Tragic truck love story

[SleepyPumpkin]

Hello, new here. Sorry about weird title (yes I'm a girl lol) My name is Selina. I'm an Ford ranger enthusiast. Not an owner...yet. I'm into the Generation one Rangers.

There's this one Ranger I've had my eye on since July 2019. I saw it first on Craigslist listed as $700. It's a 1985 XL V6 2.8L 4x4 manual. It didn't run and needed to be towed. I didn't have the money to purchase it, had no means to tow it, and couldn't contact the seller because they didn't leave and form of contact info (stupid). I knew that when I first saw this truck it was the one. I obsessively checked that post daily hoping to contact them but, of course somebody got to it first. Being sad and extremely disappointed I put my own Craigslist post up looking for any 1985 Rangers in my area.

One guy responded to me a few days later saying he had a 1985 Ranger for sale. It was a fixer upper with V6 automatic tranny that was broken. Almost not worth it but, other than the obvious broken automatic tranny it was in really good shape. So I planned on saving up my money for that one. Months later my Dad passes away and I can't afford it. Plus our house was in foreclosure (still is today we move out in Feb).

Things were rough. That automatic Ranger slipped through my fingers. Extremely disappointed again. I've been looking and scouring online market places for a Ranger for weeks and weeks but then I find out that same guy who contacted me first on the Craigslist post I made. He had that first Ranger I very desperately wanted. At first he was not planning on selling it. But now out of nowhere he's selling it for 2,000 dollars and I only have 1,000. I'm literally heart broken. That's my sad story. Thanks for reading it if you made it this far. Sorry it's so long. I can't tell anybody else this story because no one cares or would understand how I feel except maybe someone here. The End.

 

[SleepyPumpkin]

I don't know if this pictures will work.

 

[SleepyPumpkin]

This is what it looked like before the body work

 

[Uncle Gump]

There are many of us here that feel the same way...

Just something about the first Gens for most here that just make us smile and wish we had one.

The right truck will come your way... just hang in there. Good things come to those that wait.

Welcome to TRS...

There is a bunch of information for you to read here and pictures to look at... it will keep the fire burning. Take some time and put together your wish list of things you want to do.

 

[SleepyPumpkin]

There are many of us here that feel the same way...

Just something about the first Gens for most here that just make us smile and wish we had one.

The right truck will come your way... just hang in there. Good things come to those that wait.

Welcome to TRS...

There is a bunch of information for you to read here and pictures to look at... it will keep the fire burning. Take some time and put together your wish list of things you want to do.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad I can relate to somebody about it. It's a bit frustrating lol but I'll find one eventually. Thanks for the welcome I'll stick around and check this site out more.

 

[1986RangerXL]

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad I can relate to somebody about it. It's a bit frustrating lol but I'll find one eventually. Thanks for the welcome I'll stick around and check this site out more.

Where are you located? I've seen better looking Rangers sell for less on FB Marketplace, usually needing a transmission or something though. There are a lot of cheap Rangers out there, good luck!

 

[SleepyPumpkin]

I live in Fredericksburg, VA. FB marketplace is where I've been looking mostly. There's plenty listed but rarely close enough to my area. I'll keep looking, thanks! ?

 

[Saddle Tramp]

Keep the faith. Your ranger will find you.

 

[SleepyPumpkin]

Keep the faith. Your ranger will find you.

Thanks ? I will.

 

[sgtsandman]

Be patient, the right truck will come along when the time is right. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Josh B]

The $700 one is now $2000, and you're the only one who wanted it? If you want it too bad, and he wants too much, best just walk away.
Like they've said, just keep an eye on the marketplace and on your trips around town, be patient, be wise, one will come along.
One thing to know is if others have looked and walked away, it's likely the best thing to do, unless something such as price or conditions changed drastically.

 

[SleepyPumpkin]

Be patient, the right truck will come along when the time is right. Welcome to the forum.

Thanks. I know I will eventually.

 

[SleepyPumpkin]

Righ

The $700 one is now $2000, and you're the only one who wanted it? If you want it too bad, and he wants too much, best just walk away.
Like they've said, just keep an eye on the marketplace and on your trips around town, be patient, be wise, one will come along.
One thing to know is if others have looked and walked away, it's likely the best thing to do, unless something such as price or conditions changed drastically.

Right thanks ?one is bound to be mine eventually. I just thought it was funny that it happened to show up many months after the first time I saw it. That's life though.

 

[Ranger850]

A lot of us feel the way you do. Just be patient, keep saving your money. Good luck and welcome to TRS

 

[Josh B]

Right thanks ?one is bound to be mine eventually. I just thought it was funny that it happened to show up many months after the first time I saw it. That's life though.

Couple of good observations there Pumpkin.
One will come along, and maybe many moons after you'd thought it gotten away. Those are usually facts of life. Don't be discouraged(that's bad for your health ), and don't be obsessed, because that will just make it harder to find and much more expensive(and much less enjoyable)

If it's to be a daily driver you really don't want a fixer-upper , that could be downright discouraging. If it has a major problem such as a transmission out or engine troubles, you may be months or even years from seeing it run and driving it, and even then you might find it had suspension or other issues as well.

Fixer uppers can be nice, they can also be expensive.

Best to wait until you find one that's nice enough to drive(or nice enough to afford fixing if you already have a DD), from someone who's nice enough not to want an arm and leg for it

and BTW, welcome to TRS