Knowing exactly what used car you want to buy.
I'm in the market for a used Ford Ranger 4x4, made in the late 1990's or perhaps early 2000's for under $5,000. I've been religiously checking Craigslist, and even though the cars are out there, they're usually gone by the time I have a chance to go check them out when I do see them, they're not what I'm looking for.
Take today for example. My dad and I drove out to Scranton to look at a truck for sale. It was a long drive at almost two hours each way and when we got there, the truck for sale had a lot of issues. For $2,000 dollars, I could have purchased a truck whose oil filter was so rusty you couldn't tell if it had ever been any other color, had a missing door handle (conveniently fixed with a pull string through the window), an almost-nothing clutch and a clunk in the axle. The guy selling it did say we could take away the dishwasher in the bed with us when we left. What a bargain!
It's not that my car is a terrible car. In fact, apart from the emissions failure preventing it from passing inspection, it's been fantastic, reliable and cheap. However,since I'm thinking about starting my own farm the year after next, a vehicle that can be used in the field, to transport produce and to carry large things like wheelbarrows, piles of mulch, and sometime in the future, livestock would be a fantastic asset. Somehow I don't think my Toyota Carolla would do so well in mud or with a bunch of chickens in the back.
I was hoping to get this car business rolling this week and have everything squared away by the time I moved, but it looks like my quest for the perfect pickup continues. So, if anyone knows of a Ford Ranger 4x4 XLT (no step side), for a good price, hook me up!
