Will there be a Replacement for the Ranger

[buckshotmudder]

Ford made it clear: go F-Series or go elsewhere.

 

[Andy D]

I'm not worried. I couldn't afford a new one anyway. The list in Craigslist was pretty long. Exploders even longer.

 

[wildbill23c]

Due to changes in economies and rising fuel prices, small trucks just dont sell much anymore. People who want a truck buy a fullsize truck, while people who want something more economical buy a little car or cross-over these days.

The small truck segment used to account for 8% of new vehicle sales, now it accounts for less than 2%. Which is not enough market share for Ford to give a shit about it, when a base f150 is as cheap or cheaper than a Tacoma or Frontier or Canyon (which GMC doesn't make anymore either, btw)

Except for the fact that many businesses used fleets of rangers for delivery vehicles, service trucks, etc. Oh well those businesses are now buying Toyota Tacomas and Nissan Frontiers. An O'Reilly auto parts just opened in town and they have 2 brand new Nissan Frontiers. The local Les Schwab Tires had 2 Rangers, now they have new Toyota Tacomas. That's just 2 businesses locally that I know of that's now driving other manufacturers trucks because Ford dropped the ball on building a simple fleet truck, pretty stupid of them if you ask me considering the huge number of rangers that were sold not only as fleet vehicles but to private buyers every year as well.

 

[ZMan]

Except for the fact that many businesses used fleets of rangers for delivery vehicles, service trucks, etc. Oh well those businesses are now buying Toyota Tacomas and Nissan Frontiers. An O'Reilly auto parts just opened in town and they have 2 brand new Nissan Frontiers. The local Les Schwab Tires had 2 Rangers, now they have new Toyota Tacomas. That's just 2 businesses locally that I know of that's now driving other manufacturers trucks because Ford dropped the ball on building a simple fleet truck, pretty stupid of them if you ask me considering the huge number of rangers that were sold not only as fleet vehicles but to private buyers every year as well.

The autozone next to my work has Nissan Versa hatchbacks now, tell me that isn't a smart move when all you're doing is delivering small parts all day.

 

[wildbill23c]

The autozone next to my work has Nissan Versa hatchbacks now, tell me that isn't a smart move when all you're doing is delivering small parts all day.

They're forced to now because the ranger fleets are gone. I think my local autozone has a couple rangers still, but when those die I wonder what they'll get. The versa actually makes sense, I mean unless you have to deliver an engine LOL. I never understood why some companies had rangers rather than cars. Most times they're delivering or doing such small work that the truck itself is never used for hauling or towing LOL, its just used as a delivery vehicle for small parts, or a runner/courier vehicle.

I understand what you are saying, sometimes a truck is not exactly the greatest thing for deliveries, maybe they got better deals on a fleet of rangers than they would have on a fleet of cars? I don't know I've never been involved in fleet purchases so I couldn't say, but maybe its possible.

 

[Mark_88]

I learned the hard way not to use a truck for deliveries...was driving a Dodge Ramcharger with the 318 in it and took on a courier job...spent most of my pay on gas...and just barely broke above that...

Small vehicles make more sense from what I've seen...even body panels and most bigger boxes can be stuffed into a car...

 

[Mac]

Long but good background on what may have affected Ford's decision. Granted the newer Rangers kept dropping options to lower cost but this has more to do with CAFE. Short paragraph out of it.
Dave

CAFE’s other victim is the compact truck segment. Many consumers don’t need a full-size truck (whether they acknowledge it or not), and the Ford Ranger, along with GM’s own compact pickups, had respectable followings among consumers looking for a smaller fuel-efficient pickup.

