I’m thinking about buying a car, just not sure what to get. I’m between two. One is a 2000 rav4 with around 100,000 miles on it. The other is a 1999 Ford Ranger with 138,000 miles on it. They both go for around $6000. Which should I consider?
All else being equal the Toyota would be more reliable. Both are overpriced. You'd want proof of the mileage.
However you're talking about vehicles getting within spitting distance of 1/4 century old. Their history over the last two decades or so is at least as important as their original quality. If you are in an area with salted winter roads rust can be a major problem. Be sure to have a good mechanic give any car you are considering a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
Can you do your own repairs? If not, a vehicle that old can be pretty expensive to keep going even if the engine and drivetrain are basically sound.
Which one do you want, a small pickup truck or a family oriented compact SUV? These are very different vehicles.
The 1999 Ranger was relatively reliable, depending on the engine it has. The 2.5 and 3.0 tend to be more reliable than the 4.0, but they're a bit underpowered in certain models. I have a 1999 Ranger 3.0 4x4 with 288k miles, I drive the heck out of it. I bought it at 251k three years ago.
Vehicles this old and that low mileage won't take well to being driven 15-20k a year without stuff breaking. They're not "used" to being used. Stuff rots, breaks down, etc. when cars sit. The Toyota is more apt than the Ford to start driving like there's no tomorrow.
@chucktobias is spot on, the Rav4 probably doesn't have rust issues by that time, but the Rangers do. They're prone to similar frame rotting issues that plagued the Tacomas around that time, and I'm not sure how Ford dodged recalls. The rear half of their frames rot out, I caught mine in time and paid a friend to fix most of it. They used cheap steel and it bit them in the rear. I also had the transmission overhauled shortly after I bought my truck. Other than fixing rust and the transmission, the only thing I've really done is an alternator and upper ball joints, which is all wear and tear.
I do pretty much all of my own work, so I can daily drive an old truck 15-20k miles a year and not worry. If you're not willing or able to do your own work, I'd consider newer vehicles.
