Ok, I can see why the Ka won't make it, but no new Ranger?

Over at AutoBlog, there's a piece about Ford CEO Alan Mually saying the new Global Ranger and Ka won't be among the One Ford global models coming to US shores. Ok, I get the Ka, it's really not a practical vehicle for the US market, but the Ranger? With the last global Ranger and Mazda BT-50 (pictured) we had already missed out on so much, but with the new version it seems all the more painful. And what's this about the F-100 again? A "slightly smaller" version of the F-150? Yeah, that makes no sense. Is the Ranger name so poluted? Come on Alan, you're a smart guy, Ranger sales are actually fairly good these days, despite being an ancient design. Just think of how an all new Ranger would really compete, especially if fuel prices rise again.

The Ka is kind of small and aside from the Smart there's really not much of a market in the US for such a little car. Alan is right on the money with this one, Ka sales would be too low and those interested in micro cars can still look forward to the new Fiesta.

When the Ranger does end in 2011 I will shed some tears.

CARS aka Cash For Clunkers was a wild ride, but it's over and I didn't scrap the Ranger

So, like many Americans I took note of the CARS program, more commonly known as Cash For Clunkers, and was actually persuing a new vehicle under this program. Mine was a complicated deal initially, because I did not want to scrap my beloved Ranger, but instead trade in my beloved's Isuzu Rodeo. That was not going to work for a number of reasons.

Then I decided I would part with my Ranger, see it put to a miserable death and scrapped.
But fate had other plans for me and the Ranger. My dealer and I couldn't meet in the middle on a couple of details and I walked.

Now I've advertised the Ranger for sale, not scrap, but to a "good home" for "market value".
I've checked Kelly Blue Book and NADA sites for the estimated value of my Ranger and have actually gotten a couple of nibbles. I decided to get the Auto Check report from NADA, it's half the price of the CARFAX, in case any prospective buyers don't believe my claim of 57,670 miles on a truck that's 10 years old.

I'd love to sell my Ranger to a good home, then go back to the dealer that didn't want to honor my Xplan pin and see if he's so confident that he's going to get full price for the silver Escape.

In the end, it was an experience, not just for me, but for our nation. Pundits are kicking the can around the block, bitching and moaning about the program and every media is looking for the latest opinion and factoid. I still think that it was a good program, maybe not run very well, but out of the billions of stimulus dollars flushed this year, it's the only program that the average citizen could actually feel a benefit from.

I'm working long hours this week and waiting to hear if this fellow wants to buy the Ranger, but I'll update as I can.

New Ranger may get EcoBoost, but should it get a Diesel?

If you've visited my blog before you must realize I love the Ranger and have written about it many times. I own a 1999 Ranger XLT, best damn truck I've ever had. Even on MyFordDreams Classic I ranted about the Ranger And while I'm hoping we get the new T-6 Ranger and even looking forward to the EcoBoost I-4, I'm still wondering if FoMoCo is being foolish by not offering a Diesel version.

Mahindra & Mahindra is going to bring their Diesel powered compact pickup here next year. Detroit Free Press article says they're taking advantage of axed Chrysler dealers and will get better than 22 mpg from their 2.2L Diesel. While that MPG figure isn't stellar, don't forget about the grunt of a diesel for towing and hauling. Will the EcoBoost Ranger's 175 hp 180 lb ft be a match?

I'm hoping we get the T-6 Ranger and I'm wishing that it offers a Diesel option.

Planes hits Ranger, Ranger wins!

An Australian newspaper has a story of a plane near Johanesburg South Africa that crashed into the front of a Ford Ranger Crew Cab and thankfully nobody died! Nobody in the Ranger was even seriously injured. I heard about this when on Twitter, there was a tweet from FordAPA saying Plane hits Ford "SUV" I guess this proves that old tag line "Built Ford Tough"!

I of course was amused that someone at FordAPA confused the Ranger Crew Cab for an SUV.

