Our Trucks Have Issues. Looking At Others, Maybe Not So Bad

[EJH]

There is a plague of poor quality and bad design decisions forced on all automakers by Gov mandates. The only way around this FUBAR situation is to keep an older auto running in tiptop shape. Best to keep one in the stable at all times. One never knows when the ECO/E.S.G/D.I.E. insanity will finally be put to rest, but expect more of the same until it runs its course.

Things won't settle down until sound engineering principles, job dedication to excellence, honesty, integrity, and a genuine spiritual awakening, take their rightful place in society again.

And this may be a long time coming, as this won't happen until our society hits rock bottom. They didn't call them the "Roaring 20's" for nothing. Then compare the decades of the 30's - the 50's.

Our society has been in descent for decades now and we are staring down an imminent waterfall event. I've been observing this unfolding event for 50 years as it slowly gained momentum, and I think I will live to see that waterfall event. I probably will not live through the coming chaos to see the correction. Too bad. I hate not seeing the ending of a movie!

My advice, purchase a 2012 or earlier auto in pristine condition and enjoy the reliability and simplicity of the design (Some brands can go as new as 2017 such as Mazda). Spend the $$ it takes to get it into new condition, and maintain it. You will be rewarded with an auto you can trust not to leave you on the roadside, or cost you multiple thousands in repair bills.

My 2005 4.0 V6 Ranger has proven itself, as have the 2.3l Rangers. Parts and insurance are cheap and I can maintain it myself. I am keeping it for the long haul.

I know the mid 2000 V8 Crown Vics/Mercurys (2nd generation) were extremely reliable. But there are many other brands/models to choose from.

Choose carefully.

Subarus

Although I can't speak for the most recent of models, but for the most part, they are simple, proven and reliable. Easier vehicles to work on. I do most everything on my 2016 Forester. No complex BMS, fairly basic entertainment system (good and bad I guess). We have the models that were still assembled in Japan. Fit and finish is superb. Dealer experience (at least for us) has been top notch.

Only possible concern is my 2016 Forester is the XT with a turbo. If the turbo blows, I will have it repaired. Otherwise, I love that SUV. I will keep it until it completely falls apart or is totaled.

My wife has a 2021 Crosstrek. The first year when they upgraded the limited trim to the 2.5L N/A engine. We will also keep that one until it dies or is totaled.

I still love my Ranger. I am just more realistic with its longevity and did purchase an extended warranty.

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[TJC]

Sounds like Mazda and Subarus appear to have made the switch in 2017-2018.

I have a friend with a 2017 CX-5 that has the 2.5 engine without the cylinder delete feature found in the newer models. I purchased a 2023 CX-5 with the turbo to avoid the cylinder delete feature. The MX-5 still comes without the cylinder delete feature.

 

[Dunedain Ranger]

So we all know the common issues that are lurking on here, with the transmission being the biggest boogieman.

Sometimes it makes you think it might be a good idea to cut bait and grab something else.

A while back I looked at the Hyundai Santa Cruz as it appeared to be a reincarnation of my old beloved Subaru Baja Turbo.

It was nice enough I guess but not quite there.

Anyway, a local dealer had a new Santa Cruz Limited that was loaded with everything for a significant discount off MSRP ($5k+) and my truck still has tradein value that is close to what I paid for it 4 years ago.

So I decided to research the Santa Cruz just as a thought experiment.

Wow. There are approximately 4x as many new Rangers on the road as there are Santa Cruz (Santa Cruzes? Santas Cruz?), yet their forums have MANY more instances of complete failures of the transmission.

The DCT was supposedly fixed by a recall but many have had failures after the recall and with production dates after the factory fix.

One Youtube vlogger with a Santa Cruz used to sing the praises of it. Now his transmission has completely failed at 23k miles. He says that if he knew then what he knows now he would've never bought one with the DCT. Even the new transmission has clunky, jerky shifting that doesn't seem to bode well for longevity.

Other common issues are with the radiator being easily damaged by rocks and road debris ($2k and not covered by warranty), overheating due to the electric thermostat failing ($250 thermostat), entertainment system randomly going completely blank (remove and reinsert fuse into the amp under the driver seat to fix), going into Limp mode and limiting speed to 20-30mph (various causes), and the tailgate falling open while driving (?!?!?).

