The Ranger dies 2009

[Shoeboy]

One little fact buried in the linked piece about Ford's $2 billion UAW savings is this: the Ranger is dead come 2009. It has been known for a while that the Twin Cities Plant in St. Paul, MN that makes the Ranger would close, and the closure date has been pushed back one year, to 2009. The Cleveland plant that casts engine blocks will also close that year. Credit goes to Automotive News for teasing out these new nuggets of info.

We wrote earlier about possible rescue scenarios for the Ranger, but it looks like the Ranger mine has been shut down and sealed off. Mulally has said that Ford will be more forthcoming about its plans at the Detroit show, so anything is still possible. However, after 26 years, it looks like the compact pickup truck thrill is gone. For you Ranger fans out there, the tune you're looking for is "Taps."

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/its-apparently-official-the-ford-ranger-is-dead-come-2009/

http://jalopnik.com/cars/industry-news/the-ford-ranger-goes-bye-bye-in-2009-325103.php

http://www.truckblog.com/story-1498-ford_ranger_cancelled_in_2009

Well, this sucks, I was planning on buying a brand new Ranger when I Moved to BC in a few years, guess that plans out now, this is probably the worst news I've heard in a long time. RIP Rangers.

[ajd]

Why buy a ranger when you move to BC... buy one in alberta now and save the PST.......

Go buy a mazda RIGHT NOW in fact, that is just what I did...

Mazda base model in Canada with the 2.3L and 5spd is $14,995 + $1,390 destination = $16,385 MSRP.......

however, right now there is a $2400 cashback offer + 0% financing. You could get one for like $14,500 at 0% interest.

[broken2wd]

they will only be dead here. ford in its infinite wisdom will continue to build them for the rest of the world.

[Ferris Bueller]

BUT, whats to say Ford is not importing a compact truck from somewhere else?

[Dusty_Ranger]

there not according to a scorce in a ford dealership its will be coming back as a crew cab made in north america

[rebelfan83]

That stinks...
one of the reasons the feds started this 35mpg crap is because of no small efficiant trucks...Ford is the ONLY small truck manufacturer in the US left...
Tacomas are too big as so are the Nissans...(both have terrible mileage too) No one has the balls to stick with small...too many suvs around....

[85_Ranger4x4]

That stinks...
one of the reasons the feds started this 35mpg crap is because of no small efficiant trucks...Ford is the ONLY small truck manufacturer in the US left...
Tacomas are too big as so are the Nissans...(both have terrible mileage too) No one has the balls to stick with small...too many suvs around....

Fullsizes are getting very close to getting the same milage as small pickups. The only Ranger you can really justify over a fullsize for milage alone is a base 4 cylinder with 5-speed, and they cost about the same as a base F-150...

[broken2wd]

yeah but a f-150 get garbage for gas mileage no matter what motor it has.

[85_Ranger4x4]

yeah but a f-150 get garbage for gas mileage no matter what motor it has.

Mine gets 18 on the highway, as good if not better than most 4.0 trucks, and I can do more than tug a small trailer of brush to the dump as well.

A base Ranger also lists for about the same as a base F-150, but the 4.2 (to be discontinued next year) has more power than a 4.0 Ranger, which is much more expensive. I don't know how the 2 valve 4.6 that will the base engine next year will effect that though.

[88ranger04]

i had a 2004 ranger 4x4 4.0 auto. now i have a 2005 f-150 4x4 4.6 auto and the gas mileage is the same

[Bent Bolt]

Fullsizes are getting very close to getting the same milage as small pickups. The only Ranger you can really justify over a fullsize for milage alone is a base 4 cylinder with 5-speed, and they cost about the same as a base F-150...

I don't buy that argument. A base XL F-150 starts at about $25 000 here in Edmonton. Thats a V6 2wd regular cab truck. I bought my loaded FX4 for a bit more than that.

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't buy that argument. A base XL F-150 starts at about $25 000 here in Edmonton. Thats a V6 2wd regular cab truck. I bought my loaded FX4 for a bit more than that.

I just looked on their website, a base XL F-150 starts at a tad over $17k. They show a base Ranger for about $14k. For 3k that is ALOT more truck for the money. Obviously dealers favor selling the F-150 and will probably more willing to deal with them, and what you actually pay will vary by your area.

Around here if they were asking that much for stripped down trucks they wouldn't be selling them, that is way over priced in my opinion.

[Mini-Me RNGR]

Hey I love my ranger. I wanted to buy a new one in couple of years. But why when My 1973 Ford F-100 will be done.

