I have owned nothing but Fords and Jeeps in the past decade, decade-and-a-half. I can tell you that Jeeps are great and can last forever - IF you're willing to keep putting the money in. The repairs can be often and some are quite pricey. With my Wrangler, I'd say it really started to kick in around 75k miles. Most of what has failed has not been within my control (cracked exhaust manifolds (very common on this particular model I understand), dead starters, internal electrical failures, etc). The stuff within my control (engine, tranny, etc) is still holding up fine at ~130k and counting.

Overall my Fords have faired better, except for that '94 Explorer (the original "exploder"), which ate trannys and clutches for lunch.

Good luck with it all. These things are just plain expensive to maintain, almost no matter what. Some folks go the way of Honda, if this is their main concern (and my wife has considered the CRV as her next car, so I'm not knocking this choice). For those of us who want a little something more than just "maintenance-free" out of our vehicles, we just accept there's a cost in that choice.

 

Got a 2002 S'Crew over here...not one single problem (aside from standard maintenance) since the original purchase. It is the best vehicle I've ever owned in my entire life.

However, they are most definitely an expensive vehicle...just to drive on a daily basis. I spend, on the low end, about $75.00 each week, just in fuel alone.

Hmm...let's see...

$75.00 per week * 52 weeks per year = $3900.00 per year



But you know, we don't buy these trucks for the mileage, right guyz?



So...why do we drive `em?

Yep...because they're Ford Trucks!



Enjoy `em if ya got `em!

 

True, so true. If I gave up all the things I want vs. need, I'd be a wealthy man indeed. But what the hell fun would that be? No coasting across the finish line!

 

Before I got my new '05 KR I had a 1998 F-250 Light Duty, 4.6 5 speed O/D Regular cab Lariat.

I bought it new, drove it 75000 miles, and the only thing I had to do to it was replace the battery, at 60000 miles.

It still had the original brakes, tires, belts, hoses, clutch, alternator, etc., when I traded it in..... everything except the battery, was still there.

What more could you ask for from a vehicle?

Fords for life, for me.

 

Hey, of all the advice you get listen to your father. He'll be there when you have to have the vehicle towed,pushed,dragged etc....I wish I had a vehicle at sixteen but I didnt. Hey, its all about learning. If you read a bunch of these forums you'll see people with newer vehicles are having problems also. Some are because of the truck or some other mystical reason hahahah. Just understand when you buy an old vehicle chances are you'll never know how it was driven or taken care of. I'm sure we all have horror stories on vehicles we have had thru-out our lifetime. Yet if your just 16 yrs old.
Hopefully you can start younger at understanding these lifes worries. Good Luck