Needless to say, my interest in a Santa Cruz has waned a bit, regardless of the discount.

I realize that forums are a limited subset of actual owners, but the subsets for their forum vs this one is likely similar.

Maybe Subaru will eventually step up and release a new Baja.

The grass is always greener over the septic tank...-Erma Bombeck

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Subarus

Although I can't speak for the most recent of models, but for the most part, they are simple, proven and reliable. Easier vehicles to work on. I do most everything on my 2016 Forester. No complex BMS, fairly basic entertainment system (good and bad I guess). We have the models that were still assembled in Japan. Fit and finish is superb. Dealer experience (at least for us) has been top notch.

Only possible concern is my 2016 Forester is the XT with a turbo. If the turbo blows, I will have it repaired. Otherwise, I love that SUV. I will keep it until it completely falls apart or is totaled.

My wife has a 2021 Crosstrek. The first year when they upgraded the limited trim to the 2.5L N/A engine. We will also keep that one until it dies or is totaled.

I still love my Ranger. I am just more realistic with its longevity and did purchase an extended warranty.

My 2010 foz I did everything on it.

It developed a knock about 6 months before I ordered my ranger, I drove it and traded it in at carmax after I took delivery of the ranger.

Prior to that we had a 2010 foz, I blew that motor up, which led to getting a 2018 outback.

The 2010 was my favorite of the 3,it was a basic trim package nothing fancy at all but a manual trans. I drove that thing like I stole it, not sure why the engine blew as I down shifted on the exit ramp doing 75....? (the engine sized in reality and was going to be more money that we wanted to put into it to replace the motor) had we not lived in a community with an HOA and no garage I could have done the swap in a weekend with some help...

Between the foz and outback I always say the foz is so utilitarian and the outback looks like they finished the design. ? More soft touch materials, patterned plastics vs smooth grey and black Plastics...

I imagine the crosstrek is a peppy little machine. It always made me laugh when people realized that all the vehicles have nearly the same displacement. ?

 

[Friday yet?]

If you want longevity......... let me find a low mileage 70'ish model Ford F 100, 300ci in line 6, 3 on the tree......... on man how I wish. Truly. With one of those, at about 350K miles just look at it, smile, and keep on going.

 

[TJC]

Those old straight 6s ran forever, the Chrysler 225CI slant 6 (Esp the 2 barrel version), the Chevy 235CI, and those beasts from Ford- the 300CI. Paired with 3 speed manual trannies, they were almost indestructible. A bit clunky, but reliable.

I even owned a 1952 Studebaker pickup in the late 1970's. 85HP 170 CI Flathead 6 called the "Econ-O-Miser" under the hood with a 3 speed transmission. That truck was geared very low, and top speed was 45-50 mph. The rear axle was geared at 4.82:1 !!

I know where the phrase it "rides like a truck" came from! It could rattle your teeth loose! I still miss it though.

 

[Canadian Ranger]

I wonder how Hyundai can stay profitable with those types of warranty repairs.

It would scare you if you knew how little it costs manufactures to build a vehicle. Like, really scared!!

 

[JimG_AZ]

It would scare you if you knew how little it costs manufactures to build a vehicle. Like, really scared!!

Interesting! Let's see some cost figures.

 

[Canadian Ranger]

Interesting! Let's see some cost figures.

I have no solid figures. However I do know that when a vehicle is leased for two years, those 24 payments more than pay the manufacturer for the building of the vehicle. And when you see a lease return sitting on a dealership lot for sale, that price is 100% profit for the dealership. 4-5-6 year old vehicles that get traded in get sent to an auction (for the most part), They take sales away from lease returns and 2-3 year old trade-ins.
Using a 2024 Ranger Raptor as an example. If you think Ford is only actually making about $2000 profit off a $55 000 vehicle, think again.

 

[Cmar]

Something we can do easily but not perhaps so much you, our Rangers come from the Ford Thailand plant. All you have to do is google prices from various SE Asia countries, they all come from the same plant, to get an idea of the markup we have to swallow.