[Twizzler09]

I want to get a new Ranger to repace my '96.... after I'm done with the build on my '96 its going to be a dedicated track rat.... I'm going to need a daily driver, I really hope they don't quit making the Ranger

[dadevil]

Mine gets 18 on the highway, as good if not better than most 4.0 trucks, and I can do more than tug a small trailer of brush to the dump as well.

A base Ranger also lists for about the same as a base F-150, but the 4.2 (to be discontinued next year) has more power than a 4.0 Ranger, which is much more expensive. I don't know how the 2 valve 4.6 that will the base engine next year will effect that though.

on my 2008 fx4 with 4.0l 5 spd and 4wd i get 17 mgp city and up to 25 mpg highway. what do you think about that

[bmacsys]

One little fact buried in the linked piece about Ford's $2 billion UAW savings is this: the Ranger is dead come 2009. It has been known for a while that the Twin Cities Plant in St. Paul, MN that makes the Ranger would close, and the closure date has been pushed back one year, to 2009. The Cleveland plant that casts engine blocks will also close that year. Credit goes to Automotive News for teasing out these new nuggets of info.

We wrote earlier about possible rescue scenarios for the Ranger, but it looks like the Ranger mine has been shut down and sealed off. Mulally has said that Ford will be more forthcoming about its plans at the Detroit show, so anything is still possible. However, after 26 years, it looks like the compact pickup truck thrill is gone. For you Ranger fans out there, the tune you're looking for is "Taps."

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/its-apparently-official-the-ford-ranger-is-dead-come-2009/

http://jalopnik.com/cars/industry-news/the-ford-ranger-goes-bye-bye-in-2009-325103.php

http://www.truckblog.com/story-1498-ford_ranger_cancelled_in_2009

Well, this sucks, I was planning on buying a brand new Ranger when I Moved to BC in a few years, guess that plans out now, this is probably the worst news I've heard in a long time. RIP Rangers.

It saddens me too after owning two Rangers and a BII. The Ranger in all its incarnations were solid engineering that stood the test of time. Seems to me that now would be a good time to think of building small trucks. Ford could have done a complete redesign it seems and kept what was a very profitable line for a long time.

[bmacsys]

on my 2008 fx4 with 4.0l 5 spd and 4wd i get 17 mgp city and up to 25 mpg highway. what do you think about that

I have a 2004 fx4 Level II. Its a standard and I don't get anywhere near what you are claiming. And I am no lead foot.

[rickcdewitt]

the point is that they SHOULD be making a small pickup that gets 35 mpg(turbodiesel)

[dadevil]

I have a 2004 fx4 Level II. Its a standard and I don't get anywhere near what you are claiming. And Iam no lead foot.

i am but not all the time, it is the type of diff i have as do do with it. torsen 4.10 i think because it has no problem pushing it down the road. and plenty of power to spare at any time. i've gone 4 whelling for hours and then go back home and i would drive around 200 to 300 miles that day and i get as low as 15 mpg but still i dont see why you dont get the same as me. you may have a smaller gear ratio in the rear diff that takes more power to move it. ????????? i was want the 2007 version of the fx4 so i an get the fx4 lv 2, but check around and saw that the 2007 fx4 lv 2and the fully loaded 2008 fx4 with everything that the 2007 fx4 lv 2 has are exactly the same but the 2008 fx4 has the HD 5 speed and not the R1 like the 2007 fx4 lv 2, the HD 5 spd is better for the power and the torque.

[85_Ranger4x4]

on my 2008 fx4 with 4.0l 5 spd and 4wd i get 17 mgp city and up to 25 mpg highway. what do you think about that

I think you better hang on to it, because you will have a hard time finding another like it. That is typical 4x2 4-banger truck milage.

[dadevil]

it is not going anywhere and when it finally dies it going to be a desert rat then.

[pyropeters]

I drive a f-350 4dr long bed 4x4 w/ powerstroke and it gets 18mpg. of course I am paying $4.50 a gal. for fuel. lol.

[ozzy85]

Ford needs to redesign the Ranger into a 5000-lb tub of goo filled with "content". Heated steering wheel, TV screens, etc. By golly, it will sell.

[LearjetMinako]

Its not all Ford's fault. Everytime I go to the dealerships, they push you into the F-150 or Explorer SportTrac. What they do carry for Rangers are usually base models. Maybe 1 or 2 Sports models. But then again, Ford is always uping the bar for the F-150. And the F-150 is planning to get a 4.4 or 4.5 V-8 diesel engine in 2010.

