American light trucks?

[roguerower]

So with Ford dropping the Ranger in 2011, they lose that price point to the GMC Canyon and the Chevy Colorado, not to mention the foreign offerings of the Nissan Frontier and the Toyota Tacoma, all of which start under 18k. Is Ford making the right choice by ditching the ranger and making the F-150 the smallest truck available?

Now granted, the F-150 is receiving a much needed bump with the new powerplants being introduced, but they still start at 22.5k. Why not design a 4cyl using the same technology in the F-150 V6 w/ Ecoboost and drop it in the Ranger while at the same time re-engineering the chassis? I can see a 4cyl easily getting 25mpg with the new tech not to mention a nice bump to HP & Torque.

What does ATG have to say on the matter?

 

[videogames101]

I agree, small trucks are awesome. Rockin a '92 Chevy S10 =D

Idk what ford id doing, but it must make sense, we can't see their sales.

 

[Bignate603]

I think the Ranger is the last of the truly small trucks we've got in the US. It wasn't the most refined thing but who cares if a truck drives like a truck and has a dated interior?

Ford is making a ranger replacement but they've chosen not to sell it in the US for whatever reason.

 

[LTC8K6]

So with Ford dropping the Ranger in 2011, they lose that price point to the GMC Canyon and the Chevy Colorado, not to mention the foreign offerings of the Nissan Frontier and the Toyota Tacoma, all of which start under 18k. Is Ford making the right choice by ditching the ranger and making the F-150 the smallest truck available?

Now granted, the F-150 is receiving a much needed bump with the new powerplants being introduced, but they still start at 22.5k. Why not design a 4cyl using the same technology in the F-150 V6 w/ Ecoboost and drop it in the Ranger while at the same time re-engineering the chassis? I can see a 4cyl easily getting 25mpg with the new tech not to mention a nice bump to HP & Torque.

What does ATG have to say on the matter?

The current Ranger is already rated 22/27 with the 4 cylinder 5M...

Excellent FE is apparently not enough to sell it.

 

[ebaycj]

I think the Ranger is the last of the truly small trucks we've got in the US. It wasn't the most refined thing but who cares if a truck drives like a truck and has a dated interior?

Ford is making a ranger replacement but they've chosen not to sell it in the US for whatever reason.

Could possibly be "fleet mileage" rules by the EPA.

 

[Vette73]

Well could be a good thing, to some. If the ranger replacment does not come to the US, I bet it will in some time, Ford may make a stripper/low end F150 model to compete on price.

Many fleets like city Gov, parts stores, etc... use smaller trucks like that. So I doubt they will give up that price point 100%.

That and I thought GM was killing the Canyon/Colorado. Was that not the case now?
EDIT yea most still say 2012 is the lasty year for the C/C truck from GM.

 

[superccs]

Ranger sales have dropped off over the years, but who can blame the consumer for not wanting an outdated truck with and outdated chassis and drivetrain...?
I think this decision is a lame one, Ford if you build it sales will come.

In the mean time, I guess I will just have to hold on to my 97 4.0L and watch as it turns into a classic.

 

[roguerower]

I'd pick up a Ranger if it got an updated chassis and powertrain.

Doesn't make much sense for all of the US manufacturers to ditch the low end truck and leave it wide open for the imports.

 

[WackyDan]

I have a Dakota. It has fit my needs perfectly. I had been waiting to get a new truck for many reasons... but mostly as there were rumors that the Dakota was getting a diesel, and that the Ram 1500's, Chevy 1500's, and the Ford 150's were getting diesels.

The diesel plans they had were canned. The current Dakota is priced in such a manner that you'd be better off buying a full size Ram. I get that... the Dakota was more truck than a Ranger or S-10/Canyon, but it competed with the full size too closely.

I think my only option going forward is going to be the F-150 with the EcoBoost as I do need more towing.

Way to go American truck makers... I would have snatched up a Diesel Dakota or 1500 in a heartbeat.... But you let me down.

 

[Tristicus]

Not a fan of small size trucks tbh...don't see the point in them, at least in the S10 and Ranger part. A Canyon or Colorado I could sort of see, but once again, would rather have a full size. Only time I would get a Canyon/Colorado would be a crew cab v8 z71 package Canyon.

 

[roguerower]

Not a fan of small size trucks tbh...don't see the point in them, at least in the S10 and Ranger part. A Canyon or Colorado I could sort of see, but once again, would rather have a full size. Only time I would get a Canyon/Colorado would be a crew cab v8 z71 package Canyon.

At this point in life, I don't need a full size truck but I could use a smaller truck. I doubt that I'm alone on this one.

 

[Tristicus]

At this point in life, I don't need a full size truck but I could use a smaller truck. I doubt that I'm alone on this one.

I mean, I get why people wouldn't need a full size one, but at that point, why not get an SUV? My grandfather for instance needed his 2500 to tow his camper. When he sells that though, he wants a Canyon just because he likes trucks afaik. Sure, he takes stuff once in a while in the back, but the main reason of the 2500 was towing.