Maybe they're not familiar with the Australian term Ute? But looking at the picture, you can see the pickup bed. The Explorer Sport Trac isn't sold in South Africa, but the Ranger Crew Cab is.

Take a look at this picture of an un-dammaged Ranger and see for yourself. And wonder why Ford never sold this here in the US

T-6 Ranger mule in Michigan?! According to AutoBlog

First there were photos from Austrlia, where the new T6 is being developed, then the Swiss Alps, where it's being tested and now Michigan? According to AutoBlog's post and they've got the spy shots to prove it! Click the link in the title to see for yourself and this time it's a 2 door long bed.

World Car Fans has more spy shots of future Ranger, maybe we'll get it?

You don't have to dig much to learn I love the Ranger and I have one. And of course I've lamented it's rumored demise. I've also hoped and dreamed it could survive. And of course recently there have been rumors flying about an Australian designed replacement codenamed T6 that if it makes it to these shores will share in the EcoBoost goodness via 1.6 liter 175hp 180 lb ft Torque turbo I-4.

And if you click on the link in the title you can see spy photos at World Car Fans taken in the Swiss Alps showing the truck in Double Cab form.

Great global Ranger commercial

Why didn't they bring this to US?

TheCarConnection's review of the 2008 Ranger, with permission

Readers will know of my love for the Ford Ranger and my hopes that a new Ranger will come in the next few years. But with permission of TheCarConnection I'm linking to and reposting a detailed review they did of the 08 Ranger.

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UPDATE, edited to comply with Fair use, see the review at link in title

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Reason Why:
The most direct competitors for the Ranger are the GMC Canyon/Chevrolet Colorado compact trucks. The Ranger has a smoother V-6 engine, but the GM twins have an optional five-cylinder engine with more power. The Canyon and Colorado also offer a true four-door model with a back bench seat, though it's uncomfortable for long trips. The Mazda B-Series is a version of the Ranger that Ford supplies to its Japanese partner; you may prefer the B-Series' styling.
The Bottom Line:
The 2008 Ford Ranger’s best, highest use is as an inexpensive work truck or off-road play toy. Anything else exposes the flaws in its seating, its fuel economy, its available features and in its performance.

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Marty Padget, the Executive Editor wrote the above. And there are even more detailed information available on their sidebar. I'm trying something new here. Since I don't have access to new vehicles to review them, I spoke to TheCarConnection and I'm trying this out.

There could be more coming as we develop a relationship over the coming weeks, I'll keep you updated if this works out.

A "Real" truck? You bet your ass!

Just feeling nostalgic about my Ranger. It just celebrated it's 10th birthday and only has about 57,000 miles on the odometer. I remember when I first got it, some people I know asked why I didn't get a "real" truck, meaning a full size truck. And my rather crude response was that I didn't need a big truck, because I had something else big. Childish, I know, but I laughed.
But the Ranger is a real truck. I've been able to do almost everything that my associates with bigger trucks have with theirs. I don't own anything that I tow, so no need for massive towing capacity needed. Most of the people I know don't tow anything either. I've filled my Ranger with over 1.000 pounds of various payloads with no problem at all. I've driven through a couple of blizzards on unplowed roads and not got stuck. Hell, one time I used it to pull a tree out of the way when it fell at work. So, it's a "real" truck.

And it's been very very reliable too. I was thinking of all the repairs it's needed over the last decade. And that has been limited to a brake job every two years and I replaced the tires a couple of years ago. Oil changes every 5,000 miles and a new air filter when I bought the new tires. That's it!

We here at the MyFordDreams ranch are a multi vehicle household and the love of my life has a 1997 Isuzu Rodeo, with triple the mileage, so a direct comparison one not be fair. But I will mention that last year when the Rodeo was up on the lift for yet more work, the mechanic pointed out the extensive rust on the frame and major suspension components. So, I decided to crawl under the Ranger and compare. The difference was like night and day. Both trucks have been in the same area all of their lives and neither garaged regularily. But the Ranger has just minor frame rust, and no suspension rust.