I would like to get a new Ranger becuase no other truck fits my lifestyle better. There is just no justifaction for it, unless death does one of us in.

[dadevil]

ya when i went to pick up my fx4 from the dealer they said that this was the first 4x4 they had seen on the lot in 1 yr or so.

[4x4 Fool]

I have a 99 Ex-cab 4x4 with 3.0 and auto and get around 21 mpg or reagular and about 19 on E-85 only thing I can truly say that I wont miss about the Ranger leaving in 09 is the crappy vacuum hubs on the truck. I have had more problems with them then anything. The worst part is I have yet to find any lock outs or any company willing to make a set of lock outs for it.:3gears:

[crazy96863]

The Ranger is dead, but this leaves room for a replacement. A replacement that won't compete with this f-series. I think this leaves room for an addition to the f-series, the F-100. I think Ford is doing what we have been asking for. They are giving us a small truck that has a V-8 option from the factory. Comparing this to Dodge, I think the comparison will be the Dakota other than the fact that the Dakota is a piece of crap.

Ford is closing the plant where Rangers are made. If they make the F-100 using the same platform as the f-150, most of parts will be interchangeable. So why not make it in the same factory?

Considering all the above and the rumors floating around, I think there is a good chance of this happening. I am sure Ford will be making a F-100 Ranger to appease the diehards such as those reading this.

[85_Ranger4x4]

Why make the Ranger a midsize so it can sell as crapily as its compitetion?

As it sits with its last major redesign in 1998 it is far and away outselling Dakota, Frontier, and Colorado... the only other smaller truck outselling it is the Tacoma. Fuel economy is the driving factor now, not V-8 power.

[compleckz]

im still holding out for the crew cab turbo diesel ranger they sell overseas, lol

[broken2wd]

im still holding out for the crew cab turbo diesel ranger they sell overseas, lol

you mean the one that would sell like mad were it offered over here?

[LearjetMinako]

you mean the one that would sell like mad were it offered over here?

:agree: If that is true. But even a diesel would have a tough time with rising costs. And sure enough, the EPA will definitly have their fun with a diesel engine. If all goes like it does, Ford will offer the Thai Ranger, BUT without key features.

[crazy96863]

The F-100 replacing the ranger theory is logical for a number of different reasons:

1. Using parts that are more similar to the F-150's means cheaper manufacturing. Ford can charge a similar price for the vehicles and make more money. Being made in the same factory as f-150's means less manufacturing, shipping, and workforce expense as well.

2. The versitility of the platform would be appealling to a larger customer base. 4 cylinders for eco minded, 8's for the ones who want the power. Consider Ford's new Eco-Boost engines; we can have bigger, more capable, safer vehicles that are more fuel efficent than what is currently offered.

3. Ford is not about to drop one of its strongest lines, small trucks. A replacement of some sort is on its way. I am surprised they have kept it so secretive though. There may be a couple years without Ford small truck though, this is unfortunate.

4. While fuel economy is important, I think the driving force behind the sales is the quality of the product and the appearance. If this isn't the case than how does Tacoma out sell with lower mileage?

Ford may make some completely idiotic decisions but they make a damn good truck. I would be optomistic that they have some good things in the works.

[Dar70]

I will be ordering oneof the 2009 Rangers.(hopefully the buying guide will be here soon) I have a feeling i wont be liking the new one after the current one, to well. We shall see.

[85_Ranger4x4]

The F-100 replacing the ranger theory is logical for a number of different reasons:

1. Using parts that are more similar to the F-150's means cheaper manufacturing. Ford can charge a similar price for the vehicles and make more money. Being made in the same factory as f-150's means less manufacturing, shipping, and workforce expense as well.

2. The versitility of the platform would be appealling to a larger customer base. 4 cylinders for eco minded, 8's for the ones who want the power. Consider Ford's new Eco-Boost engines; we can have bigger, more capable, safer vehicles that are more fuel efficent than what is currently offered.

3. Ford is not about to drop one of its strongest lines, small trucks. A replacement of some sort is on its way. I am surprised they have kept it so secretive though. There may be a couple years without Ford small truck though, this is unfortunate.

4. While fuel economy is important, I think the driving force behind the sales is the quality of the product and the appearance. If this isn't the case than how does Tacoma out sell with lower mileage?

Ford may make some completely idiotic decisions but they make a damn good truck. I would be optomistic that they have some good things in the works.