 

[desy]

A nice unibody truck would be nice but only Honda has one of those but too ugly too much money. For most people thats all they really need for Home Depot runs and can easily fit into a two car family like ours that offers up some Xtra utility.

 

[LTC8K6]

Wait for those Mahindra diesels...

 

[RedRooster]

I would be first in line if Ford had a redesigned Ranger(with a nice interior like all their new cars) and that V6 Ecoboost drivetrain. Oh Lord!
Hauling garden tillers, or small loads of garden mulch, or 6 golf bags. Sometimes an SUV won't cut it.
I had a Dakota, loved the truck. Really shouldn't have sold it. An even narrower Ranger would fit in the garage better though.

 

[vi edit]

Not a fan of small size trucks tbh...don't see the point in them, at least in the S10 and Ranger part. A Canyon or Colorado I could sort of see, but once again, would rather have a full size. Only time I would get a Canyon/Colorado would be a crew cab v8 z71 package Canyon.

As a former owner of a compact truck I mostly agree. I've seen the light of an 8' bed and don't know if I could own another truck without one. Being able to put a full sheet of plywood and close the gate is great. And the added extra foot or two (or three) over a normal bed is the difference between one trip or two for many hauling/moving jobs in my experience.

They are a bitch to park though. And that's with a standard cab and 8' bed. Add in an extended cab or quad and it's like parking a tanker truck.

 

[LTC8K6]

My Brother's 95 Ranger was a Long Bed regular cab model. Didn't see too many of those, though. It had a longer bed than almost every other Ranger I saw.

 

[roguerower]

I would be first in line if Ford had a redesigned Ranger(with a nice interior like all their new cars) and that V6 Ecoboost drivetrain. Oh Lord!
Hauling garden tillers, or small loads of garden mulch, or 6 golf bags. Sometimes an SUV won't cut it.

I don't even think they would need a V6. A V4 with the same basic engineering behind it would be awesome.

Being able to access a truck bed from 300 degrees is way more convenient/useful than having to go through the back door of a SUV. Back when I drove my rowing team's F-250, being able to load/unload stuff out of the sides was one of the best features of the bed.

 

[vi edit]

I don't even think they would need a V6. A V4 with the same basic engineering behind it would be awesome.

Being able to access a truck bed from 300 degrees is way more convenient/useful than having to go through the back door of a SUV. Back when I drove my rowing team's F-250, being able to load/unload stuff out of the sides was one of the best features of the bed.

Ford is dropping a 2.0L ecoboost I4 into the 2011 Explorer. 240HP and 250 ft/lb of torque...not bad. Would move a compact truck with plenty of authority.

 

[waffleironhead]

Now if only jeep brought out that gladiator

 

[Throckmorton]

Now if only jeep brought out that gladiator

The Gladiator concept was full size. Jeep is going to release a Wrangler pickup which will be compact... the only real compact pickup.

 

[roguerower]

Ford is dropping a 2.0L ecoboost I4 into the 2011 Explorer. 240HP and 250 ft/lb of torque...not bad. Would move a compact truck with plenty of authority.

The current I4 2.3L in the Ranger gets 143HP & 154 ft/lb of torque @ 22/27, while the V6 4.0L does 207HP & 238 ft/lb @ 16/21. The I4 can pull 2k lbs, the V6 can pull 5500lbs.

A ranger with a 2.0L putting out that kinda power and capable of pulling 3 tons would be awesome.

EDIT: That jeep pickup looks butt ugly IMO. Looks like it got hit real hard with the ugly stick.

 

[Turin39789]

Sad. I think they had planned to drop them sooner but the gas price spike a few years ago kept them around for longer. I've been thinking about moving up to a full size truck but the cost is definetly more. I picked up an 06 ranger in 11/08 with 36k miles for 8k, with a 4 cyl that keeps my mileage in the mid 20's.

Most of my truck usage is just general housework, it's had a motorycycle in it, gravel, dirt, floor sander, insulation, lumber, firewood, tools, wheelbarrows, conduit, etc. Otherwise it takes me to work every day. I didn't need back seats or cab space, and if you aren't towing heavy there are a ton of jobs that take advantage of an open box to toss tools/supplies in but don't need the v8 hemi 4x4 my brother insists on having for electrical work.

At this point I think a back seat is going to be needed for me(baby), even if the extra oomph isn't so I have to decide if I can give up the utility of the truck bed for a fun car or if I will end up with an ecoboost f150.

 

[Throckmorton]

The current I4 2.3L in the Ranger gets 143HP & 154 ft/lb of torque @ 22/27, while the V6 4.0L does 207HP & 238 ft/lb @ 16/21. The I4 can pull 2k lbs, the V6 can pull 5500lbs.

A ranger with a 2.0L putting out that kinda power and capable of pulling 3 tons would be awesome.

EDIT: That jeep pickup looks butt ugly IMO. Looks like it got hit real hard with the ugly stick.

How is it ugly? It's a pickup version of the JK. The bed just needs to be longer

 

[vi edit]

How is it ugly? It's a pickup version of the JK. The bed just needs to be longer

The bed needs tob taller too.

It looks retarded IMHO.