If you could trade your Ranger for this - would you?

[truckfreak69]

i'd drive it, but if im gonna buy a car, i want a car, if im gonna buy a truck i want a truck... i don't think you can do both well.

[RangerPilot]

Originally Posted by Nighteyez

...Pretty good for a truck that has basically stayed the same its entire life.

To us...it has.

But remember, for the vast majority of non-car-intelligent people, you slap a new front end on and it becomes a brand new vehicle.

Cosmetic changes (such as Ford and GM slapping new bodies and interiors on their otherwise virtually unchanged trucks) produce much larger spikes in sales rates as opposed to an e-locker, four full doors, or a new towing package.

And that's because Americans buy trucks to buy groceries.

[pgw85706]

Originally Posted by RangerPilot

To us...it has.

But remember, for the vast majority of non-car-intelligent people, you slap a new front end on and it becomes a brand new vehicle.

To me, the Ute looks like a reborn Ranchero and Ford is just going in circles, chasing its tail, and trying anything.

[Nighteyez]

The Ute looks like a Ford Mustang with a pickup box on it. I would not mind owning it, but I would not trade my Ranger for it.

[ford_boy_1996]

I've seen them before on Utube

[RangerPilot]

Originally Posted by pgw85706

To me, the Ute looks like a reborn Ranchero and Ford is just going in circles, chasing its tail, and trying anything.

Ford's trying to not flush anymore money down the drain. If this is part of that idea, my hat's off to them, I hope it works. I'll buy one. I think it's a beautiful peice of machinery, and for someone like me who just needs a decent MPG-getting, sporty vehicle to get them from A to B without ever having to really tow a lot, it's more than capable.

[Greg R]

The Ute has been around in Austrailia for many many years, built by most car companies. It just has a better fit down there.

How about this one?



Before you think it's a useless show vehicle, here's a quote from the article...

As you can tell, the Uteman enjoys driving his yellow beast - which really shows in his comments: "26/02/01 20:10 I just got home tonight, went bush to give the Mongrel a bit of a 'test' in the dirt. Oooooeeee, she loves dirt-tracking! Ended up via Menindee, to Ivanhoe then bush to a mates station and some good off road tracks for me to 'play'. The Ute loved it and the hi-lift kit is just superb, traction control excellent.

The whole article is here: http://www.trueblueford.com/AUmongrel_by_uteman.html

[IB Adrian]

Sorry for the long post... just want to dispell a few things.

Originally Posted by Benaghetto

Definately unibody on the UTE. But I do know that the G8 ST will have a partial frame grafted into the rear to better handle loads, maybe Ford's doing the same with this UTE?

The Ute actually has a frame that is "grafted" onto the chassis.
The Falcon car (off which the Ute is based) has full length "integrated" frame rails as part of its chassis (to maintain the strength of a full frame, with the torsional rigidity of a monocoque) - just larger rails are used on the ute.

Originally Posted by FTE Ken

- 4x4

Sadly it doesn't... Which is dissapointing, as other variants within the same chassis family have 4x4(Territory). I wish the Ute did.

Originally Posted by Rockledge

Oh, and I can also fit 4'x8' sheets of plywood in the bed.

Another one of its downfallings... although the Cab Chassis model (with an aftermarket tray) will fit it.

Originally Posted by BSmitty

but it will never be as efficient as the 2.3l Duratec,

I would be foolish to say that in exactly the same vehicles fitted with 2.3l I4 and the 4.0l I6 that the I6 would get better fuel economy... but in this package it gets similar fuel economy to an I4 4x2 Ranger.

Originally Posted by pgw85706

To me, the Ute looks like a reborn Ranchero and Ford is just going in circles, chasing its tail, and trying anything.

It is in a way... but bear in mind we have been building "Ranchero's" almost continuously since 1932.
So its hardly a "go round in circles" move...



As for those that are concerned about the utes "workability" bear in mind this is our countries "workhorse" (similar to the F-Series) and we are unfortunately endowed with much worse conditions to tackle with (only 50% of our roads are sealed) and it still has about double the reliability rating of the SuperDuty when it was imported (and no, we didn't get the 6.0l PSD to screw with the ratings either!!!).

