Will There Be a New F100?
#31
#32
I was reading an article some time ago where GM was contemplating the Colorado / Canyon twins for the same reasons that Ford is killing the Ranger. Initial cost and MPG's are way too close to a half ton strippy while it's capabilities fall a little short.
This will either rev up F-150 sales or it will hurt Ford in the long run.
This will either rev up F-150 sales or it will hurt Ford in the long run.
I'm not sure how the Ranger was priced, but both Nissan and Toyota have mid-size trucks which are priced SIGNIFICANTLY below the price of a comparably-equipped F-150. The sticker on a "middle of the road" Nissan Frontier is around $28k, around $10k less than a comparably equipped F-150 XLT. If anything, the exit of the domestic automakers from the compact/mid-size pickup segment will be a boost to the Japanese automakers.
Ultimately, Ford is betting that a majority of Ranger buyers, who continued to purchase a truck with a decades-old design in the face of stiff competition, will remain loyal to Ford after the Ranger's demise. To what degree that becomes true remains to be seen.
JKG
#33
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#34
I don't see how it won't hurt them. Ranger sales were still relatively strong, even with a dated design. There are plenty of folks, myself included, who would own a F-150 in an instant except for one problem: size. The F-150 won't fit into my heated garage, and would be a struggle to drive around in many of the urban locations where I travel for work.
I'm not sure how the Ranger was priced, but both Nissan and Toyota have mid-size trucks which are priced SIGNIFICANTLY below the price of a comparably-equipped F-150. The sticker on a "middle of the road" Nissan Frontier is around $28k, around $10k less than a comparably equipped F-150 XLT. If anything, the exit of the domestic automakers from the compact/mid-size pickup segment will be a boost to the Japanese automakers.
Ultimately, Ford is betting that a majority of Ranger buyers, who continued to purchase a truck with a decades-old design in the face of stiff competition, will remain loyal to Ford after the Ranger's demise. To what degree that becomes true remains to be seen.
JKG
I'm not sure how the Ranger was priced, but both Nissan and Toyota have mid-size trucks which are priced SIGNIFICANTLY below the price of a comparably-equipped F-150. The sticker on a "middle of the road" Nissan Frontier is around $28k, around $10k less than a comparably equipped F-150 XLT. If anything, the exit of the domestic automakers from the compact/mid-size pickup segment will be a boost to the Japanese automakers.
Ultimately, Ford is betting that a majority of Ranger buyers, who continued to purchase a truck with a decades-old design in the face of stiff competition, will remain loyal to Ford after the Ranger's demise. To what degree that becomes true remains to be seen.
JKG
If I were looking at a mid sized truck, I'd pick up a Taco in a minute. I think Ford needs to belly up to the bar and reintroduce themselves as a major player in the smaller truck segment. Fuel will never get cheaper, parking stalls will never get bigger and it looks like the F-150 will never go on a diet.
#35
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#36
If I were looking at a mid sized truck, I'd pick up a Taco in a minute. I think Ford needs to belly up to the bar and reintroduce themselves as a major player in the smaller truck segment. Fuel will never get cheaper, parking stalls will never get bigger and it looks like the F-150 will never go on a diet.
I am hoping (and perhaps expecting) Ford to re-enter the compact/mid-size market in the future, though not sure whether it will be with the T6 or something else. I would be surprised if the death of the Ranger is anything other than a brief hiatus from the segment.
JKG
#37
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JKG wrote I am hoping (and perhaps expecting) Ford to re-enter the compact/mid-size market in the future, though not sure whether it will be with the T6 or something else. I would be surprised if the death of the Ranger is anything other than a brief hiatus from the segment.
JKG
that's what I was thinking
JKG
that's what I was thinking
#38
I don't see how it won't hurt them. Ranger sales were still relatively strong, even with a dated design. There are plenty of folks, myself included, who would own a F-150 in an instant except for one problem: size. The F-150 won't fit into my heated garage, and would be a struggle to drive around in many of the urban locations where I travel for work.
I'm not sure how the Ranger was priced, but both Nissan and Toyota have mid-size trucks which are priced SIGNIFICANTLY below the price of a comparably-equipped F-150. The sticker on a "middle of the road" Nissan Frontier is around $28k, around $10k less than a comparably equipped F-150 XLT. If anything, the exit of the domestic automakers from the compact/mid-size pickup segment will be a boost to the Japanese automakers.
Ultimately, Ford is betting that a majority of Ranger buyers, who continued to purchase a truck with a decades-old design in the face of stiff competition, will remain loyal to Ford after the Ranger's demise. To what degree that becomes true remains to be seen.
JKG
I'm not sure how the Ranger was priced, but both Nissan and Toyota have mid-size trucks which are priced SIGNIFICANTLY below the price of a comparably-equipped F-150. The sticker on a "middle of the road" Nissan Frontier is around $28k, around $10k less than a comparably equipped F-150 XLT. If anything, the exit of the domestic automakers from the compact/mid-size pickup segment will be a boost to the Japanese automakers.
