Ford Ranger To Be Discontinued

[a6m5]

I think this is the only second "Auto News" thread I ever started, with the first one being the Integra/RSX cancellation.

Ford says it will unveil its redesigned Ranger compact pickup truck next month at the Australian International Motor Show. The small truck has been a fixture on American roads since the early 1980s, but the U.S. isn’t among the 180 global markets in which Ford plans to sell the new version.

The change reflects the demand for small pickups in markets around the world where fuel economy is a chief consideration among vehicle buyers, and where larger trucks are impractical or too expensive to operate. Ford’s plan to drop the Ranger from its U.S. lineup is also the result of eroding sales. Ford sold 55,600 Rangers in the U.S. last year, compared with 328,136 in 1999.

The Ranger used to be especially attractive to young drivers because it was inexpensive and could easily be modified mechanically and cosmetically. But the whole compact-pickup marker has been largely fading for years, losing out to compact cars and small SUVs and crossover vehicles. With the exception of the Toyota Tacoma, small trucks just don’t sell in the U.S. anymore.

Ford says its coming redesigned F-150 full-size pickup will offer a range of more fuel-efficient engines that should serve the needs of people looking for a more economical truck.

http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2...ger-pickup-slated-for-180-markets-but-not-us/

I didn't find out about this until just today. I recently had heard about the new Ranger in development, so this truly was a shocker. In the Ford statement I read, they do claim that Ranger production will cease in 2011.

Ford's planned Ranger replacement in North America?: F150

I kid you not, their game plan, according to one of their VPs is to get the Ranger buyers into 3.7L F150. For potential Ranger buyers who might not be interested in entry-level trucks, they offer "Fiesta, Focus, 7-passenger Grand C-MAX and the Transit Connect".

In the same statement, they also mention that Ranger production will cease when their Twin Cities plant shut down. I'm probably not the only one thinking that killing off Ranger is a crazy move for Ford. My guess is that their plant closure plays a major role in North American compact truck buyers getting robbed of Ford Rangers. As we are all aware on gtplanet, Ford has committed to so many new models in the States already, maybe they are spread too thin. I'm sure the Ranger sales are slow, but that can happen when you don't offer redesign for over a decade. Toyota is very strong in this segment, but with Ford becoming America's favorite car brand, I really thought they had a realistic chance to catch up here.

Anywho, this sucks.

 

[buickgnx88]

Yeah I think that's one of the reasons that the small truck market is crap, there are no real good offerings right now. Ranger is a decade old, GM's offerings don't really have any better economy, Dodge's is too big. Nissan and Toyota have good trucks, but prices increase fast. Perhaps the Rangers would have sold better if Ford put engines with better fuel economy in. Not everyone needs a full-size truck!

 

[Eric.]

*guy walks onto Ford lot*

"I was lookin' to buy me a Ford Ranger!"

"Sorry we don't sell those anymore. But we do have the Ford Fiesta!"

*puzzled customer*

 

[Tornado]

This is sad because the Ford Ranger is the only compact truck currently on sale that actually compact. All of the rest of them are mid-sizers, and almost all of them miraculously manage worse mileage than the full-size models they slot below.


Though its pretty obvious that Ford will bring it back after a couple of years. The only reason sales are so low is because the thing is currently (probably) the oldest vehicle on sale in America now that the Saab 9-5 has been replaced.

 

[Kryz11]

Wow, all Ford needed with the Ranger is a better Engine. The new 3.7L V6 would have been perfect for that lil truck. I was thinking on buying it, but that stupid 4.0 210-15 HP engine was just piece of S___T.

 

[astrosdude91]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Such a fantastic truck! I should hold a candle light vigil.

And I thought that the Ranger was built in Lexington. At least that's where mine was built.

 

[GTjazzabrandy]

Sort of related, saw a Ford T6 global ute testing in full camo today.

 

[buickgnx88]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Such a fantastic truck! I should hold a candle light vigil.

And I thought that the Ranger was built in Lexington. At least that's where mine was built.

The new Rangers are built in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. I should know, my friend works there.

 

[Coxis]

This is sad because the Ford Ranger is the only compact truck currently on sale that actually compact.

