The decision to move back to the Texas Panhandle brought back thoughts of several winters from previous days. The blizzard of 1958, of 1970, and a few others from later dates.
My Newest acquisition is a 4-wheel drive
With the decision to move back to the Panhandle, I knew I would have to acquire another four-wheel drive vehicle. The last such vehicle owned was the ’82 Bronco which was sold in 1997. Living in South Texas for the last 20+ years, I did not see the necessity for such a vehicle.
I had decided on one of two choices. A Ford Ranger or a Toyota Tacoma. I saw no need for a big truck, just a functional one. I began looking in South Texas six months before moving. I didn’t have any luck. They were few and far between and very expensive. I decided to wait.
The internet is your friend
Once the move was complete, I began scouring the car websites in the local area and, early one morning, a low-mileage 1994 Ford Ranger appeared. I jumped in the wife’s vehicle and headed to I-40 West to a large car dealer. It was exactly what I was looking for.
- 4-wheel drive
- Extra cab
- Long bed
- V-6 (4.0 liter)
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Low miles (131,000 actual miles)
- Only three local owners in the last 27 years (each had it for an extended time)
- Appears to have always been garaged
- A new set of tires
- Fresh switches for the 4-wheel engagement
The first six points were my requirements and the last four were bonuses.
I’ve now owned the pickup for three years and it is better than I had hoped. It is a nice truck that I plan to have for many years to come.