Did I mention that in 10 years it's still on the original shocks, clutch etc..
A few dings and scratches, as befits a "real" truck.

I'm going to try and keep it PG here, but I'll say this, you don't need a big truck to get the job done.

Maybe the Ranger isn't going to die in the US?

Now that I've gotten bak into the MyFordDreams saddle, I'm getting up to speed with some of the news. I know that Igor, a frequent commentor and fanatic Blue Oval fan, had mentioned rumors of a Ranger Replacement, but Pickup Trucks . com has a piece (linked in title) about a possible replacement that would be truly "Global" unlike the current Ranger line up.
We all know that the North American Ranger is the same basic unit for over a decade. And I posted recently explaining that even if Ford wanted to they won't be able to sell it in the United States, because of safety and emissions standards in our near future.

I had complained that we weren't getting the new Thai built Ranger ( Mazda BT-50) that was available globally outside North America ( United States & Canada, although available in Mexico). But Pickup Trucks . Com says that much like the Fiesta, a new Global Ranger could be on the way for 2012! Just about time too. My 1999 unit may want to retire by then. Not that it's showing any signs of problems, but who keeps a truck 13 years?

Now, one major point I found interesting, was the mention of an EcoBoost powertrain for the US.

A 1.6 liter unit? But making 175 hp and 180 lb ft of torque sounds right for a base powerplant.

I know the concept Explorer America was supposed to be an EcoBoost 4 cyl, but I thought I read it was 2.0 liter and putting out 200 hp? Maybe that will be an uplevel motor in a new Ranger?
Maybe a V-6? But no mention of the 2 available Diesels that the rest of the world gets.

Jump over to Pickup Trucks . Com and see the article and spy photos. It's wearing Mazda BT-50 body panels, but it's suposed to be a new Global Ranger, to replace the current Thai unit and BT-50 I assume.

Another video of Mazda BT-50 (Ford Ranger) last one I promise

English language video of Mazda BT-50 (Ford Ranger)

I was able to find a video in English but only for the Mazda version (BT-50) of the new Ranger.

Video walk around of new Ranger in UK

Ranger video from Russia?

Here's what a Ranger should be!

What is the future of the Ranger?

Today there was a comment on one of my archived posts that brought back one of my favorite gripes. The Ranger, how Ford has let it lapse and what I hope they will do. Ok, let's get some history here, the Ranger name started as a trim level on the full size Ford F-Series trucks, just like the Eplorer badge. Starting in the late 60's and early 70's Japanese makes started to bring compact pickups to the US, Nissan and Toyota leading the way, but Isuszu and Mazda also. So, when the Domestic makes saw an emerging market segment, they initially imported partner trucks rebadged as their own, in the case of Ford that was the Courier. But eventually they recognized that a true Domestic compact pickup would make more sense and the Ranger was born . And from 1987 to 2004 it was segment leader. In many ways it was far superior to the Courier it replaced and Ford improved it with each generation. But the evolution stopped in 2000 or so and it was just mild refresh after that, until this day. I believe it was a combination of relatively cheap fuel here in the states and our tendancy to super size everything. While competitors grew in size, the Ranger remained compact. It remains a profitable unit for the company, especially since they've done no real development over the last decade. What a shame really. But with new safety and emissions standards coming into effect soon, the current Ranger is coming to a point where Ford can't sell it, even if customers were lined up out the door, which really they aren't. One major fault is that the current Ranger can't be fitted with airbags in the A pillar. Another minor fault is that it's not available in a true 4 door cab here, while it has been all over the world, including Mexico.

