This beauty has only 65k miles and a clean Carfax showing all service and repair history. I am the 3rd owner.
I live 2 miles down a gravel road that stays fairly well maintained but still… After rainstorms and/or snow.. It can be a pain to navigate. I also have a 2002 Ford Ranger (I bought that 4 years ago with only 18k miles at the time.) to get around and I wanted to have something that is reliable and relatively bulletproof.
I am an enthusiast for all my vehicles and believe in a solid maintenance schedule and getting on things early. I heard something giving a little bit of a rattle and it was pulling to the right while driving so I dropped it off today for an alignment. I looked on the lift as they moved the front tires around and the ball joints are shot… So those are being replaced today. I am looking forward to driving it when it gets fixed to see the inmprovement!
The ONLY issue that sticks out is the passenger side headlight has a leak and has water in it. As with all my vehicles.. I ordered new front headlights. It just makes every vehicle look brnd new! I’ll install them in the next few weeks. It looks pretty involved, removing the front bumper, so I’ll do it on a warmer Saturday soon. I’ve got new rotors and pads and stainless brake lines coming to have on the shelf when needed. I’ve already switched over to a K&N Air filter (and cabin filter) as I run K&N in everything I own. I don’t change the intake to a CAI… Just the K&N in a stock airbox is good enough for me!
I replaced the stock rearview mirror with one that has Homelink from a 2022 Outback. A really nice upgrade and something I do to every vehicle I have. (I have a BMW rear view with compass, temp and Homelink in my Ford truck.) The newer Homelink is nice as I have newer garage doors so they match up perfectly.
This was pretty much a “love at first sight” thing for me. When I opened the hood… that pretty much clinched it. I asked the guy how he got it so clean… He said he didn’t need to as that was the way it has always been. Not a speck of dust, dirt or rust anywhere. It is seriously the cleanest engine bay I have ever seen… And the last time it will probably look like that considering I drive 4+ miles on gravel roads every day.
The wheels have some of the clearcoat chipping off which is usual. I will probably buy new wheels when these tires wear out. I’ll want something that will give a better view of the drilled and slotted rotors I have coming.
So… That’s pretty much it in a nutshell. I just wanted to drop in and say hello. I didn’t mean to write a novel but I had a lot to say.
If there is anything anyone feels I need to check on as a new owner… Or be advised of… Please sing out! I’d greatly appreciate it!
Rick
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