasons why I think it was one step forward, two backward. I have reasons for buying the model years I have (1991, 2001 and now 2008). Not saying I'm right. But, I'm right.

What was it about the 2009+ that is different than the 2008...refresh my memory.

 

[Todd780]

All this electronic crap, lane warnings, fake shifters, stop/start tech, has me longing for old school and reliability. I must be getting old.

Agreed. At least for now most of that stuff seems to be optional and can be skipped. How long it will remain optional....who knows....

 

[DaveInDenver]

What was it about the 2009+ that is different than the 2008...refresh my memory.

2009+ all got electric master cylinders (mine has a traditional vacuum booster and ABS pump), TRAC/VSC, 4 more airbags (mine just has the two front), backup camera (optional though). But 05 and 06 trucks had a frame issue with the motor mounts collapsing and the 1GR had some head gasket issues. Those were running production fixes that were in place for all 2007 models. Then in 2012 a few emissions related items and some optional nannies became standard. So my $0.02 is 07 and 08 are the sweet spot transitionally.

 

[Todd780]

2016!!?? Hell, taint that old!

You said taint......

 

[Martinjmpr]

Some of you remind me of this guy:

 

[Clutch]

Some of you remind me of this guy:

This was making the rounds on my FB feed from my "old man" friends. My response was, I don't need no gaaad damn t-shirt telling the rest of the world that I am a grumpy old man.

 

[Clutch]

2009+ all got electric master cylinders (mine has a traditional vacuum booster and ABS pump), TRAC/VSC, 4 more airbags (mine just has the two front), backup camera (optional though). But 05 and 06 trucks had a frame issue with the motor mounts collapsing and the 1GR had some head gasket issues. Those were running production fixes that were in place for all 2007 models. Then in 2012 a few emissions related items and some optional nannies became standard. So my $0.02 is 07 and 08 are the sweet spot transitionally.

Mucho grassy ass

 

[Clutch]

Agreed. At least for now most of that stuff seems to be optional and can be skipped. How long it will remain optional....who knows....

Not that I want the auto, but the joystick...no mechanical connection to the tranny in the Wrangler JL, made me go ******.

Then seeing more chicken ******** cutting corners...hmmm...made me loose my initial excitement of the Gladiator. Solid axle, diesel, removable top...sounds awesome...but wait!!! unfortunately there is more...if you want all of that, you need to take this BS stuff too. Want diesel!? Yes!!!...sorry bub, no manual trans...dude... not cool, not cool...

 

[Wallygator]

2016!!?? Hell, taint that old! IIRC @DaveInDenver was saying around 2008 was about the end of when they had a good mix of of tech and old. Me, I think it was 2004 was the last of it at least for Tacomas.

Pretty much the only thing I don't like about my Tacoma is that it is getting old, and I can't replace it with a new one exactly like it. I have a few buddies that going the opposite direction of buying new vehicles. Buying old stuff and keeping it going.

Seems like the manufactures are trying to take the fun out of owning a vehicle. I love driving...so much I do it to the tune of nearly 30'000/year...if the vehicle is doing most of the driving for me, what is the point then? Might as well stay home on the couch.


...and why is everyone so scared anymore? All this concern about safety, seems like people are afraid to leave the comfort of their mother's basement. This forum is about getting out and exploring, going into the unknown...we do that because it scares us, makes us feel alive. If you make it so safe where we can't get hurt...then what is the point of traveling and exploring then?

You are right, it's not old at all. What I meant was compared to other vehicles now a days it doesn't have near the tech. It seems people are forgetting that driving is at it's base an analog task. I don't like the direction things are heading so I may just be one of those guys going backwards. The vehicle I daily drove before buying this 4Runner was a 1989 FJ62. I feel spoiled with the 4 and really have no interest on having any more tech then it has.

 

[Wallygator]

This was making the rounds on my FB feed from my "old man" friends. My response was, I don't need no gaaad damn t-shirt telling the rest of the world that I am a grumpy old man.

You have Facebook??? You ain't old! I still refuse to get it. I call it Fakebook, haha

 

[Clutch]

You have Facebook??? You ain't old! I still refuse to get it. I call it Fakebook, haha

No, not that old, I just feel and act that way! At least I still drive a manual trans truck!

Mainly use to keep in touch with my friends in AZ, select relatives and a few highschool buds. That and follow a bunch of motorcycle and Land Cruiser pages.

 

[DaveInDenver]

No, not that old, I a just feel and act that way!

Mainly use to keep in touch with my friends in AZ, select relatives and a few highschool buds. That and follow a bunch of motorcycle and Land Cruiser pages.

Facebook is love/hate. I dislike it and all the privacy and personal intrusion but it is darn easy to keep in touch with family and friends. It's like the forum, you can't really fully ignore social media in this day and age without being an anti-social hermit since most people don't talk at length on the phone or write letters anymore.

 

[Clutch]

Facebook is love/hate. I dislike it and all the privacy and personal intrusion but it is darn easy to keep in touch with family and friends. It's like the forum, you can't really fully ignore social media in this day and age without being a hermit.

Nothing is private anymore, ya know

Keeping up with friends on there is sure nice...we all like to give each a hard time, or we'll see what others are doing and get ideas. One friend in Phoenix is going all Clark Grisword for Christmas, it is awesomely bad! I cook a lot so sometimes I'll post what I make, example being like I'll make pizza and bread from scratch...then I see many of friends making their own, that is kinda cool. Someone made a wreath from an old dirt bike tire...then we all had to make one...

Just like anything it is good and bad.

 

[Clutch]

You are right, it's not old at all. What I meant was compared to other vehicles now a days it doesn't have near the tech. It seems people are forgetting that driving is at it's base an analog task. I don't like the direction things are heading so I may just be one of those guys going backwards. The vehicle I daily drove before buying this 4Runner was a 1989 FJ62. I feel spoiled with the 4 and really have no interest on having any more tech then it has.

There is a lot of the modern conveniences I like, but all of the driver aid stuff I can do without. Believe it makes people complacent.

Story about a FJ62. My buddy had one...we were heading from Tucson to Phoenix to see a metal show, IIRC it was one of the last shows Ozzy played with Black Sabbath. It tossed a belt about half-way there. Called my mom's then boyfriend to swing by an auto parts store and bring us some belts. So I laid on the side of the the interstate...got it fix as fast as I could...didn't want to miss Ozzy. Got it rolling again...managed to get up there just in time. Missed most of the show but got to see Sabbath with Ozzy. One of the best shows I have ever seen, it was in a open air stadium, and at the end....they shot out black confetti and smoke...looked like the apocalypse...it was awesome. Might of been a little sweeter because of the effort we had to do just to get there.

Heck, thinking about it...some of the new vehicles you have to take it in just to replace a belt. IIRC was reading something on a Super Duty diesel where you have to do that, and not cheap either...

 

[Wallygator]

I was just kidding about the fake book, it is what it is, and yes I am probably missing out on things.....

I swear it seems Ford makes their vehicles so an average consumer can't work on them. As far as the Superduty diesel, yeah, nightmare to work on. They don't design the cab to easily come off for no reason. Ever look under the hood of a 6.7 SD?