But as with Ford's need for small fuel efficient car, they have the answer in their global garage.
Ford developed a new Ranger (Mazda BT-50 also ) for markets outside of the United States.
And I've posted about it before, because it's a class leader and would be a huge hit here.
I'm not sure if it has air bags in the A pillar, but I'd guess it does since it's sold in Europe.
It's also got 2 great Diesel powertrain options and one of the nicest interiors I've ever seen in a compact truck. So, should Ford rush to get this cleared to come here? Would they import it from Asia or build it here? Yes they should rush to bring it market! If the Diesels aren't going to meet emisions, they can stick the 2.5 petrol I-4 and 3.5 V-6 in there. Over the last few years I've read criticism of the Ranger on the web and speculation that Ford should introduce a new Mid Size pickup using the F-100 nameplate. I disagree, but if they did it right, I'd be willing to take a look.

Now, this is a photoshop done quite a while ago by "FUD" (?) that I had seen on several message boards suggesting that the new Ranger be based on an Explorer chassis. But at this point is that prudent? Haven't we had that already? Isn't that the crap known as the Sport Trac?
What say you? I say, bring us the Global Ranger, with the Diesel option for those pulling boat trailers.

So it's finally going to end in 2009?

I suspect that I'll be among a small group that mourns the passing of the Ford Ranger. But I've been reading lately that 2009 will be the end for the North American Ford Ranger. It's a shame really, but it's not really a surprise. For the last few years Ford North America has let the Ranger become obsolete, not investing anything in the platform, relegating the Ranger to the bargain bin and to fleet sales. Introduced in 1983 as a replacement for their Mazda sourced Courier compact truck, the Ranger went on to be a dominant force in compact pickups, not only here in North America, but around the world. Evolution was slow for the truck, but evolve it did, with gradual improvements across the board, power, comfort and styling, that is until about 2002, when only minor improvements in the cab size and power were the final real changes. It's been mostly trim pieces that have changed since then. I've been a vocal critic of Ford's abandonment of the "Compact" pickup market. But considering that none of these trucks are truly "Compact" any more I can't scream too loudly, nobody really cares. Take a look at Nissan, Toyota, GM and Dodge, their compact, now "Midsize" trucks are huge! I have a 1999 Ford Ranger and I love it, it's not too big, gets moderate fuel economy and can perform any task that the average home owner could expect from their personal truck. It's as comfortable off road as on, in the city as in the country and definitely at the mall or city dump. I can park this truck on Manhattan streets when I go to a Broadway show, or at Home Depot when going to pick up dry wall for endless renovations to our little Cape Cod style house. I did drive the Ranger as my solitary vehicle for several years, to weddings and to funerals and down to the recylce yard and organic dump. But I've been critical of Ford over the last few years and admittedly said that if I was in the market for a new truck the Nissan Frontier would be my choice, because unlike the Ford it has 4 doors, more power and a 6 speed manual trans.

So, as I read the posts at AutoBlog and Jalopnik about the demise of the faithful Ranger, what do I see in comment? People asking if Ford will bring this Australian Falcon Ute here as a replacemnt. Not a chance boys and girls, Ford will abandon this market segment. Besides, as cool as a new Ranchero would seem, a Ranchero isn't a Ranger. A car based pickup is not a truck. Since the Australian Falcon is not easily converted to Left Hand Drive and their Engines have no hopes of passing US Emissions, it's unlikely that Ford will rush them to our shores.

It's a nice thought, but it's not going to happen. Besides, Ford has the new Ranger already. Well they have it for everyone but us that is. I've talked about it before. The new Ranger/BT-50.

And if this was available in North America I'd buy one tomorrow. Why, well because it's a great truck, that's why. And it has 4 doors, is available with 2 great Diesel Engines and finally a 6 speed manual transmission. And since I paid $3.40 a gallon for 87 octane gas this morning and we all know it's going go higher, maybe a nice Diesel would make a huge difference.

I very much doubt Ford will bring this to the North American market, I hear it will be in Mexico but not the United States or Canada. Why not Canada I have no clue.

I wonder how big Mulally's bonus will be this year? I hope he enjoys it, because the way things are looking at FoMoCo he'll need to bank it.

I'm disgusted, I really am.