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I like how that truck doesn’t have giant rims and it has a lot of rubber on the tires. I don’t know why nowadays all manufacturers put a giant giant rim. The easiest way to make a better ride is just put a tire with a lot of rubber.
The 3 knob climate control is the most perfect setup: easy to use, quick to adjust, just beautiful. It’s safer, too, with no screens to navigate and thus no eyes off the road. My favorite radio has physical knobs for the tuning as well as the volume. I miss simple, physical controls!
What ever happened to having all vehicle inside dash controls simple and mostly alike? they did that many years back for safety ! It can be a night mere to find your self in a strange vehicle and it gets dark and you are in busy traffic and you can't find the control switch you need right away !
Not really. Every late 90s early 2000's car i had rusted to pieces. These later gen frames seem to hold up much better. They were a huge step up from early 90's though.
I ordered a 1995 F150 XLT Lariat in February 1995; super cab; 5.8 L; locking hubs; 4 wheel shift on the floor; just about every option except leather and power passenger seat. $22,700. Kept it for 13 years and never an issue. Around 120k miles. I sold it cause my sons got too big for the rear bench. I should have never sold it. Old school trucks rule like the Wizard says!
I bought my 1995 F150 Eddie Bauer with a 8 foot bed and 351 in 1995 new. I still have it. Sometimes I think about selling it as I have too many vehicles. I live in the north but never drive the truck in the snow or salt, so pretty good body. It started running rough, but I think its the catalytic converter. That truck actually has the stock exhaust still. Now at 109,000 miles.
Single cab, silly putty color interior, manual transmission, brake controller in the way, bottle of Tylenol, aluminum running boards, & Michelin LTX tires… Old man spec, complete. And I love it!
Your opening sentiments couldn't be more correct. Sometime in the early 2000s, The truck market shifted from people who needed a work vehicle to people who wanted an SUV that looks like a work vehicle.
"It's meant for doing work". "Not for going to the mall or going shopping". Actually, I see pickups being used for shopping duty all the time. Many people own just one vehicle, and for some pickups are the most versatile.
10 years ago i bought my son a f250 regular cab with a 7.3 diesel it's a 97 one owner ,what a brilliant truck still sitting in the driveway runs and drives When ford built trucks not toys
My Dad bought one brand new with the same engine. Between off-roading and work, he put some hard miles on it. Sold it with 280k miles with original engine and transmission. Guy who bought it from him in 2010 still drives it.
My Great Grandpa bought a 94 f250 in 1995 almost new and he still has the truck which he used for over 300K miles working, hauling and flagging for his Crane company. he's 90 now and has said for many years that he would never sell his old truck, even after someone offered him 20K for it. and it is immaculate.
Those “just fix it, call me when it’s ready, no I don’t need a price” customers are the BEST. Funny thing, repairs for those people usually go smooth as silk.
I just dropped $6k in repairs on my 2001 Jeep Cherokee to get it mechanically sound. I'm one of those customers. If I tell my coworkers that I spent almost as much in repairs as I did to buy the Jeep, they'd think I was nuts. But these are the same coworkers that wouldnt' think twice about buying a $60-100k vehicle with payments that dwarf my repair costs over time. They're the crazy ones.
I always tell windscreen replacement guys, take your time, I'd rather it done right than fast. That's after having 2 separate cars rust around the windscreen from botched and rushed windscreen replacement jobs... Everything else I'll do myself.
I want it done right the first time, my mechanic knows he can take his time to do it right, I’ll sit and wait all day if I have too, Im just be happy that I won’t be stranded cause the repair was rushed
I do a lot of my own work, but when I take a vehicle in I tell the shop the same thing - just fix it. I don't need any headaches and I have an honest shop that does the work without drama. I am happy to pay them fairly for their work.
Not just cars and trucks - generators, white goods, power tools, in fact practically anything made after 2010 has gone so far down hill in quality and purpose that I've taken to scouring car boot sales (UK) and local adverts for 'old' devices that I can renovate and keep running indefinitely. Some quaintly call this 'up-cycling' but I'm rather more pragmatic and call it 'self preservation'. This is also why I'm fixing up my '05 Mazda. Still solid, still running, cost me $200 and does 45mpg. That's all I need in a runaround!
I agree with that opening statement 100%. Daily drive a 92 F250 7.3 IDI, 5 speed 4x4, 400K miles and its fantastic. Granted its no show truck, but who really cares, its a truck.
My neighbour is the same. Why upgrade when there is nothing wrong. Though the 7.3 is expensive to run so he has bought a town car and just used the F250 as a work truck. Though he does keep it in really nice condition.
wont happen. hedge funds own the business and especially the parts businesses and stocking repair parts cuts into their profits. the system is broken and wont be fixed.
My brother has a 97 Dakota he ordered and picked up the day it was delivered. It’s got over 400k on it now and still keeps going. That era of vehicles is hard to beat
In 2002 I bought a ‘94 F-250 2wd with the 5.8, 5 speed. It had 240k miles on it I had it for a bunch of years till gas hit $4.50 and it began to sit. I put another 40k miles on it. I only had to put a battery, a clutch slave cylinder and a rear axel seal on it. The AC was the coldest I’ve ever felt and the cab could go from 120 to freezing in moments! It went to a family that runs a mission in Mexico… last I heard it’s still going strong!
Still driving my 1996 F150 with a 302 auto that I bought new. It's coming up on rolling over 200K miles with original engine and trans. Hands down the best vehicle I have ever owned and I will never sell it. Some parts are beginning to get hard to find, but so far so good! It's amazing how many other cars we have owned over the same time period that did not hold up like this truck has. I wish Ford would once again make a sturdy and affordable truck like this! Thanks for sharing this truck with everyone... it's a real treasure!
I have a 1968 Ford F-250 that I built myself from the frame up more than 35 years ago. 2 door, standard cab, bench seat, 2 wheel drive, 8 foot bed, Twin-I-Beam front suspension, 390/four barrel, C6 transmission/Dana 60 limited slip rear axle, 16.5 wheels with commercial tires. Unlike the later model computerized ones, there is not a single part that is not available for my '68. Any Ford FE/FT engine will bolt right in. you can get brand new complete carbureted crate engines for it. Same with the C6 transmission and Dana rear axle. All steering, suspension and brake parts are readily available. The 16.5 tires are getting a bit hard to find, but they last 100,000+ miles. 8 lug 15" wheels are still readily available, and you can use tires with even wider sidewalls. It was built out of three different trucks and a lot of aftermarket parts, and is completely rust free. All the body parts are what would be considered armor plated steel today. No, the MPG is not great, but it is paid for, so I have money for gas. And it isn't driven that much anymore, as I have a couple of Mercury Grand Marquis I mostly use for transportation.
300 straight 6 was an amazing towing engine. My buddy has a 1995 f-150 4x4 5sp 300ci that has only 79,000 miles. He used it for years towing a 30ft bumper pull camper all around the USA working road construction.
I bought an 06 Toyota Tundra with 83,000 mikes for the same reasons you pointed out. I replaced the timing belt and radiator. The radiator wasn't bad, i just did it because it was 18 years years old. it is a garage kept truck and looks almost new. It will out live me and these new plastic trucks they want an arm and leg for.
It seems like 75% of the people who buy a large truck nowadays don't even use it as a truck at all. Knew someone who went into major debt for a Denali 2500 diesel and he doesn't tow anything ever. Works a desk job.
I don't know how people afford new vehicles anymore. A new Denali is like $95k. I bought and cummins swapped an old squarebody for $7,000 including the cost of the truck itself, then the engine and transmission and any other small parts needed. It was easy, just a lot of work to do. And now it's the most reliable daily driver I've ever owned and very cheap to operate by adding waste oil to make a tank of diesel fuel last much longer. Even if I had someone else do the swap for me, it would be half the cost of a diesel Denali. $95k for a truck is insane.
I have a f150 4wd I use to tow/work with it. Thats the only time I drive it. My other car is much preferred. Easier to park, better fuel economy, cushier ride.
One of the reasons they buy them is because of taxes, because of residual values and because they are known for being the best shot you have at a durable good in the automotive world that can last a few decades and take a beating.
I have a 1992 F-150 with the 300" six. 240,000 miles when the speedometer quit. No major work on motor or trans. Oil changed every 3-4K. Trans fluid changed at 150k and 200k. Truck has been worked hard, overloaded, and used to train 4 teenagers to drive. Easy to work on, parts are cheap. Did change the tappet cover gasket, with removing the upper intake. Easy job. Also have a 64 Chevy c-10, straight six, 3 on the tree. Far cheaper to drive old trucks. I live in the South, so rust is not a serious issue here.
I'm jealous. I have a 1993 with the same engine. I live in ohio so the cab is slowly rusting away. I treat it every winter to try and slow it down but with the amount of salt it's inevitable.
I drive a 2001 Ford F-150. It's a 5.4 2 valve and currently has just over 270,000 miles on the odometer. Still has the original engine and transmission and is going strong. I took it on a 1600 mile road trip a few months back and didn't bat an eye. It's my one vehicle that starts every time and it rarely has any issues. When it does, I can generally service it myself. It's pretty easy to work on. They literally don't make them like they used to. The newer 5.0 Coyote engines seem good, but I can't say that I am confident that I'd get 270k relatively trouble free miles out of one of the newer trucks. I absolutely love the 90s Fords with the 5.0 and 5.8 too. Ford used to build a really good, relatively simple truck. Those days appear to be behind us.