While I don't think the vehicle is perfect, I desperately wish it had a diesel engine and was available in 4x4 and Crewcab form.
I own both a Ranger, and a Ute.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gall.../69666.520.390
http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gall.../76502.520.390
I like both vehicles a lot, but the only reason I have the Ranger is because it has my "wishes" for the Falcon Ute (diesel, 4x4 and CrewCab)... not because it is a better vehicle, its antiquated, uncomfortable, noisy, barely gets out of its own way, and isn't that fuel economical... and reminds me of a vehicle designed in the 1980s (funny about that really ). Don't get me wrong, I didn't buy it for any of those reasons, but it sure would be nice if it was a little better in those departments.
The Falcon on the otherhand is quieter, more comfortable than most passenger cars. Better seats than you will find in any other vehicle, ergonomics that makes a Mercedes look complicated, a brilliant 6 speed automatic transmission (that can also be found in a BMW 7-series or Rolls Royce Phantom), tows better than much bigger vehicles, and the optional 4.0l turbo I6 is an absolutely awesome engine (has almost as much torque as a V10 Superduty available at 2k rpms and I won't even mention the power it makes...)

And on top of all that... the vehicle is as reliable as the Ranger.
So I could state if the vehicle was even available with 2 of the features I feel are missing, the Ranger wouldn't be sitting in my garage. It would take the Ranger a LOT more to push the Ute out of my garage.
As it is, it is a really good vehicle, if limited in its use (I will admit it needs a 4x4 option AT LEAST to be saleable in the US... our sandy/dusty/rocky conditions don't neccesitate 4x4 like your mud and snow does)

[RangerPilot]

Originally Posted by FTE Fred

While I don't think the vehicle is perfect, I desperately wish it had a diesel engine and was available in 4x4 and Crewcab form.

Which except for the 4x4, pretty much describes our desires of the Ranger to a T.

Couple of off-topic questions for Fred. What are the engine options available in the Ute, how much power/torque do they make? What tranny options? How easy is it to work on? For us manual guys, is the slave inside or outside of the manual bellhousing? What engine(s) did the SD come into Oz with?

I always appreciate your posts, they are very insightful, well written, and give a good, non-biased view on whatever topic may be at hand.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to FTE Fred again.

[IB Adrian]

Originally Posted by RangerPilot

What are the engine options available in the Ute

4.0l DOHC I6 (with a choice of 100% propane, or 100% gas)
Turbocharged 4.0l I6 (gas only)
3V 5.4l V8 (although this engine is being dropped)
4V 5.4l V8

how much power/torque do they make?

The standard I6 makes 260hp and 290lbft (a little bit less if you choose the 100% propane option)

The "base" turbo I6 makes 360hp and ~ 400lbft (from 2k-4.5k rpms!)
The "hipo" turbo I6 makes 400hp and 445lbft

The "base" 4V 5.4 V8 makes 389hp and 395lb ft
The "hipo" 4V 5.4 V8 makes 425hp and 400lb ft

What tranny options?

The propane only I6 comes with a 4sp auto or 5sp manual.
The standard I6 comes with a 5 speed auto that is in the Ranger (the 6 speed ZF auto is an option however) or a 6 speed manual.
The rest of the engines come with either the 6 speed manual or auto.

How easy is it to work on?

It is a very straight forward vehicle to work on. The only issue is the "packaging" of the 5.4l V8...
Have a look at the engine bay on my ute:


You drop a socket in there, you aren't seeing it again...

For us manual guys, is the slave inside or outside of the manual bellhousing?

Outside...

What engine(s) did the SD come into Oz with?

We got the following 3:
2V 5.4l V8
7.3l PSD
4.2l Turbo diesel

I always appreciate your posts, they are very insightful, well written, and give a good, non-biased view on whatever topic may be at hand.

Thanks

[RangerPilot]

It amuses me that the Ute is getting the DOHC 5.4L as the only V8 option, yet the SD still has the 2V.

With those power numbers and relatively easiness to work on it seems, I'd definitly be all over it. But I don't need to pull huge trailers, either.

[Bdox]

Of course if you need to tow anything heavy your would pick the SD every time, I'll bet.

[bigrigfixer]

Originally Posted by Bdox

Of course if you need to tow anything heavy your would pick the SD every time, I'll bet.

I'm not sure. It seems they do things differently down there. If you could get a Ute with the high torque I6 at 445 lb/ft and the "one ton suspension" why would you need a super duty? Makes sense to me. Might look kinda goofy though, a Ute pulling a 5er.

[Bdox]

With the ute towing a heavy load, the tail wags the dog. Not so with the SD.

Of course I am generalizing, but that's the idea. It's not just the engine's ability.

[bigrigfixer]

I agree with you 100%. I just kinda figured they do stuff different.