But the Ranger happens to fall into the “dead zone” of the CAFE footprint formula. Both curve graphs show a flat line at 55 square feet; in practical terms, a Mercedes-Benz S-Class carries this footprint. The Ranger, even in SuperCab configuration, has a footprint of 50 square feet, just short of the magic number. The best Ranger, fuel economy-wise, was a 4-cylinder manual truck, returning 22/27 mpg IRL; a respectable number, but one only available in a configuration that a minority of buyers would opt for. Equipped with a V6 and an automatic transmission, it would only return 14/18 mpg IRL, a figure that can be equalled by certain version of Ford’s V6 and V8 F-150 full-size pickups. By 2025, a theoretical Ranger with a footprint of 50 square feet would have to achieve fuel economy somewhere approaching 50 mpg CAFE. The 75 square foot F-150 would only have to reach in the high 30s CAFE.

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/fo...tion-how-cafe-regs-helped-kill-ranger-283687/

 

[ridgerunner]

If I remember correctly the Ranger accounted for almost 1/2 of that 2% so it was still a money maker.

I also could care less how big/small the global ranger is, I want a diesel ranger. The diesel Hilux sold overseas that I drove in afghan was amazing. Granted it was tiny but that thing was 20 yrs old with unknown mileage and it still ran perfectly. It also could haul 4 guys in full battle gear without you noticing it. If a diesel ranger came close to that I would have bought one instead of the car I ended up with.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

I'm with U kryptonitecb, I want a little truck with a diesel engine that gets 30-40+ MPG. VW did it yrs ago. Problem is nowadays the diesel is soooo strapped with emissions crap that they don't return the mpg they used to and they are expensive as hell to build to meet emissions standards. The rest of the world have them, don't see why we in the US can't.

 

[wildbill23c]

I'm with U kryptonitecb, I want a little truck with a diesel engine that gets 30-40+ MPG. VW did it yrs ago. Problem is nowadays the diesel is soooo strapped with emissions crap that they don't return the mpg they used to and they are expensive as hell to build to meet emissions standards. The rest of the world have them, don't see why we in the US can't.

Haha you read my mind I was thinking the same thing, a compact truck with a standard diesel engine minus all the electronics and emissions garbage.

The US won't do it because of the emissions crap, its just not worth it for a manufacturer to try and build one from what I have been told and have read, it wouldn't be cost effective to try it unfortunately.

 

[ridgerunner]

Haha you read my mind I was thinking the same thing, a compact truck with a standard diesel engine minus all the electronics and emissions garbage.

The US won't do it because of the emissions crap, its just not worth it for a manufacturer to try and build one from what I have been told and have read, it wouldn't be cost effective to try it unfortunately.

I guess one could find a way to swap out a VW TDI engine into a Ranger

 

[kryptonitecb]

I'm with U kryptonitecb, I want a little truck with a diesel engine that gets 30-40+ MPG. VW did it yrs ago. Problem is nowadays the diesel is soooo strapped with emissions crap that they don't return the mpg they used to and they are expensive as hell to build to meet emissions standards. The rest of the world have them, don't see why we in the US can't.

So goes the ways of ignorant Americans and diesel engines. Diesels actually are more efficient and less pollutant when running correctly. Problem is every hick that adds a tuner and goes around "rolling coal" makes them look bad. I look forward to the day when hopefully the american people realize this.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[jrpdash9]

So goes the ways of ignorant Americans and diesel engines. Diesels actually are more efficient and less pollutant when running correctly. Problem is every hick that adds a tuner and goes around "rolling coal" makes them look bad. I look forward to the day when hopefully the american people realize this.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

This!

 

[4.0B2]

I still think we need an extended cab, reg bed ranger.. diesel, solid axles front and rear... that would be an awesome base

 

[kryptonitecb]

solid axles front and rear...

Never gonna happen

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[straycat]

For the U.S.A. the Ranger replacement started as a Sport Trac. Now that a lot of people I know have them, I might just get me one as well. I borrowed one from a friend three weeks ago for about 3 days and I really liked it. It was a '05 and it handled very well and was comfortable as well. Love the 4 doors. Fits perfect in the garage and is not much bigger then my 99 lifted Ranger.
Back to the diesel motor…. diesel fuel is so overpriced here as much as all our other fuels are. Buy a diesel and spend lots of money at a fill up. Not me…don’t want one!!