Ranger plant closing extended 1 year

[Ferris Bueller]

Article in the St.Paul Pioneer Press Nov 6th 07. I have not read the entire article. Its part of the new tentative contract with UAW. I wonder if the Ranger will get side impact air bags like most US made cars and trucks?

 

[Jspafford]

Probably not. Most likely to stay the same with a minor face lift. That seems to be their cup of tea.

 

[ozzy85]

Maybe they still have some fleet orders to fill. Car comanies don't spent money revising a vehicle line that's on its way out. Maybe a new grille or paint color or two.

 

[chico4554]

how bout a diesel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thats the only way ill be buying a new truck.

 

[Forcus]

Yep, they are killing the Ranger off by letting it stagnate. Too bad, there is still demand for a small / midsize truck. Crew cabs and diesels please!

 

[maddhatter]

Its like people forget what made FORD.
What we need is a cheap yet still good for 250.000 miles truck.
I could not care less what grill it has the ranger should be a cheap mini truck I can't see why people want to make it something it's not.
It just brakes my hart to see a platform as good as the Ranger go to such a sad end (all dolled up like a whore). Time and time again Ford thinks they know better what people want then old man Ford did.

Not every truck has to be a lightning!!!!!
Thats a different market!!!!!!!!!

 

[woodyedmiston]

Sorry to get in on this late - I did not realize there was an end in sight for the Ranger. Maybe I should buy a couple more now. Wonder if they are just going to create a new platform in conjunction with Mazda - I think they still own the majority interest in Mazda.

 

[Natedog]

Its like people forget what made FORD.
What we need is a cheap yet still good for 250.000 miles truck.
I could not care less what grill it has the ranger should be a cheap mini truck I can't see why people want to make it something it's not.
It just brakes my hart to see a platform as good as the Ranger go to such a sad end (all dolled up like a whore). Time and time again Ford thinks they know better what people want then old man Ford did.

Not every truck has to be a lightning!!!!!
Thats a different market!!!!!!!!!

You're damn right! Ford is so mis-managed it's not even funny.

 

[Woody88]

I didnt even know this.....it makes me sad...i see the new gen everwhere i would think they would have had good sales so theyd keep it

 

[CJREX]

The Ranger used to be the number one selling small truck.

Then Ford sat down and let it stagnate while everyone else kept modernizing their trucks.

Seriously, the Ranger hasn't changed much since 1993. How many different small trucks has Toyota released? I can think of 3 totally different Toyota platforms in that timeframe.

Also 3 totally different Nissan pickups and Frontiers.

Even the S10 got updated (?) into the Colorado.

If Ford got off their rear and offered a small diesel in the Ranger, or the new 3.5 Duratec V6, they'd have the engines to trump the competition. But the chassis would still be ancient.

So sad to see the Ranger go quietly away.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The Ranger has changed quite abit since '93, new dash in '95, completely new front suspension in '98, and a smattering of different front end treatments over the years. And right now the old Ranger is selling about the same as the much newer Colorado, (they have been playing tag all year) The only compactish truck that seems to be selling well is the Tacoma.

Personally I wonder if the whole market just went down the tubes.

Top 10 Pickups Sales Figures
Year-to-Date (YTD) Oct 2007

Ford F-Series
588,952 -12.5% YTD
Oct 2007: 51,741
Oct 2006: 55,947

Chevrolet Silverado
526,575 -2.4% YTD
Oct 2007: 48,716
Oct 2006: 52,409

Dodge Ram
301,689 -1.0% YTD
Oct 2007: 24,711
Oct 2006: 28,251

GMC Sierra
174,621 -1.8% YTD
Oct 2007: 17,417
Oct 2006: 18,080

Toyota Tundra
162,348 +59.2% YTD
Oct 2007: 17,868
Oct 2006: 10,046

Toyota Tacoma
147,964 -0.4% YTD
Oct 2007: 12,449
Oct 2006: 14,121

Chevrolet Colorado
64,878 -18.4% YTD
Oct 2007: 5,753
Oct 2006: 7,151

Ford Ranger
62,209 -20.9% YTD
Oct 2007: 4,775
Oct 2006: 6,471

Nissan Titan
55,960 -9.7% YTD
Oct 2007: 5,001
Oct 2006: 5,972

Nissan Frontier
55,696 -17.2% YTD
Oct 2007: 4,959
Oct 2006: 5,063

 

[Bent Bolt]

The 10 year old Ranger outsold the Titan and Frontier ??? And just under the Colorado ???


Wow!!

 

[CJREX]

The Ranger has changed quite abit since '93, new dash in '95, completely new front suspension in '98, and a smattering of different front end treatments over the years.

That's what I mean about it not changing.

Those are all just cosmetic, with the exception of the front suspension, which was still attached to the same platform.

R & D costs were practically nil since they just used what they had (including plenty borrowed from Explorer)

The others are all entirely new platforms, not just different fenders/interiors.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The others are all entirely new platforms, not just different fenders/interiors.

And they sell about the same if not worse than what they have now, so why bother? They could sink alot of money in a new truck and have it go lackluster like the competion, they make more money with fullsize trucks so that is what they are going to push for.

 

[maddhatter]

This is just what I mean all the other guy build trucks that cost more and more and the reason Ranger sales went down was they are over priced.
If ford would build a CHEAP ranger on the old platform it would still out sell every one but it has to be cheaper.
You have to look at cars like the model T or moldel A even the Mustang THEY WERE CHEAP and the people made them in to cool cars.
I understand some people want a nice truck but now a days people need a cheap work truck If it was up to me i would only build ONE ranger small v6 club cab on the same platform keep um all the same and sell them cheap and you could sell more then Ford could build.
Then offer a good after market for parts (this is were the cash is)
I mean a pre set price no dealer BS and CHEAP!!! I mean at the $10.000 mark or under trucks are the easist things there are to build!!!!!
I know some will read this and say people want more from a truck but the bottom line is if its cheap they will buy it and make it into whatever they want just like they did with the mustang.
The Ranger the way it is right now is the best looking truck built I think it just costs way to much.