Habitat for Humanity Car Donation Review

“I’m glad she’ll be put to good use in one way or another – so long Danger!”

From a specification standpoint this particular Ford Ranger wasn’t anything terribly exciting. Manual 5-speed transmission mated to a woefully underpowered 2.3L inline 4 cylinder engine being sent to just the two rear wheels. It featured manual windows and the standard issue cassette deck player with AM/FM radio. But when dad bought it new off the lot in 1994 I thought it was just perfect. He needed something inexpensive, utilitarian and gas-efficient enough for his long commute. At only 17 years old I needed something I could borrow on the weekends to find adventure wherever it may be. This was the vehicle my brother and I learned to drive a manual transmission. The saying really is true, if you can drive this thing you can drive anything! I think this was when we started referring to it as the Danger Ranger.

This was the first vehicle I really discovered my road-warrior spirit. As long as my folks didn’t mind me being gone I would travel to either end of NC and back in a day. Just me and my case of mix-tapes, Counting Crows, Metallica, Offspring, U2, Weezer and countless other gems from the 90s.

This truck saw my brother and I through college and into our professional and adult lives. It survived countless moving days, kayak trips and provided me solace and a place to reflect on life events. At least a half dozen people can owe their first manual transmission experience to this thing as well.

Once dad retired he bought the full size truck he always had been eyeing and the Ranger sat, unused for years. I bought it off him for a sandwich lunch and went about continuing to maintain it.

That was 7 years ago, and now again, the Ranger sits in my yard mostly unused. She just eclipsed 420,000 miles on the original engine thanks to the regular maintenance both dad and I performed and is on its second transmission. She’s been a great truck and I can’t think of a better way to further its value than to donate to Habitat for Humanity. I’ve volunteered with Habitat in years past and have always thought this group is a great way to help the community.

I’m glad she’ll be put to good use in one way or another – so long Danger!

Thank You, Jeff!

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat builds strength, stability and self-reliance in partnership with families in need of decent and affordable housing. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.

More Donation Stories