We’re suggesting that it won’t feel like $60k worth of an upgrade in luxuryover her current high-spec Subaru and to put that money elsewhere

Buy a cool old car for the weekend to scratch that itch.  Spend a fraction of new, and not suffer depreciation (or even get some appreciation).  Now’s the exact time to set yourself up right financially not blow it.

$60k of high depreciation right out of school is all kinds of stupid. Especially if there are any kind of other loans, and no house yet.

“since when is a different of 2+ seconds.... blah blah”

Since we commute in boring congested traffic and its irrelevant.

OP wants a $60k Badge to pat herself on the back, we’re telling her that it’s silly given the context. Don’t saddle yourself up to that payment before you have your ducks in a row. $60k of rapid…

>Spends 60k to accelerate slightly faster (on what, on the commute to work) and to have a larger screen tacked on the dash of the same fundamentally boring appliance

Wow, sounds awesome.  I’d rather put that money towards a house.

Not notably enough to warranty dropping that kind of coin, no.

“If you think ~250 hp and 3600+ lbs equates to “performance”, you may be on the wrong website.”

That also nicely describes every single one of the suggested cars to replace said Subaru lmao

None of the recommended cars besides the TT are meaningfully more fun or luxurious or really different at all than the Subaru she has. We’re saving her the hassle.

ABS light typical for this era Ford SUV. Can be ignored (but yeah claiming the truck is 100% with that lit up is disingenuous) 

IIRC they underrated the 4.0 SOHC at 205hp (V8 was 215hp). Had one in a USDA fleet truck. Peppy indeed. Unfortunately they tend to start having timing chain issues as they get up to this mileage, and one of the chains is on the back of the motor.  4.0 SOHC is a cheap-ed out OHC upgrade on the old 4.0 OHV Cologne. …

ABS light, I know from my ‘97 Ranger. NBD just ignore it or replace flaky ABS module (iirc) if it’s that bothersome.

Good call on the SOHC and its Rube Goldberg timing chain/jackshaft setup.  Even so, if the engine isn’t making ominous rattling sounds yet and the transmission shifts well and has decent looking fluid, I’m a NP at this price.  If you can get a few years of winter beater/dog hauler duty out if it and then resell it for…

They are answering the question: we’re telling her to keep her perfectly nice newish Subaru.

To add to this point.  None of the suggested cars short of the TT convertible are in any way notably different to drive (okay maybe they don’t use an annoying CVT).  Everything these days handles well but with boring dead electric steering and total isolation.  I went through this exercise myself test driving a few of…

“No mechanical issues” while I’m sure you could get in and drive, I suspect there is lots of neglected maintenance, as these Rangers will just keep on running. Neither of mine had the timing belts done when I bought them (and I never did them before selling them on myself). Good news is that parts for these things,…

Not so much inflation per se, but the used car market has gone COMPLETELY bonkers.  BHPH lots selling rusty Cavaliers with one foot in the grave for $2k, etc.  It’s unrecognizable at the moment.

Oh I don’t disagree, I recently bought a Colorado sourced ‘06 Suburban with high miles but a clean-as-as-whistle body for the same reason.  But within the context of a local market, what is the going rate of a given make/model?  Maybe $4k is the going rate for a decent condition RWD Ranger in California, I don’t know.

I’m in the midwest, older S10s and Rangers (and all other forms of old truck) are a dime a dozen.  Lots of people prioritize 4WD so the RWD ones stay cheap.  Only (big) caveat is to thoroughly inspect for rust.  The S10s get a lot more body rot, the Rangers can stay LOOKING very nice but underneath the frames start…

The 2.3 Lima is a solid little engine, the 3.0L Vulcan isn’t much of an improvement.  I didn’t have problem getting mine up to speed with a bed full of soil on uphill on-ramps.  You just need to rev it out a bit.

You definitely don’t want a RWD Ranger for winter duty lol