I like my 2020 Silverado Custom. Still has a key, no start button. Basic radio by today’s standards, basic heat and air controls, bench seats, I ordered it with tow package and a locking rear axle. Hunting, towing a small fishing boat, straw and feed for my animals, fits just perfect. Next one will be a 3/4 ton gas, just to get an engine without all the EPA fuel standers crap on the engine.
This truck is fantastic! To the owner, please, please, replace the headlight lenses with OEM style + clear-coat with proper paint before installing. It takes the look of the truck up that one extra level. Shoot, I even do the taillight lenses too even though they don’t yellow as much
I’m the proud owner of a 97 F250 7.3L Power Stroke 140K pristine mi. Has towed 5th whl, Gooseneck and Receiver hitch trailers its entire life. Took it on a 1,200 mi road trip last summer to let it run out and stretch its legs. Got 20 MPG at 70 MPH and a lot of head turns and 👍. Not 600 hp and 1000 ft of torque but only cost pennies per mile to get the job done ‼️
I’m happy for you, I miss mine so much. I did bumper pull two different trailers from Phoenix to Flagstaff for years. Is was a tank in the mud/snow and off-roads north of PHX. So many happy trouble free journeys for 15 years.
If you have an auto it does have almost 1000 ft/lb, the torque multiplication in the torque convertor at low speed. I also have a 97 F250 PS 4WD, it is not fast, but when I throw a 12K trailer on it nothing changes, it still chugs down the road almost exactly the same, only the ride gets better. It was my Dad's truck new, got totaled in a flood in 2013, he dropped the nose in a sink hole and landed on the frame, he gave it to me, new fluids, tranny fuse, and starter and it was back. Very clean truck, I get complements every time I take it out, Dad still looks at it wistfully, but he is 88 and can't see good enough to drive anymore.
As a Chevy guy, enthralled with the GM Utility Line, 1967-1972 C10’s. I do also own 2 Fords, an Expedition and an F150 FX4 Crew Cab. There both nice but the older Chevy’s are my passion.
My 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab Laramie Hemi 5.7 4x4 has 150k miles in it, no tick (I change the oil myself and use full synthetic), been an excellent truck. The only driveline failures have been a rear pinion seal and an oil pressure sender. Given how expensive trucks are now, even if the engine blew apart tomorrow it would be cheaper to put in a replacement. With it being a Laramie, it is loaded with equipment, so I'm not roughing it. I bought it with 69k miles for $12,000 cash. Look at how much value that has delivered and will in the future.
My 1992 F150 XLT is still going strong. It has a 302 engine mated to a 4 speed automatic transmission with over drive. It has only 74,000 original miles. Only routine maintenance, updated A /C system. Resealed the oil pan, front timing cover, front main crank seal, valve cover gaskets. Bought it used in July 2014. It was my daily driver until I retired in 2018. When I bought it it had only 46,400 original miles.
My 92 Camaro has the 305 and 4 speed automatic too. 167k, I fixed everything that was broken, speedo, rear hatch motor assembly, hood and hatch struts, starter, new AC, some interior stuff. Headliner is next.
Funny you mentioned John Deere. We have a small farm “by American standards”. We own a 1961 Deere 2010 that was bought new by my wife’s grandfather. We recently turned in our leased 2021 Deere for the same issues you mentioned a local farmer was having. The old girl just keeps going and going.
Honestly, I think the automotive industry peaked in the 90s. You had the perfect blend of performance, reliability, and simplicity. While modern cars have advanced in some aspects, particularly in safety, efficiency, and performance, they seemed to have lost a lot of that reliability and simplicity that made old cars great. These days, the automotive industry seems to be following the tech industry when it comes to maintainability and longevity.
Spay the underneath with a lanolin based (sheep oil) and it stops rust, its very good and does not trap moisture which is what other solutions do and cause more rust.
I treat my three F trucks with Krown oil (linseed based) Prevents rust and stops old rust 95% according to the shop that I take them to. Firm believer that it's never too late to start caring.
I had a 2018 Chevy Colorado, bought new. It would vibrate between 60-70 mph. Sold it to Carmax in 2020 and bought an old 97 K1500. I've been driving it since. It has 217,000 miles on it and drives straight as an arrow at 80 mph.
Those colorados have insane amount of issues my friends dad just got one it has had its rear main seal replaced 3 times and its transmission shudders at highway speeds when upshifting and downshifting he’s been trying to get it lemon lawd w GM for months they keep giving him the run around
Heh. Dad had the equivalent Chevrolet to this. A regular cab, long-bed, forest green, 1995 Chev Cheyenne 2500 with the 350, 2wd with limited dif, and 5 speed manual. He hauled a 5th wheel trailer all around North America with that thing over the course of ten years or so. Once he stopped trailering he sold it. Still looked as good as new.
That truck will outlive their owner, late enough to have the good electronics and amenities you’d want, but old enough to still be mechanical where it counts
I had alot of old trucks I wish I had kept, but old trucks used to be cheap and not worth putting money into ! not anymore since that idiot OBiden took over! Wont touch any of these new trucks I can't afford anyway with a 10 ft. pole. I am a pretty good old world mechanic but this new stuff sucks ! and what has it really accomplished !! a tail light for some new trucks are over $2000.00 ! Just give me the old light bulbs.for $1.50 !
@@garyalford9394 Try $4000-5000 on those tail lights. The back up cameras and sensors, which are now lawfully mandated for no reason, are tied into the lights through a module all in one assembly. The Ford ones made in the last 5-7 years are well known to leak water into the tail lights, I've personally replaced them for customers and it's over $10,000.. all because they weren't sealed properly. Pretty much every make and model made past 2010 is junk. You can thank the EPA.
This is why I am hanging on to my 2011 F-150 2WD V-6. It has enough computerization for me, but I still have knobs, buttons and switches I can use without having to move thru a bunch of screens to get it to do what I want it to do. And I can do some of the servicing myself.
Yep. I have a 2009 (non-domestic) V6. I only has the TPMS (which I hate), but beyond that it's just an honest 4WD truck. It's only at around 80k mi right now (manual trans).
This is why I’m still driving my 2005 F250 XL. I rebuilt the dreaded 3v engine with revised parts and change oil every 3k miles. A reliable work horse and it’s simple enough to make basic repairs.
My grandpa bought a 1978 F250 in baby blue new from the dealer. He put a camper on it and drove to every single state during his vacations. He gave it my brother and I and we still have it and drive it today. Original drivetrain. Only replaced radiator and a couple of manual fuel pumps. Incredibly durable.
It makes sense that these older trucks are going up in value... I have a friend that used to own a yardwork / snow service (he eventually retired and sold it to a family member), and he always kept an eye out for one specific generation of Chevy pickups from the mid to late '80s. Not only did he consider that group to be real workhorses, it helped simplify things for his two mechanics. :)
I remember back in the 90s I lamented all the computerization happening to trucks-TPS sensors, Cats and sensors, etc., but compared to today’s crap, I would gladly take a 90s era truck. Nice vid.
My '96 F250 just turned 100k. 460 automatic 4wd supercab. Two tone grey and white. Hope to find time this year to freshen up the paint, and install a minor 2" lift, Complements my '76 F100 360V8 4 spd, 4wd single cab. And to round out the fleet, a 2005 Ram 2500 6spd 4door w/ Cummins with 150k. You can have all that newer junk. I need a truck that I can depend on to get me from point A to point B.
My Grandson Has a 2024 Blazer & a 1992 C1500 he had since he was 15. Were Talking today. the 92 will still be Running when the Blazer is long Gone. He Bought the Blazer for his Daughter Born Last August
I had a 96 f250 sinlge cab, 4x4 w a 5 speed manual. Paid 1700 for the truck, it was rough, but ran and drove great, even the ac heat and radio worked great. I was so thankful for this truck. I just moved out on my own and the vehicle i had before this truck blew up. I was without a vehicle for almost 8 months. That truck helped me make a lot of money doing side work. Should have never sold it
Some of the best cars were ones that were around during 1997 when obd2 became mandated. Most manufacturers were actually producing reliable vehicles and they have the onboard diagnostics to make repairs easier without getting overly complicated and intentionally failure prone.
while the OBD2 of that era were rather simple error codes but with our modern databases it still narrows testing work down a ton. that is the great thing about these cars modern tools make the time to repair overall a lot lower and the parts are often rather cheap as they are easier to make. it is not that these cars don't break, they break all the time but they break in ways that doesn't nuke the car and have straightforward fixes. a lot of effort were spent on design to overbuild engines and have proper weak links. modern cars everything is so close together that if you get a strong weak link and a weak strong link wear will make the part that should never break break rather than the weak part that should break.
I've had 5 half tons and currently a nearly rust free 93 big block ECLB 4x4 F250. It's a great truck. I've called these "Goldilocks trucks" for about a decade. New enough to be reliable and comfy with AC and cruise, but old enough to last forever.
