Hi Scotty, I love your channel. I am looking for my first car. I am looking for a 1996-2005 Jeep Wrangler Sport with the 4 liter 5speed manual,with the straight 6. I am also Looking for a 1999-2004 Ford Ranger with the 5speed manual V6. Which should I get? What should I look for with both of them as far as common problems that you have seen with these 2. I do work on cars myself so if they need a little bit of work that is fine with me. Thank you for your help. 🙂 /p>
Those 2 might make good project cars, however not as your first daily driver.
Look for something else which is more reliable.
Does it have to be a suv, as your first car?
Definitely get the Ranger. The Wrangler is an endless moneypit.
For a first car, for sure the ranger.
They are both reasonably reliable (amazing for not being Toyota or Honda 😉) and if something does break, parts are cheap and they are easy to work on. I agree with recommendations for the 4 cylinder, which will be less expensive to buy, fuel, fix, and maintain.
But the Wrangler is an off-roader. It doesn’t handle well, stop well, corner well, and if you make a mistake you’ll roll it. Very dangerous car for an inexperienced driver. (If you insist on the Wrangler, the first thing you MUST do is put on a good set of highway - not off road - tires!)
Look up insurance costs for both, and you will get your answer. Good luck!
I personally am not fan of either the Wrangle or Ranger but the old Wrangles (like Scotty said) were decent city cars (just don't roll them over)and the Ranger was also alright with the V6 manual combo (like mechanic Car Wizard reccomends).
Car Wizard recommends the 4 cylinder.
If you have to pick between the two, take the Ranger. But neither really is a good first car.
