Trying to Get TRS-2 Back

[Craig0320]

Totally understandable. Kinda weird... but I put myself in your shoes and took a different look at it.

TRS2 is broken... it's probably bent, cracked, rusted, rigged and lacked some general care since it was sold. You get 4 to 6 guys there for a couple throw down weekends in a fairly well equipped shop... there needs to be a pile of parts and some budget left for stuff needed on the fly. I think that to do it right... an overhauled engine and at a minimum overhauled transmission should be in the pile. The new owner needs reasonably deep pockets to make it happen. At the end of it... You're still living in yesterday.

From a purely business perspective... it (you) need to be focused towards tomorrow... and a couple years out. You get in now... it's cutting edge (at least here) and work to keep it ahead of the curve. The only way to do that... The new ranger.

Then I took your shoes off.

Here is what I know... I'm in business... pizza of all damn things. In the last 6 months I've put close to 70k in my business to keep it cutting edge and on the curve. Did I make sacrifices to do that? Yes. Is it a gamble? Yes. But if I didn't do it... I would be living in yesterday. I haven't had the pay off just yet. But the business is positioned for a much brighter future.

Sometimes the sentimental value trumps the money and business standpoint. I would give more money than what its worth for my grandpa's old ranger if I found it just to have it back for the memories.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Sometimes the sentimental value trumps the money and business standpoint. I would give more money than what its worth for my grandpa's old ranger if I found it just to have it back for the memories.

Craig... I totally agree with what you're saying. I tried to make that clear in my previous posts. Maybe I feel short in explaining it.

 

[Jim Oaks]

From a purely business perspective... it (you) need to be focused towards tomorrow... and a couple years out. You get in now... it's cutting edge (at least here) and work to keep it ahead of the curve. The only way to do that... The new ranger.

Then I took your shoes off.

Here is what I know... I'm in business... pizza of all damn things. In the last 6 months I've put close to 70k in my business to keep it cutting edge and on the curve. Did I make sacrifices to do that? Yes. Is it a gamble? Yes. But if I didn't do it... I would be living in yesterday. I haven't had the pay off just yet. But the business is positioned for a much brighter future.

I agree with everything you've said. I can't afford to make a second car payment and buy the Ranger. With all the mileage I've put on the Expedition, I owe more than it's worth. If I trade it on a Ranger, I roll that negative equity in to the cost. I end up with a truck I can barely afford, or a model I don't really want.

I've never owned a brand new Ranger. If Ford could lease me one for a dollar a year, it would be a win for me and them. It's advertising money for them. They get years of promotion for what it costs them to give me one truck off of the line. It's probably less than what they pay someone in PR for a year.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I understand the situation a little better now. But taking a bath on the expedition might be the best thing for the overall health and growth of your .com and enterprise. If you're gonna take a bath on it now I think it only gets worse as time goes by. In the end... your butt will be planted in a new ranger.

The only thing left that you can do (if you haven't already) is draw up a business plan. Include the early days of TRS... membership growth rates, number of hits etc... Then document what you will/can do for them, expected growth and the continuation of being a brand ambassador. Even some advertising space in your digital environment. But get it on paper... graphs and charts... circles and arrows. You already have your foot in the door... networking internally there at least gets your plan where it needs to be. Then hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

 

[fastpakr]

I'd hesitate on ordering a new Ranger for now just on the hope that something can still be worked out with Ford...

 

[bronco2fan]

Hey Jim, are you in contact with Ford's PR department or Advertising? We know they give cars to builders to ramp up sales, seen it dozens of times with the Mustang and even the Raptor.

I think it would be great to have the old and new side by side in a new Ranger ad.

If you have a contact point maybe we can bombard them on your behalf. Worse they can say is no.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'd hesitate on ordering a new Ranger for now just on the hope that something can still be worked out with Ford...

Agreed, I could see ending up with two trucks especially after you commit to getting one on your own.

If you have a contact point maybe we can bombard them on your behalf. Worse they can say is no.

The seed has been planted in the right place, it might grow or it might not. Bombarding could make things go sideways.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Corporate bureaucracy.

There's some in Ford that like the idea. I'm apparently not worthy, or the right people have never heard of TRS.

 

[bobbywalter]

excellent points gump. on point to say the least.




i will wait a minute based on the 3 new fords in our yard for them to shake these before i buy one. only one of them is mine but theres room for improvement to say the least.

or maybe not...when the explorer goes back i will likely get a ranger then....if i dont its because it will be a bronco. or nothing because they suk.

if a base 2wd was 18-19 grand i would just buy one....because i am just gonna hack the fawk out of it anyway. but mid-hi 20's for something worth buying i remain skeptical.

if they x'ed one out to jim for 12-18 months it would be ideal. and i am actually shocked that hasnt happened.

its disappointing. but look how they killed it. they actually killed it.


while living in yesterday can be costly. in a worst case scenario it may be the only way to survive.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I kinda feel like the storm cloud that has settled over the reunion parade.

Jim... after 20 years of keeping this place active... you already knew everything I said.

Ya know... living in yesterday wouldn't be so bad. Because today there would still be a chance I was gonna hit for $1.6 billion.

 

[bobbywalter]

gump....i wouldn't say storm cloud...




rays of light seem to be more accurate.




so. how about a combination of the two?

 

[Uncle Gump]

So... a combination of a storm cloud and rays of light mean there is a rainbow. As long as my $1.6 billion is waiting for me. Let the combining begin!

New Rangers for EVERYBODY!!!

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I thought someone in SC won that.

Are you by chance in SC?

 

[twoll86]

I live in southern Illinois. It isn't totally too far to go in a day to see it, but I have no way to tow or store it at the moment for you. Ball is in your court

 

[Uncle Gump]

I thought someone in SC won that.

Are you by chance in SC?

It was won...

Not by me... That was all just me referencing "living in yesterday"