I bought a white '97 F-250HD XL RCLB 2wd 351w ZF5-S47 3.55 rear on April Fool's day 2021 for $2,100 cash in Kentucky then drove it 2 hours home near Columbia, TN. I worked on that truck as I could with cash I saved in my driveway with limited tools for 2 years. I did everything I could short of opening the engine. Replaced everything rubber, did front brakes, lines, hoses, lines to and the master, fuel pumps, filter, removed, deleted, disabled all the emissions equipment, the full ignition system(C&L Blue thunder coil, 8mm wires, cap , rotor) Motorcraft Platnums), ran true duals(deleted the cat and stock muffler with glasspacks), O2 sensor, all the pullies ( 5.0 Mustang underdrive set), idlers, tensioners, water pump, fan delete, it was AC delete, routed coolant around the Throttle body, all fluids, alternamtor, battery, 5 new Goodyear 255/85R16s, found a nice blue 90s Lariat bench seat with no holes and no headrests from the junkyard, found a nice white fiberglass topper, towed a trailer to TX got my GTO from storage and all.myc tools and stuff, it was 12,000lbs gross and ran 70mph the entire way back in 4th gear, got 12-14mpg on 87, never had to downshift and it could accellerate up even the steepest hills comming home on 65N through AL. A guy cross the double lines on a curve going very fast and hit me head on, Jan 30th 2023 competely destroyed that truck and killed my closest friend of 9 years, my dog. I bought another almost identical truck from a friend, white RCLB 2wd '94 F250 that was built with a 393w stroker, AFR 165 heads, stainless long tubes, ZF5, 3.55s, Lightning lower intake, Explorer upper, 70mm TB, Cobra Maf, using Mustang 5.0 sequential multiport efi, working AC, dual batteries, electric fan, 4 row rad, Lightning seats, factory Alcoa 16s with Michelin LTXs for $4300 I will keep it as long as it is possible to drive it, I have an extra 351w, ZF5 and Stirling 10.25 from my wrecked truck still for spares. These are great trucks. I am a 42yr old Disabled Vet living in a budget, there are no New vehicles in my future, I wouldn't buy anything newer than an '07 GM HD with a 6.0 ir 8.1, '97 is the cutoff for Ford and 2nd Gen Rams w/360 NV4500 are so rare there is no point looking for one, I like '78-'79 and earlier Dodge trucks if I had to choose with a 360/361//400/440, although a slant six or 318 will run alright. I stick with 3/4-1 ton, 2wd, manual trans if possible, heavier built, less complications than 4wd, capable of towing and hauling anything. Cummins/6.9or7.3/DD6.2/6.5 or Duramax is great but, I don't drive enough to need a diesel's cost.
Nice to see my gen truck on the channel. Im restoring a 92 Flareside and ive updated the interior with even more modern upgrades. Its a FL truck with zero rust
One thing about vehicles about this age is to buy a rebuilt ECM NOW while they can be had. If the capacitors in it puke their innards, it can wreck the circuit board. They are multi layer boards.
leaky capacitors are a fixable issue and virtually all ecms in the late 90's to early 2000 leaked. Buying a used ecm will have the same problems. I f you have the leaky ecms, you should replace them before they leak. easy job if you have ability with a small soldering iron.
I have a 99 F250 Super Duty 7.3L Diesel. The body style was a bit different than the 97 you show. The 99 started the drop-level window with updated body lines. My 7.3 Powerstroke diesel had 340K miles on it and still running strong! There are a few dings and dents and peeling clearcoat and paint as it's been outside it's entire life. It still pulls a 14,000 lb. 5th wheel camper very well. I'm 62 and it will be mechanically maintained until I'm gone. Great truck!
Older vehicles like that you have to buy a parts vehicle or go to the salvage yard. I remember when the parts store told us they were having trouble finding parts for 1980's vehicles.
Last year a bought a 95 f150 Eddie Bauer extended cab 5.8l e4od 4x4 170k slightly rusty around the edges still has primer on the bottom of the cab and flaky but still present paint from the factory... I bought this truck out of a field for $800 without breaks.. drive it down some dirt roads a few miles to a buddy did the breaks was a great truck now I'm doing an oil pan gasket a few hundred miles later. still love my old truck gonna redo all the engine gaskets out it back in the road.
I had a 92 F250 XLT Lariat 351 carburetor I used to get almost 20 mi to the gallon on the highway imagine that Hurricane Irene took care of that truck on me at 18 years I had an 18 years miss it still
I had two 1990 Rangers until 2019. One was the 4 spd OD and the other an XLT with with buckets and all the power accessories. I drove the manual, my wife the XLT. They were great. The Twin I Beam front ends are a marvel of simplicity. Compare the steering linkage to an S10 - so simple vs joints all over the place. I liked the trucks because like the truck you are showing, they were original and no one had ever screwed around with them. The only issue I began to have was that my local garage closed and the only place I could go with the very rare odd problem did not have anything to deal with the OBD I system they were equipped with. The mechanic was also too young to have ever encountered a 29 year old truck. I currently have a new Maverick Hybrid. It is not really a truck, but it does all I need. I have kept a 2008 Ranger which still works and was rustproofed so it's a nice unit that can get a little dirty sometimes and still be driven Toronto to Florida (last February). The cruise and a/c still work. Too bad they don't make these anymore. If I had the F250, I would at least have the body treated with an oil based rustproofing product. Being a 97, it may have even been built in Oakville, Ontario where Ford continued the heavier pickups since the F150s were all new by then.
totally agree. I finally bought a "new" truck,, a 1990 f250 with fewer miles but virtually identical to your 97. My other 2 trucks are 94 and 97 models. I can afford new on my farm but our "ranch rules" are. "If you can't fix it, you don't bring it." That goes for all mechanical equipment, tractors swathers, seeders, washing machines etc.Increasing complexity eventually leads to a point of diminishing returns and that point was reached probably a decade or two ago.
Had an 86 F-250, 460ci and C6. 290k miles on the original nearly everything. They’re tough trucks, but… The holes in the frame where the steering box connected ripped out twice. The whole dash visibly bounced on every bump because leaf springs front/rear weren’t exactly compliant.
Alot of people could help save there vehicles if they weren't so lazy, when it gets above freezing and get out and wash there cars underneath and on top! never ever park them in a warm garage till they are washed.
I have a 1996 F350 XL ,Regular Cab, SRW,4x4, 7.5 engine,5 speed manual.It has 41,000 miles. Factory Dana 60 Straight Front Axle. I ordered it new 12/1995.Never been in the winter salt.
Those things are tanks! When I worked at a local concert venue, we would rent these to move heavy equipment and lighting . Never failed . I remember the company would sell them off after using them for a few years .
I just replaced my 96 F350 5.9 weldtruck with a pristine, fresh all origional 96 FSuperduty with the 7.3 Powerstoke and 84" wheelbase. I can't take it anywhere that someone doesn't compliment the rig. I also have an early 97 F150 5.0 extended cab old man truck that is used for fishing and camping. All these trucks have been a dream to own and drive. I have issues with getting rid of the old weldtruck because I still have a soft spot for it.
I have a 1985 F-150 with the 300c.i. straight 6, and a 4spd manual transmission. It will be here after I'm gone as well. It is just 2 wheel drive. It has the full length box. Who wants to spend $80,000 on a truck that is all cab, no bed, and will cost you over $5,000 every time you have to have something fixed? The manufacturers have lost their minds.
The Ford and GM companies are being squeezed by various state (California is the strictest) and Federal EPA regulations on emissions and fuel economy. The first thing that was looked at was vehicle weight. Less weight gained extra mpg. Steel got replaced by plastic. Emissions reduction mandates made engine management digitized, which increased the number of sensors needed and resulted in extra wire harness complexity and forced the switch to high rev, turbo charged, direct injection, 4-cylinder engines that wear out must faster.
@@waynekaminski5438 Yep, I've been for reducing all the government regulations. If I were the manufacturers, I'd sue California, or disregard their demands. Going along with them is what got them where they are now.
Just bought a 2000 Ford F150 4.6 (2 valve), did the timing chain and oil pump upgrade and now running great, started 1st time this morning at -35 here in Alberta, Canada. Thinking the "old way' is best for not only trucks.
I have a 1996 Ford Ranger supercab that I bought brand new and almost sold about 7-8 years ago in a moment of weakness when I needed a little money. Thank goodness I came to my senses and held on to it. 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual, 250,000 miles that I can actually do some work on myself, and is fairly inexpensive to be worked on when I need to take it to the shop (which isn't often). Not counting tires and oil changes, which you would have to do to any ICE vehicle, I'd say I have probably spent $3-4,000 on needed repairs over the years, and some of that has been fairly recent such as replacing ball joints. I did just have the seats reupholstered. After almost 29 years the seat fabric had just had enough and it started splitting in a couple of different spots on the driver seat. And even that didn't HAVE to be done, but man it sure does look a lot better. I usually drive it every week, and sometimes daily back and forth to work for a while. But I haven't driven it in about 3-4 weeks and unfortunately that combined with the recent very cold weather, it's sitting in the driveway with a dead battery. Time to correct that
I don't like how every new car has a turbo. I plan on keeping my 2017 Lexus ES350 forever. I bought it with 25k miles and just put all new Toyota/Lexus brake pads and recently purchased new Michelin tires. No turbo 4-cylinder for me! Ill stick with the 3.5 V6!
My dad has a 97 F-250 Reg. Cab 8' box 2wd with the 460ci. Bought it as a fleet sale and it had just been repainted in white by the city services that owned it. Been reliable as a wood stove for 15 years, and although it can tow without breaking a sweat, it can pass everything but a gas station.
picked up a couple of trucks recently. 2008 Nissan Frontier, v6 crew cab, very basic even has crank windows! It's pretty easy to work on....did not run when I got it. no rust. The only thing I wish, that it was a manual transmission. Last week..... I got a gem.... bought from original owners, who only used it for travel for a very short time. ( NO BOATS ) 2003 Chevy 3500 LT with the Isuzu 6.6 Diesel... 40,000 OG miles. It does need TLC from sitting but pretty much rust free, but once I get the little things fixed, it'll be an awesome truck for years! All in all.... the older the better. Keep away from the electronics garbage and gizmos. Need basic vehicles again!
Side view mirrors were different on mine, kinda looks like 96. No airbags…last year one tons were exempted. Love it! I miss the sound of my Powerstroke! 22MPG on highway great at hauling the family, horses and off-roaders up I-17! Never had one issue excepting the chipmunks gnawing a wire or two.
