Hardly a rant. More of a well written factual statement.

 

You don't want a Brazil made vehicle. They literally fall apart.

 

Thank you Bruce. I appreciate the comment.

Having been in the Quality profession for 20 years, the aim for many of us in this profession is to maintain jobs within the businesses we work. Businessmen however have a different opinion on how money is made. Joel Arthur Barker, known as the Paridigm Man, spoke years ago about the prevailing business paradigm: the financial paradigm. We need a new paradigm and we Quality folks feel the Quality Paradigm should prevail. As pointed out from our fellow FTE members, building in third world countries makes the bean counters happy, and the stock holders briefly happy, but everyone else, including the important customerbase and workers here, unhappy. I don't deny that folks in those regions need work and livelihoods too. But I don't want to go get the mail and look a neighbor who watches my house and kids in the eye thinking I made the call to move his job oversees. We have a duty/obligation to one another in this country. We can't save the world, although we should do our part to make it better, but we should help on another here (IMHO).

The Ranger is a good truck! On my rides back-and-forth to Mass., it is clearly the most common pickup truck on the road. Lots of vintages!! It makes me happy to see them and be a Ranger owner. I think that even though the links I provided don't show the Ranger in the top 5, they seem to be the number one truck for longevity. Keep in mind that the rankings in the links are about Initial Product Quality. When Dr. Deming was asked if his shoes were Quality Shoes, he said, "I don't know. Ask me again when I'm done using them. But so far, they are Quality Shoes." The point he made was that first impressions aren't always lasting impressions or even correct ones. Articles can be, and often are, very misleading and can be presented in a skewed context of understanding (i.e. narrowly characterized). I'm hopeful that despite the lower rankings on initial Quality, the Ranger will prevail once again as the reigning champ on the longevity circuit (this is unsubtantiated and based on my observations).

I'm with most here I suppose - basing my buying decision on the longer track record of Quality than initial Quality rankings offered by well meaning magazines and websites. That said, the superficialness of the average consumer will go so far as doing cursory investigations into what is a good truck and buy on flawed studies and assumptions. Definitions will vary. Yet there is creadance to what is posted by the controlling factions: they have asked important questions about what is needed by consumers. Quality is very important, but Features may be equally important or more. Carburetor manufactures built nearly flawless products towards the end. Yet they went out of business. Time and features surpassed Quality needs, and the fuel injector manufacturers took over. This is what is happening to Ford. Got pretty good at trucks with an old formula, but folks wanted something different (or needed something different). They haven't adequately reacted to the needs/wants. Government agencies and beaurucrats can be impending obstacles, and cause manufacturers to change direction, but probably not at the core of the failing business strategy. Business agility is essential here. I hope Ford tightens up the shoelaces and makes a go of it before the market is lost to a competitor.

Kevin

 

Uhhh,, did you read the whole article?? About 6-7 paragraphs down says ' world market'. Sorry but this is the only article I saw,, maybe you can do some surfing elsewhere? Just trying to contribute news,,FWIW. I've had 3 Rangers and son had 2,, never a problem with any. Most likely these will have the standard warranty as those built here in USA. have a happy day.

 

I am a reasonably smart person and understand global economics but the bottom line is that America has got to get used to getting a little dirt under her fingernails again. We were sold a bill of goods that we could transition from an agricultural and industrial powerhouse into a consumer economy and still maintain our affluence. We were stupid and lazy enough to buy into it. I'm 50 years old-the year I was born we were the leading oil, agricultural, forestry, technology, mineral and industrial producer on the planet. I can remember antiquated Russian ships coming to port to load with American grain and Japanese cars being underpowered little rust buckets. Detroit was what every other wannabe industrial city wanted to be. We blew it. We bet our economic future on a ponzi scheme and we were all willing participants. Is it really realistic to be a property ladder millionaire without ever paying off any principal on your house? Is it realistic for our retirement plans to reach seven figures at such brisk paces? Do we really need all of the expensive toys that we have? We wanted the fast bucks and the easy life and Wall Street was more than willing to give us what we wanted for a price we blindly ignored. And now I won't be able to replace my Ranger with a Ranger again when it is time. That nice factory will close and those people who worked there will be searching for jobs in this horrible economy. Henry Ford himself said something to effect that 'somebody needs to get out of bed in the morning and build something that someone else can touch and buy for the economy to work'. The rest of the world has been well served by his advice.

 

Well, Fords idea of a global market does not include N. America. Did find this from Detroit news


Four Rangers in driveway right now

 

It's going to be a sad day when the last Ranger rolls off the line. I hope the employees land on their feet.

 

Amen.

Your right, we blew it.

And Ford blew it getting rid of the Ranger. Here you go Goverment Motors (GM), all the small truck sales you want.

Not everyone can justify owning a F150. A compact truck might be the better choice.

 

Dave,,, gee whiz,, I didn't see that originally,,, thanks. As I re-call, few yrs ago Ford announced they were going to stop making Rangers in US. I guess alot of people raised holy hell about this and wrote, phoned, e-mailed Ford NOT to stop production,,, guess it worked for awhile. I have a sneaky feeling though Ford will export them here if enough raise hell with Ford. In the long run, I believe this stoppage here will hurt Ford. Maybe they'll realize it later,, hope so. have a great week-end. most likely 'work' on my B II, change fluids, clean int., just general tinkering,,, Larry sweltering in hot north Texas.

 

Sad to see it go, I love my '06. Recently on a 100% highway trip I got my best of 31.3 MPG with the 2.3 Duratec and 5 speed auto. Bought it brand new I'll probably keep it forever honestly.

I think those in the market for a ranger will be left with nothing to buy. It's the last true "little" pickup. All the other smaller trucks are almost full-size trucks and generally cost too much compared to a ranger. The colorado is a junk pile, too. I'm interested to see what comes in the near future.

Maybe before Ford kills it off, they could build a couple 5.0 powered trucks? Go out with a bang

 

You won't see one from Ford but I know lot who had done the easy Explorer motor in the later trucks. With the torsion suspension, everything just drops right in, plug right in for the most part. Just saw one last week with the new 5.0L stuffed in.
Dave

 

Just kind of realized that you probably wouldn't one of those Ranger built down in S. Africa. I bet their all right hand drive. All of S Africa, the East coast, India, Pakistan, Austrailia and most of S.E. Asia would be the market. Lots of opportunity there with their emerging standards of living.
Dave

 

The Ranger has been one of the top selling small trucks for nearly 30 years. Guess that "proves" there's no market left for it any longer.........

 

Roger,,, good come-back there. I'll Roger that,,10-4 good buddy!! As an aside,,Japan is a right-hand drive country, but do they not build/export left-hand drive of the same model to USA, Canada, Mexico, etc etc? adios amigos off for the holiday,,be back Tuesday God willing.