 

[JohnnyO]

There is a plague of poor quality and bad design decisions forced on all automakers by Gov mandates. The only way around this FUBAR situation is to keep an older auto running in tiptop shape. Best to keep one in the stable at all times. One never knows when the ECO/E.S.G/D.I.E. insanity will finally be put to rest, but expect more of the same until it runs its course.

Things won't settle down until sound engineering principles, job dedication to excellence, honesty, integrity, and a genuine spiritual awakening, take their rightful place in society again.

And this may be a long time coming, as this won't happen until our society hits rock bottom. They didn't call them the "Roaring 20's" for nothing. Then compare the decades of the 30's - the 50's.

Our society has been in descent for decades now and we are staring down an imminent waterfall event. I've been observing this unfolding event for 50 years as it slowly gained momentum, and I think I will live to see that waterfall event. I probably will not live through the coming chaos to see the correction. Too bad. I hate not seeing the ending of a movie!

My advice, purchase a 2012 or earlier auto in pristine condition and enjoy the reliability and simplicity of the design (Some brands can go as new as 2017 such as Mazda). Spend the $$ it takes to get it into new condition, and maintain it. You will be rewarded with an auto you can trust not to leave you on the roadside, or cost you multiple thousands in repair bills.

My 2005 4.0 V6 Ranger has proven itself, as have the 2.3l Rangers. Parts and insurance are cheap and I can maintain it myself. I am keeping it for the long haul.

I know the mid 2000 V8 Crown Vics/Mercurys (2nd generation) were extremely reliable. But there are many other brands/models to choose from.

Choose carefully.

Exactly.
So which actually has a lower carbon footprint, and older vehicle that you can keep running for a long time or newer one that is essentially totaled after 7 years because it costs more to repair than it's worth if it's even repairable at all?
Saw a YouTube video the other day about why new refrigerators are breaking so quickly, it's because the govt mandated energy efficient compressors don't work.
Prices of 1967-1972 Ford pickups are going out of sight.

 

[Fordup]

If you want longevity......... let me find a low mileage 70'ish model Ford F 100, 300ci in line 6, 3 on the tree......... on man how I wish. Truly. With one of those, at about 350K miles just look at it, smile, and keep on going.

My dad had one and it also got 24mpg that was basically unheard of with a truck back then. Didn't wear out but rust finally took it off the road with over 200k of basically trouble free miles.

 

[TJC]

If you live in the south or out west, the drive trains will go long before the bodies.

My wife purchased a basic 1988 Honda Civic (no AC and roll up windows) new in NY state just out of college. She regularly got 45-50 mpg, drove it 15 trouble free years until the rusted floorpan made the car unsafe to drive. The bumper literally had fallen off the car while she was driving it! Took it in and the mechanic told her not to drive it home. The NY salted roads ate literally that car up.

When we talk about the great gas mileage of hybrids, she always brings up her 88 Civic that achieved the same gas mileage as a modern hybrid. I really can't argue with her.

 

[rydfree]

If you live in the south or out west, the drive trains will go long before the bodies.

My wife purchased a basic 1988 Honda Civic (no AC and roll up windows) new in NY state just out of college. She regularly got 45-50 mpg, drove it 15 trouble free years until the rusted floorpan made the car unsafe to drive. The bumper literally had fallen off the car while she was driving it! Took it in and the mechanic told her not to drive it home. The NY salted roads ate literally that car up.

When we talk about the great gas mileage of hybrids, she always brings up her 88 Civic that achieved the same gas mileage as a modern hybrid. I really can't argue with her.

I had a '88 civic hatchback that was still getting 35mpg when I sold it in 2007.

 

[Cmar]

Exactly.
So which actually has a lower carbon footprint, and older vehicle that you can keep running for a long time or newer one that is essentially totaled after 7 years because it costs more to repair than it's worth if it's even repairable at all?
Saw a YouTube video the other day about why new refrigerators are breaking so quickly, it's because the govt mandated energy efficient compressors don't work.
Prices of 1967-1972 Ford pickups are going out of sight.

A lot of energy is used in the building of a car compared to what it uses in it's average life. So I guess the longer you keep it going the "greener" you are are, a fact most greenies seem to conveniently ignore.

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