As somebody who bought a few of these trucks brand new back in the 90's, I can appreciate how nice they are. I just wish I'd have kept one instead of trading them off, I still have the window stickers from most of them, and the sticker on a fully loaded 1994 Ford F-150 regular cab short bed XLT 4x4 Off-Road was $21,700. Around 2010 I could see where trucks were heading so I started looking for a mid 90's Ford or Chevy in a regular cab short bed. And I found a Colonial White 1995 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 Off-Road with 40,000 miles, and I got it before prices went crazy. I still have it & couldn't be happier, and it has around 65,000 miles now. I also have a 97 Mustang Cobra with 45,000 miles on it, I enjoy driving them & don't care one bit about all the gadgets they don't have & that's actually one of the things I like about them. Heck I still listen to my old cassettes in my truck. I also get more compliments on my 90's vehicles than my friends in their new ones, that should tell you something about these 90's & back vehicles.
I just picked up a 1988 f250 4x4 460/c6 ex cab long box that was sitting for almost 20 years….extremely solid truck with one small rust hole in the cab corner the size of a quarter….paint is rough also. I’ve since swapped the front TTB to a Dana 60 straight axle and have gone front to rear fixing leaks, brakes, ujoints etc ……I still needs a few things like a heater core and tires …hopefully this summer she’ll be road worthy…. I’ve had many of my friends ask me what I’ll do with it and said if I sell they’ll be interested…….i thought it was odd anyone would want an old dinosaur like this but now I see why from your video ….
I had a F350 Power Stroke 2wd Regular Cab Manual with a Twin Line Challenger and a Stinger. That truck was haunted even in the snow it drove like it had 4wd. Really nice truck and when you take care of something like that it will last forever. Cool Video Thank You 🙏
Brings back memories for sure. The biggest issue wasn’t mechanical, in the eastern central area, but dealing with the bodies rusting away or the frames rusting severely. This with both Chevy and Ford.
I have a 1994 f150 that I bought out of a junk yard in 2015. It was just going to be a beater for winter but I fell in love with the truck and the last 3 years I've been doing a budget restoration. I did a ton of mechanical work and deferred maintenance when I got it but lately I've don't body work and a back yard paint job. It's for 248,000 miles but still runs great and goes down the road just fine. It isn't perfect but it's such a reliable and sturdy truck. I never want to get rid of it but I know the northern rust will catch up to it again soon. They really don't make them like the used to for better or worse. But this is my 2nd favorite generation for Ford truck now!
I have a 94 F-150 4X4 regular cab, short bed with the 5.8 auto. I bought it 5 years ago with 389k miles. The engine does not look like it's ever been rebuilt. I paid $800 for it. It was in fair shape with scratches and minor dents and it needed some long overdue maintenance. My first thought was to flip it but once I saw how well it ran, I decided to keep it. It now has 406k and still runs strong!
I bought a 1996 F250, Ext Cab Long Box, 4x4, Auto, 7.3 Powerstroke 2 years ago, and the only thing I’ve replaced on it is the Cam Position Sensor… Still starts up at -20°c like it’s nothing. Love that truck so much that I bought a 1994.5 single cab, long box, 4x4, 5 spd, 7.3 Powerstroke and currently rebuilding it and adding some Banks power goodies under the hood.
We have a 2001 F350 4 x 4. It spent the first 120 thousand miles of its life pulling cow trailers and working cow pastures. Since then it’s been retired to pretty much a weekend driver. At 178,000 miles she’s still in great shape and runs really well. On the occasion we do have problems, my mechanic is finding it hard to get parts for the truck. We will no doubt have it forever and she’ll probably be around when my kids are old enough to drive.
I recently bought a one owner teal green Chevy 1500 Silverado regular cab truck from the same year 1997. The Gentleman bought it brand new in 97 and took care of it like a baby until he passed in 2024. Being from the Midwest that says a lot because these trucks get eaten alive where I'm at. But this truck is what you call creampuff. It has probably the most pristine looking beds I've ever seen on an old pickup truck, doesn't have the clearcoat peeling that 90's vehicles were so infamous for . and run like a champ I plan on not doing anything stupid to the truck, but only keeping it pristine like the original owner kept it all these years. I would honestly feel bad if the truck deteriorates to rust since he took such good care of it so she's in good hands for years to come. Hell it might out live me!
I've gotten the same emails & that USPS text message. "Click here to receive your package" crap. My old beautiful 09' ZR2 Blazer was nice but we lost everything during Hurricane Beryl & I had to sell her cheap & we packed our clothes & moved 1300 miles North. Not good starting over at 54 on disability. 🤟
In 2016 I bought a 1996 F250 with a 460 and a 4-speed Automatic. I have replaced the radiator, the starter, the front rotors, and put a remanufactured transmission in it when the old one blew up. Why? Because it works. It's simple. I will be putting a new suspension in it sometime this year. But I've never had a major engine issue other than the overheating that prompted the new radiator. I will hold onto this truck as long as I can because it's just that good.
I agree with you 100% about these older trucks compared to the newer ones. I would also say the same thing about cars. Ask for pulling the bed to do the fuel pump in the fuel tank as opposed to dropping the tank, I will agree with you in as much as you have a shop with a lift so yes dropping the tank makes more sense. But for somebody working in their driveway, it's a lot easier just to pull the bed.
Great video! I wish you guys be in WA State. My mechanic thought it was “ too much work” to change the steering shaft , steering box , control arms , end links and all the ball joints on my 2000 Z71 Tahoe.. Even if I would have paid for the work. I changed myself all the front steering and suspension on my 99 Dakota, I removed the torsion bars and repainted them and I did not believe it was that hard… I currently have in my garage a 1981 Chevy Sierra Classic I restore for my son otherwise I would have done it myself…
I own a 2010 Lexus RX350 , current mileage is 119k. I have the oil changed regularly and have it washed frequently. We recently moved from NC ( where I bought the car with 65k on it) to Mi. and I am concerned abought the salt they use on the roads up here , but there is not much I can do about that. I plan to keep the car as long as I can .
Up here in Canada you very rarely see trucks this old. The road salt turns them to dust before the mechanicals wear out unless you rust spray them every year
I remember the days when cars weren't the least bit complex. My first car (a '68) didn't have a smog pump, power steering pump, A/C compressor, etc. It had a single thin belt going to the alternator. It had a distributor with points. Rolling the windows down meant using a manual crank handle. Moving the seat position meant pulling a handle and pushing the seat front or back with your bottom. If you needed to defrost the rear window, you got out and used an ice scraper. It had a two barrel carburetor and nothing was electronic. It had a mechanical odometer and drum brakes all the way around. Nobody even knew what a touch screen was. I loved that car. It was a base model Camaro with a 327.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
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I like how that truck doesn’t have giant rims and it has a lot of rubber on the tires. I don’t know why nowadays all manufacturers put a giant giant rim. The easiest way to make a better ride is just put a tire with a lot of rubber.
Lose the lame promotions!
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Awesome vid as usual wizard.
Stop promoting garbage
The 3 knob climate control is the most perfect setup: easy to use, quick to adjust, just beautiful. It’s safer, too, with no screens to navigate and thus no eyes off the road. My favorite radio has physical knobs for the tuning as well as the volume. I miss simple, physical controls!
I bought my F150 because of the strong AC.
What ever happened to having all vehicle inside dash controls simple and mostly alike? they did that many years back for safety ! It can be a night mere to find your self in a strange vehicle and it gets dark and you are in busy traffic and you can't find the control switch you need right away !
@@garyalford9394exactly. I don’t need an auto function etc. I just need to manually adjust the fan and heat. It’s not hard. :-)
Absolutely.
Totally agree on the safety and simplicity aspects. Modern screens are a menace.
Late 1990s Early 2000s is the peak time of car reliability, I don’t believe we will ever see again
These were notorious rust buckets though even if the powertrain is robust. He obviously never drove it in the salty slush.
Yup! My 03 burban is still going strong
Not really. Every late 90s early 2000's car i had rusted to pieces. These later gen frames seem to hold up much better. They were a huge step up from early 90's though.
I ordered a 1995 F150 XLT Lariat in February 1995; super cab; 5.8 L; locking hubs; 4 wheel shift on the floor; just about every option except leather and power passenger seat. $22,700. Kept it for 13 years and never an issue. Around 120k miles. I sold it cause my sons got too big for the rear bench. I should have never sold it. Old school trucks rule like the Wizard says!
I know dudes who still hurt for their trucks they sold many years ago
@@cheems5643we had a f250. 95. New for6.5. K air windows auto. Pit a camper shell on it sweet truck
Sold the truck or the son?😅
Dumb to sell it. My son grew too big. He just didn't ride in it. Nothing come between me and my old Dakota. 😂
I bought my 1995 F150 Eddie Bauer with a 8 foot bed and 351 in 1995 new. I still have it. Sometimes I think about selling it as I have too many vehicles. I live in the north but never drive the truck in the snow or salt, so pretty good body. It started running rough, but I think its the catalytic converter. That truck actually has the stock exhaust still. Now at 109,000 miles.
Single cab, silly putty color interior, manual transmission, brake controller in the way, bottle of Tylenol, aluminum running boards, & Michelin LTX tires…
Old man spec, complete. And I love it!
Just missing the toolbox in the bed
...should be an emergency six-pack behind the drivers seat to be Old Man spec.
@ YESSSSS! PBR!
@@timewa851 My Dear Old Dad's nickname at work was "Six Pack". He earned it!