Ultimately, Ford is betting that a majority of Ranger buyers, who continued to purchase a truck with a decades-old design in the face of stiff competition, will remain loyal to Ford after the Ranger's demise. To what degree that becomes true remains to be seen.
JKG
#39
I was just about to bust your chops for not opening the link to the photobucket album which has a nice engine bay show which clearly shows that a V8 was lurking in there. However, there is also a big caption below the photos which says "351W HO" so jokes on me. Can I blame that oversight on my 103 degree fever I had this morning? Haha.
#40
Too many fleets are using compact trucks, I can't see Ford staying away too long.
#42
^^ Thanks for that info!
I will give the Sport Trac a look.
As far as towing capacity, if it doesn't state on paper that it's around 7000 lbs, I'm of the midset (probably a wrong mindset) that I'm not gonna be happy.
I know one guy who keeps telling me that although the Honda Ridgeline states that it's max towing capacity is 5000 lbs, it will tow as well as a V8 F150.
One thing I love about the newer F150 is it can be considered "best bang for the buck".
Hell, if I had a ton of money to burn on a small tow vehicle, I'd be driving around in a V8 Volkswagen Toureg.
I will give the Sport Trac a look.
As far as towing capacity, if it doesn't state on paper that it's around 7000 lbs, I'm of the midset (probably a wrong mindset) that I'm not gonna be happy.
I know one guy who keeps telling me that although the Honda Ridgeline states that it's max towing capacity is 5000 lbs, it will tow as well as a V8 F150.
One thing I love about the newer F150 is it can be considered "best bang for the buck".
Hell, if I had a ton of money to burn on a small tow vehicle, I'd be driving around in a V8 Volkswagen Toureg.
Note for Expedition, Navigator, Explorer, Mountaineer and Sport Trac Charts:
Trailer tongue load weight should be 10-15% of total loaded trailer weight. Make sure vehicle payload
(reduced by option weight) will accommodate trailer tongue load weight and weight of passengers and
cargo added to towing vehicle. Addition of trailer tongue load weight and weight of passengers and cargo
cannot cause vehicle weights to exceed rear GAWR or GVWR. These ratings can be found on the vehicle
Safety Compliance Certification Label.
[***************][***************][***************](reduced by option weight) will accommodate trailer tongue load weight and weight of passengers and
cargo added to towing vehicle. Addition of trailer tongue load weight and weight of passengers and cargo
cannot cause vehicle weights to exceed rear GAWR or GVWR. These ratings can be found on the vehicle
Safety Compliance Certification Label.
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight (Lbs.) –
Automatic Transmission
[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]Automatic Transmission
Axle GCWR 4x2 4x4/AWD
Engine Ratio (Lbs.) Class III/IV Class III/IV
Engine Ratio (Lbs.) Class III/IV Class III/IV
4.0L SOHC V6
3.73 10,000 5,250 5,080
4.6L SOHC V8
3.55 12,000 7,160 6,990
SPORT TRAC
#43
Rangers are not be the most modern vehicle but that's their strength and the more of them rolling around the better if you want to keep people thinking about buying a compact Ford truck either now or when some other version comes out.
#44
The yearly sales totals for the Ranger have fallen sharply in the last 6 years or so. Notice that 1 plant can now meet the sales demands where it used to take 2. The Edison New Jersey plant was shut down a few years ago so the Minneapolis plant is the only plant left producing the Ranger.
#45
I think all Ford needs to do is update the Ranger with a stiff modern chassis and give it oh say a 2.0L Ecoboost and the Mustang 3.7L V6 coupled with 6-speed auto AND manual trannys. I also personally feel the Ranger shouldn't grow anymore. Its the last true compact truck left in the market. To me Midsize trucks are pointless. They are 9/10th's the size of a 1/2ton, use the same amount of fuel as a 1/2 ton and offer only about 1/2 the capability. All the while having these inflated price's.
A true compact truck ''Even fully optioned'' should not cost more than 30K. And by todays standerds should be able to easily achive late 20's to mid 30's MPG ''Even with the V6 option''. I think the main reason the Ranger is not selling so good right now is simply because of its dated design. Its been largly neglected for the past 15 years. Only getting minor facelifts and a slight power boost in 2001. Imagine a 305hp 27mpg 6-speed auto/manual Ranger with updated sheetmetal and a torsionally stiffer chassis. Or even better, If and I know this is far fetched, But imagine if Ford could somehow get their 3.0L diesel engine's they use in Europe into an updated American Ranger, I do beleive those updates would boost Ranger sales quite a bit.
A true compact truck ''Even fully optioned'' should not cost more than 30K. And by todays standerds should be able to easily achive late 20's to mid 30's MPG ''Even with the V6 option''. I think the main reason the Ranger is not selling so good right now is simply because of its dated design. Its been largly neglected for the past 15 years. Only getting minor facelifts and a slight power boost in 2001. Imagine a 305hp 27mpg 6-speed auto/manual Ranger with updated sheetmetal and a torsionally stiffer chassis. Or even better, If and I know this is far fetched, But imagine if Ford could somehow get their 3.0L diesel engine's they use in Europe into an updated American Ranger, I do beleive those updates would boost Ranger sales quite a bit.