Making a truck about the same size as a fullsize will result in similar (if not worse) fuel economy and a similar price tag. That is why the competition is bombing the compact truck market, the majority of buyers would rather pony up for a much more capible fullsize for a couple $k more that gets the same milage than a small truck.

Downsizing (or upsizing) a current model usually doesn't work out well, because by the time you get something that really fits in its own class not much of the original model is left... it will either an overpriced, overpowered compact truck or it is an underpowered overpriced half ton wannabee. It needs to be a somewhat original design to get the price below that of an F-150 enough to appeal to people.

The F-150 will be getting the six cylinder ecoboost engine and a 4.4L turbodiesel, I doubt the Ranger/F-100 will get anything bigger, especially if they share the same platform.

Recent sales figures should be making the desires of the buying public very obvious for Ford, milage is a bigger driving force than power/size. A full four door Ranger with a 4 cylinder diesel or an ecoboost 4 cylinder would be a market winner, even if it is just yet another update to the 1998 redesign.

The Explorer plant has been scaling way back on production, has a very nice running gear/interior layout, and is a freashly overhauled modular facility that can quickly switch from one vehicle to another, if I was the guy calling the shots I would be making the Ranger and Explorer based vehicle rather than based off of a F-150. It would be just a squigget bigger, and much more refined than the existing truck. I would push for a solid axle, but the independant would be great at making the competition look dated.

[LearjetMinako]

Prefer to stick with the solid axle. Then again, **cough**, Honda has the Ridgeline with the rear independent suspension. I would just like to see an actually compact truck stay in the market. When the Ford Ranger goes, the compact truck is dead. Everything else would be mid-size or bigger.

[jarfly]

Id like to see ford do to the ranger as chevy did to the s10 zr2 package.
The ranger body but with the fullsize axles. keep the 4.0 and hope and pray they offer 5spds.

[Black_Splash]

What do you guys think of this concept?

http://forums.motortrend.com/70/1062604/future-concept-vehicles/2009-ford-ranger-proposal/index.html

[BlackBII]

That would be kinda cool, I think it needs to have a higher ride height....

And it kinda looks like a scion turned pickup...

Something is wrong there, I can't figure it out tho...

[85_Ranger4x4]

Something is wrong there, I can't figure it out tho...

The cab is attached to the body, and it is even more bricklike than any other Ford truck built.

[Will]

I bought the service manuals for my wife's Pilot. You bash the Ridgeline, but you want to know something about Honda's?

No planetaries in the automatic transmission. It's a manual transmission looking thing. It has only 2 clutch packs and no bands. The packs have 5 and 7 sets of steels and frictions. And the valve body has maybe 1/3 the parts of a C4 or C6. Extremely simple design. These have been known since the 70s (when they were called the Hondamatic) to be bulletproof. Now I know why. It's a beast. It also has a huge 4-pinion differential.

Just leafing through the pictures, it all looks heavier duty than a Ranger.

[85_Ranger4x4]

I bought the service manuals for my wife's Pilot. You bash the Ridgeline, but you want to know something about Honda's?

No planetaries in the automatic transmission. It's a manual transmission looking thing. It has only 2 clutch packs and no bands. The packs have 5 and 7 sets of steels and frictions. And the valve body has maybe 1/3 the parts of a C4 or C6. Extremely simple design. These have been known since the 70s (when they were called the Hondamatic) to be bulletproof. Now I know why. It's a beast. It also has a huge 4-pinion differential.

Just leafing through the pictures, it all looks heavier duty than a Ranger.

They called the Ridgline a half ton when it first came out, not a compact.

I think they kinda backed off of that now and just slid into the 3/8 ton or 7/16 ton category with the Taco, Dakota, Frontier and Colorado.

[euroranger]

Hi everyone, i'm a euro fan of the Ford Ranger, and frankly, i don't understand why Ford has to shutdown production of this fuel-efficent truck...
As far as i know, gas it's not cheaper even in the US at these days, where usually were cheaper than here in europe, so i don't really see the point...
It's been the leader of it's class for what, a couple of decades, and now that it might be the real weapon of Ford for those years to come of fuel price rise, they decide to end production and stay just with the full sizes...
Don't mistaken me, i love V8, big rigs and stuff, but this is a practical matter...
I own a european Ranger (Yes, Ford after about twenty years decided to sell the Ranger even here) that i absolutely adore, but it has nothing to do with the one that i drove in the US back in 1999...
Hope that those guys in Dearborne change their mind...
Ah, finally congrats to everybody for the awesome trucks featured in this site:clapping:...
Sorry for any grammatical error that i've might done in this post...
God Bless America,
Max:bye:

[OilPatch197]

Why make the Ranger a midsize so it can sell as crapily as its compitetion?

