9 days shy of 4 years

[DasWauto]

Took me well over a year to convince myself to let it go but today the WRX has made way for a mini slightly-less-enormous truck. That being this 2020 Ranger XLT 302A package, which is a reasonably well equipped middle trim package (auto climate, power/heated seats, remote start).

I know I will miss the Subaru - the driving dynamics are what made me so reluctant to trade it in; I’ll likely have to own another WRX or STI at some point. If I wanted one car to do everything, being fun, practical and winter capable, I wouldn’t consider anything else. Luckily, I’m now in a position to own multiple vehicles so I decided to broaden the range.

This will make MTB transport significantly easier and means I can actually transport Kayaks with my own vehicle again. It will also be an even more excellent winter vehicle once I get some appropriate tires on it. Ground clearance should be less of an issue, which is nice.

Naturally, I already know of a few things I want to do beyond wheels (the stock offset is bad and Ford should feel bad) and tires. Fox suspension and an LSD are top of the list but I’ll give the wallet a bit of a breather first.

This thing is pretty zippy for a truck, we’ll have to see how much eco I’ll be able to get with the boost.

[ForSweden]

You can't buy a truck unless you need it for a commercial enterprise. Everyone knows this.

[spacekraken]

Congrats! These seem like fun rigs. You have a 1er too right?

[HFV_Junkyardin]

@daswauto nice. Needs a cat back, and tune.

[DasWauto]

@spacekraken yep, my 128i now handles fun-car duties on it’s own. It’ll probably go into hibernation this weekend though, if there’s not too much snow to get it into the shed.

[DasWauto]

@hfv oh yeah, I forgot, Ford offers a warrantied tune (bump to ~310hp, 375tq, iirc). Add that to the list of planned mods.

[DasWauto]

@forsweden if anyone asks, it’s a farm truck.
<_<

_>

[CB]

@daswauto Awesome, looks great dude!

[Highlander]

@daswauto I’m not jelly nope, not jelly at all. Very very nice.

[WhoIsTheLeader]

Everyone seems to be buying these. Congrats. They're great trucks and probably great dailies that will soak up the miles and provide ample utility. A WRX is an excellent driver though so it'll be tough coming from such a great handling vehicle.

May I suggest doing this to it?

Except covering the door handles.

[LooseonExit]

Good looking truck. Like that both the Ford and GM trucks aren't over the top on looks. The 2.3/10spd seemed like a great combo. Jealous of your fog lights lol. I wonder if the factory diff lock can be added after the fact and programmed.

[HFV_Junkyardin]

@daswauto niiiice.

[DasWauto]

@whoistheleader Haha, I don’t think I’ll go full Zebra on it but I have already thought about doing some vinyl to break up the white a bit further. Something like this:

(Photoshop from someone else thinking the same)

[DasWauto]

@looseonexit adding the locker after the fact might be doable but it’ll probably cost as much as, if not more than adding the FX4 package in the first place. If I wanted the locker I would have sought out a 302a FX4 but I’d prefer a mechanical LSD. With so little weight on the rear wheels it’s very easy to spin a tire with 310lb-ft available low in the rpms and having the locker on all the time on dry pavement wouldn’t be good for the mechanicals or the tires.

From my limited research so far the Ranger uses a pretty common axle (same as the JL Wrangler, and possibly the GM Canyorado twins, apparently) for which LSD option exist. I’ll have to look further into it to confirm spline counts, housing and ring/pinion fitments but it seems to be doable.

[nermal]

@daswauto I came across these when searching for gearing for my Jeep - < https://auburngeardiffs.com/select-a-loc-main/ >. They work as both LSD and locked. Looks like it is a clutch-based and not a Torsen-based one if that tickles you one way or another.

[Zaphod's Heart of Gold]

@daswauto Welcome to the truck club! I did not have to sacrifice my hot hatch, and I still love driving both of mine

[DasWauto]

@zaphod-s-heart-of-gold nice lineup you’ve got there. I had a Mazda3 several cars ago and love the speed3 - it’s too bad they won’t build a new one (stick a manual in the new 3 Turbo and I’d be happy). I like the Gladiator too, I almost bought a JL but it was a bit tight for me in terms of headroom - I’d definitely hit my head regularly on rough roads, doubly so off-road.

I traded the WRX because it’s twice as expensive to insure as my 128i and generally much less pleasant to drive. I will miss driving it in the snow though, it’s so easy and controllable to slide; I got it sideways most days in winter, which is a big factor in my part of Canada.

[DasWauto]

@nermal I’ll probably prefer a Torsen as I likely won’t really off-road the truck so I don’t really need a locker. It’s an interesting option though.

[davesaddiction]

@daswauto Nice! Small(ish) trucks are the damn Swiss Army knife of vehicles - not the best at anything, but good/usable in so many ways.

[davesaddiction]

@whoistheleader

[DasWauto]

@davesaddiction Agreed. A similar full size wouldn’t have cost me that much more but I just prefer to drive the smaller ones. I would have bought a Tacoma because I prefer its looks and bed height but I just can’t drive it comfortably. Unfortunately my legs are just too damn long, and the steering wheel doesn’t telescope anywhere near enough.

[WhoIsTheLeader]

@davesaddiction said in 9 days shy of 4 years:

@whoistheleader

That's a very small dong.

[davesaddiction]

@daswauto Hey quick question: do you remember, did Torch design the OPPO logo?

[DasWauto]

@davesaddiction I do believe he did when we first got switched to Kinja in 2014(?).