Agreed. They're also very aesthetically pleasing. I wanted one back when I was looking to buy my first new car.

Well, one could always buy one in Mexico... I'd be surprised if they discontinue it here. The market for big trucks here isn't that overwhelming and people in general can't afford 'em. There's a lot of small trucks used by small and medium businesses alike.

http://www.ford.com.mx/vehicles/homevehicle.asp?idModel=RAN

 

[BlacqueJacques]

What about the Mazda B-4000 , or B-3000 in Canada (Just a Ranger with some small differences?)?

I agree, there are no small pickups besides the Ranger/B-3000 (I've got a B-3000 Dual Sport 2 WD)!

As if I'll ever buy an F150! I went from a used F150 (Gas Pig) to the B-3000!

Maybe they'll bring them back once oil is $200/barrel!

 

[Adamgp]

I'm guessing this means the plans to make the next Ranger into a unibody Honda Ridgeline-like truck have been scrapped since the Ridgeline is a failure.

 

[buickgnx88]

Seems like Ford could keep in line with the rest of their plans and start selling the Ranger that the rest of the world gets. Since they think a diesel won't sell, they could offer some Ecoboost engines. And due to the ridiculous Chicken Tax, they could build them at the current Ranger plant, which of course would have to be retrofitted.

 

[emotionap1]

Well, looks like prices on used Compact Trucks just went up...

 

[nick09]

It's pretty sad because all of the Ford Ranger trucks I have driven are nice. Sure it does not look modern but it lasts for quite a while.

 

[JCE]

Sad really, even though it is decades old it still does what it was designed to do. I like the 4.0L V6 and all in it but putting the 3.5L/3.7L V6 would make much more sense and it would actually sell very well.

The Ranger in it's current form is actually a good little truck and comfortable to drive in extended cab trim. I hope Ford brings back a compact truck, and that it is a truck and not a unibody POS like the Ridgeline.

 

[TexManZero]

This is really bad news. My 2003 Ford Ranger is the perfect truck because I feel that

a) I have a ton of control over it

b) It doesn't guzzle too much gas

c) It is actually a compact truck

I just don't get it. I hate these new "mid-size" trucks that take up the whole driveway. I don't use the bed of my truck too often, but when I need it, it gets the job done. The only bad part is that it's hard to fit a lady in the back if you know what I mean.

Seriously though, I'm really bummed about this. Does Toyota still have that "compact" truck that has the same body?

 

[JCE]

The Tacoma is as big as the Chevy Silverado and Ford F150 used to be in the 90's and early 00's. It's not a compact truck any more.

 

[Jim Prower]

C'mon...offer the Euro Diesel Ranger over here. I'm sure there's people who'd love to see one of those on 33s with a stack through the hood.

 

[Tornado]

The Tacoma is as big as the Chevy Silverado and Ford F150 used to be in the 90's and early 00's. It's not a compact truck any more.

It also gets basically the same mileage (possibly even worse, if the Frontier is any indication) as the larger, more powerful Tundra. Which is just stupid.

 

[GT_Prologue5]

...and this is why there isn't a big small truck market. They can't sell because they are technologically bad, they don't have good mileage, and frankly, one of the things that hurts, is Americans like the larger, full-size V8 trucks. Bring on the F-150 and its EcoBoost.

 

[a6m5]

I agree with the many points made, especially on these two:

Size - One of the last truly compact pick up. At least until the Mahindras go on sale later this year(these guys are as bad as GT5 at taking their time though lol). I love Tacoma's size, but yeah, I consider them a midsize pick up at this point. I also love the compact size of the Ranger.

Fuel Economy - Looks like we are somewhat split on this one, but I think we can all agree that Ranger can do much better in this department. In fact, if they can pull the type of stunt they pulled of with the fuel economy of V6 Mustang, I think they'd kill not only in the compact truck segment, but in overall $20,000-range sales. Imagine the sales Ford would be reeling in with a new fuel efficient four & six cylinder engines in place?
Edit:

...and this is why there isn't a big small truck market. They can't sell because they are technologically bad, they don't have good mileage, and frankly, one of the things that hurts, is Americans like the larger, full-size V8 trucks. Bring on the F-150 and its EcoBoost.