As it sits with its last major redesign in 1998 it is far and away outselling Dakota, Frontier, and Colorado... the only other smaller truck outselling it is the Tacoma. Fuel economy is the driving factor now, not V-8 power.

Perhaps they'll just slap a "Ranger" sticker on a F-150 as a trim package.:icon_twisted:

[laclabb]

Well I guess, like they say it's going to look like the Ranger mine has been shut down and sealed off. But I guess, supporter's could do something to rescue the Ranger.
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[FO44RD]

What do you guys think of this concept?

http://forums.motortrend.com/70/1062604/future-concept-vehicles/2009-ford-ranger-proposal/index.html

MEH

Might be nice as a novelty truck, but not the next RANGER.

[idriveafordranger94]

They may say the Ranger is ending but they might just be changing the name. Ford said thry were cutting the Freestyle, but for 2008 its the same thing with a new body style, new engine and tranny and a diff. name which is Taurus X.

[pillen140]

Perhaps they'll just slap a "Ranger" sticker on a F-150 as a trim package.:icon_twisted:

remember early '80's? thats how the ranger started, the explorer nameplate too. (on f150's)

[hades]

The ranger's gonna be dead? Now, that's awfully sad. but looking at the bright side, I think it will stay immortal because of the legacy it will leave.

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[jamesdavid]

it sucks that they want to quit making ford ranger i dont see why they want to do such bull shit :sad:

[the Mad Modder]

I personally don't believe that they'll discontinue the ranger for some time. First they said that 08 was the last year, that plan went by the wayside. I find it hard to believe that they would continue it just to drop it the next year. The Ranger is still a popular truck that not only civilians use, but businesses as well. Where I live I'm constantly seeing Rangers on the road(perhaps even more than F-150s). Advance Auto parts, Orkin and many other companies use Rangers for transportation.

[tomkyle]

Mybe you can get a euro ranger like we have in Germany http://www.ford.de/Nutzfahrzeuge/FordRanger/ImUeberblick
they have 2.5l diesel engines that have about 30 mpg and still quite a lot of power.
We don't have Fullsize trucks over here we use somthing like this http://www.roundhouse.ch/Grafik/Rietze_Auto/Rietze_31126.jpg
http://www.scheuwimmer.at/_rtf-scheuw/CMS_fg41496f674c9b5_standard_291.jpg
http://www.burgstall-fahrzeugbau.de/images/PrOpMov-02a-Ulm-Apr2007.jpg
I know it's ugly but does its Job with about 30mpg too, and the bed is bigger than most of the us fullsize trucks.

[ranger sport honduras]

i hope the Ranger continues alive. its a great car
maybe the guys at Ford will make up their minds and say: hell no! the ranger stays!
the only compact truck that works like a full size truck is the ranger, no matter how u abuse it ti always stands there, ready to work or play around. Maybe a replacement would be good, but a restyling would be better, make it a bit bigger, some new body design, and new more efficient engines,but still the Ford tough Ranger we all love!!

[Droidac]

Well, I just picked up my '09 Ranger 4 days ago, so I think it's safe to say that the Ranger is here for 2009 at least. Let's hope they keep it going!

[Danger FX4 Ranger]

Well, I just picked up my '09 Ranger 4 days ago, so I think it's safe to say that the Ranger is here for 2009 at least. Let's hope they keep it going!
Pics?

[Z3CHYD]

So that article that was on the homepage about continuing production until 2012 wasn't true? that saddens me....Ranger's are as American as apple pie....lol So when thery stop making them does that make the older rangers more valuable?

[badbronc92]

No the homepage is correct. Ford has said it will continue the Ranger at least thru 2011 or 12 and then at that mark there have been rumors of a complete overhaul/redesign of the ranger or it may be discontinued and replaced by a future F100. That's the word on the street for ya.

[souldoubt88]

So when thery stop making them does that make the older rangers more valuable?

no

[Bent Bolt]

Well, I just picked up my '09 Ranger 4 days ago, so I think it's safe to say that the Ranger is here for 2009 at least. Let's hope they keep it going!

When I got my Orange 08 the pamphlet said the Grabber Orange was to be available for a limited time. Now the 09's are here and looky there, Grabber Orange. Kinda pissed me off.:dntknw:

[Droidac]

Pics?

I'll try to get some soon!