It's perfect. Bet it smells like 2nd hand smoke too, nostalgic.
Your opening sentiments couldn't be more correct. Sometime in the early 2000s, The truck market shifted from people who needed a work vehicle to people who wanted an SUV that looks like a work vehicle.
I've looked and it appears you can get a "contractor spec" F-250 or F-350 right now.
Still would take a 2000s truck over anything after it.
Ford and GM used to compete on who can make a better truck. Now they just compete on who can cut production costs and scam customers the most.
Same with workwear. Levi's jeans and Carhart jackets used to be durable workwear, now a lot of their clothes are made for fashion only.
"It's meant for doing work". "Not for going to the mall or going shopping". Actually, I see pickups being used for shopping duty all the time. Many people own just one vehicle, and for some pickups are the most versatile.
10 years ago i bought my son a f250 regular cab with a 7.3 diesel it's a 97 one owner ,what a brilliant truck still sitting in the driveway runs and drives
When ford built trucks not toys
My Dad bought one brand new with the same engine. Between off-roading and work, he put some hard miles on it. Sold it with 280k miles with original engine and transmission. Guy who bought it from him in 2010 still drives it.
Try this with an ecoboom f series
@greathey1234 or the 5.4 3 v
Whoa...that's kinda nuts!
Unbelievable…!
@greathey1234plenty of ecoboosts out there with over 250k miles
My Great Grandpa bought a 94 f250 in 1995 almost new and he still has the truck which he used for over 300K miles working, hauling and flagging for his Crane company. he's 90 now and has said for many years that he would never sell his old truck, even after someone offered him 20K for it. and it is immaculate.
That's friggin amazing!!
Got my F250 new in 97, 460 engine, 4x4, great truck never selling it.
Those “just fix it, call me when it’s ready, no I don’t need a price” customers are the BEST. Funny thing, repairs for those people usually go smooth as silk.
I just dropped $6k in repairs on my 2001 Jeep Cherokee to get it mechanically sound. I'm one of those customers. If I tell my coworkers that I spent almost as much in repairs as I did to buy the Jeep, they'd think I was nuts. But these are the same coworkers that wouldnt' think twice about buying a $60-100k vehicle with payments that dwarf my repair costs over time. They're the crazy ones.
I always tell windscreen replacement guys, take your time, I'd rather it done right than fast. That's after having 2 separate cars rust around the windscreen from botched and rushed windscreen replacement jobs...
Everything else I'll do myself.
I want it done right the first time, my mechanic knows he can take his time to do it right, I’ll sit and wait all day if I have too, Im just be happy that I won’t be stranded cause the repair was rushed
I do a lot of my own work, but when I take a vehicle in I tell the shop the same thing - just fix it. I don't need any headaches and I have an honest shop that does the work without drama. I am happy to pay them fairly for their work.
Not just cars and trucks - generators, white goods, power tools, in fact practically anything made after 2010 has gone so far down hill in quality and purpose that I've taken to scouring car boot sales (UK) and local adverts for 'old' devices that I can renovate and keep running indefinitely. Some quaintly call this 'up-cycling' but I'm rather more pragmatic and call it 'self preservation'. This is also why I'm fixing up my '05 Mazda. Still solid, still running, cost me $200 and does 45mpg. That's all I need in a runaround!
Which Mazda? The 3? Coupe or hatch?
I agree with that opening statement 100%. Daily drive a 92 F250 7.3 IDI, 5 speed 4x4, 400K miles and its fantastic. Granted its no show truck, but who really cares, its a truck.
I'm also rocking a 92 idi with 467k still going strong they are fantastic reliable rigs
My neighbour is the same. Why upgrade when there is nothing wrong. Though the 7.3 is expensive to run so he has bought a town car and just used the F250 as a work truck. Though he does keep it in really nice condition.
I’ve been pouring money into my 1997 GMC K1500, instead of buying a newer truck. I’m glad you agree that it is from the golden age of American trucks.
Smart man 👍
Manufacturers should take note of this and make these kind of affordable trucks again.
You'd think, wouldn't ya? They've lost their minds.
wont happen. hedge funds own the business and especially the parts businesses and stocking repair parts cuts into their profits. the system is broken and wont be fixed.
Don't forget government regulations and mandates.
They, won't. They don't want you having a reliable ICE vehicle and will force you into a EV POS Cyber Trash type vehicle to fatten Musk's pockets.
@@whatatool That's the big one!!
My brother has a 97 Dakota he ordered and picked up the day it was delivered. It’s got over 400k on it now and still keeps going. That era of vehicles is hard to beat
97-04 dakotas are the best generations. I've had four even one with the 4.7 that I didn't have issues with them. Great trucks
In 2002 I bought a ‘94 F-250 2wd with the 5.8, 5 speed. It had 240k miles on it I had it for a bunch of years till gas hit $4.50 and it began to sit. I put another 40k miles on it. I only had to put a battery, a clutch slave cylinder and a rear axel seal on it. The AC was the coldest I’ve ever felt and the cab could go from 120 to freezing in moments! It went to a family that runs a mission in Mexico… last I heard it’s still going strong!
Still driving my 1996 F150 with a 302 auto that I bought new. It's coming up on rolling over 200K miles with original engine and trans. Hands down the best vehicle I have ever owned and I will never sell it. Some parts are beginning to get hard to find, but so far so good! It's amazing how many other cars we have owned over the same time period that did not hold up like this truck has. I wish Ford would once again make a sturdy and affordable truck like this! Thanks for sharing this truck with everyone... it's a real treasure!
Real truck people just want a simple truck with a few creature comforts, that's it.
I have a 1968 Ford F-250 that I built myself from the frame up more than 35 years ago. 2 door, standard cab, bench seat, 2 wheel drive, 8 foot bed, Twin-I-Beam front suspension, 390/four barrel, C6 transmission/Dana 60 limited slip rear axle, 16.5 wheels with commercial tires. Unlike the later model computerized ones, there is not a single part that is not available for my '68. Any Ford FE/FT engine will bolt right in. you can get brand new complete carbureted crate engines for it. Same with the C6 transmission and Dana rear axle. All steering, suspension and brake parts are readily available. The 16.5 tires are getting a bit hard to find, but they last 100,000+ miles. 8 lug 15" wheels are still readily available, and you can use tires with even wider sidewalls. It was built out of three different trucks and a lot of aftermarket parts, and is completely rust free. All the body parts are what would be considered armor plated steel today. No, the MPG is not great, but it is paid for, so I have money for gas. And it isn't driven that much anymore, as I have a couple of Mercury Grand Marquis I mostly use for transportation.
I have a 1990 f150 xlt lariat with a 4,9 straight six I bought new still runs great.
300 straight 6 was an amazing towing engine. My buddy has a 1995 f-150 4x4 5sp 300ci that has only 79,000 miles. He used it for years towing a 30ft bumper pull camper all around the USA working road construction.
That's a great engine.
@@Chris_Troxler Can't be beat!
Outstanding engine.....just wish that twin i beam suspension tracked straighter. All the ones Iv'e driven has an annoying "hunting" issue.
I bought an 06 Toyota Tundra with 83,000 mikes for the same reasons you pointed out. I replaced the timing belt and radiator. The radiator wasn't bad, i just did it because it was 18 years years old. it is a garage kept truck and looks almost new. It will out live me and these new plastic trucks they want an arm and leg for.
These classic, early-to-mid-90's Ford F-150 were the best pickups in North America.
best sellers for a reason. built Ford-Tough.
Nah my 1956 Chevy Task Force is the best
It seems like 75% of the people who buy a large truck nowadays don't even use it as a truck at all. Knew someone who went into major debt for a Denali 2500 diesel and he doesn't tow anything ever. Works a desk job.
I don't know how people afford new vehicles anymore. A new Denali is like $95k. I bought and cummins swapped an old squarebody for $7,000 including the cost of the truck itself, then the engine and transmission and any other small parts needed. It was easy, just a lot of work to do. And now it's the most reliable daily driver I've ever owned and very cheap to operate by adding waste oil to make a tank of diesel fuel last much longer. Even if I had someone else do the swap for me, it would be half the cost of a diesel Denali.
$95k for a truck is insane.
I have a f150 4wd I use to tow/work with it. Thats the only time I drive it. My other car is much preferred. Easier to park, better fuel economy, cushier ride.
So much useless polution made by people using trucks as cars.
Yeah but he looks cool
One of the reasons they buy them is because of taxes, because of residual values and because they are known for being the best shot you have at a durable good in the automotive world that can last a few decades and take a beating.
I have a 1992 F-150 with the 300" six. 240,000 miles when the speedometer quit. No major work on motor or trans. Oil changed every 3-4K. Trans fluid changed at 150k and 200k. Truck has been worked hard, overloaded, and used to train 4 teenagers to drive. Easy to work on, parts are cheap. Did change the tappet cover gasket, with removing the upper intake. Easy job. Also have a 64 Chevy c-10, straight six, 3 on the tree. Far cheaper to drive old trucks. I live in the South, so rust is not a serious issue here.
Sad to see current lineup of Fords. I loved the Crown Vic and old F series
I'm jealous. I have a 1993 with the same engine. I live in ohio so the cab is slowly rusting away. I treat it every winter to try and slow it down but with the amount of salt it's inevitable.
I drive a 2001 Ford F-150. It's a 5.4 2 valve and currently has just over 270,000 miles on the odometer. Still has the original engine and transmission and is going strong. I took it on a 1600 mile road trip a few months back and didn't bat an eye. It's my one vehicle that starts every time and it rarely has any issues. When it does, I can generally service it myself. It's pretty easy to work on. They literally don't make them like they used to. The newer 5.0 Coyote engines seem good, but I can't say that I am confident that I'd get 270k relatively trouble free miles out of one of the newer trucks. I absolutely love the 90s Fords with the 5.0 and 5.8 too. Ford used to build a really good, relatively simple truck. Those days appear to be behind us.
