Check the front body mounts on the core support, they like to rust out.  Rust proof that for sure.  Other than that spring hangers and shock mounts, as well as the frame near the shock mounts.

‘98+ got the updated wishbone suspension from the Explorers, before that it was crude but bombproof 60s era twin-I-beam

I agree in that they are fantastically useful things. I bought my first Ranger for weekend hauling specifically but ended up commuting in it every day. They are actually super fun to bomb around in, in a slow-car-fast way. Mine were both this Lima+5spd combo, both this older body style with the bomb-proof curb-hopping …

I’ve owned a pair of these in the last few years, both with even lower mileage: my ‘97 bought for $1700 with 126k, my ‘94 for $2000 with 109k. Took a little patience but these weren’t some kind of crazy once in a lifetime type of deals. Granted the ‘97 ended up being a lot rustier underneath than the body let on, and…

That’s my move as well. Take advantage of the engine being out to refresh things, pop it back in without any of the headaches or expenses of an LS swap, and enjoy your awesome $2500 944.  You can sell it and double your money up no problem once you get bored.

No she sucks

What’s wonderful about it?  Ugly inside and out with marginal materials and quality.  Completely unengaging to drive (powertrains especially).  Based on my impressions of a friend’s CVT+1.5T ‘17.  Impressive performance in terms of numbers, a bore to actually drive.

Do you know anything about cars at all?

In the 80s they were using a bunch of hand-soldered boards, my buddy with an old W126 had some issues related specifically to this. Of course the W140 increased the number of modules MASSIVELY.

A worse minivan with the projected practical lifespan that runs exactly the length of the CPO warranty period

You might consider your local oval track (paved or dirt).  My buddy and I built an old Neon at minimal cost, race night is $35 which on a dollar-per-minute of track time is an insanely good deal IMO.  I got over the “hur it’s boring left turns only” after spectating a single race.

Volvos have insanely good galvanized (on both sides?) sheetmetal as well as very thorough painting processes.  Stuff like brake and fuel lines, various suspension components and hardware, are stupendously, damn-near impervious to rust.  I’m very jealous.  I had a B5 Audi for a while that was not quite Volvo-tier, but…

Okay dude we get it you’re a pussy

Can  confirm

“and nobody who buys a pickup needs a quick one”

Bradley is a pussy.

Having grown up in Ithaca and taken my ‘96 4Runner wheeling there, as well as done many a camping trip up to ADK (including in the winter), I can’t think of a place a Subaru wouldn’t take you.  Saying you need the 4Runner for the offroad chops in the Finger Lakes is suspect to me.

They’re a SOHC engine.  Generally very robust, but like a lot of other Japanese V6s of this are use HLAs which get tired over time.  Not a big deal to replace.

Neither does this Pathfinder lmao

FWIW, vaunted Toyota 4Runners have this same exact issue.  The Chevys are solid rigs overall

Yeah I think alot of the jalopistas are missing this. Go to any rural part of America, or any poorer urban setting, and these are still trolling the streets with creaky suspensions and the telltale rich smelling exhaust of issues with the fuel injection spider, but still running and getting people A-B every day.