freirefishing- I just checked Ford's Website, and the 2008 Sport Trac does indeed have independent rear suspension. That leads me to suspect the chassis is from the current Explorer, not the Ranger, which still has the live axle.
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Glenn Garrahan
Glenn's fleet:
1969 El Camino SS396 (325 HP)
1970 Dodge Coronet R/T (440, 375 HP)
2001 Camaro SS (5.7L, 335 HP)
2003 F150 King Ranch SuperCab (daily driver, 5.4L, 260HP)
2008 Corvette Z06 (7.0L, 505HP)
What can I say, I like American V-8's!
The 2nd gen SportTrac is much larger than the 1st gen. It is built on a modified version of the current Explorer chassis with a. I saw one parked next to an F150 the other day.
The SportTrac is almost as long as the F150, a little shorter and a little narrower. It ca be had with a V6 or V8. If they made a 5.5 ft bed for it, it would be as long as an F150 super cab. An odd vehicle that doesn't represent a significant fuel milage savings for it's shortcomings. It will fit in most garages and parking spaces though.
I agree Ford should bring the F100 back, I just recently bought a 1980 F100 because I needed a fullsize but don't want to pay the gas bill of a big fullsize and I am very impressed that a fullsize truck can get 18-19 mpg.
Honestly Ken I've never really understood the common trend of dropping manual transmissions among full sized trucks. I'm pretty sure you have a better understanding of the auto industry then I do, but to me it would seem like Ford would want to sell every truck they possibly could.
When an option gets below a certain percent of buyers, getting rid of the option usually doesn't mean a lost sale. People will grumble but they'll still buy. Especially since both Chevy and Dodge are dropping manuals in light duties.
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the provisions for producing a manual trans put in place a long time ago? What I mean is the equipment/assembly line for the manual trans were put in place in the Ford factories many years ago, correct?
The way the line is set up I don't believe it really matters if its manual or automatic.
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I'm also assuming that from the purchase cost of a new vehicle a small percentage of that covers the transmission.
Its not just purchase cost. If a dealer gets a manual tranny truck it stays on the lot sometimes for months. If its an automatic it sells faster and unsold inventory costs money.
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I understand that most common folks have no use for a manual trans. But when the automatic trans was introduced no one had any use for them either, so they were offered as an option for those few folks who wanted one. As odd as it may seem to me perhaps an automatic could be offered as the standard trans with a manual as a option. I've heard plenty of people on FTE voice their opinion in favor of a manual trans, Ford can't tell me there wouldn't be a market for one. A small market sure but the demand hasn't completely faded away yet.
You're right, many have voiced their opinion in favor. Unfortunately their opinion doesn't reflect the sales reality that people aren't buying them. So I believe either the majority of the people who want manual transmissions don't buy new trucks and only buy used, or FTE has a skewed number of people wanting manuals.
__________________ -Ken
If you need to get in touch with me email me at ftsservice at gmail dot com or via AOL IM: motorhavenken. The best is yet to come....
The part you put in parenthesis is why I didn't consider the Explorer. For the price I could by an F150. Its ironic since the Explorer Sport-Trac is actually built on the Ranger platform and not the current Explorer platform!
The part you put in parenthesis is why I didn't consider the Explorer. For the price I could by an F150. Its ironic since the Explorer Sport-Trac is actually built on the Ranger platform and not the current Explorer platform!
I hear ya. Its like they think they can slap the Explorer name on it and ask $10,000 for it.
Ive personally always liked the Explorer Sport-Trac and would seriously consider one, but like you said, why buy one of those when you could buy an F-150 for pretty much the same amount of money.
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'99 Ford F-150 regular cab longbed 4x4 Off-Road with 5.4L V8
190,000 miles
Support USA manufacturing!!!
Earth first. We'll worry about logging the other planets later.
I think the Explorer Sport Trac is targeted at a different segment than the F150.
Think of it more as a Ridgeline/Avalanche competitor. It has a reduced payload etc. over an F150, but also comes with greater comfort, reduced NVH, better fuel mileage etc.
And if I am not mistaken, it is based on the Explorer not the Ranger. Although I can't recall for certain (I do know it definiately uses the Explorer suspension)
The F150 is more designed for a vehicle that is more "utilitarian". I also think with the current oil prices, the market the Explorer Sport Trac is in will be affected much more substantially than that of the F150.
Not only is the F-100 comming out, there will also be a new compact ranger p/u in 2012. It's being designed in austraila as we speak as a world truck. Just one ranger for every country, instead of different rangers for different countries like they have now. Main engine is to be a 4 cylinder with mpg at a round 30. There will also be a 4x4 4 cylinder, turbo's will more than likely be an option as well.
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2009 FORD RANGER fx4 off/road, 5-speed manual, torson diff and rancho's!
Not only is the F-100 comming out, there will also be a new compact ranger p/u in 2012. It's being designed in austraila as we speak as a world truck. Just one ranger for every country, instead of different rangers for different countries like they have now. Main engine is to be a 4 cylinder with mpg at a round 30. There will also be a 4x4 4 cylinder, turbo's will more than likely be an option as well.
Thank God!!! I'll be the first in line for a 4X4 4 cylinder.
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Duane
It's better to burn out... than to fade away - Joe Elliot
its not like ford doesnt have any manual trannys that can take a V6 or a small V8. the M5OD-R2 is/was used with a 302 and later the 4.6 (which for 2003 i believe was rated @ 293 lb/ft, which is enough for a mid-size truck).
with those new fuel-efficiency requirements, a more efficient transmission is definately something that will help.
hopefully at least they will offer it with the V6, and if it follows the dakotas layout, the V8 will only be offered with 6 speeds of slushiness bull****
I'm not geting excited it's probably gona be ugly looking like the rest of the crap they produce. And the idea of no manual is just gay.
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Originally Posted by Jordan M
its not like ford doesnt have any manual trannys that can take a V6 or a small V8. the M5OD-R2 is/was used with a 302 and later the 4.6 (which for 2003 i believe was rated @ 293 lb/ft, which is enough for a mid-size truck).
with those new fuel-efficiency requirements, a more efficient transmission is definately something that will help.
hopefully at least they will offer it with the V6, and if it follows the dakotas layout, the V8 will only be offered with 6 speeds of slushiness bull****
You guys can be mad all you want, but the fact is that nowdays most people prefer an automatic transmission. Also, automatic transmission technology has advanced to the point now that automatics get just as good fuel economy as do manuals and in some cases automatics get better fuel economy.
There will always be people who prefer manual transmissions, but if only 10% of people buy a model with a manual transmission, for Ford it doesnt make sense from a business standpoint to continue offering manual trannys.
Personally, I can see having a manual tranny in a sportscar, but not in a truck. For plowing snow, doing slowspeed off-roading or for backing up a trailer, automatic is the only way to go.
__________________
'99 Ford F-150 regular cab longbed 4x4 Off-Road with 5.4L V8
190,000 miles
Support USA manufacturing!!!
Earth first. We'll worry about logging the other planets later.
Not to dampen the moistened spirit, but NO F100 could ever match the overall appeal and coolness of this:
I mean, this is arguably the coolest truck with the greatest possibilities...
For me, it just doesn't get any better than this...
So if they're going to revamp the name, it had better be an incredible offering that is capable of living up to the name F100. I'd much rather remember the F100 for how cool it was than as some mini pickup that doesn't live up to the name.....
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-Ken