+1 for the 2V 5.4L. I have two of those and they will run forever.
I like my 2020 Silverado Custom. Still has a key, no start button. Basic radio by today’s standards, basic heat and air controls, bench seats, I ordered it with tow package and a locking rear axle. Hunting, towing a small fishing boat, straw and feed for my animals, fits just perfect. Next one will be a 3/4 ton gas, just to get an engine without all the EPA fuel standers crap on the engine.
This truck is fantastic! To the owner, please, please, replace the headlight lenses with OEM style + clear-coat with proper paint before installing. It takes the look of the truck up that one extra level.
Shoot, I even do the taillight lenses too even though they don’t yellow as much
I’m the proud owner of a 97 F250 7.3L Power Stroke 140K pristine mi. Has towed 5th whl, Gooseneck and Receiver hitch trailers its entire life. Took it on a 1,200 mi road trip last summer to let it run out and stretch its legs. Got 20 MPG at 70 MPH and a lot of head turns and 👍. Not 600 hp and 1000 ft of torque but only cost pennies per mile to get the job done ‼️
I’m happy for you, I miss mine so much. I did bumper pull two different trailers from Phoenix to Flagstaff for years. Is was a tank in the mud/snow and off-roads north of PHX. So many happy trouble free journeys for 15 years.
If you have an auto it does have almost 1000 ft/lb, the torque multiplication in the torque convertor at low speed. I also have a 97 F250 PS 4WD, it is not fast, but when I throw a 12K trailer on it nothing changes, it still chugs down the road almost exactly the same, only the ride gets better. It was my Dad's truck new, got totaled in a flood in 2013, he dropped the nose in a sink hole and landed on the frame, he gave it to me, new fluids, tranny fuse, and starter and it was back. Very clean truck, I get complements every time I take it out, Dad still looks at it wistfully, but he is 88 and can't see good enough to drive anymore.
As a Chevy guy, enthralled with the GM Utility Line, 1967-1972 C10’s. I do also own 2 Fords, an Expedition and an F150 FX4 Crew Cab. There both nice but the older Chevy’s are my passion.
Same here. My daily is an F150 platinum but my tinker toy is a 72 C10
100% correct wizard!!~ Built to last back then, like you said, all manufacturers!!!~
My 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab Laramie Hemi 5.7 4x4 has 150k miles in it, no tick (I change the oil myself and use full synthetic), been an excellent truck. The only driveline failures have been a rear pinion seal and an oil pressure sender. Given how expensive trucks are now, even if the engine blew apart tomorrow it would be cheaper to put in a replacement. With it being a Laramie, it is loaded with equipment, so I'm not roughing it. I bought it with 69k miles for $12,000 cash. Look at how much value that has delivered and will in the future.
My 1992 F150 XLT is still going strong. It has a 302 engine mated to a 4 speed automatic transmission with over drive. It has only 74,000 original miles. Only routine maintenance, updated A /C system. Resealed the oil pan, front timing cover, front main crank seal, valve cover gaskets. Bought it used in July 2014. It was my daily driver until I retired in 2018. When I bought it it had only 46,400 original miles.
My 92 Camaro has the 305 and 4 speed automatic too. 167k, I fixed everything that was broken, speedo, rear hatch motor assembly, hood and hatch struts, starter, new AC, some interior stuff. Headliner is next.
Funny you mentioned John Deere. We have a small farm “by American standards”. We own a 1961 Deere 2010 that was bought new by my wife’s grandfather. We recently turned in our leased 2021 Deere for the same issues you mentioned a local farmer was having. The old girl just keeps going and going.
Honestly, I think the automotive industry peaked in the 90s. You had the perfect blend of performance, reliability, and simplicity. While modern cars have advanced in some aspects, particularly in safety, efficiency, and performance, they seemed to have lost a lot of that reliability and simplicity that made old cars great. These days, the automotive industry seems to be following the tech industry when it comes to maintainability and longevity.
I have respect for the owner of this truck, he takes care of his beautiful truck
Spay the underneath with a lanolin based (sheep oil) and it stops rust, its very good and does not trap moisture which is what other solutions do and cause more rust.
Neuter it, also.
Based on the extensive 'patina' of rust - it may be a little late.
I treat my three F trucks with Krown oil (linseed based) Prevents rust and stops old rust 95% according to the shop that I take them to. Firm believer that it's never too late to start caring.
I had a 2018 Chevy Colorado, bought new. It would vibrate between 60-70 mph. Sold it to Carmax in 2020 and bought an old 97 K1500. I've been driving it since. It has 217,000 miles on it and drives straight as an arrow at 80 mph.
Those colorados have insane amount of issues my friends dad just got one it has had its rear main seal replaced 3 times and its transmission shudders at highway speeds when upshifting and downshifting he’s been trying to get it lemon lawd w GM for months they keep giving him the run around
I absolutely love my 1996 F250 crew cab with the 460 I will never get rid of it, 210k miles and starts every day.
Last gasp of the beloved Windsor V8s. I still miss those.
I had a 351 Windsor in my old 1980s ex Police Crown Victoria. I love that car and love that engine. Until the main seal rope seal crapped out.
Much better than the 5.4
The Cleveland was designed to replace the Windsor design and but the Windsor outlived the 351C, and 351M.
Heh. Dad had the equivalent Chevrolet to this. A regular cab, long-bed, forest green, 1995 Chev Cheyenne 2500 with the 350, 2wd with limited dif, and 5 speed manual. He hauled a 5th wheel trailer all around North America with that thing over the course of ten years or so.
Once he stopped trailering he sold it. Still looked as good as new.
Old is gold
That truck will outlive their owner, late enough to have the good electronics and amenities you’d want, but old enough to still be mechanical where it counts
I had alot of old trucks I wish I had kept, but old trucks used to be cheap and not worth putting money into ! not anymore since that idiot OBiden took over! Wont touch any of these new trucks I can't afford anyway with a 10 ft. pole. I am a pretty good old world mechanic but this new stuff sucks ! and what has it really accomplished !! a tail light for some new trucks are over $2000.00 ! Just give me the old light bulbs.for $1.50 !
@@garyalford9394 Try $4000-5000 on those tail lights. The back up cameras and sensors, which are now lawfully mandated for no reason, are tied into the lights through a module all in one assembly. The Ford ones made in the last 5-7 years are well known to leak water into the tail lights, I've personally replaced them for customers and it's over $10,000.. all because they weren't sealed properly.
Pretty much every make and model made past 2010 is junk. You can thank the EPA.
This is why I am hanging on to my 2011 F-150 2WD V-6. It has enough computerization for me, but I still have knobs, buttons and switches I can use without having to move thru a bunch of screens to get it to do what I want it to do. And I can do some of the servicing myself.
Yep. I have a 2009 (non-domestic) V6. I only has the TPMS (which I hate), but beyond that it's just an honest 4WD truck. It's only at around 80k mi right now (manual trans).
This is why I’m still driving my 2005 F250 XL. I rebuilt the dreaded 3v engine with revised parts and change oil every 3k miles. A reliable work horse and it’s simple enough to make basic repairs.
My grandpa bought a 1978 F250 in baby blue new from the dealer. He put a camper on it and drove to every single state during his vacations. He gave it my brother and I and we still have it and drive it today. Original drivetrain. Only replaced radiator and a couple of manual fuel pumps. Incredibly durable.
Ive got the same one with the immortal 4.9. just a simple oil change and tires all it needs. These truck run forever
It makes sense that these older trucks are going up in value... I have a friend that used to own a yardwork / snow service (he eventually retired and sold it to a family member), and he always kept an eye out for one specific generation of Chevy pickups from the mid to late '80s. Not only did he consider that group to be real workhorses, it helped simplify things for his two mechanics. :)
Looks great especially the paint! @Carwizard should do an at-cost headlight restoration for him to put the "cherry on the top". 😉🤪
agreed...I'd do a quick fix on the headlights for free just as a courtesy for a repeat customer.
I remember back in the 90s I lamented all the computerization happening to trucks-TPS sensors, Cats and sensors, etc., but compared to today’s crap, I would gladly take a 90s era truck. Nice vid.
I only mess around with old cars. For all the reasons you mentioned. And I'm still in my 20s!
My '96 F250 just turned 100k. 460 automatic 4wd supercab. Two tone grey and white. Hope to find time this year to freshen up the paint, and install a minor 2" lift, Complements my '76 F100 360V8 4 spd, 4wd single cab. And to round out the fleet, a 2005 Ram 2500 6spd 4door w/ Cummins with 150k. You can have all that newer junk. I need a truck that I can depend on to get me from point A to point B.
My Grandson Has a 2024 Blazer & a 1992 C1500 he had since he was 15. Were Talking today. the 92 will still be Running when the Blazer is long Gone. He Bought the Blazer for his Daughter Born Last August
Daughter seems too young to drive :)
I’m surprised that truck doesn’t have the usual OBS Ford rust on the rear wheel wells, especially since this truck has lived in Kansas its whole life.