I agree on the technology, but not on the Americans strictly liking fullsize. I honestly believe that there would be plenty of demand for both sizes, if the manufactures spent half the efforts on compacts that they spend on the fullsize truck. Don't get me wrong, I'm not asking them to spend the same kind of money they spend on the big trucks, as fullsizes are SO much more profitable to them. Just wishing they didn't neglect the segment. As for your comment on more fuel efficient F150, that is exactly what Ford is hoping for.

Second Edit:
From the part I missed on the Ford VP statement. Sort of critical.

It is also important to note that the new Ranger is bigger than our current product and moves much closer in size to the current F-150. Its use in the U.S. would become even more limited, especially when compared to the increasingly fuel-efficient F-150.

So, I guess the new Ranger(that we are not getting) is going Toyota Tacoma on us.

 

[JCE]

Actually your point about the gas mileage is a really good one. If they could offer a 2.0L I4 EcoBoost model to the Ranger it would actually be a good thing and would make Ford tons of money. Let's face it the 2.0L I4 with EcoBoost is more powerful than the outgoing 4.0L V6.

 

[a6m5]

Actually your point about the gas mileage is a really good one. If they could offer a 2.0L I4 EcoBoost model to the Ranger it would actually be a good thing and would make Ford tons of money. Let's face it the 2.0L I4 with EcoBoost is more powerful than the outgoing 4.0L V6.

That four liter was one of the best engines Ranger offered, but yeah, it is outdated. I don't know anything about the 2.0 EcoBoost, but if it has sufficient power, yeah, people would eat that up.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

People have been turbocharging 4cyl Rangers for quite a while already...

I say give us a ~170hp, 170tq 4cyl NA base model, the 250hp turbo 4, and a 300hp NA V6 a la Mustang. In the current Ranger chassis. Update the body, update the interior, maybe even make some minor tweaks to wheelbase lengths and such for a little more room in the extended cab version. The suspension may be "old" (front from 1999, rear from the beginning of time), but it's a damned truck. I expect to be able to use it for truck things, even if it is small. Can't do that with rear leaf springs very well.

 

[JCE]

That four liter was one of the best engines Ranger offered, but yeah, it is outdated. I don't know anything about the 2.0 EcoBoost, but if it has sufficient power, yeah, people would eat that up.

The 2.0L EcoBoost is putting out ~250bhp. That's well enough for the Ranger to do anything really. Plus, I'd offer one of the Euro diesels as well.

 

[Jim Prower]

well, there's always this one for the little truck fans...

Seriously, Mahindra's looking to clean up. I do hope it'd get manufacturers thinking about small diesel trucks like y'all get over there on other continents...

 

[a6m5]

well, there's always this one for the little truck fans...

Seriously, Mahindra's looking to clean up. I do hope it'd get manufacturers thinking about small diesel trucks like y'all get over there on other continents...

Mahindra should be interesting. I'm so glad that it looks like their little trucks will retain their "third-world" looks, when they finally arrive to the States(again, see my 'GT5' comment lol). They look like overseas Toyota compact from the 90's, and I LOVE that.

I just wish that they also came with gas engine. Diesel's neat, but I'm so lazy, I'm more about convenience. Driving around for refill in a diesel can suck!

 

[Jim Prower]

Not 'round here, but we's all farm/union boys wit' our big 2500/3500s wit' stacks out th' bed. :B

 

[a6m5]

Not 'round here, but we's all farm/union boys wit' our big 2500/3500s wit' stacks out th' bed. :B

And this Mahindra release can only help.

 

[Keef]

This is a sad day. The small pickup (I mean actually small, not new Tacoma-sized) is a most genius idea. My dad's old 1993 Ranger 4 cylinder might not have much grunt but it'll carry 1000 pounds in the bed. It gets decent gas mileage. It's dead-nuts reliable. It's so basic that it's super cheap to own and maintain. It's got a super tight turning radius and you can park it anywhere you can park a Jetta. You can make a practical daily driver out of it because its small and relatively economical, whereas the big trucks are excessively wasteful and cumbersome on the daily grind. It's easy to get in and out of. Basically, if you can't afford to have a truck and a car both, an older small pickup makes a very versatile and tough daily. Excellent truck.