Looks like your down to a Dakota or Ranger then.

I have 3 friends with 2003, 2006, and 2008 Rangers with the 4.0L. The all will testify to the ball joint problem, and the 03 and 06 have both had tranny issues. Plus they say the MPG's are horrible for a V6 pickup, around 14-18 Mixed driving.

There's always the 3.9 Dakota, or 3.7 05+.

 

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...33066799&Log=0
I think this one would be worth a go at. Get a new bumper for it and slap the new grille and bumper cover on (after painting) and it'll look like a new truck.
I got sidetracked when I was looking at the drop down menu for what vehicle you want to search for. Look what I found in Oklahoma City http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...08330493&Log=0

 

I can't believe you have not considered one of these VW.....



Here's one that has your name all over it....literally...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Volks...item2a24c81c63

 

Not a bad find; however, those single cab pickups are a bit cramped for me as I can't move or position the seat properly to give me room. I'm 5'-10" (yes, they can stack shiat that high) and prefer to sit back from the steering wheel.

I found another one in Hinton: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...erTypes=b&mmt=[FORD[RANGER[]][]]&modelCode1=RANGER&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&showcase OwnerId=70533&makeCode1=FORD&startYear=2000&engine Codes=6CLDR&searchRadius=75&bodyStyleCodes=TRUCKS& listingId=326072757&Log=0

I talked with a friend at a local dealership who recommended one of the managers at the other store. I'm going to talk with him and let him know what I want.


If I could get a Cabby diesel for a good price, I'd be all over it.

 

I worked part time for an office supply company when I was in school. Had one of these as a delivery vehicle. Diesel. Could barely get out of it's own way but the thing was d@mn near indestructible. Had like 300 some thousand miles on it and still started and ran great. Just woefully underpowered.

 

that's how the old school diesels got such great fuel economy....underpowered lol...

throw a turbo on there and some head studs and it'll scoot a little faster.

 

A friend of mine scored on a well maintained Cabby pickup a few years back that had very low miles. It rattled like a sum-bit and was hella slow in first and second, but once you threw it into third it would belch a bit of smoke and then take off like a raped ape.

 

A Ranger is NOTHING like a Toyota (I had several Ford Truck sales certifications...). And the mid 90's Tacoma is probably the strongest truck for its size. Been offered 10K for my 96 Yota, 4x4, ext cam, 5spd, V6. Obviously, I said no. But even the newer Tacomas are excellent, but pricey. 280,000 on the clock. Only replaced starter and AC compressor, and brake pads/shoes, and O2 (just to see if it helped mileage. Get a solid 19.5 avg. mixed driving.


And I spent 7 years as an engineer for Nissan....if that tells you anything....

 

Uh... don't buy a Nissan?

 

My two Frontiers were the most trouble free vehicles I have ever owned (never owned a yota though). Just got in and drove, put gas in, changed the oil every 3k and maybe put tires on every few years. Had an 04 crewcab 4x4 and an 07 extended cab 4x2. Great little trucks...key word...little, even the crewcab was cramped. Traded the 07 in on the Dakota for more room and a V8!