I had a 96 f250 sinlge cab, 4x4 w a 5 speed manual. Paid 1700 for the truck, it was rough, but ran and drove great, even the ac heat and radio worked great. I was so thankful for this truck. I just moved out on my own and the vehicle i had before this truck blew up. I was without a vehicle for almost 8 months. That truck helped me make a lot of money doing side work. Should have never sold it
Some of the best cars were ones that were around during 1997 when obd2 became mandated. Most manufacturers were actually producing reliable vehicles and they have the onboard diagnostics to make repairs easier without getting overly complicated and intentionally failure prone.
while the OBD2 of that era were rather simple error codes but with our modern databases it still narrows testing work down a ton. that is the great thing about these cars modern tools make the time to repair overall a lot lower and the parts are often rather cheap as they are easier to make. it is not that these cars don't break, they break all the time but they break in ways that doesn't nuke the car and have straightforward fixes.
a lot of effort were spent on design to overbuild engines and have proper weak links. modern cars everything is so close together that if you get a strong weak link and a weak strong link wear will make the part that should never break break rather than the weak part that should break.
I've had 5 half tons and currently a nearly rust free 93 big block ECLB 4x4 F250. It's a great truck.
I've called these "Goldilocks trucks" for about a decade. New enough to be reliable and comfy with AC and cruise, but old enough to last forever.
I bought a white '97 F-250HD XL RCLB 2wd 351w ZF5-S47 3.55 rear on April Fool's day 2021 for $2,100 cash in Kentucky then drove it 2 hours home near Columbia, TN. I worked on that truck as I could with cash I saved in my driveway with limited tools for 2 years. I did everything I could short of opening the engine. Replaced everything rubber, did front brakes, lines, hoses, lines to and the master, fuel pumps, filter, removed, deleted, disabled all the emissions equipment, the full ignition system(C&L Blue thunder coil, 8mm wires, cap , rotor) Motorcraft Platnums), ran true duals(deleted the cat and stock muffler with glasspacks), O2 sensor, all the pullies ( 5.0 Mustang underdrive set), idlers, tensioners, water pump, fan delete, it was AC delete, routed coolant around the Throttle body, all fluids, alternamtor, battery, 5 new Goodyear 255/85R16s, found a nice blue 90s Lariat bench seat with no holes and no headrests from the junkyard, found a nice white fiberglass topper, towed a trailer to TX got my GTO from storage and all.myc tools and stuff, it was 12,000lbs gross and ran 70mph the entire way back in 4th gear, got 12-14mpg on 87, never had to downshift and it could accellerate up even the steepest hills comming home on 65N through AL. A guy cross the double lines on a curve going very fast and hit me head on, Jan 30th 2023 competely destroyed that truck and killed my closest friend of 9 years, my dog. I bought another almost identical truck from a friend, white RCLB 2wd '94 F250 that was built with a 393w stroker, AFR 165 heads, stainless long tubes, ZF5, 3.55s, Lightning lower intake, Explorer upper, 70mm TB, Cobra Maf, using Mustang 5.0 sequential multiport efi, working AC, dual batteries, electric fan, 4 row rad, Lightning seats, factory Alcoa 16s with Michelin LTXs for $4300 I will keep it as long as it is possible to drive it, I have an extra 351w, ZF5 and Stirling 10.25 from my wrecked truck still for spares. These are great trucks. I am a 42yr old Disabled Vet living in a budget, there are no New vehicles in my future, I wouldn't buy anything newer than an '07 GM HD with a 6.0 ir 8.1, '97 is the cutoff for Ford and 2nd Gen Rams w/360 NV4500 are so rare there is no point looking for one, I like '78-'79 and earlier Dodge trucks if I had to choose with a 360/361//400/440, although a slant six or 318 will run alright. I stick with 3/4-1 ton, 2wd, manual trans if possible, heavier built, less complications than 4wd, capable of towing and hauling anything. Cummins/6.9or7.3/DD6.2/6.5 or Duramax is great but, I don't drive enough to need a diesel's cost.
hOPEFULLY YOU KEPT EVAP AND egr.
Nice to see my gen truck on the channel. Im restoring a 92 Flareside and ive updated the interior with even more modern upgrades. Its a FL truck with zero rust
One thing about vehicles about this age is to buy a rebuilt ECM NOW while they can be had. If the capacitors in it puke their innards, it can wreck the circuit board. They are multi layer boards.
leaky capacitors are a fixable issue and virtually all ecms in the late 90's to early 2000 leaked. Buying a used ecm will have the same problems. I f you have the leaky ecms, you should replace them before they leak. easy job if you have ability with a small soldering iron.
I have a 99 F250 Super Duty 7.3L Diesel. The body style was a bit different than the 97 you show. The 99 started the drop-level window with updated body lines. My 7.3 Powerstroke diesel had 340K miles on it and still running strong! There are a few dings and dents and peeling clearcoat and paint as it's been outside it's entire life. It still pulls a 14,000 lb. 5th wheel camper very well. I'm 62 and it will be mechanically maintained until I'm gone. Great truck!
Older vehicles like that you have to buy a parts vehicle or go to the salvage yard. I remember when the parts store told us they were having trouble finding parts for 1980's vehicles.
Last year a bought a 95 f150 Eddie Bauer extended cab 5.8l e4od 4x4 170k slightly rusty around the edges still has primer on the bottom of the cab and flaky but still present paint from the factory... I bought this truck out of a field for $800 without breaks.. drive it down some dirt roads a few miles to a buddy did the breaks was a great truck now I'm doing an oil pan gasket a few hundred miles later. still love my old truck gonna redo all the engine gaskets out it back in the road.
I had a 92 F250 XLT Lariat 351 carburetor I used to get almost 20 mi to the gallon on the highway imagine that Hurricane Irene took care of that truck on me at 18 years I had an 18 years miss it still
1992 should be EFI, especially if you claim 20MPG.
I had two 1990 Rangers until 2019. One was the 4 spd OD and the other an XLT with with buckets and all the power accessories. I drove the manual, my wife the XLT. They were great. The Twin I Beam front ends are a marvel of simplicity. Compare the steering linkage to an S10 - so simple vs joints all over the place. I liked the trucks because like the truck you are showing, they were original and no one had ever screwed around with them. The only issue I began to have was that my local garage closed and the only place I could go with the very rare odd problem did not have anything to deal with the OBD I system they were equipped with. The mechanic was also too young to have ever encountered a 29 year old truck.
I currently have a new Maverick Hybrid. It is not really a truck, but it does all I need. I have kept a 2008 Ranger which still works and was rustproofed so it's a nice unit that can get a little dirty sometimes and still be driven Toronto to Florida (last February). The cruise and a/c still work. Too bad they don't make these anymore.
If I had the F250, I would at least have the body treated with an oil based rustproofing product. Being a 97, it may have even been built in Oakville, Ontario where Ford continued the heavier pickups since the F150s were all new by then.
It has a working hood light!🤘
totally agree. I finally bought a "new" truck,, a 1990 f250 with fewer miles but virtually identical to your 97. My other 2 trucks are 94 and 97 models. I can afford new on my farm but our "ranch rules" are. "If you can't fix it, you don't bring it." That goes for all mechanical equipment, tractors swathers, seeders, washing machines etc.Increasing complexity eventually leads to a point of diminishing returns and that point was reached probably a decade or two ago.
Had an 86 F-250, 460ci and C6. 290k miles on the original nearly everything. They’re tough trucks, but…
The holes in the frame where the steering box connected ripped out twice.
The whole dash visibly bounced on every bump because leaf springs front/rear weren’t exactly compliant.
Alot of people could help save there vehicles if they weren't so lazy, when it gets above freezing and get out and wash there cars underneath and on top! never ever park them in a warm garage till they are washed.
So glad to hear 5.8. The 7.3 gets respect, but so should the Windsor. Love my 1983 F250 with the 460. Starts. Every. Time. 🛠️
I have a 1996 F350 XL ,Regular Cab, SRW,4x4, 7.5 engine,5 speed manual.It has 41,000 miles. Factory Dana 60 Straight Front Axle.
I ordered it new 12/1995.Never been in the winter salt.
Those things are tanks! When I worked at a local concert venue, we would rent these to move heavy equipment and lighting . Never failed . I remember the company would sell them off after using them for a few years .
That's a GOOD truck! And looks amazing! Love it!
I just replaced my 96 F350 5.9 weldtruck with a pristine, fresh all origional 96 FSuperduty with the 7.3 Powerstoke and 84" wheelbase. I can't take it anywhere that someone doesn't compliment the rig. I also have an early 97 F150 5.0 extended cab old man truck that is used for fishing and camping. All these trucks have been a dream to own and drive. I have issues with getting rid of the old weldtruck because I still have a soft spot for it.
I have a 1985 F-150 with the 300c.i. straight 6, and a 4spd manual transmission. It will be here after I'm gone as well. It is just 2 wheel drive. It has the full length box. Who wants to spend $80,000 on a truck that is all cab, no bed, and will cost you over $5,000 every time you have to have something fixed? The manufacturers have lost their minds.
The Ford and GM companies are being squeezed by various state (California is the strictest) and Federal EPA regulations on emissions and fuel economy. The first thing that was looked at was vehicle weight. Less weight gained extra mpg. Steel got replaced by plastic. Emissions reduction mandates made engine management digitized, which increased the number of sensors needed and resulted in extra wire harness complexity and forced the switch to high rev, turbo charged, direct injection, 4-cylinder engines that wear out must faster.
@@waynekaminski5438 Yep, I've been for reducing all the government regulations. If I were the manufacturers, I'd sue California, or disregard their demands. Going along with them is what got them where they are now.
Beautiful truck. I sure miss trucks from the '80s and '90s.
Love those square body Ford trucks.
Square body is Chevy trucks,this is an OBS (old body style) Ford.
@Scooter30FTW compared to the generation that replaced it, I'll consider it, "square," lol.
Just bought a 2000 Ford F150 4.6 (2 valve), did the timing chain and oil pump upgrade and now running great, started 1st time this morning at -35 here in Alberta, Canada. Thinking the "old way' is best for not only trucks.
I have a 1996 Ford Ranger supercab that I bought brand new and almost sold about 7-8 years ago in a moment of weakness when I needed a little money. Thank goodness I came to my senses and held on to it. 4 cylinder, 5 speed manual, 250,000 miles that I can actually do some work on myself, and is fairly inexpensive to be worked on when I need to take it to the shop (which isn't often). Not counting tires and oil changes, which you would have to do to any ICE vehicle, I'd say I have probably spent $3-4,000 on needed repairs over the years, and some of that has been fairly recent such as replacing ball joints. I did just have the seats reupholstered. After almost 29 years the seat fabric had just had enough and it started splitting in a couple of different spots on the driver seat. And even that didn't HAVE to be done, but man it sure does look a lot better. I usually drive it every week, and sometimes daily back and forth to work for a while. But I haven't driven it in about 3-4 weeks and unfortunately that combined with the recent very cold weather, it's sitting in the driveway with a dead battery. Time to correct that
I don't like how every new car has a turbo. I plan on keeping my 2017 Lexus ES350 forever. I bought it with 25k miles and just put all new Toyota/Lexus brake pads and recently purchased new Michelin tires. No turbo 4-cylinder for me! Ill stick with the 3.5 V6!
I bought an ES350 as I think it is the last natural V6 to be had.
Got a '97 super cab F 250 4X4 same color, same engine, 190k absolutely love it!
My dad has a 97 F-250 Reg. Cab 8' box 2wd with the 460ci. Bought it as a fleet sale and it had just been repainted in white by the city services that owned it. Been reliable as a wood stove for 15 years, and although it can tow without breaking a sweat, it can pass everything but a gas station.
Thank you Wizard! I wish your shop could work on my 2016 Ecoboost Mustang but I am glad i get to learn from your experience here.
picked up a couple of trucks recently.
2008 Nissan Frontier, v6 crew cab, very basic even has crank windows!
It's pretty easy to work on....did not run when I got it. no rust. The only thing I wish, that it was a manual transmission.
Last week..... I got a gem.... bought from original owners, who only used it for travel for a very short time. ( NO BOATS )
2003 Chevy 3500 LT with the Isuzu 6.6 Diesel... 40,000 OG miles.
It does need TLC from sitting but pretty much rust free, but once I get the little things fixed, it'll be an awesome truck for years!
All in all.... the older the better.
Keep away from the electronics garbage and gizmos. Need basic vehicles again!
Side view mirrors were different on mine, kinda looks like 96. No airbags…last year one tons were exempted.
Love it! I miss the sound of my Powerstroke! 22MPG on highway great at hauling the family, horses and off-roaders up I-17! Never had one issue excepting the chipmunks gnawing a wire or two.
As somebody who bought a few of these trucks brand new back in the 90's, I can appreciate how nice they are. I just wish I'd have kept one instead of trading them off, I still have the window stickers from most of them, and the sticker on a fully loaded 1994 Ford F-150 regular cab short bed XLT 4x4 Off-Road was $21,700. Around 2010 I could see where trucks were heading so I started looking for a mid 90's Ford or Chevy in a regular cab short bed. And I found a Colonial White 1995 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 Off-Road with 40,000 miles, and I got it before prices went crazy. I still have it & couldn't be happier, and it has around 65,000 miles now. I also have a 97 Mustang Cobra with 45,000 miles on it, I enjoy driving them & don't care one bit about all the gadgets they don't have & that's actually one of the things I like about them. Heck I still listen to my old cassettes in my truck. I also get more compliments on my 90's vehicles than my friends in their new ones, that should tell you something about these 90's & back vehicles.
I just picked up a 1988 f250 4x4 460/c6 ex cab long box that was sitting for almost 20 years….extremely solid truck with one small rust hole in the cab corner the size of a quarter….paint is rough also. I’ve since swapped the front TTB to a Dana 60 straight axle and have gone front to rear fixing leaks, brakes, ujoints etc ……I still needs a few things like a heater core and tires …hopefully this summer she’ll be road worthy….
I’ve had many of my friends ask me what I’ll do with it and said if I sell they’ll be interested…….i thought it was odd anyone would want an old dinosaur like this but now I see why from your video ….
I had a F350 Power Stroke 2wd Regular Cab Manual with a Twin Line Challenger and a Stinger. That truck was haunted even in the snow it drove like it had 4wd. Really nice truck and when you take care of something like that it will last forever. Cool Video Thank You 🙏
Brings back memories for sure. The biggest issue wasn’t mechanical, in the eastern central area, but dealing with the bodies rusting away or the frames rusting severely. This with both Chevy and Ford.
I have a 1994 f150 that I bought out of a junk yard in 2015. It was just going to be a beater for winter but I fell in love with the truck and the last 3 years I've been doing a budget restoration. I did a ton of mechanical work and deferred maintenance when I got it but lately I've don't body work and a back yard paint job. It's for 248,000 miles but still runs great and goes down the road just fine. It isn't perfect but it's such a reliable and sturdy truck. I never want to get rid of it but I know the northern rust will catch up to it again soon. They really don't make them like the used to for better or worse. But this is my 2nd favorite generation for Ford truck now!
I have a 94 F-150 4X4 regular cab, short bed with the 5.8 auto. I bought it 5 years ago with 389k miles. The engine does not look like it's ever been rebuilt. I paid $800 for it. It was in fair shape with scratches and minor dents and it needed some long overdue maintenance. My first thought was to flip it but once I saw how well it ran, I decided to keep it. It now has 406k and still runs strong!
I bought a 1996 F250, Ext Cab Long Box, 4x4, Auto, 7.3 Powerstroke 2 years ago, and the only thing I’ve replaced on it is the Cam Position Sensor… Still starts up at -20°c like it’s nothing.
Love that truck so much that I bought a 1994.5 single cab, long box, 4x4, 5 spd, 7.3 Powerstroke and currently rebuilding it and adding some Banks power goodies under the hood.
We have a 2001 F350 4 x 4. It spent the first 120 thousand miles of its life pulling cow trailers and working cow pastures. Since then it’s been retired to pretty much a weekend driver. At 178,000 miles she’s still in great shape and runs really well. On the occasion we do have problems, my mechanic is finding it hard to get parts for the truck. We will no doubt have it forever and she’ll probably be around when my kids are old enough to drive.
I recently bought a one owner teal green Chevy 1500 Silverado regular cab truck from the same year 1997. The Gentleman bought it brand new in 97 and took care of it like a baby until he passed in 2024. Being from the Midwest that says a lot because these trucks get eaten alive where I'm at. But this truck is what you call creampuff. It has probably the most pristine looking beds I've ever seen on an old pickup truck, doesn't have the clearcoat peeling that 90's vehicles were so infamous for . and run like a champ I plan on not doing anything stupid to the truck, but only keeping it pristine like the original owner kept it all these years. I would honestly feel bad if the truck deteriorates to rust since he took such good care of it so she's in good hands for years to come.
Hell it might out live me!
I've gotten the same emails & that USPS text message. "Click here to receive your package" crap.
My old beautiful 09' ZR2 Blazer was nice but we lost everything during Hurricane Beryl & I had to sell her cheap & we packed our clothes & moved 1300 miles North. Not good starting over at 54 on disability. 🤟
In 2016 I bought a 1996 F250 with a 460 and a 4-speed Automatic. I have replaced the radiator, the starter, the front rotors, and put a remanufactured transmission in it when the old one blew up. Why? Because it works. It's simple. I will be putting a new suspension in it sometime this year. But I've never had a major engine issue other than the overheating that prompted the new radiator. I will hold onto this truck as long as I can because it's just that good.
I agree with you 100% about these older trucks compared to the newer ones. I would also say the same thing about cars. Ask for pulling the bed to do the fuel pump in the fuel tank as opposed to dropping the tank, I will agree with you in as much as you have a shop with a lift so yes dropping the tank makes more sense. But for somebody working in their driveway, it's a lot easier just to pull the bed.
Great video! I wish you guys be in WA State. My mechanic thought it was “ too much work” to change the steering shaft , steering box , control arms , end links and all the ball joints on my 2000 Z71 Tahoe.. Even if I would have paid for the work.
I changed myself all the front steering and suspension on my 99 Dakota, I removed the torsion bars and repainted them and I did not believe it was that hard…
I currently have in my garage a 1981 Chevy Sierra Classic I restore for my son otherwise I would have done it myself…
You're absolutely right about new stuff being new junk.
I own a 2010 Lexus RX350 , current mileage is 119k. I have the oil changed regularly and have it washed frequently. We recently moved from NC ( where I bought the car with 65k on it) to Mi. and I am concerned abought the salt they use on the roads up here , but there is not much I can do about that. I plan to keep the car as long as I can .
Up here in Canada you very rarely see trucks this old. The road salt turns them to dust before the mechanicals wear out unless you rust spray them every year
I remember the days when cars weren't the least bit complex. My first car (a '68) didn't have a smog pump, power steering pump, A/C compressor, etc. It had a single thin belt going to the alternator. It had a distributor with points. Rolling the windows down meant using a manual crank handle. Moving the seat position meant pulling a handle and pushing the seat front or back with your bottom. If you needed to defrost the rear window, you got out and used an ice scraper. It had a two barrel carburetor and nothing was electronic. It had a mechanical odometer and drum brakes all the way around. Nobody even knew what a touch screen was. I loved that car. It was a base model Camaro with a 327.